BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU TAUGHT US

Honoring Choices has partnered with Regis College and its School of Nursing as the first major academic institution in the Commonwealth to incorporate the Honoring Choices Massachusetts health care planning model across its nursing school curriculum.  Kellie La Pierre, Assistant Professor, GNP-BC, explains the innovative changes underway in the School of Nursing this way: “We will carry the health care planning thread from day one of the program, weaving it into classes and clinical experiences throughout a student’s life at Regis.”

Recognized by the National League of Nursing as a Center of Excellence in Nursing Education, Regis College, through Ms. LaPierre, is working closely with Kathy Hankel, RN, MSN, Co-founder of Honoring Choices Massachusetts and Director of our Nursing Education and Curriculum Development, to integrate a cutting-edge health care planning curricula into all four years of the Regis College School of Nursing program. “Starting with the freshman class, Regis students are now being taught competencies and skills to take the lead in today’s health care system.”

Thoughtfully taking note of how gratifying it is to know that her students have the compassion and skills to respond to patient concerns, Ms. LaPierre related a recent example in which a student nurse, supervised by an experienced head nurse, was able to respond to her chronically ill patient’s questions about a Comfort Care/Do Not Resuscitate Order. Taking the patient’s lead, this young student was able to help the patient by listening carefully to her concerns and giving her clear and accurate information. As this student told Ms. LaPierre, “I knew how to help my patient because of what you taught us.”