Compassion class for nurses shows NHS really cares

FOR years it has been part and parcel of their every day job.

But now trainee nurses in the Lothians are to be formally taught compassion.

As part of a drive towards improving patients' experience in hospital, Edinburgh Napier University - the largest supplier of Lothians nurses - has teamed up with the health board to mark them on compassion for the first time.

Dozens of experienced nurses in the area have also been brought in to attend compassion seminars and lectures, then take the findings on to wards.

Health chiefs said the scheme would not only improve the quality of care provided, but could also have clinical and staffing benefits.

Dr Stephen Smith, the university's lead nurse, said: "Compassion is something that has moved up the agenda.

"Hospitals are very different now from 20 years ago, there are a lot of targets and a high throughput of patients.

"This is about forging compassion through this system that has changed."

The addition to the nursing student curriculum is the sum of a three-year investigation, taking in the views of patients, relatives and students themselves.

As part of the education actors will be brought in to behave in a certain way for the student to respond to, with a follow-up report being written about what action should have been taken and why.

Dr Smith added: "This was something the students wanted included. Compassion has always been there, but when it comes to being assessed students, like anyone, would prioritise what they are being marked on.

"There are various examples of methods. One was when an agitated and stressed patient found comfort in the Bible.

"When they actually went to the effort of getting one from the hospital chaplain and finding the passage she wanted, she became calm again.

"It is this kind of thing that makes a difference, which isn't necessarily a big thing, but calms a patient, which in turn frees up more time for staff."

It is hoped the project will move NHS Lothian to the forefront of compassionate care in the UK.

Training is applied to all nursing disciplines, and has been extended to midwives and occupational therapists.

Labour's health spokeswoman in Edinburgh Cllr Lesley Hinds said: "This is hugely important and an excellent idea.

"It's all very well having the practical training to follow out your job, and I'm glad this element has been added."

Dr Jean Turner, director of the Scotland Patients Association, added: "It's positive news.The majority of nurses go in fully intending to be compassionate but the rigours of working in the environment with managers and targets can push that down the agenda a bit and make it quite difficult,"