So it was with a
bounce in my step that I entered the NMIT School of Nursing (North
Marlborough Institute of Technology) classroom with Helen Childs, nursing
faculty, to meet fifty energetic, third-year nursing students in Nelson, New
Zealand.
Students brought cups of coffee to this first morning class and an understandably inquisitive
spirit about this "guest speaker from the USA." Like any teacher
challenged with teaching the first class of the day, I was determined to keep
the students from drifting into the "Resting Zone," and tried instead
to keep them engaged with the information at hand. Sounding "like Dolly
Parton" (as one student observed I did) helped make me seem interesting!
Two hours was a
short amount of time to: introduce the group to the work of Dr.
T. Berry Brazelton, explain the primary HUG concepts, and share the impact
of giving a HUG to families at this most tender and vulnerable time in
their lives.
After a few
introductory remarks, I showed segments of The HUG DVD and soon was pleased to hear a number
of "Ahs" and quiet chuckles as these HUG babies demonstrated their
amazing ability to communicate. "If only we could learn to speak THEIR
language!" one student remarked.
I especially love
to share the power of the HUG Strategy, "See and Share" the baby's behavior.
Several stories helped these young men and women, on the verge of
beginning their careers, consider how they might make a difference in the lives
of the families they serve. They were attentive and intrigued hearing me assert, "YOU can be THE person these young families remember for the rest
of their lives--if you take a few minutes to help a new mum and dad
get to know and understand their newborn!" One enthusiastic listener said,
"I want to be YOU when I grow up!" How fun to inspire new nurses to glimpse the possibilities their careers might
offer!
Ms. Childs joins
other nursing faculty from Korea, Japan, Brunei and Thailand who are
considering if the HUG Your Baby materials might be incorporated into pediatric
and obstetrical training at their nursing school. Research now underway at the University of
North Carolina in Chapel Hill (USA)
is evaluating the impact of utilizing The HUG's online programs with
undergraduate students at the UNC School of Nursing. Preliminary results suggest that
these materials positively influence both students' knowledge of infant
behavior and their confidence to teach young parents. Stay tuned for
publication of the results of this carefully designed, implemented, and
evaluated study.