Bassett Hospital Receives High Honor for Staff Care

Unless you are a working nurse, it would be impossible to understand the pressures and stress they face in their day to day occupational activities tending to patients.  Because of this stress, it is important that these special people have a place there they can "take a break" during the work day, find some personal space to de-stress for a few minutes, re-focus on the job at hand and go back to performing their duties.  Bassett Healthcare recognizes that need and has worked to provide such a personal space for their medical staff.   And they have just been honored for their pro-active response to the needs of the medical staffs.

In June the Watson Caring Science Institute (WCSI) named Bassett Healthcare Network one of its National Caring Science Affiliate Systems. With this designation, WCSI recognizes Bassett’s integration of Human Caring Theory and Caring Science practices into its nursing culture.

“We are over the moon to be a part of the affiliation program” says Denise Robinson, DNP, MPH, RN, WOCN, Chief Nurse Executive at Bassett. “Incorporating Caring Science into our facility will support our exemplary staff and reduce our staff turnover— making it easier for us to authentically care for every one of our patients.”

Caring Science is a growing field of research and practice within the discipline of nursing based on the life work of Jean Watson, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, FAAN. It integrates principles of medical science, spirituality and moral philosophy in the context of relationships. This holistic perspective emphasizes that nurses need to be mindful and present when caring for their patients.

To this end, Bassett Medical Center recently opened up the Watson Healing and Caring Room designed on Human Caring Theory principles. More than a traditional breakroom, the space gives nurses a place to center themselves, relieve stress in a massage chair (see photo above), and prepare for their patient encounters. Providing such spaces are one of the criteria that WCSI looks for when naming a health system a National Caring Science Affiliate System.

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