Welcome Message By Professor Ann-Marie Cannaby – Chief Nursing Officer, Corporate Nursing

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The NURSE ADVOCATE

CONTENTS

By Nurses for Nurses Issue 19, April 2015

The Nursing Strategy 2013-2015 came to a close at the end of March 2015 and the corporate nursing team will present the results and achievements of this two year period on May 11th, in conjunction with the celebrations for International Nurses Day. The events will take place in the Bayt Al Dhiyafah, HBKMC. Our Strategy was designed to be a foundation plan to accelerate HMC’s journey to deliver one of the best nursing services in the world and has been a resounding success so far due to the commitment and diligent work of each and every nurse across the Corporation. I would also like to take this opportunity to recognize the efforts of our colleagues in Human Resources in particular, as well as many other departments; without their tireless work and support we would not have achieved all that we have in such a short time.

We now focus our attention on the next phase of our important journey and the Nursing and Midwifery Strategy 2015-2018. Many of you

have been involved in the engagement and consultation events for the development of this next phase. The Nursing and Midwifery Strategy 2015-2018 will be previewed at the International Nurses Day event and will be launched during the summer.

You will each receive an invitation to the event on May 11th; however, seating is limited and an RSVP system has been established.

As you are aware, the Nursing and Midwifery Career Framework (NMCF) was implemented on the first of April 2015. If you have any queries about the NMCF, please talk to the senior nurses within your facility or access the frequently asked questions (FAQS) section available via the intranet: http://itawasol/EN/How%20We%20Work/corporate_services/hr/Performance/nmcf/Pages/default.aspx (Please copy and paste the full url into the search engine).

The implementation of the NMCF is an exciting time for us and an essential element of our Nursing and Midwifery Strategy and HMC’s journey of transformation. Nurses and midwives at HMC are being increasingly called upon to accept more challenging and complex roles; therefore, ensuring you are better prepared and able to practice to the full extent of your education and training is a driving force behind our vision of providing the safest, most effective and most compassionate care to each and every patient.

Message from Professor Ann-Marie Cannaby 1 Baby-Friendly Hospital: A Women’s Hospital Initiative 2 Nurse Spotlight 3 Developing a Career as part of the IMC Team: A Doctor and Nurse Story 4 GCC Nurses’ Day Celebrations: Photo Gallery 5 Nurses Play an Essential Role in Trauma Center Achieving International Accreditation 7 Al Maha Sports Day: Supporting Children with Disabilities 8 International Nursing News 9 Moving Forward After the NDNQI RN Survey: A Workshop 10 Al Khor Hospital’s Emergency Department: An Introduction 10 Education News 11 Leading Change in Midwifery: Empowering Leaders in MaternityUnits at HMC 12 Useful Links 13 Fun Stuff 13 Tips to Survive the Graveyard Shift 14 3rd Symposium for Pediatric Nurse Leaders: A Brief Overview 15 International Nurses Day Poster 16

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Baby-Friendly Hospital: A Women’s Hospital Initiative By Shilah G. Ancheta, SN- Emergency Department- Women’s Hospital

Women’s Hospital (WH) is hoping to acquire international accreditation as a baby-friendly hospital by 2017. In working towards that aim, the management and leadership of WH is conducting a 20 hour maternity course for doctors, nurses and midwives, entitled: Breastfeeding Promotion and Support in a Baby-Friendly Hospital.

The ‘Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative’ is a global movement addressing goals outlined by both the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. The initiative aims to promote positive well-being for mothers and babies by taking action to implement agreed breastfeeding standards and best practices in maternity hospitals/units. This will form part of the criteria when being considered for ‘baby-friendly’ accreditation.

Dr. Amal Abu Bakr, Course Director and Breastfeeding Program Lead, is both a lactation expert and an ex-member of the WHO. Dr. Abu Bakr leads the course with valuable support from the nurses and doctors who specialize in the care of new mothers and babies.

The course targets members of staff in the hospital who have contact with pregnant women, new mothers and babies; such as doctors, midwives, nurses, healthcare assistants and nutritionists, etc. The course aims

to equip hospital staff with the knowledge and skill necessary to give mothers and babies all the support needed for successful breastfeeding, and to transform Women’s Hospital into an official baby-friendly hospital.

Over a three-day period, the course also outlines HMC’s breastfeeding policy, alongside highlighting the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding. All information is delivered with a view to raising awareness; it highlights the benefits of breastfeeding to the mother, the baby’s growth and development, as well as the impact on the healthcare system, community and environment. The course methodology includes application of theoretical knowledge, supervised clinical skill practices, group work demonstration and role play.

The goals of the course are:

l To create a supportive hospital environment with trained and knowledgeable staffl To ensure that our hospital/ maternity units are places where a breastfeeding culture is the norml To ensure that hospital staff all have a baby-friendly attitude l To implement the 10 steps to successful breastfeeding, outlined by the WHO/UNICEF: 1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely

communicated to all healthcare staff2. Train all healthcare staff in skills necessary to implement this policy3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding4. Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if they are separated from their infants6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless medically advised7. Practice ‘rooming in’; allow mothers and infants to remain together 24 hour a day8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand9. Give no artificial teats or pacifiers to breastfeeding infants10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support

l To secure international accreditation as baby-friendly hospital by 2017

The course brings together multi-disciplinary speakers, such as NICU Consultants, Neonatologist, and OBGYN Specialists. Studies are discussed relating to the benefits of changing old ways of thinking and replacing them with modern evidence-based practices. The importance of communication skills is also highlighted when addressing

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the needs of the patient; excellent communication between the healthcare provider and the patient enables mothers to be empowered to make good breastfeeding decisions.

At the end of the course all attendees have the opportunity to discuss what they have learned over the three days in order to reinforce the important messaging, which they can take away with them and apply to their practice.

References:l Breastfeeding Support for Women’s Hospital CL 6005WHl Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Revised Updated and Expanded for Integrated Care 2009

The Nurse SpotlightResearch by Ashish Badnapurkar, MSN - RH

HMC is fortunate to have a number of exceptional nurses. In the nurse spotlight we hope to share with you the achievements of our colleagues to celebrate their contributions to our profession. This month we are celebrating: Who: Badriya Sulaiman Said Al-Ali Position: Executive Director of Regulatory, Accreditation and Compliance Service (RACS) Hospital: Corporate Services (HMC)

Background:Dr. Badriya Sulaiman Said Al-Ali is a qualified nurse, with over 32 years of experience working at HMC in varied leadership and corporate roles. Her current position as Executive Director of Regulatory, Accreditation and Compliance Services (RACS) is grounded in both experience and an impressive educational resume; Dr. Badriya has a doctorate in Philosophy and Quality Management, a PhD in Hospital Administration and a diploma in Health Science Education. She is also a certified lead auditor, a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, and is ISO certified.

Dr. Badriya highlights her professional milestones as:l 1983: Clinical Instructor for staff developmentl 1985: HMC representative as Assistant Director for Secondary Technical School of Nursing and

Clinical Instructor for HMC staff developmentl 1992: Senior Assistant Director of Nursing Quality Management (established by Dr. Badriya and the Chief of Nursing)l 1994: Risk Management Investigator for Corporate Quality Management l 1995: Acting Director of Nursing and Senior Assistant Director of Nursing Quality Managementl 1997: Assistant Director of Corporate Quality Managementl 2004: Corporate Director of Regulatory and Accreditation (R&A)- initiated by Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari l 2005: Corporate Executive Director for Quality Managementl 2008: Executive Director of Regulatory, Accreditation and Compliance Service (RACS)

Questions and Answers (Q&A):

Q: What is the most enjoyable part of your job?

A: I feel like I learn something new every day; HMC is continuously growing and improving in such a way that I get to learn (and evaluate) new things, almost daily. I particularly enjoy that my job gives me the freedom and leadership to plan, develop and implement programs. One of the best parts of my job is being a problem solver; knowing that I can contribute to interesting problems that have been identified and prioritized when other people are not sure how to solve the issue. This is supported by my wonderful team in the RACS Department who are always on hand to help.

Q: What do you find most challenging about your job? A: The most challenging aspect of my job at the moment is a result of HMC’s position as a rapidly changing/improving organization; I contribute to helping HMC move beyond existing standards to achieve new goals and milestones as an academic health system. I have worked in quality for 23 years in corporate and nursing departments and the greatest challenges in these roles relate to acquiring or achieving regularity accreditation, quality improvement, and patient safety – all under one umbrella. I do have a broad scope of knowledge

Badriya Sulaiman Said Al-Ali Executive Director of Regulatory, Accreditation and Compliance Service (RACS)

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Developing a Career as part of the IMC Team: A Doctor and Nurse Story Dr. Aisha Al-Kubaisi and Rogia Abdulrahim, Staff Nurse

in different areas, which helps me, and I am equipped with a number of tools for problem solving. I would suggest that there is a good scope for career growth and professional development in quality because growth and development never ends in this field.

Q: What does being a nurse mean to you? A: Nursing, as an identity, means that you see yourself as possessing the qualities of a nurse regardless of what job you are doing. I am a nurse and am proud to be one and although I no longer perform direct patient care, it is still a part of who I am and reflects the values that I hold dear to me; I proceed with integrity, I’m a lifelong learner, I seek excellence and connection with my work. I express these values through my work today. I also utilize my knowledge and experience in nursing in so many different ways; I can organize a disaster relief effort, manage a hospital, educate the

community, shape policies or make new discoveries doing research. I like being in a profession that helps people and I have found the body of knowledge that I've gained as a nurse is helpful in everyday situations. Plus, nursing has given me lots of varied opportunities for a good career; I have been able to change from one realm of nursing to another. Nursing has broadened my horizons.

Q: Can you give us an overview of RACS?

A: HMC’s Regulatory, Accreditation and Compliance Services (RACS) is an independent entity, governed by the Planning and Performance Group - managed by Mr. Gary Needle. The RACS structure was initiated and formally approved by Dr. Hanan Al Kuwari (Managing Director) in August, 2013. RACS is a corporate department consisting of 33 employees, which includes 27 professional staff who cover accreditation, compliance,

policies and procedures, and data management and information. It is the responsibility of RACS to assist all HMC facilities and services in relation to the aforementioned areas, to:

l Coordinatel Monitor l Facilitate l Build awareness l Educate and evaluate l Consult and advisel Maintain Qatar laws and regulations and HMC policies/ proceduresl Manage information and data that meets accreditation standards

Final note…

“I am proud to be a leader who comes from a nursing background. I have achieved many accomplishments, including having HMC hospitals and services accredited internationally. If I could only say one thing, it would be that I am a proud nurse and that fact has contributed to my success, not only at HMC, but also in my life.”

Dr. Aisha Al-Kubaisi, Physician, Internal Medicine Clinic

Choosing the right job is challenging and starting it is even harder. I always wanted to be that person dressed in white, helping human beings, easing

their pain and addressing their health concerns.

As a new, fresh, residency graduate, the idea of being an independent physician initially was overwhelming. However, being dedicated and determined to proceed in the career I have chosen has helped me to overcome the difficult moments. Also, I discovered early on that the work environment can play a major role in productivity and this affects everyone, including physicians.

I chose to work in the Internal Medicine Clinic (IMC) even before it was officially opened. It was a brave decision because it

involved transitioning to something completely new. I have always wanted to be a future pioneer of new projects which aim to improve patient care and enhance the services that are available to the wider population.

Having the continuous support from leadership and experiencing a good and supportive relationship with colleagues has helped me to progress - these things continue to help me in my career and professional development. I believe that each individual plays an important role in patient care; the receptionists, nurses, physicians, pharmacy staff and cashiers all have important

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roles and their abilities in their role has a direct affect on the patient experience.

I believe that regardless of our differences, the most important thing is to work well as part of the wider team, respecting everyone’s role and position. “Regardless of differences, we strive shoulder to shoulder…Teamwork can be summed up in five short words: We believe in each other” (author unknown). I am proud to be part of the IMC team who apply this way of thinking to their everyday activities; we work together to provide the best care always.

Roqia Abdulrahim, Staff Nurse, Internal Medicine Clinic

It was my long time dream to be a part of the nursing profession. Since I became a staff nurse at the Internal Medicine Clinic (IMC), I have achieved half of my dream.

The second half will come from me being successful in my chosen field as I progress through my journey in nursing. The dream is to 0not only be a nurse but to be a great one.

Both the training and practice of being a staff nurse has given me the confidence and autonomy that I need to carry out my work effectively. I am now in a position where I can use my clinical judgment and be an active part of the decision making process; my voice can be heard easily as an important member of the team.

During my studies, I became familiar with the concept of ‘transition shock’ – whereby newly qualified nurses can experience difficulty during their transition into practice with negative effects on their capabilities. I was aware that this could happen to me and part of me expected to face this when I transitioned to become a practicing staff nurse.

However, I found that because I am surrounded by a highly supportive team in a supportive environment, I transitioned well and, not only that, I feel confident in achieving the next part of my dream.

Being a part of such a positive environment is a blessing and a perfect start for any recent graduate. I feel that the quality of work in this Clinic and the subsequent patient outcomes are outstanding because of teamwork.

Our commitment to teamwork is evidenced in our weekly meeting, which allows staff from all areas to be updated, receive education and make contributions. Everyone on the IMC team has the opportunity to discuss, highlight and find solutions for relevant issues. I am truly happy to be a member of this great team and I have felt this way since the first day.

GCC Nurses Day Celebration: Photo Gallery

Every year in March, HMC recognizes GCC Nurses Day, with celebrations held across its network of hospitals and clinics.

GCC Nurses Day, also known as Gulf Nursing Day, was initially conceived to commemorate the establishment of the first nursing facility by Rufaida Al Aslamiya and is celebrated each year on 13 March; this is the sixth year HMC has celebrated the occasion.

Rufaida Al-Aslamiya is widely recognized as the founder of modern nursing in Middle Eastern countries. Believed to have learned her nursing skills from her father, who was a renowned healer, Rufaida devoted her life to developing and improving nursing care and is thought to have founded the first nursing school in the Islamic world.

GCC Nurses Day is an opportune time for HMC to celebrate the steadfast professionalism of its nurses and midwives and to recognize the important role these professional groups play as advocates for their patient’s health, safety and dignity.

The following images of this year‘s

GCC Nurses Day celebrations have been submitted by the nurses at Al Wakra Hospital. Among the activities which took place at Al Wakra, were: flower distribution to individual nurses; a CEO presentation from Mr. Wilson Ross; a celebratory cake; a happy nurse notice board; and a nurse photo booth.

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Nurses Play an Essential Role in Trauma Center Achieving International Accreditation Researched by Kristine S. Luzano, SN 4 North 2 HGH

Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) Trauma Center is based in Hamad General Hospital (HGH) and is the only Trauma Center established in the State of Qatar to date. Each year, the Trauma Center receives and evaluates around 3,000 injured patients, 2,000 of which get admitted to the hospital for definitive care. Severely injured patients require

care from a dedicated trauma team which consists of physicians from various specialties, as well as nurses, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other healthcare providers.

Since its establishment in November 2007, the Trauma Center has had an extremely positive impact on

the level of care offered to patients presenting with trauma injuries. In January 2015, with the leadership of Dr. Hassan Al Thani, Head of Trauma and Vascular Surgery, the HMC Trauma Center was awarded the Trauma Distinction Accreditation from Accreditation Canada International (ACI).

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The Trauma Distinction Award recognizes the efforts of nurses, physicians and all other healthcare providers who contribute to the trauma system at HMC. This award

is in fact the first one given to an international trauma system, which makes us even more proud to have received it.

Ms. Holly A. Hepp, MSN, RN, ACNS-BC, Trauma Program Manager, emphasized how the commitment and dedication of the Center’s nurses helped in this prestigious achievement. She noted that as the frontline providers of patient care, nurses continuously ensure that patients are provided with quality care based on international trauma standards. They are dedicated to staying qualified and up to date with the latest information in trauma care and they do this by attending training sessions and continuing their education in the field; for example, the Advanced Trauma Course for Nurses. She also noted that our nurses are also actively involved with the multidisciplinary team in making critical decisions relevant to patient care.

Al Maha Sports Day: Supporting Children with Disabilities Researched BY: Lilykutty Joseph, HN, Al Maha1, RH

Children have incredible energy and spirit, regardless of their physical abilities. Sports are the perfect way to exercise their energy and nurture their spirit, but often children with disabilities are excluded from participating. In recognizing the value of sporting activities for all children and the many different types of sports and their alternatives, Al Maha Unit 1 and 2 recently organized a sports day event tailored to their patients’ needs. The event was based on each child’s strength and not their weaknesses.

The children cared for at Al Maha Units 1 and 2 have complex medical conditions they have multiple disabilities and most of them are ventilator dependent, this does not mean that they cannot participate and have fun, it simply means that they may have to do it in a slightly adapted way when compared to children without the same health issues. With this in mind, the organizing team altered the games to

make them suitable for the children and their families to enjoy – allowing them to get the best experience they can from the activities. For example, a special ramp was made to allow children to participate in a throwing game. Nine other active games were also prepared, including musical chairs and the lemon and spoon race.

Given the right help, children with physical disabilities can participate in almost any sport or exercise. Besides being fun to play, sports can give both kids and parents an emotional boost. Our goal at the Al Maha Units is to make our children smile by providing the safest, most effective and compassionate care to help them live a better quality of life. One way we can do this is by engaging patients and their families in activities whilst they are in our care.

Dedicated parents, nurses and allied health professionals have created many programs dedicated to the children of Al Maha Units 1 and 2.

Creating such programs is a matter of creativity, understanding, and advocacy. The Head Nurse took charge as the co-coordinator of the program on the day and was responsible for getting the children’s sports clothes from Al Rayyan Sports Corner.

On the day of the event, the garden was decorated with a Qatar Sports Day banner, balloons, Qatar flags and colored bunting. Games were planned from 10 am until noon. Upon their arrival in the morning, the Head Nurse welcomed all Al Maha Units 1 and 2 children together with their parents, the SickKids team, nurses, physicians and the allied health team.

Each child was given a chance to participate and they were all very excited. Safety was maintained throughout the event and music was playing alongside all the games/activities to create a more exciting atmosphere for the children. To the amusement of the children, nursing

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staff, physicians and members of the allied health team participated in many games too, including the water balloon games. After each game, the names of the winners were announced to come out and receive their certificates and medals, which they received with great joy. Watching ventilator depended children in their chairs playing with

their families and staff was nothing short of inspiring. Parents were thrilled to see the event and they really appreciated the efforts of the organizing team.

The multidisciplinary team that contributed to the event included: occupational therapist, physiotherapists, activity therapists,

speech therapists, child life specialists (new in Qatar), psychologists, social workers and nurses. It was an honor to arrange such an event and it was only with the help of everyone in the team and the support of the children’s families that we were able to hold a successful event for our patients.

International Nursing News U.S. Nurses once again Voted most Trusted Professionals Researched by Ashish Kumar, MSN

l Once again, nurses have topped the charts in ratings on honesty and ethical standards, according to a Gallup poll. l The poll results are based on telephone interviews conducted in the month of December 2014, with a random sample of 805 adults, ages 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. l In 2014, 80% of Americans polled said nurses have “very high” or “high” standards of honesty and ethics, compared with a 7% rating for members of Congress and 8% for car sales professionals. l Study participants are all American and have been asked to rate the honesty and ethics of various professions annually since 1990, and periodically since 1976. l Nurses have topped the list each year since they were first included in 1999, with the exception of 2001 when fire fighters were included in response to their work during and after the 9/11 attacks, according to an article on the Gallup website. l Since 2005, at least 80% of Americans have said nurses have high ethics and honesty. Two other medical professions — physicians and pharmacists — tied this year for second place at 65%, with police officers and clergy approaching 50%. l Besides members of Congress, other relatively poorly rated professions include advertising practitioners, lawyers, business executives and bankers. l Americans continue to rate those in medical professions as having higher honesty and ethical standards than those in most other professions. Although the 80% rating is a 2% drop from 2013, nurses have consistently been the top-rated profession. l Physicians and pharmacists also receive high ratings in the Gallup poll, according to the article. The high ratings of medical professions this year is significant after the Ebola outbreak which infected a number of medical professionals both in the U.S. and in West Africa. Information sourced from: http://www.gallup.com/poll/180260/americans¬rate¬nurses- highest¬honesty¬ethicalstandards.aspx

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Moving Forward After the NDNQI RN Survey: A Workshop Researched by Ms. Asmaa Kamel, HN, 4N3 – HGH

Al Khor Hospital’s Emergency Department: An Introduction Researched by Mahesh Chandra, CN, Emergency Department - AKH

Towards the end of 2014, HMC nurses participated in the National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) RN Survey. This Survey aimed to gather more detailed information about nurse satisfaction in order to understand how we can better support nurses in their roles by identifying areas which need improvement. There was already a clear link between improved patient outcomes and positive nurse satisfaction scores and this was a driving force behind our participation in the Survey.

The Survey provided nurses with an opportunity to share their opinion anonymously on a number of topics. The results from the Survey, released in December 2014, are now guiding us as we make important changes. “As a Head Nurse I was extremely keen to learn the results and to discuss the next steps with my staff,” explains Ms. Amal Kamel, Head Nurse, 4N3, HGH. The nursing

staff in the department were also positive about how the results of the survey could influence changes, Ms. Cherila Agustin, Charge Nurse, 4N3, HGH, highlighted. “This survey helps the organization, on every level, to see which areas need improvement – recognizing both strengths and weaknesses. This will enable us to assist and prepare individuals in contributing to those changes through professional adjustments and training. The Survey is an excellent tool to help us create an environment which supports high levels of job satisfaction, resulting in excellent quality care.” Luz Walton, Staff Nurse, 4N3, HGH, added: “As a Staff Nurse, I’m willing to participate in any changes which will lead towards enhancing patient care.” On 22 February 2015 at the Club Hotel in Hamad bin Khalifa Medical City, nurses from 4N3, HGH, formed a unit-based council, which will spearhead the formulation of action plans to address the problem areas

identified during the Survey. The council, which consists of one head nurse, one charge nurse and eight staff nurses, was divided into three groups. Each group was assigned to a prioritized area and their role was to discuss an agreed action plan and its implementation.

Through the guidance of Mr. Akram Assaf, DON at HGH, and Ms. Amal Kamel, DON for HGH’s surgical units and lithotripsy, the nurses were empowered to speak up and actively participate in this activity. Ms. Amal’s presence was inspiring to the nurses as it demonstrated her hands-on approach to guiding and supporting her team through this process. Ms. Kristine Mascarenas, a Staff Nurse in attendance said, “The RN Survey workshop emphasized that my opinions as an individual are important and that I was equally as important as any employee at HMC. Through this, we nurses were able to share our opinions and address our concerns.”

The Emergency Department was opened at Al Khor Hospital (AKH) on the 27th March, 2005. Since that time, it has provided emergency medical services for the surrounding communities; the Al Khor area, Ras Lafan industrial area, and neighboring northern areas of Qatar. The Department sees approximately 13,000 patients per month.

Dedicated Areas and Capacity

The Department has a 32-bed capacity divided into urgent treatment areas and non-urgent treatment areas.

Urgent:l Four fully monitored trauma bedsl Four medical emergency bedsl Two orthopedic room beds

Non-urgent:l Seven male bedsl Six female bedsl One minor procedure bedl Three IV room beds

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l Two male minor treatment room bedsl One female minor treatment room bedl Two isolation room (communicable diseases) beds

Emergency Department Mission

Our mission and vision is parallel to the wider AKH mission and vision: Delivering the highest quality of care with the utmost compassion through effective leadership, the promotion of excellence, and ongoing education and research.

Our GoalsThe AKH Emergency Department’s goals are:1. To provide timely, appropriate services to all patients resulting in quality patient outcomes 2. To receive positive patient, staff, and physician satisfaction results 3. To be cost-effective in the use of supplies and staff4. To provide adequate privacy and confidentiality for patients and families

Our Scope of ServiceWe offer a 24 hour service, seven days a week, to all types of patients with medical/surgical problems or traumatic injuries. The patients we

treat range from children to older adults – both male and female. Examples of the types of cases treated in the Emergency Department at AKHl Trauma cases, such as multi- system traumas due to a road traffic accidents or occupational injuriesl Cardiac emergencies, such as myocardial infarction and heart failurel Medical emergencies, such as acute pulmonary diseases, and epilepsy and seizure disorderl Gastro-intestinal diseases, genitor-urinary / renal disease and endocrine diseases

Additional Services Exclusive to AKH Emergency Department

There are two additional services which the AKH Emergency Department provides. Firstly, we have an emergency IV Unit which administers IV medication to patients who have been discharged from either inpatient or emergency units. Secondly, we have an Emergency Department Consultant Clinic, which provides follow-up care for patients who are discharged from the Adult Emergency Department but who

require follow-up treatment soon after.

StaffingThe AKH Emergency Department is staffed with highly skilled and trained professionals. The multidisciplinary team includes: l One head nursel Five charge nursesl Sixty-one staff nursesl Four ward clerksl Nine patient attenders l A number of nursing aidesl Two senior consultantsl One consultantl Twenty-three specialists

Our Achievementsl Successful implementation of the CTAS triaging systeml Successful implementation of the CIS-Cerner paperless clinical information systeml Received Star of Excellence Award/Employee Recognition for our pulmonary TB screening process and our thrombolic therapy for STEMI patientsl Emergency Department nurses have conducted research approved by the HMC research committee relating to patients who return to the Department within 72 hours of discharge

Education News NMER Introduces Communication Skills Training Programs Researched by: Charlotte Al Haider and Annie Shaji, Nurse Educators – NMER

Research evidence indicates that patients’ perception of the quality of healthcare is highly related to the quality of therapeutic communication with their healthcare team. For a healthcare provider, delivering effective communication can be stressful; for example, when delivering bad news to patients or their families during difficult circumstances.

As part of Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) strategic vision of enhancing capacity building, and in response to a clear need to equip employees with the appropriate communications skills for all scenarios, HMC have followed the lead of the Comskil program developed by the Sloan Kettering Institute of New York, officially using their

program to train staff in specific areas of communication, alongside a comprehensive communication skills program developed by the department of Nursing and Midwifery, Education and Research (NMER)The Comskil program was initially developed for physicians, to help develop skills in giving bad news, as part of providing support to patients and families that are undergoing life

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changing events. HMC recognized that this type of training would be especially useful for departments dealing with patients/families in the most challenging circumstances. It was decided that the first sessions would be delivered to staff working in the National Center for Cancer Care

and Research (NCCCR) with plans to roll it out to others in future.The NMER communication program has been running since October 2014 and provides 10 CNE points to the attendees. The teaching of the Comskil program began in December 2014 and 7 CNE points

are awarded for completion of this training. Approximately 60 members of staff have received this training to date. This round of training will continue through June 2015, inclusive of train the trainers courses to further disseminate this essential communication skills program.

Leading Change in Midwifery: Empowering Leaders in Maternity Units at HMC Researched by Shirley Johnson, Abimbola Johnson, Simy Sebastian, Ruby Raj, Nurse Educators - WH

A two-day workshop for maternity unit leaders from across HMC facilities, including Women’s Hospital (WH), Al Khor Hospital (AKH), Al Wakra Hospital (AWH) and The Cuban Hospital (CH), was initiated by the Assistant Executive Director of Nursing (AEDON) for midwifery education, Ms. Maureen Brown, and her team of midwifery educators. The workshop was intended to explore evidence-based practices with a view to initiating some of the changes required to enhance support for pregnant women. The program was designed to assist leaders in their decision making skills and to empower their teams, who have already experienced a three day ‘Essential Midwifery Skills’ program; ongoing since August 2014.

The importance of a holistic care approach for mothers and their families cannot be over emphasized. With this in mind, the program was designed to enable leaders to share good practices and to discuss areas for development in the care of pregnant women in future. The workshop aimed to ensure that a level of ‘competence’ was benchmarked across all areas, offering care to pregnant mothers which is aligned with the National Health Strategy of Qatar. The appointment of a new AEDON for midwifery education, is timely and has highlighted the need to address international standards within all aspects of midwifery care. The leaders who were present at the

workshop received the sessions well and felt more able to lead their staff in implementing a more woman-centered model of care.

The most important message that the 40 leaders in attendance took away with them from the event was that pregnancy should be considered and treated as a normal physiological process and not be positioned in the same way illness is. Moreover, they understood that it is necessary to facilitate small changes that could have a huge impact on women’s care. The outcome of the meetings has resulted in the formation of a Women’s Health League that will meet three times per year to share good practices and formulate new ways of working together.

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USEFUL LINKS Researched by Reizelyn Clanor, BSN, Staff Nurse, Cardiothoracic Intensive Care – HH

There are many useful resources available on the internet for nurses to reference, enjoy and learn from. This month we would like to highlight:

l www.dosagehelp.com This website provides dosage calculation tutorials complete with explanations, examples and practice tests to sharpen manual calculation skills.

l http://www.erc.edu On this site you will find the 2010 European guidelines on resuscitation, as well as ERC (European Resuscitation Council) education tools, manuals, posters and slides.

l www.ihi.org This is the official site of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI). This site provides online education tools with the goal of contributing to healthcare improvement. The information on this site aims to assist healthcare workers in providing the best care always.

1 = A 11 = A

2 = A 12 = A

3 = B 13 = A

4 = B 14 = A

5 = B 15 = B

6 = B 16 = B

7 = D 17 = C

8 = A 18 = C

9 = C 19 = A

10 = A 20 = A

Answers:

In last month’s Nurse Advocate we tested your knowledge of preventing aspiration with a 20 question quiz. See how well you did by comparing your answers to the correct answers below:

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Tips to Survive the Graveyard Shift Researched By: Mosmera G. Sendad, SN - PEC AL-DAAYEN

Most nurses work in shifts, ensuring that patient care is provided 24 hours a day. This is an essential element of nursing and all nurses understand that shift work is inevitable in most nursing roles. Often shifts are on rotation, which means that we can work all kind of hours, including in the middle of the night, when most people are asleep. This overnight shift is informally referred to as ‘the graveyard shift’. Working when everyone else is sleeping is a strange thing to get used to, especially when it comes to sleeping patterns. Switching from a day shift to a night shift has at one time or another left us all feeling tired. But the rotation element is also very important in order to allow normal and social activities, which as with most people, nurses need too.Here are some top tips extracted from an article by Laura McMullen and featured on the website ‘U.S News – Health’* 1. Perfect your sleep hygiene. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule is one of the many aspects of proper sleep hygiene. Boost

your odds for a good day's worth of sleep. For starters, make your room dark and quiet, which may be tough during the daytime. Consider "strategic use of caffeine," as Waters puts it, meaning that while a cup of coffee on the way to work might provide some much needed pep, consuming caffeine towards the end of the shift might leave you sleepless once you get home. Try to wean off caffeine as your shift comes to an end as a way to fall asleep says Eric Olson, Co-director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "As it metabolizes, it actually has a rebound effect and wakes you up. 2. Lighten up. Light sends signals to our brains to be alert, which is partly why we're naturally more awake in the bright daytime and sleepier in the dark nighttime. So at work, when you're expected to be alert, "the more light exposure you can get, the better off you are. While light is your friend at work, it's your enemy after your shift, as you try to wind down for sleep. "When night shift workers drive home in the morning light, their brain is getting mixed signals," Olson says. "On one hand, they're tired, because they have been up all night, so they have that drive to sleep. But they're concurrently getting that alerting stimulant from the morning sun." The solution? Olson and Waters suggest wearing sunglasses during the morning commute home.

3. Nap strategically. Ideally, night shift workers can rack up all their sleep during one block of the day, but sometimes it just doesn't happen. A well-timed nap, say an hour right before work, can help you to stay alert all throughout the upcoming shift, Olson and Waters say.

4. See a doctor if you're struggling. If you're making errors at work, falling asleep on your commute, having trouble sleeping or feeling concerned about additional health ailments, such as high blood pressure or depression, check with your healthcare provider. You and your primary care provider or sleep specialist may discuss alternative methods to make night shift work easier, such as prescription medicines or melatonin supplements. Other sleep issues may also be considered, such as sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome. 5. Make it a family affair. As if reversing sleep and wake schedules wasn't tough enough, night shift work can often put a strain on relationships and families. "How do you get there for your kids' games or performances or concerts when you should be sleeping or getting ready for work?" Olson asks. "Plus, if you're sleep deprived from this, you're probably in a crummy mood, so even if you're around, you may not be the person you or your family wants you to be, because you're bearing the brunt of poor quality sleep." It's not just the person working the night shift who is affected by the unusual schedule, but often kids and partners as well. Planning is also essential for physical and emotional intimacy, according to David Kaplan, Chief Professional Officer and past President of the American Counseling Association. When self-scheduling, keep in tune with key events for friends and family so that a sense of normalcy will remain. *Source: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2014/02/11/healthy-tips-for-night-shift-workers

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3rd Symposium for Pediatric Nurse Leaders: A Brief Overview Researched by Teresita F. Ahmadul, CN, NICU - AWH

The 3rd Annual Symposium for Pediatric Nurse Leaders was organized and

conducted by HMC’s nurse leaders in collaboration with the Executive Management

Committee and SickKids International. A two-day event was held at the Hilton

Hotel, Doha, on the 8th and 9th of February 2015. The Symposium provided an

opportunity for pediatric nurse leaders to present and showcase their successful

leadership initiatives relating to three themes - empowerment, a healthy /positive

workplace, and family-centered care.

The Symposium also gave pediatric nurse leaders an opportunity to share their ideas

to contribute to enhancing their effectiveness and efficiency as future team leaders.

The key areas discussed were: developing potential through the use of team building,

strategic planning and decision making.

In recognizing that pediatric nurse leaders have the potential to lead great change

within HMC, this Symposium was designed to support them in taking action to make

improvements, alongside enhancing their leadership capabilities.

International Nurses Day12 May 2015

Celebrating the remarkable difference nurses make.

Tell us why you are proud to be a nurse – visit http://nursing.hamad.qa