Creating a nuturing, caring environment during a surgical procedure can make a lifetime difference in our patients and families lives.

1. Perioperative Services
Caring Science
Session
Carole Weller, RN

2. Introductions
Thank the participants for coming and introduce
yourself
Ask each participant to introduce themselves,
telling where they work and one thing about
themselves that they feel no one knows.

3. Purpose
“Today we want to explore our current understanding
about caring and its relationship to self, co-workers,
patients, and our community. We will learn a few new
skills to deal with our stress and techniques to better
connect with one another and our patients.”

4. Goal
At the end of one hour we hope to
•Feel more relaxed
•Better appreciate our needs, especially in the workplace
•Better understand how we relate to others
•Learn one HeartMath technique for dealing with stress
•Understand the difference between merely hearing and authentically
listening

5. Ponder this
What does it mean to
care?

6. Ponder this…
(Leave time for thought and interject adlib)
How does it look when
your day goes well?

7. Ponder this…
Do you look for opportunities
for people to help you, or do
you look for ways to help
other people?

8. Ponder this…
Do you see the world for what
it is, or for what it could be?

9. Ponder this…
Is who we are keeping
us from being who we
could be?

10. A Centering
Moment
Lead the group in an exercise of centering.
Close eyes, take slow deep breaths, focus
on your heart, and bring in a positive
emotion or memory. (60 seconds)

11. HeartMath
• What is HeartMath?
• How is it relevant to me?
• How does it effect others?

12. Authentic Listening
“Empathy is the ability to take into consideration the other
person’s perspective. Being consciously empathetic is to be
“authentically present”. To be authentically present is to
demonstrate no judgment.”
•We don’t judge
•We don’t bring preconceived ideas to the conversation
•We do listen without interruption, giving our full attention
•We listen with an open heart
Compare to our normal communication!

13. Authentic Listening
Exercise
Pair off:
• One person speaks for 3 min, the other listens
• The listener summarizes for 1 min and tells
what they heard the other say.
• Switch rolls

14. Debrief
• How do you feel?
• Have you gained greater understanding about
yourself? About others?
• What did you learn that you can incorporate into your
practice?
• Can you share your experience today with at least
one other person?

15. Feedback
“I realized that I can do more for my co-workers.”
“I would like to see all my staff come to this session. It is most
definitely worthwhile.”
“I see things in a different way now. Thanks for opening my
eyes.”
“ I could relate so much to what was said today and I loved
making the connection with my partner.”
“I wasn’t sure what to expect. You could feel the room
change as the hour went on.”
“Please keep doing these sessions. So many people need
this and don’t even know it.”

16. Quote
“So never lose an opportunity of urging a
practical beginning, however small, for
it is wonderful how often in such
matters the mustard-seed germinates and
roots itself.”
Florence Nightingale