We are proud to celebrate the successful completion of NODDING training for our 3A champion staff — marking an important step forward in strengthening person-centred communication across our organization.

A multidisciplinary group from 3A came together for an immersive 2.5-hour training session, with representation from management, patient flow, nursing, and social work. The session was co-facilitated alongside four Patient and Family Advisors (PFAs), whose lived experiences brought powerful depth and authenticity to the learning.

The training provided a deep dive into empathy in healthcare — exploring common thinking traps, recognizing patient cues, and building the skills needed to foster meaningful, patient-centred interactions. PFAs shared real-life stories that highlighted the profound impact empathy has on patient experience, safety, and trust.

Participants actively engaged in hands-on role play, demonstrating the core elements of NODDING:

• Developing trust
• Interacting meaningfully
• Noticing patient cues
• Being genuine

These skills move beyond introduction and into intentional connection — enabling patients and families to feel heard, understood, and empowered to co-design their care.

3A will serve as the pilot unit for NODDING implementation, with rollout supported by the Patient and Family Centred Care (PFCC) team and led by our trained champion staff. This work reflects our continued commitment to embedding empathy into everyday practice — not as a soft skill, but as a critical driver of safety, quality, and patient experience.