Shriners Children's Nurses: The Three C’s to Care

By Vanessa D'Aquila, BScN, MSc(A)N, Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada

Compassionate: When caring for our patients and their families, it is essential to be mindful of the experiences they are facing. Whether their hospitalization was planned or not, nurses have the pleasure of accompanying them through these significant life events. When we offer a listening ear, and respond with kindness and empathy, we have the powerful potential to alleviate their concerns.

I am always in awe of the stories of my pediatric patients and their families. I admire their strength and resilience. Reminding myself to provide the excellent care that I would want for my own loved ones helps me to offer them unwavering support in a compassionate way.

Competent: Shriners Children’s offers specialized care to populations with orthopedic, muscular and neuromuscular conditions, etc. The nursing staff are skilled at recognizing the various unique needs of the patients and their family members. As nurses, we have the knowledge, skills and abilities to provide safe and effective care through our schooling, hospital orientation and trainings.

I continue to participate in learning opportunities organized by my institution in order to expand my competencies. These excellent initiatives empower me to also seek a higher nursing education. I am grateful to have cultivated many qualities within myself throughout my graduate degree, and aim to apply evidence-based literature into my practice.

Collaborative: A Shriners Children’s nurse must encourage collaboration with the interdisciplinary team and advocate for our patients and their families to be included as valuable members. By asking what their goals and needs are, we can provide them with helpful and tailored resources to build a comprehensive care plan. Amongst colleagues, clear communication and civility are essential.

My goal is to continue to strengthen and unify our nursing community, but I recognize the undeniable impact every healthcare professional brings to the table. By respecting the varied expertise of my colleagues, and looking for opportunities to involve them, we can achieve the highest quality of patient care together.

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