Humanistic care touches every single member of the healthcare team. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s roots began with a focus on the essential humanism of medical students and residents, drawn from its co-founder Dr. Arnold Gold’s observations as a professor and clinician. Over its 30 years, the nonprofit organization has expanded its scope to include every member of the healthcare team, from physician assistant students to hospital CEOs.
In 2018, the Gold Foundation is focused on growing its reach to nurses and nursing students with several exciting initiatives. Two highlights include the expansion of the Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest to include nursing students and the celebration of the International Nurses Day at the United Nations.
“Nurses have always exemplified compassionate care. As the healthcare professional often closest to the intimate round-the-clock needs of patients, they understand deeply the difference that empathy makes in caring for patients and their families. We are delighted to be incorporating more resources and programs for nurses and nursing students in our work,” said Elizabeth Cleek, PsyD, Chief Programs Officer of the Gold Foundation.
The Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest
The Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest has invited medical students to reflect on a humanistic care experience since its creation in 1999. The winning essays have been published in Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). This year, the contest is also open to nursing students, and six winning essays will be selected: three by medical students and three by nursing students. All winning essays will be published in both Academic Medicine and The Journal of Professional Nursing, the publication of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
International Nurses Day celebration at the United Nations
International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 12 to commemorate the birthday of modern nursing’s founder, Florence Nightingale, and to mark the many contributions nurses have made in improving people’s health and lives worldwide. The International Nurses Day celebration at the United Nations on May 11, 2018, is being organized by Deb O’Hara-Rusckowski of Nurses With Global Impact, Inc., who is also a Gold Foundation Board member. This second annual event will bring together seven different organizations to honor nurse nominees who are making an impact on healthcare internationally. The Gold Foundation will be honoring three nurses for their outstanding devotion to humanistic care around the globe.
Nursing White Coat Ceremonies
The Gold Foundation’s iconic White Coat Ceremony, which began at a medical school in 1993, was expanded to nursing schools in 2014, in collaboration with the AACN. In 2018, 50 more nursing schools will receive grants from the Gold Foundation to launch their first White Coat Ceremony, bringing the total number of nursing schools to 310. Information about the White Coat Ceremonies can be found on our website. The application process for Nursing White Coat Ceremonies is managed by the AACN, and applications can be found on their website in June of every year. Generous support for this program has been made by Gold Foundation Board member Elaine Adler.
Interprofessional activities
In addition, throughout our grant programs, the Gold Foundation is emphasizing interprofessional activities and strategies, acknowledging the critical importance of team-based care, and the important role each member of that team plays in providing humanistic care – compassionate, collaborative, and scientifically excellent.
