Royal Jubilee Hospital Hemodialysis Unit
On November 26-27th our amazing hemodialysis team hosted “Beach Days” for our hemodialysis patients who had been on heightened vigilance regarding covid recommendations/restrictions and were feeling the effects of social isolation and engagement. However, this event also helped to give our team a fun venue to ALSO acknowledge the lack of travel and frivolity, and the benefits and joy this event brought were felt by much more than just the patients.
Details of the day:
- COVID-19 measures were adhered to (social distancing, masks, no additional staff/visitors, etc.
- Hemodialysis unit sign and front entrances decorated
- Hemodialysis patients offered a Hawaiian lei upon entry to the renal unit plus a polaroid photo in front of our beach scene as a souvenir (this was a huge hit for most, adding nostalgia for many of past trips to hot places)
- Unit staff were dressed up in Hawaiian shirts with leis – even our housekeepers got into the spirit. A few staff also had grass skirts who were part of the “cabana crew” who handed out tropical beverages (all approved by our renal dietitians) with umbrellas and fancy tropical straws
- Many patients dressed up in tropical clothing and even brought decorations for their bed and side table
- Patients offered Tropical beverage recipe ideas from our renal dietitians (see attached document)
- Patients offered tropical temporary tattoos – these were a huge hit!
- Our hemodialysis nurses baked individually wrapped tropics-themed sugar cookies to distribute
- There were door prize draws for each patient group (handy first-aid kits and radios for their emergency disaster kits plus a few other donated items)
- Staff played the ukulele and there was tropical music on the cabana carts when the crew came through the unit
- TV in waiting room had hula contest and “Blue Hawaii” Elvis movie
Quotes from the patients:
“Thank you goes out to all the staff in renal for the wonderful Hawaiian day on Thursday. What a kind gesture to brighten up the day!”
“Thank you so much for our morning in Hawaii! It was very enjoyable. It made our day a lot brighter. A job well done nurses. It was very appreciated. Thank you, you guys are the greatest!”
“This has meant more to me and helped my morale more than I can say”
“Can we do this every month? Next time – Mexican fiesta?”
Quote from staff RN:
“I was basically in tears describing what an amazing sparking shock of joy it was in the midst of some dark times inside and out of the unit. Both the patients and the staff were loving it!”
“We all needed this – patients AND staff!”
Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Throughout the pandemic these teams have come together to help support patients requiring dialysis to promote a “Transplant and Home first” cultural change. To take on a cultural shift during the pandemic was no easy task, the team has worked through the pandemic challenges along with the challenges that occur day to day in Renal care. We have refreshed our “Transitional Care Unit” to better support the transition to RRT and are integrating targeted education for patients receiving care within this space. We are also working with our Perioperative and other internal colleagues to increase PD Catheter success rates and improve access to body access procedures.