2019 AIN World Conference at Stony Brook

In an ideal world, dignity would be a fundamental element of all relationships.  In healthcare this would show up as respect between professionals and patients/families and among doctors, nurses, and others who work in the field.  Yet, treating others with dignity is too easily lost in the high stakes high stress work of healthcare professionals where relentless medical tests, urgent clinical interventions, chronic and inadequate staffing, constant interruptions, burnout, and frustrating administrative bureaucracies predominate.  
The irony is that care will be better and careers more rewarding when people feel respected. Yet how can we impact busy healthcare professionals in a cost-effective and efficient way? The answer, APPLIED IMPROV!
Applied improv professionals who understand the unique challenges and interpersonal dynamics in healthcare cultures will be better prepared to use their expertise to promote dignity in professional and therapeutic relationships. In this workshop join, Beth Boynton, RN, MS as we explore common barriers to healthy relationships and their impact on outcomes such as patient experience, patient safety, and workforce health.  We will practice an adapted status activity called “Dignity Exchange” that can be taught in 10 minutes or less, used with groups of various sizes to promote dignity, and easily integrated into a variety of common training topics such as;  teamwork, leadership, diversity, communication and emotional intelligence. We will tie everything together with facilitated discussion, brainstorming, and Q & A.  Since healthcare intersects with just about every face on the human diversity spectrum, the rippling effect of applied improvisors infusing dignity into work with medical and nursing professionals could be profound!