Compassionate Care Initiative
The Compassionate Care Initiative exists to advance compassionate care as a professional work ethic in healthcare and a defining value of University of Virginia School of Nursing. Compassion involves recognizing and alleviating suffering, not just for patients but also for health workers and organizations, ultimately benefiting society.
In our work, we seek to:
- Explore and understand the means through which health workers develop, renew, and sustain compassionate care.
- Foster and teach skills that support students and health workers to overcome challenges, to care and advocate for themselves and their teams, and to provide safe and exceptional care for their patients.
- Inspire students, faculty, staff, clinicians, and community members to use their voices, take compassionate action, and lead change in healthcare from the bedside to systems and to society.
Our team members often provide guest lectures and professional development opportunities on topics such as:
- compassionate communication
- mattering in healthcare
- growing healthy work and learning environments in academic healthcare
- mindful leadership
If you'd like to request our services, contact us.
The Student Ambassadors are primarily undergraduate and graduate nursing students, but also sometimes include medical students and students from the College of Arts and Sciences. They meet regularly and develop programs that model compassionate care principles in the learning environment, cultivating wellness and community.
Student Ambassadors also have the opportunity to volunteer to round with the CCI Cart at UVA Health.
Membership is voluntary. If you would like to become a Student Ambassador, contact Emma Hennesey.
Areas of Influence
