Discovery honours nurses and celebrates nursing excellence in South Africa

Discovery honours nurses and celebrates nursing excellence in South Africa

12 May 2016

Discovery thanks nurses for their service to society and highlights its local awards and global programme that aim to nurture excellence and leadership in the nursing profession.

12 May is International Nurses Day, celebrated around the world to highlight the impactful role of and the crucial service nurses provide in the healthcare system. On the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the world recognises each person who has dedicated him or herself to, and has built a career in, providing crucial nursing care.

“At Discovery, we place great value on the role nurses play in ensuring the best health outcomes for patients,” says Dr Roshini Moodley Naidoo, Head of Quality of Care at Discovery Health. She said, “Today, we want to extend a warm thank you to all nurses and care workers for their unwavering commitment to an excellent healthcare system designed around addressing the needs of patients and families.”

In support of nurses’ critical role and to elevate the profession, Discovery Health, in 2014, launched the Discovery Excellence Awards for Nurses (DEAN). The purpose of these awards is to reward and enhance nursing excellence in hospitals, and to create opportunities for further education and training in nursing services. “Through these initiatives, Discovery Health aims to strengthen the country’s healthcare system, improve the quality of care, and promote excellence in service delivery in hospitals,” said Moodley Naidoo.

Nurses nominated for these awards in the private sector are identified from Discovery Health Medical Scheme members’ feedback on their hospital experiences. Nurses are recognised bi-annually, and winners in these rounds are considered for the annual award. Discovery Health has also partnered with the National Department of Health in 2015 to add the Cecilia Makiwane Award category (named after the first registered professional Black nurse in South Africa) for nursing excellence in the public sector to the DEAN.

All shortlisted candidates in the different categories go through rigorous interviews with an independent panel of judges from local academic institutions and the South African Nursing Council. Winners are announced and honoured at a prestigious annual event.

Discovery - Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Global Health Services Partnership

In effort to develop nurses’ leadership skills, and clinical knowledge, Discovery Health also announced its Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Global Health Services Partnership. This partnership takes the form of a two-week Nurse Leadership Exchange and Development Programme.

The Nurse Leadership Exchange and Development Programme between Discovery Health and MGH gives DEAN winners selected from the private, public and NGO sectors the opportunity to attend a unique leadership programme at MGH in Boston, USA. The programme includes leadership development, clinical observations, simulations to apply clinical knowledge and skills, visits to community hospitals and lectures on quality and patient safety.

MGH Global Health responds to global health disasters and humanitarian aid requests. Their aim is to increase nursing training, and the number of nurses to address critical shortages. Through the Global Health Services Partnerships, they helpboost nursing education and public sector systems.

The first attendees in the global learning partnership at MGH Global Health

In February 2016, four winners in the 2015 DEAN had an opportunity to attend the development programme in Boston. On their return, attendees called the experience an inspirational highlight in their careers.

Holliness Dladla: From Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centrewon for her natural and influential connections with patients. Commenting on her MGH learning experience, she said, “It changed my life”. She is now doing a bridging course to further her career. She said Massachusetts General Hospital is remarkable, and she learnt a lot from clinical observations. The facilitators were engaging and showed that leadership skills form a huge part of quality patient care. Holiness said she would share what she has learnt with her colleagues to uplift the nursing standard.

Mavis Mwale: From Springs Parkland Clinic won for her deep respect for the influence that she has in her interactions with her patients, and for being a role model to young colleagues through patient-centred care. Mavis said she found the training programme rewarding in that it brought out her strengths, and helped her identify areas of her leadership skills. She said she would put all the information into use to promote quality nursing in our institutions.

Simone Bothma: From Wilmed Park Private Hospitalwon for her insight into the substance of nursing, and for making a difference through her positive, thoughtful approach to care. Simone called the MGH learning experience a “highlight of my life”. She feltrecognised and appreciated as a nurse. She now feels even more inspired to excel in her work, and said the clinical observation at MGH was astonishing.

Thobeka Williams: From Gateway Private Hospital won for her understanding of care and how furthering her knowledge influences her level of care for each patient. She described her MGH learning opportunity as “unique and inspirational”. She highlighted the safe hospital environment, and efficient teamwork in the hospital setting regardless of the ward. She was also inspired by the self-empowerment through education. Hazel is planning further studies following her visit to MGH and said the quality of nursing is 110% because patients' safety is a priority.

“Our nurses work tirelessly to provide essential care to patients and families. Recognising their work is a means of encouraging others to be inspired by these exceptional leaders so that our healthcare system can be further strengthened” Moodley Naidoo said. “We are glad to see the awards and global exchange programme are succeeding in their aim to improve the level and impact of co-ordinated care and uplift nurses to take pride in their career and role in society. Nurses can, not only today but every day, feel proud of their work and valuable role in society,” she said.

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