Inaugural Student Nurse Extern Hire Exceeds Expectations

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 by The Clarian Health Nurse Recruitment Team
What a successful ride! I just completed my first Student Nurse Extern hire under the new program that I launched on January 1. The ease of the process, the quality of the candidates, and the fluidity of the collection of required documentation far exceeded my expectations! I couldn’t be more excited to see the fruits of my labor, nor could I have asked for a better collaborative team to help me “pull off” my vision. Today is a good day, I love my job!

Julie Ruschhaupt, BS, RN, Clarian Health Nurse Recruiter
JRuschhaupt@clarian.org
317-278-7082

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Career Job Search.

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Nurses, Go for the Gold!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner

Like most of you, I have been watching the Olympics. Every venue has its awe - except Curling. I don’t seem as thrilled about a broom and a stone as I do watching Shaun White fly out of the half pipe! I suppose the badgers and the Canadians would disagree. I imagine that is part of the lure of the Games - we all have our preferences. One thing I am acutely aware of is the training and commitment required of each of these athletes. It is truly amazing. I heard the interview with Apolo Anton Ohno regarding his regime and agreed with Brian Williams’ over-all assessment when he said, “These people have DNA that the rest of us do not have”! Apolo not only talked about his preparation but he talked about his goals. He has daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly goals that culminate with the ultimate prize that happens every four years.

I’ve been thinking about goals. Without them, it seems life just happens. In reality, perhaps I could be a curler in the next Olympics - if I start soon. Or, maybe, I could just get my life in order and have a goal for the day! Clarian has been presenting Forums this month about our accomplishments and goals on the road to preeminence and I have the new Joint Commission goals ever present on my name tag. Every day when I arrive at work, I set up a care of plan for each patient that contains two goals for the day. It seems everyone has goals but me.

I did a random, non-scientific pole of my peers the other day and asked the simple question, “What is your goal for today”? Responses:

  • Survive - be happy - keep my patient from falling.
  • Get through the day! Keep my sickle cell happy and my other patient’s wife from being mad at me.
  • To leave here and go home happy.
  • Get out on time.
  • To be organized and not become stressed-out.
  • Do no harm.


I guess I am a bit naïve. I thought someone would say, “I have been reviewing the Synergy Model for Patient Care and my goal for the day, probably the week, is to enhance my communication skills and become consciously aware of the manner in which I interact with people.” That didn’t happen. I didn’t even come up with that idea until right now. But, I think it is a stellar goal.

This whole goal business has me thinking, planning and pondering. For starters, I have set my retirement date. It will come before the next Winter Olympics; the next Magnet Review; and the end of the Mayan calendar. But, sadly, I will not see the day that 4-medicine has all private rooms! So, what do I want to accomplish? My time is limited. Lately, I have had goals like those above: be safe, get out on time, survive! I’m wondering if there isn’t something more? What is it that I would like to do before I end a nursing career spanning four decades?

And, my questions to you are the same, whether your career is just starting, waning, or coasting: What are your goals? What do you want to accomplish? Is there something more? What is it that you really want to do? I say, go for the Gold!

Sherry

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Position Indiana.

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A Door is Opening: Rare Position for Registered Nurse at Indiana Poison Center

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 by Gwenn Christianson, MSN, RN, CSPI

Something unusual has happened. An ivory-billed woodpecker hasn’t landed in my backyard and howler monkeys haven’t taken over my office, but something nearly as rare has occurred - we have an open position at the Indiana Poison Center!

One of our team members, “Deb,” has decided to flee the freezing temperatures and snow, ice and slush of Indianapolis and is headed for a warmer climate. This means her position is available for interested parties to pursue. This is truly unusual – our last open position was 3 and half years ago! Our staff members, in fact, have an average tenure of 13 years – with 6 of 15 being here more than 20 years – obviously those of us who work here, love it.

What is it like to work at the Indiana Poison Center (IPC)? You have to love to be constantly challenged and be happy with a consistently unpredictable work day. Each call is different and you never know who will be there on the other end of the line …. an anxious mother, a hurried ER physician, a belligerent intoxicated person, a freaked-out father, or a harried ICU nurse. Will the substance be a mild soap or an extremely toxic cardiac drug? Will it be a garter snake bite (non-toxic) or a cobra bite (oh no, neuro toxic!) Will there only be one toddler for your patient or a whole class of high school chemistry students that just mixed up some toxic fumes? Can you care for them at home or do you need to obtain EMS and a Hazmat consult while you’re at it? Can you juggle multiple cases, prioritize them, coordinate different protocols and databases and facilitate communication amongst different health care professionals, all at the same time?

These are just a few of the questions we deal with every day, every shift. Sound interesting? If you are an RN, preferably with ER or ICU experience, consider applying to IPC. The chance doesn’t come around too often – the next member of our team could be you!

Gwenn

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.

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The Key to a Successful Nursing Interview: Be Professional

Wednesday, February 3, 2010 by The Clarian Health Nurse Recruitment Team
Of course, nursing experience is important. But you’ll have to perform well in your interview to land a great nursing job.

The most important advice I can give an interviewee is BE PROFESSIONAL. It sounds pretty simple, but many people don’t act professional (and consequently don’t get the job).

Professionalism is the number one thing Unit Managers look for. That means be on time, dress appropriately, and be prepared not only to answer questions, but also to ask good questions. The questions you ask about Clarian and the position show your level of interest and experience. Also, be polite.

Remember – the job market for nurses continues to be highly competitive in this economy. We have MANY more applicants than open nursing positions at Clarian. And how you perform in your interview matters … a lot.

And while you are remembering to be professional, don’t forget to be yourself, too. Personality also matters when it comes to joining a nursing unit.

By Lydia Ostermeier, MSN, RN, CHCR
Director of Nurse Recruitment, Retention, Workforce Development, Resource Allocation & Customer Service
losterme@clarian.org
317-962-1886

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses.

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Nursing Means Working with Great People

Monday, February 1, 2010 by Teresa Weller Sundine, BSN, RN

It's almost springtime, and with that we will have a new crop of nurses. Recently, one of the staff nurses who is now a nursing instructor brought about 8 of her nursing students to our unit to get an idea of what Critical Care was about. I got to meet several of them and of course when I found out they were graduating in May....well, the old “recruit” mode came out in me. I told them how much I really loved working on NCC and that we are a very cohesive group. We all work very well together and even enjoy each others' company outside of the work environment. There are not a lot of jobs that you can say that about.

We recently received the results of the NDQI study and our unit scored above the national average on all of the questions. To me, that means the majority of us like our jobs, like our managers, and think we are treated fairly and work well together.

For me, working with great people means as much, if not more, than the area itself. I never dread going to work (except that I would love to be independently wealthy and never have to work) or hate being there once I arrive. I know, even when the work is intense and the night seems like it will never end, that I will be with people that I trust to work with and will be able to laugh or cry without fear, because they are friends and we have all been there. We support each other, not only at work, but also outside of work too. That is a comforting feeling to have - especially in the field of nursing.

Happy Nursing.

Teri

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Nursing Jobs Indianapolis.

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The Clarian Nursing Application and Interview Process in a Nutshell

Thursday, January 28, 2010 by The Clarian Health Nurse Recruitment Team
Recruiting great nurses is extremely important to us. So we want the application and interview process to give us a good idea of who you are and what you expect from a nursing position. We try to keep the process as simple as possible. Below is what to expect when applying to Clarian for a nursing position.

The application process (should take no more than 15-20 min.):
  1. Find a position(s) you want at www.calltochange.org/nursing or www.clarian.org/clarianjobs.
  2. Click through until you reach the online application.
  3. Complete the application and upload your resume.
  4. Follow the instructions to complete the Health Care Selection Survey. (This is a tool we use to gauge how you will fit at Clarian – taking into account your personality, experience, etc.)
  5. When this is done, you will receive an automated reply by e-mail, saying we’ve received your application.
The interview process:
  1. We call ALL qualified applicants WITHIN 2 WORKING DAYS. If we don’t feel you’re a good fit at Clarian, you will receive an e-mail response.
  2. When your recruiter calls, you will discuss career goals, experience, expectations, etc. Your recruiter might also recommend other openings that might suit you well.
  3. Your recruiter will schedule an interview with the unit manager (usually within a couple of days). You may have two or more interviews scheduled, depending on your experience and qualifications.
  4. Your recruiter will coordinate every aspect of the interview process. Typically, on the day of your interview, you will meet your recruiter at the Nurse Recruitment office, where you will go over general employment and benefit details. Your recruiter will then personally escort you to your interview(s).
  5. Within a couple days (maybe sooner) you will have a response. You will either be given a formal job offer, recommended for a shadowing day, or told why you are not being offered the position.

We have some of the best recruiters in the business, and their entire job is to treat you professionally and with respect. We work hard to find and recruit the best nurses available. If you’re one of the best, we can’t wait to talk with you.

Good luck in your interviews!

By Lydia Ostermeier, MSN, RN, CHCR
Director of Nurse Recruitment, Retention, Workforce Development, Resource Allocation & Customer Service
losterme@clarian.org
317-962-1886

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.
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Lydia Ostermeier, MSN, RN, CHCR, Director of Nurse Recruitment

Thursday, January 28, 2010 by The Clarian Health Nurse Recruitment Team
Lydia Ostermeier, MSN, RN, CHCR, Clarian Director of Nurse RecruitmentLydia became a nurse to have a challenging and rewarding career, which she has happily pursued at only Wishard Hospital and Clarian since obtaining her RN licensure.

"Nurses can make or break a patient’s hospital experience – you have to keep a smile on your face and your chin up at all times even in the most difficult of circumstances."

Lydia has previously served as a Neurosurgery ICU staff nurse, a Director of Staffing, and a Clinical Manager at University Hospital in Indianapolis.

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Job Opportunities.
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A Call For Help

Thursday, January 21, 2010 by Gwenn Christianson, MSN, RN, CSPI
I just finished a 12-hour shift. Maybe it’s the cold, cold weather, maybe it’s the post-holiday let-down, maybe it’s the phase of the moon… but there were an unusual amount of suicide attempts for the day shift today. Most intentional ingestions happen on evenings and nights.

(All details below changed to protect confidentiality.)

I talked to two concerned moms with distraught daughters. One was a 13-year old girl who took 10 Ibuprofen after her boyfriend broke up with her. The other was a 24-year old lady with a history of bipolar disorder and post-partum depression who took a double-dose of her Elavil®, “but wanted to take the whole bottle.” Fortunately, mom had wrestled the bottle away. I also spoke with the ER nurse caring for an 18-year old girl “whose parents are out of the picture” and who was brought in by her live-in boyfriend after they had an altercation. She had drunk half a bottle of Nyquil® and taken four tablets of Benadryl® – because she “wanted to go to sleep.”

Now, none of these sound like very serious ingestions to most people – they aren’t ingestions of hundreds of pills, they aren’t particularly toxic substances in the amounts ingested, and none of the patients were having significant symptoms when we were called. Still, each patient was referred to the ER for (or the ER was advised to provide) a thorough medical evaluation – on the general theory that a person who is upset enough to intentionally take an overdose can’t be relied upon to be the most accurate historian. Psychiatric evaluation was also recommended.

At some point you may encounter a friend, relative or acquaintance that has made a suicidal gesture. The circumstances (a teenage romance, the baby blues, a squabble with a boyfriend) may not seem very significant to you. The exposure itself may not seem particularly toxic. Of course, we recommend that you call Indiana Poison Center and let us help you determine what to do in each circumstance.

I encourage you to treat these events EXTREMELY SERIOUSLY for these reasons:
  1. Although the “motive” may seem “insignificant” in your eyes, if the patient has judged it to be an adequate reason for an attempt, disastrous results may occur.
  2. You don’t really know what has been ingested or the quantity involved and you shouldn’t wait to find out what may develop.
  3. If initial suicidal attempts are ignored or minimized, subsequent attempts may be more aggressive.
What happened with these three young ladies? All three were medically evaluated and medically cleared. All were evaluated by the respective Crisis Teams at their facilities. Two were admitted for in-patient psychiatric care and one was referred back to her current therapist for on-going out-patient therapy. Were these ER evaluations worthwhile? Absolutely. They were a very effective method to establish physical stability and acquire an entry to the mental health system.

Someone may call on you for help. Be sure you are listening.

Gwenn

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Job Opportunities.
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Beyond Schatzki to Maglinte

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
This is a multi-faceted blog. I think I know the point I want to make but the angles have the possibility of aligning under these categories:
  • Just When You Think You Know Something
  • Gerontological Bliss
  • Lifelong Learning
  • Medical Nursing: Priceless
This week, I met the most delightful 90-year-old woman, who has been married to a most delightful 96-year-old man for 61 years. Naturally, I was delighted! I have enjoyed every minute I have had the privilege of caring for her. She is bright, witty, engaged, and very interested in whatever I was up to regarding her care and my days in general. At this point in time, her life is getting very complicated and there are many decisions to be made. I could continue with several little vignettes regarding Ms. N, so you could be delighted too, but I am now going to make an abrupt detour to one of her maladies known as Schatzki ring.

It was 0630. It’s not always easy for me to engage my brain at that time of day. I was reading history notes on my patients and discovered one of them has a Schatzki ring. I drew a blank. Then, for some odd reason, I thought “Final Jeopardy” and I end up with no money because I bet it all on medicine and suffer a terrible defeat at the hand of the Schatzki ring. So I place this on my “need to know list” and begin the day feeling a bit more ignorant than when I started.

A quick look-up reminded me that a Schatzki ring is simply a ring of tissue that forms where the esophagus and stomach meet. A little dilation now and then seems to work wonders for most people. One would think that would placate my curiosity but I started to wonder, “who is Schatzki and how does someone get a piece of tissue named after them?" So I read a condensed Google version of his biography, and I found it to be quite fascinating.

First of all, Richard Schatzki was born in Germany, not Poland. Having lived in Wisconsin, I thought I could tell the difference based on spelling: wrong. As a GI/Liver nurse, I was particularly interested in learning that “in 1931 he presented the first in-depth discussion of esophageal varices and the initial description of gastric varices.” Varices have been my life for 30 years! Why have I not equated it with Schatzki? He also described that esophageal ring in great detail so, of course, his name is attached to it. That is just the tip of his iceberg. This man has made an incredible contribution to medicine; specifically, gastrointestinal radiology /fluoroscopy. In 1992, he died at the age of 90 and my 90 year old has his ring! This seems to be an ageless blog! He was also an accomplished pianist. I found that dimension of the man to be quite fascinating. His life really is worth a Google.

Medical nursing is sort of a mental melting pot - a junkyard of information, perhaps. I can substantiate that statement by telling you it is now 0700 on a Saturday morning – my day off! And, I am musing beyond Schatzki to Maglinte. He has his own tube. How did that happen? I use that tube and find it quite useful, but who in the world is Maglinte? Another gastrointestinal radiologist who just happens to reside at IU! I wonder if he plays the piano?

Sherry

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses.

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Well, Those Were a Couple of Whirlwind Days!!

Friday, January 15, 2010 by Tracy Davis, BSN, RN, CCRN, Pediatric Critical Care
Recently we began the final phase of a very long process to change out all of the pediatric code carts. Honestly, two pregnancies were not nearly as long or challenging as this project! As a part of the last phase, all of the nursing staff on the affected 4 floors needed education as to the differences that the new carts would bring to their lives. The Clinical Educator and I accomplished this through great teamwork in 6 short days.

As is often the case, change is met with a variety of interesting responses. They are not always along the lines of, “Oh, I am just so glad that you have brought this new piece of technology into my life!” They are more likely to continue with, "Line it up next to the 7 other things that I have to learn to save the lives of patients, document properly and soundly to hold up in a court of law, and do it all with a smile on my face so that my patient and his family will love this place, want to come back, and tell other people the same thing.” Then they have a look like they are looking for a sharp object.

Our job is to provide them with the knowledge and skills to learn to use new equipment, and time to vent that, yes, we understand your frustrations. Once they get on board, they are actually begrudgingly glad to have new equipment. Nurses are asked to do a lot of things, and do them all well. It is really amazing when you step back and look at the big picture. Safety is at the forefront of all that we do. Compassion and caring have to be present in every interaction, because they are significant to our families, no matter how small they may seem to us. I know we ask a lot when we “turn loose” another new project on our staff. But they are outstanding, and they always rise to the occasion to deliver excellent patient care.

Always glad to say I’m part of the team.

Tracy

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Career Job Search.


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The Truth About the Trust Line

Saturday, January 9, 2010 by Lucia D. Wocial, PhD, RN, CCNS, Clarian Nurse Ethicist
Here is a troubling story I heard recently:

"My supervisor was asking questions. Apparently there had been a call to the Trust Line and she was 'investigating.' She said they heard the tape and even though the caller did not identify themselves, they were pretty sure they knew who it was."

Hearing this story, I could imagine how a rational person might lose confidence in the Trust Line, or the organization. It may be easier to believe a story told by someone you know than believe a printed flier posted on a bulletin board. The individual who told me this story believed what she thought her supervisor said. The story itself cannot be true.

No one at Clarian EVER hears the tapes from the Trust Line.

An organization OUTSIDE Clarian manages the Trust Line.

Calls are investigated and who does the investigation depends on the nature of the call.

Any attempt to identify a caller to the trust line, or any action meant to punish a caller who reports concerns would be viewed as retribution and would result in disciplinary action.

People develop relationships with individuals not organizations, so trust in an organization begins with trust in the individuals we encounter every day in our work life. If I believed my supervisor was trying to figure out who the caller was, I might feel pretty vulnerable and might have trouble believing in the faceless organization.

I feel a bit awkward having my picture run every time I write a blog entry here or write an article for our internal newsletter. I have come to appreciate however that having a "face of ethics" can be a benefit to individuals in the organization. I have the privilege to have regular face-to-face contact with key leaders in this organization. I respect them and know them to be leaders with integrity. For me, the Trust Line is not some poster on a wall. I see the faces and know the people who stand behind it.

It is troubling to me to think that this story may have undermined trust in the organization and kept people from coming forward, not just to report concerns, but to report behavior that cannot be tolerated in our organization. Don’t let myths like this one feed fear of retribution. Call the Trust Line when you have concerns. Call again if you feel someone is trying to punish you for expressing your concerns.

Lucia D. Wocial, PhD, RN
Clarian Health Nurse Ethicist

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.


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I Wonder What the Parrot Says

Thursday, January 7, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
Monday was a Mad-Hatter Day; a perpetual swirl of activity. I had a patient who verified throughout the day the reason I am not a psych nurse; a very bizarre admission; a very productive discharge; and one who taxed my vocal chords for twelve hours. Nonetheless, she turned out to be the highlight of my day.

Miss M. is 75 years old. She has progressive COPD and was admitted for a severe Upper Respiratory Infection - tough combination. In addition to her hearing loss, her eyesight is compromised due to cataracts and glaucoma. In this case, my Synergy mindset was thinking discharge-predictability-involvement in care. Every opportunity I had throughout the day, I asked questions that would allow me to have insight into that plan of care. I learned she has four doting daughters, two spoiled grandsons, a parrot and two dogs. She lives with one of her daughters in a situation that is very comfortable for both of them. She is tethered to oxygen but can do a few jobs at home in the course of the day, including caring for the animals. She is fiercely independent, has a wonderful sense of humor and a very realistic concept of living and dying. In time, she should be good to return home. I felt pretty smug about having a discharge plan ten minutes before it happens: one little accomplishment for me.

Per usual, at the end of my shift, I was re-hashing the day, looking for the positive, the negative, and the possibilities that could make things better for the next shift. Then, like a ton of bricks, a moment of “latent curiosity” hit me: I wonder what the parrot says? Miss M. is very attached to her parrot. She has had him for a long time. Dogs can yip and cats make a lot of weird sounds, but a parrot talks - a much better companion for a life of limitations. You can bet, if I get another opportunity, I’m going to know what the parrot knows.

Sometimes, we think we are asking all the right questions, when in reality we are missing the obvious.

Sherry

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Position Indiana.


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December 24, 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
Over the past 42 years, I have spent more than 20 of them working! That seems an interesting reality to me on several levels. As a family, we have dealt with the “designated holiday” and have never really missed Christmas, we have just planned a bit differently. And, the years I was not scheduled to work were always grand and glorious!
 
I have also discovered that the work place has never disappointed me at Christmas. In some dysfunctional way, our units become family and we create a certain atmosphere for every holiday. Over the years, the decorating crews seem to jump out of some magical box and think they are Disney Designers and create a festive atmosphere for all of us. And, the food fairies think we need a month of sugar to survive. People have great food traditions, other than my Beef Brownies. AR should be a pastry chef in her next life and KT’s husband just needs to open a cookie shop! I was at work very late last night and was more than tempted to take the entire box under cover of darkness. Those night people party with too much flare as it is and I’m a little behind on baking. I’m thinking a dash of Grinch activity would have been fun. This morning I’m regretting I didn’t do the deed! I think we should do a holiday cookbook next year on 4-Medicine. JS makes a mean cheesy potato thing and MS is always concocting something unique! What a tasteful idea! I didn’t make it to the boss's Christmas Party this year, but I’m sure it was another good gathering. Next year I’m going to take the string game so all my colleagues will verify that I really am an unusual and fun-loving person.
 
This was also a special year of sharing on 4-medicine. SW is a person who has a heart as big as the universe. She orchestrated a memorable Christmas for one of our staff who is having a difficult health year: food, gifts, money, cards… the staff response was over-whelming. Why do I work on 4-medicine? Pretty obvious.
 
Those that work on Christmas Day give the gift of caring on a plane very few understand. It is a gift of sacrifice and love; hand delivered to those in need. The nurse-patient bond on Christmas is only understood on a heart-level and I have some very fond memories of years past and the people who have touched my life. Priceless.
 
When I sign off, I’m headed to Walkerton. Grand-babies and my children, who are still kids at Christmas! It is going to be wild! Christmas through the eyes of a child gives a whole new meaning to the word JOY, so I’m preparing to be blessed.
 
 Sherry
 
 To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.

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Happy Holidays (When Toxic Materials Abound)

Friday, December 25, 2009 by Gwenn Christianson, MSN, RN, CSPI
Oh the joys of the holiday season! The sweet smells of baking and evergreens, the glittering lights, candles, ornaments and tinsel, the crackling of wrapping paper, the glow of a cheerful fire, the lovely sounds of voices raised in song and laughter …… and the multitude of opportunities for poisoning abounding everywhere!

Here’s just a smattering of common exposures & their general risks:
  • Bubble lights – not a problem unless you drink more than one
  • Tiny glass bulbs – not a problem if you crunch one
  • Poinsettias – NOT toxic! If you eat the entire plant, you’ll vomit
  • Jerusalem cherry – toxic
  • Christmas cactus – not toxic
  • Flocking – not toxic
  • Tinsel – a problem for cats
  • Chocolate – a problem for dogs
  • Christmas ornaments – foreign bodies / choke hazards; ancient ornaments may have lead-based paint
  • Candles – “dry” wax is not toxic; Liquid candles or “wet” wax are aspiration risks
  • Oil lamps – aspiration risks
  • Plug in air fresheners – aspiration risks
  • Left over alcoholic drinks – hypoglycemic risks for kids
  • Cigarettes and cigarette butts – toxic
  • Silica gel (the desiccant in purses, stereos, new shoes) – not toxic, choke hazard
  • Button or disc batteries – toxic! Child will need an immediate X-Ray to locate the battery’s position; further treatment depends upon where the battery is.

Have a wonderful, joyous holiday time! Keep those little ones – and everyone else – safe. If you think an exposure has occurred, call the Indiana Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 – we’ll be there 24/7, just like the rest of the hospital world, ready and waiting to help you if you need us.

Gwenn

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.

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So Many Nurses It Boggles The Mind

Saturday, December 19, 2009 by Laurie Barth, BSN, RN

Have you ever thought about how many nurses take care of a patient at Clarian Health? If I sat down and thought about it, there are so many nurses working to make the patient’s stay tolerable and manageable, it boggles the mind.

Upon being admitted to the hospital, the patient is utilizing the various nursing roles and is unaware of the amount of skill, experience and education that is behind their care. Although the bedside nurse is who the patient relates to, it is those other nursing roles that support the bedside nurse.

These are the roles that come to my mind that one patient may have at his/her disposal during a complex hospital stay:

  • Bedside nurse
  • Charge nurse
  • Unit Manager
  • Director
  • CNO
  • CNS – various depending how many co-morbidities the pt has
  • NPs - various depending how many co-morbidities the pt has
  • WCON
  • Ancillary nurses
  • Nurses in the Information Services department
  • Nurse Ethicists

I am proud to be a nurse and be part of a profession that nourishes and encourages growth.

Laurie

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Job Opportunities.

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Happy Holidays!

Saturday, December 19, 2009 by Gwenn Christianson, MSN, RN, CSPI
“Indiana Poison Center, this is Gwenn RN, how may I help you?”

“My son just ate Santa Claus!” wailed the caller. “What am I going to do?”

Unique ingestions happen around the holidays. This one was perhaps more unique than is typical.

“Ma’am? Could you explain that a little more thoroughly for me? What do you mean, he ATE Santa?”

Turned out “Santa” was an antique glass ornament, handed down through the family, and mom had unfortunately hung it on a lower branch on the Christmas tree. Her 18 month old son had promptly grabbed the shiny object and bit off it’s head. The baby was fine, had no cuts in his mouth, and was able to drink juice without any problem. The tiny fragments of thin old glass would pass through his GI tract without problem, so only a little instruction on diet adjustment and observation during the next week was necessary.

How mom was going to explain this to Grandma was a whole other story, one that I couldn’t assist her with.

Gwenn

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Nursing Jobs Indianapolis.


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Who Says Silence is Golden?

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by Lucia D. Wocial, PhD, RN, CCNS, Clarian Nurse Ethicist
Recent research shows that silence may actually kill. Fewer than one in 10 people who work in health care say something when they observe concerning behavior, even when the behavior may lead to serious consequences for patients.

Nurses have dual loyalties and sometimes conflicting obligations that make them vulnerable to losing their moral compass in certain circumstances. When people accept the role and responsibility of being a nurse, they accept an obligation to do good for others. When nurses have knowledge of a potential harm to a patient and fail to report it, they contribute to the harm.

When I hear people grapple with the decision whether to report something, their difficulty is often rooted in concerns about personal relationships. They think highly of another person. Maybe they believe there was no malicious intent in the harmful behavior. Maybe they don’t want to get yelled at, or they don’t have confidence anything will be done.

Saying nothing makes the problem personal. Speaking up is the professional way to deal with it. How do you decide when to speak up?
  • Is the situation serious, and has it created or might it lead to serious harm?
  • Do you have all the essential information?
  • Will speaking up serve a useful purpose?

Silence has a hidden cost. It is golden only when actions speak louder than words. Speak up when you see a problem. Do it for your patients; they deserve protection. Do it for your colleagues; they don’t want to cause harm. Do it for yourself; follow your true moral compass.

Lucia D. Wocial, PhD, RN
Clarian Health Nurse Ethicist

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses.
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An Early Christmas Present!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by Tracy Davis, BSN, RN, CCRN, Pediatric Critical Care
Last week, Methodist had an employee celebration and silent auction to really begin the Christmas season. To put it succinctly, it was a blast! Over the course of eight hours, employees from all over the hospital made their way down to the conference center to eat breakfast and lunch, listen to a live band, and walk around looking at over 200 items to bid on. The silent auction was held to begin the events for our new capital campaign, which will help fund our new critical care tower, to be built over the next five years. 21st century medicine cannot be practiced in patient rooms designed even 10 years ago. Critical care requires more space for each room. Today’s improved patient care is a result of more highly skilled professionals, more sophisticated equipment, more intense treatments and better pharmaceuticals. Critical care patients often require all of these – in the same room at the same time. Additional space also reduces the risk for and spread of infection, and provides greater privacy and comfort for seriously ill patients and their families. Upon the tower’s completion, all critical care beds will be single patient rooms. So the beauty of this day was the employees received a fun day, while the campaign got off to a terrific start!

The “early present” for me was the time spent greeting, laughing and visiting with all of the “friends” who came down to see us. It is just amazing how a little music, food, and the company of others can liven up a day, and put everyone in a great mood. We had a representative from an outside company there, who at one point genuinely said to me, “I go to a lot of hospitals. It is amazing that a hospital as large as this one can have people that know each other so well and treat each other like family that are so happy to see each other.” And she was right. I told her it is why people stay here so long, because it is just like a family, we take care of each other, and have genuine affection for each other. She said that was very easy to see. We listened, as the time for the auction neared its conclusion, to a few mild threats about the items up for bid, from one good-natured employee to another. That was half the fun, too. Those of us working for the day did not mind at all, because the reward was making people happy. It truly was a gift.

Tracy

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.
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My Most Wonderful Pulmonary Team

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by Matthew S. Starr, MSN, RN, CNA-BC, Asst. Clinical Dir.
As a manager of a pediatric hospital there are many things that warm my heart. This past week my heart was warmed by my most wonderful pulmonary team that decided instead of adopting a Christmas family they would adopt the families of Riley Hospital and serve them two meals in our Ronald McDonald House. They served over 80 families lasagna, pie, garlic bread, and salad. These items were donated from all members of the pulmonary team who performed a most fabulous job.

It brings to mind that teamwork and togetherness on units is essential to patient care and creating a caring environment. There was one father that even began crying as the staff made his plate, covered it in foil, and assisted him back to where his child was sick, so he could eat with his wife and child. He could not believe that the healthcare workers that do so much for them already would go above and beyond to do more for them in their time of need. I have to say, I am so blessed to have an amazing team here at Riley and this is yet another example of what it means to work for Clarian and Riley, and to be the best nurse you can be.

Matt

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.


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Get to Know Someone on a More Personal Level

Wednesday, December 16, 2009 by Matthew S. Starr, MSN, RN, CNA-BC, Asst. Clinical Dir.
People often ask me what is at the core of a great team. I have thought about this a lot. It seems to take a lot of things to make a great team: hiring the right people, having enough equipment, good patient ratios, and collaborative MDs. Though at the core of all of this, what rises higher than any other is relationships. It is truly the job of the manager to aid in bringing a group of people together to form a relationship between their co-workers.

When staff have a vested personal interest in each other they enjoy helping one another as well. Recently I pulled my 100 member team of pulmonary staff together for a team building workshop. Over and over I kept hearing of how much they cared for one another. They have an amazing team and this seemed to be the common theme for all of them and why they had such a great team. Relationships with each other and their manager - what a great concept.

Thinking through the Studer initiatives that Clarian has been undergoing gets a lot of flack about prescriptive questions. At the core of these questions and themes for leaders to use, you can see it is developing a relationship with the staff and getting to know them on a more personal level. This is also what aids patient satisfaction. It is not always about being the best staff member, but it is the lasting relationship you leave with your patients. At times we focus so much on the clinical side we forget to establish the relationship with each other and our patients. If everyone could take away to get to know someone on a more personal level every day, what a preeminent organization we would become.

Matt

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Job Opportunities.


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