Hearing stories about how you use ClayLinks® Kits in your workplace is endlessly interesting and educational to us. We learn so much each time you share. Your stories allow us to continually adapt and update the information we offer all our customers. This teaches best practices and allows us to share what works between all of you at your different hospitals across the country. Your stories also feed well into our efforts to support your use of ClayLinks Kits. They help make sure you are getting the most out of using CaringWisdom® products for memory-making with your patients. Today’s blog is about sharing an idea that has worked well with one of our pilot hospitals in our home city of Fort Collins, Colorado.
Sharing is Caring
The NICU at UC Health’s Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins has an outstanding team of dedicated nurses. We are so blessed to have forged relationships with these nurses and to have them close by. They have been longtime users of ClayLinks Kits. They utilize items from our full line of CaringWisdom products, including our craft oven. The Poudre Valley NICU team members regularly share stories of how they have used ClayLinks Kits, including this one, about a repurposed L & D cart.
Innovative Memory-Making Practices
The “decommissioned” L & D cart found itself back in business as a mobile memory-making aide. The bassinet was removed from the top of the cart. Then, the flat surface of the cart became home to the craft oven. The oven is used to cure the ClayLinks print and make the impression permanent. The drawers and cupboard space underneath have been filled with the rest of the memory-making supplies. The ClayLinks Kits, the molds and Patty Pads used for shaping the clay, the stamping kits and other decorations have been organized, stored and are at-the-ready in one convenient location: the cart!
When not in use, the cart is stored in a central location. The bereavement team has a dedicated staff member to oversee the stock and it is that staff member who gets in touch with us to re-order when supplies start to run low. You can also use our printable Supply Tracker worksheet to keep inventory and mark what needs to be reordered.
The L&D Cart in Practice
When the memory-making cart is needed, it can be conveniently wheeled right into the patient’s room. Memory-making may be done privately and can include any of the family members that may be present at the time. Then, the ClayLinks patties are kneaded in preparation for getting the print. By the way, this is a great task to involve family members!
Next, the hand or footprint impression is taken in the clay. After that, unique personalization can be added to the print. The letters and numbers stamp kits needed can be easily stored in the drawers. In addition, more meaningful decorations can be added using the supply of decorative charms, gemstones and ribbon that can be stored in our storage containers.
Baking is Quick and Easy!
While staff and loved ones decorate the print, the craft oven is plugged in and preheated to the baking temperature of 275 F. Once the print making and decorating is complete, the precious keepsake is ready for baking. The 20-minute baking time will cure the ClayLinks Clay. At the end of the baking period, the print is placed on the top of the L & D cart to cool. After the print has been cooled to room temperature, a unique, permanent and shatterproof keepsake memento is ready to give to the family.
Alternatively, if baking is not possible, we offer Take & Bake Containers that are used to send home unbaked prints safely. The containers have baking instructions on the lid and the prints can be baked right in tray after removing the lid.
What other innovative ways have you incorporated ClayLinks Kits into your bereavement support protocol? Send us a message through our contact form. We’d love to hear from you!
