Photo above: Careerforce Chief Executive Ray Lind congratulating a graduate.
When Waitemata DHB recently celebrated the graduation of 20 Healthcare Assistants, they also celebrated an improvement in patient care.
An encouraging number of colleagues from the hospital care teams, including managers, nurses, and Maori health services along with whānau and friends came to support the graduates who were receiving their Level 3 Healthcare Assistant National Certificates.
Dr Jocelyn Peach, Director of Nursing and Midwifery, said Healthcare Assistants are an essential part of the care team, and the training helped to recognise their critical role. Dr Peach relayed graduate accounts of how the training helped to improve their practice.
“This transfer of learning is the ultimate benefit of training,” says Careerforce Chief Executive Ray Lind. “Patients receive higher quality care and that has a direct impact on health and wellbeing.”
“It was a privilege to witness the graduates’ pride and their team members’ support. And it was wonderful to hear about the noticeable and profound improvement in patient care.”
Graduate feedback after training included greater confidence, knowledge, cultural awareness, listening skills and understanding. The following are extracts are from the stories that were told.
“How patients feel is very important and you can always find a way to listen. I think the biggest thing I have learnt is seeing things through the eyes of the patient and to always remember how you would like to be treated if it was you.”
“I have gained a huge amount of knowledge, and I now have a better understanding of the needs and expectations of patients of different cultures.”
“I have learnt so much and completing this course has given me so much confidence that I feel part of the team at work. I am so proud of myself.”
“I have become more proactive and a lot more confident with handling patient problems and getting to know patients better.”
“I now encourage self-advocacy and have spoken on behalf of patients where needed or advised patients to encourage empowerment.”
“Everything I do in my everyday work I think about whether this is the best way to go about it. I am more aware of the little things that can make a difference to a person’s stay. I think about how I can empower a patient and overall I am more confident that I am doing things well and making a difference.”