Page 158 - HA Convention 2016 [Full Version]

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2016 Symposiums

S12.1 Going an Extra Mile for Staff 14:30 Room 221

Kowloon East Cluster “Nightingale Life Mentor” for Secondary School Students Volunteers
Lau SY
Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong

In nowadays society, many children are over-protected by their parents and their survival instinct is suppressed in certain
situations. The programe aims at bringing the youth a positive life experience and caring attitude through visiting the elderly
and post-visit sharing with the Nightingale Life Mentors. Through concerted effort of voluntary nurses, we could nurture our
next generation to care others with heart and understand the reality of the community.

The initial planning started in March 2014. 30 nurse volunteers were invited to join the programme by November 2014. Training
and briefing were conducted for the students and nurses. 14 groups of the students and mentors were formed, and home
visit was started in February 2015.

The programme was evaluated and post-visit reflection were shared among the students and life mentors. It was positive and
encouraging. The students expressed that they gained a lot in various aspects such as communication and problem solving
skills, caring attitude and so on. With the great support of our Cluster General Manager (Nursing), honourable advisor, the
programme was further promoted to other Kowloon East Cluster hospitals - Tseung Kwan O Hospital and Haven of Hope
Hospital.

S12.2 Going an Extra Mile for Staff 14:30 Room 221

Wednesday, 4 May Cultivating a Caring Culture through Staff Engagement
Leung C
Department Operations Manager, Department of Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong

A professional volunteer group, the Nightingale Club, was established in November 2004 by nurses retiring from Queen
Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). They would like to carry forward the “Nightingale spirit” by using their professional expertise,
providing services to the public and aiming at building a healthy community. Nowadays, apart from retired nurses, members
also include nurses and student nurses working in the Kowloon Central Cluster.

The members are well aware that provision of primary healthcare that focuses on health promotion and illness prevention
plays an important role in improving individual well-being. It is hoped that through health education activities and
collaboration with community stakeholders, health concept and knowledge could be delivered more comprehensively to the
targeted group of older people, carers and general public in the district, thus empowering them to live a healthy life.

Apart from being a platform to recruit nurse volunteers and cultivate a caring culture within the hospital, the Club becomes a
strong helping team in the Hospital through providing services and assisting in hospital activities by members during their free
time. It creates an environment and opportunities for members to share and learn from each other based on their different life
and working experiences, thus enabling them to tackle challenges from different angles. It is an excellent informal channel for
skill transfer.

Since a few years ago, apart from providing services to local community, the team has also extended its services to Mainland
China. It is hoped that the programme can continue to serve as a platform for staff engagement and skill transfer.

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