Patient Care Assistants Jordan Owens and Jasmine Roberson style a patient’s hair.
When a teen patient asked to have her hair braided by a patient care assistant, the simple request transformed into a larger effort to provide culturally competent hair care to all patients.
The team on our 6th floor inpatient unit established a dedicated cabinet in the unit to store a wider variety of hair care and hygiene products including edge control and stronger combs for natural hair to better meet the needs of patients of all races, ethnicities and hair textures. Team members purchased some of the products, while RevAir Hair Dryer & Hair Care Collection made an in-kind donation.
Now, patient care assistants – including Jasmine Roberson, Destiny Smith, Jordan Owens, Kiara White and JaMika Wilson – frequently lean on these products to style patient hair during their daily one-on-ones on several inpatient units.
Clinical Nurse Manager Karan Johnson shows the supply of hair care products.
The team on our 6th floor inpatient unit established a dedicated cabinet in the unit to store a wider variety of hair care and hygiene products including edge control and stronger combs for natural hair to better meet the needs of patients of all races, ethnicities and hair textures.
Now, several patient care assistants on the unit – including Jasmine Roberson, Destiny Smith, Jordan Owens and MaKayla Campbell – frequently lean on these products to style patient hair during their daily one-on-ones on several inpatient units.
A ‘special kind of patient care’
“Being able to sit with kids and do their hair, it’s a special kind of patient care,” said Jasmine. “It’s awesome that we offer this kind of service.”
Clinical Nurse Manager Karan Johnson, who has worked at Akron Children’s for 29 years, said the effort aligns with the hospital’s mission and three promises.
“One of the things we try to do here is treat all our patients like they’re our own, and sometimes they need this extra nurturing to feel special,” she said. “We want to make sure when our patients come in, they feel heard, and they feel seen. Sometimes, we get patients with chronic illnesses who have extended stays with us. We want to make them feel comfortable, as if they’re at home.”
Establishing trust and a connection
While their hair is being styled, the patients are often eager to confide in the staff and share more about their lives outside of the hospital.
“Every patient is unique, and I get to hear different stories from them while I do their hair,” said Destiny. “I wouldn’t trade this job for anything.”
Karan said it’s through these interactions that patients establish trust with their health care team.
“It keeps them engaged and connected, and it helps build those relationships between the staff and the patients,” she said. “We’re continuing to provide a safe space for them. That type of culturally competent care allows patients to express themselves and feel good about their own culture. We can meet the needs of everyone and continue to make a difference.”
Bonding experience for co-workers, too
MaKayla added that these moments are bonding experiences for patients and co-workers alike.
“It’s an awesome opportunity to get to know our patients,” said MaKayla. “They tend to open up to us, and we do the same. It’s a blessing to be placed in this position along with my co-workers, and it has made us closer as a unit. We always get together and brainstorm different styles to give our patients, and we also contribute to the dedicated cabinet we have for them. It’s so rewarding to see your patient’s entire mood change and to be able to build their confidence from a simple act of kindness.”
With every new braid and style, the team continues to receive positive feedback from patients and their families.
