Pediatric Critical Care Nurse Jobs

Tracy’s time is divided between patient care and administrative duties, a combination she considers to be “the best of both worlds.” She has been a nurse for 19 years, and part of the Clarian nursing team since 1990.

“I was inspired by my Mother, who is also a nurse. I knew I was meant to be a nurse from a very young age. To have the chance to provide comfort, compassion, sympathy, education, and a listening ear to people at the most vulnerable time of their lives…  I can't think of a job that would feel any more rewarding than that.”

Beyond her work, Tracy’s family is her utmost priority. She’s extremely involved with her church and her Sunday school class. Tracy also has an abnormal love of all sports, especially basketball.  She is also a devoted music fan, which she uses as a “very inexpensive form of therapy.”

You can read more about where Tracy works at Clarian's ACallToChange.org website: Find Registered Nurse Jobs in Indiana

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.

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.

How much fun was it to be a part of Girl Power last weekend?! Clarian sponsors this high-energy, fun event. It is aimed at giving young girls ages 7-14 a sense of empowerment, improved self-esteem, and just a better sense of what it means to be a strong, independent young woman. That alone is worth the effort to go and work all day. About 1000 girls were there enjoying the many things the day had to offer. Such things as a cooking demonstration, fencing, dancing galore with Radio Disney, hula hoop contests, building birdhouses, listening to Tamika Catchings of the Fever, jump rope demonstrations that defied gravity, and then there was my station.

We had a close up and personal look at germs…cooties…bugs…call them what you will, but it was all about hand hygiene. At first the kids were ever so slightly grossed out when I told them we were going to put on a special lotion that would fluoresce their hand germs when we looked at them under a special light. Then they couldn’t help but smile, and wanted to see what we could find. I loved it. After that we washed with alcohol-based hand sanitizer and looked again at the difference. It was a small but powerful science experiment, especially at the height of cold and flu season. I figure anything I can do to contribute to knowledge, empowerment, and a smile about cooties is a day well-spent. I am glad to be a part of a team that values this unique opportunity to care for children in a very different, diverse way.

Tracy

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

It seems as though there is always something new to learn here. This past week, we integrated a new, safer way to care for our patients using barcode technology when administering medications. More than a few staff said it made them feel like a cashier scanning items at a checkout, and it was a piece of technology that was fun to learn to use.

I like the fact that while there is always a human involved in the process of giving a patient fluids and medications, this little whiz-bang can help us bring more safety to our care process. There is a learning curve in every new change. It is one more item to work into an already established routine. But one of the many things I love about this PICU staff is how well they embrace technology and run with it. Not only are they not troubled by it, but also they seem to find ways to improve it and make it work better for them and our patients.

Whenever there is an event where we are introducing new gadgets, charting, etc., into our workflow, we have extra staff around to assist and troubleshoot. Most units call these people “Super Users.” We have always affectionately referred to them as “Super Losers.” They know this is said in the most loving way possible and is truly a term of endearment. It is a true spirit of teamwork. It is so reassuring to know that when we have something new come into our world, it will be a smooth, seamless transition. That is a testament to the dedication of this fine group of skilled clinicians. I’m just glad to be one of the “cashiers.”

Tracy

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

In our line of work, life does literally change in a moment... a blink of an eye... a turn of the head... sometimes forever. Our nursing staff prides itself in rising to the challenge of helping families deal with these moments. Moments where the floor falls out from underneath the feet of parents. Where their breath leaves their body. Where their stomach feels as though it has been punched by Evander Holyfield. It is definitely not the kind of nursing everyone gravitates towards. But as for me and my family in the Pediatric Critical Care Unit, we love it. In the past week, that notion has been strongly reinforced. There is just nothing like helping a parent through that time of crisis. Though we can not possibly know how they truly feel, we can surely give them all of the emotional support we have. It is a simple concept: treat people the way you would like to be treated. Parents never forget their time with us, the entire memory of an event that will last their lifetime. It is clear our actions and words have the power to make those memories better or worse. I would like to think we make connections with our families that endear us to them for a lifetime. I know that long after they leave, we certainly never forget them. It is a gift to guide them through unexpected events and show them a path to navigate the chaos. No wonder I wouldn’t do anything else.
 
Tracy
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
 
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With all due respect to the Black Eyed Peas, that is kind of what life has felt like for me lately! My life as an Interim Clinical Manager is quite busy. As I think about it though, it is not like my previous roles left a lot of down time. This is just a very different kind of busy. I love rounding on our families. It is when I get to see all of the kids and parents at once, hear their stories, and really get to know them. It is a compelling time. Even if it is a child with a short length of stay, I know I can learn something from their story. It is what I truly love. I know that I can answer questions that will help fill in the gaps, or maybe just repeat the same information so it sinks in a little better. Each interaction means something to both of us. I think if I feel that, surely a parent does, too. I have a different role with my staff now. I would like to think it is helpful to them that someone who knows how important responsiveness is, will be “taking care of them.” They know I take the responsibility seriously. So as more things, more responsibilities come at me like they are shot out of a cannon, (hence the “boom boom pow”), I say... bring it.

Tracy

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

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You may be wondering why I have not written in a while….or maybe not. I have had to assume managerial duties in the unit this week, which creates quite a change in my workload. As I was leading up to this week, and knew this was coming, the walls started closing in on me a bit. As I do try to remain optimistic about most things (you know that thing about choosing to be happy every day, or something like that), I have found some bright sides to this. I have been able to round more on families, which I definitely see as a bonus. I had an interaction with a 3 year old this week, who claimed to be a 4 year old (I assured him he would be at some point), that left me laughing hysterically. His answers to my questions were a riot. I guess I never thought I would be rounding on a toddler, but I am open to anything. This brief encounter was very sustaining, and he will never know it. But that’s okay, because in the middle of a very busy week, it was just what I needed. The precious, honest answers of a beautiful child bring me back to what I love about my job. The children and their families are what make all of the other sometimes crazy events around me fade to the background and help keep me grounded to what is truly important. What a blessing to be able to round on a “3-something” year old!
 
Tracy
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Job Opportunities.
 
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Last week I once again had the privilege of participating in the Career Advancement Program Board of Review. It is without a doubt one of the most sustaining things I have ever continued to do in my career. Among all of contents of the portfolios that are submitted by nurses throughout the downtown hospitals are exemplars. These are stories of their practice, told in their own words. It is truly unbelievable and inspiring, the work that goes on here, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Most of it is done quietly, with little fanfare. But to the person on the receiving end of this compassionate care, the patient, the family, the friends….all who are blessed by such outstanding care, it is awesome. It is a nurse who literally saves a life because of her attention to detail when things start to go wrong. It is the patient who mentions he doesn’t like to be alone, so his nurse makes a point of staying with him as much as she can, especially in the dark of night. It is countless stories of loss, where the kind, comforting words and touch of the nurse are so timely and never, ever forgotten by the families whose lives have been changed forever. So many stories like these. Everyday, there are heroes among us. Going about the work of nursing, making a difference. I’m glad to be a part of the team.

Tracy

To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.

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Boy did we ever! The past week I had the opportunity to do something I rarely get to do... take care of “big people,” meaning adults... and what a joy it was! Clarian has an entire building at the Indiana State Fair, the Clarian Healthy Lifestyles Pavilion. It is manned entirely by the Clarian Serves volunteer staff from all Clarian facilities statewide. That is a ton of manpower when one considers it is open all day, every day of the 17 days that the fair runs!

Some of the various interesting booths that are part of the offering include a Kids Zone, a Neuro Center for stroke risk evaluation, a digestive diseases area (with a chance to tour “Coco the Colon” no less!), a Heart Aware cardiovascular area, a Human Motion area that features Dance Dance Revolution, blood pressure checks, and my area, cholesterol and blood sugar checks. Needless to say this is a very popular place at the fair, busy from open to close.

Yesterday alone I helped with my colleagues check the cholesterol and blood sugar of 309 fair-goers! Most of the people who came through for screening were over the age of 50. As the machine that performs the test takes about 2 minutes, and then there is the discussion of results and some counseling, I was able to spend about 4-5 minutes with each person. Delightful! I tend to be able to find fun in most things I do. So even if it is something as “routine” as a lab result, I find a way to get to know about the person sitting in front of me, try to put them at ease, and maybe make them smile, even as I am poking them in the finger a little bit.

I heard many fascinating stories. When a person has lived a full life, there are a lot of stories to be told. I earnestly look them in the eye and tell them I am glad to have met them. Some ask if I “have to do this for my job” and I tell them, “No, I want to do this so I can meet people like you.” And you see a smile come across their face, because so often I think they probably feel that society no longer values them. The time passes way too quickly, and you honestly tell them it was a pleasure to meet them.

I love to eat at the fair, and told more than a few that I was not sure I was the right person to be counseling on nutrition at a once a year event that I truly believe you need to make count in terms of your food choices. And by choices I mean choose one of each. One gentleman in his mid-70’s sat down and said, “I’ll just tell you right now my total cholesterol is high, my good cholesterol is low, and my blood sugar is too high.” And I said, “Well why would you want to depress yourself on such a beautiful sunny day by having this test? Let’s forget this and go get a corn dog and lemonade shake-up!” And he smiled and said “tell my wife that and we’re out of here!” Needless to say, we didn’t do that, but the tension was broken, he listened very well to everything I taught him, and left with a twinkle in his eye. Like I said, you have to make it fun.

I heard many stories from people who had lost a job in the past year, and were getting screenings instead of trips to a doctor. Proud people with determination, typical Hoosiers. Some were scared of what the results were going to be, and then quite relieved when they saw them. I told them I was proud of them for having the test done instead of assuming the worst and avoiding the answer. It was a very busy few days, but such a rewarding experience. Another example of finding a way to make a difference in people’s lives... only this time, the people happened to be grown-ups.

Tracy

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

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The beauty of nursing is there are such a variety of options to choose from in terms of specialties. In some career fields, that is truly not the case. We are so blessed to have so many arenas to choose from, whether it is inpatient or outpatient; neonatal nurse to geriatric nurse, there is something for everyone. I cannot begin to tell you the number of times I have heard over the years, “Oh, I don’t know how you do what you do. I could never take care of critically ill children.” And my answer is always the same. I love what I do and would not want to take care of any other age group or patient type.

We take care of parents at a highly stressful time. Often they have just had their world turned upside down, all in the blink of an eye. Life was just going along fine, and in an instant it was changed forever. We all really enjoy that type of crisis intervention. I fully realize pediatric nursing is not for everyone. But I feel it is what I was put on this earth to do.

We had a particularly rough week last week, in terms of patient acuity and losses. When you deal with a large trauma population, there are times when it comes in waves. I have always been so proud of the way we as co-workers have supported each other through these sad times. I watched a darling nurse, who had stayed over her shift to fight valiantly to try and save a child’s life, start to leave with tears rolling down her face. Just as soon as a few of us had seen it and moved towards her, another nurse stood to embrace her with a long hug. We all talk with each other to debrief after tough weeks such as these. It is a testament to the power of togetherness and the strength of support one receives from those who know exactly how you feel.

I had come in during one night as admissions had come fast and furious. I saw the devastation around me, of families whose lives had been changed forever, and I felt punched in the gut for the families in their grief. And two days later, as I was washing my scrubs and found some blood on them from that night in the battle to save the lives of these children, I had an epiphany. As silly as it may sound, it is often at the washing machine that I reflect on the week that has just passed. While I know that OxiClean will get rid of the stains I bring home from work, I am glad that after all of these years, I still feel punched in the gut when I see a family in pain. I do not ever want to just go through the motions of patient care, and miss the bigger picture around me.

This work, and this staff, is far too important to ever let that happen. So for now, we keep pressing on, thankful for each other and quality detergent.

Tracy

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

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Today was another reason to celebrate. (It seems like we have a lot of celebrations around Clarian.) Today marked quite a milestone, as it was 30 years ago that LifeLine, our critical care air transport system, took its first patient flight. Since that day in July 1979, we have successfully completed 32,000 flights. What a tremendous accomplishment!

Our flight record is spotless. This is not by happenstance. Having been fortunate enough to participate in a ride-along shift experience several years ago, I was allowed to see how the process works from the first call for a patient to the point where the patient is safely delivered back to the Methodist Emergency Medicine and Trauma Center. I understand that when a parent hears the words “we have called for LifeLine” for their precious child, it is such a devastating moment. To them, it signifies just how sick their child truly is, because there is an urgency associated with the “need for speed” that comes with the use of air transport as opposed to ground. Then they see their heart loaded in the back of a large, awesome machine, and flown away into the sky. It is often with a lot of unanswered questions, or an unknown outcome.

It has to be unbelievably overwhelming. We have long known about the Golden Hour in trauma patients. This refers to roughly the first hour after an injury, when it is vitally important that a patient receive the proper trauma care they need for an optimal outcome. So when a parent hears “LifeLine,” they have a certain reaction, usually fear. When I hear that a child is coming to me by LifeLine, I breathe easier. It lets me know several things immediately. I know that the child will be getting great care in the air. I also know that the child will be getting to the ED as quickly as possible, where there is no better trauma care than the Methodist staff physicians and nurses. They are awesome. If they need any subspecialty care such as surgery, orthopedics, neurosurgery, oculoplastics, maxillofacial surgery…..you name it, it will be ready and waiting for them. All of the diagnostics you could possibly think of, ready and waiting.

It is true teamwork delivered by a well-oiled machine, but also with great kindness and compassion. But it all starts with the safe delivery of the patient to the hospital first. LifeLine brings us patients from a great variety of places - it may be another hospital, a farm field, or a highway - but one thing is for certain: it will be with the safest aviation, and the utmost medical professionalism and top-notch care. Yet another reason to be proud of my colleagues!

Tracy

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

As part of our approach to improving patient and family satisfaction, we “round” on our families in the Pediatric Critical Care Unit daily. Every family, every day. I have found that it is one of my very favorite things to do. Anyone that knows me would not be surprised to hear this, as a part of rounding involves talking. But an even bigger part involves listening. It is really an underrated skill, and often an underused skill.

I have found with most of our families, after I introduce myself, and ask a simple question such as, “We always want to provide the very best care possible for your child. How well are we doing with that?” I just need to stop talking and start listening. I have said many times that there is no time that a parent feels more helpless than when their child is critically ill or injured.

Having a person listen to their fears, perhaps listen to the story of how their child came to be in our care, and to show the genuine care and concern that we have, is invaluable. Often there are tears shed, and a hug is needed, or perhaps an arm around a shoulder. Parents are often pleasantly surprised that we come in to round on them, to just check in on them and make sure their immediate needs are being met, as well as those of their child. They are always grateful. Even when they know we may not be able to tell them what they really want to hear….that the beautiful child lying in that bed will be fully restored to the same child they previously were. They do know that we will give every effort we have to try and make that happen, though.

After they have seen us the first day, they look forward to a return visit the next day, as I tell them I will see them tomorrow. I suppose it is the promise that not only will I keep my word, but it is the opportunity for them to tell me of their child’s progress, and share the ups and downs of this ride they did not ask for. Rounding is just one more great opportunity to make a lasting connection with our families. If by doing it we improve our patient satisfaction, what an outstanding bonus!

Tracy

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

I have just returned from a glorious 2-week vacation.  (Did you miss me?)  The first week was spent doing some much-needed catching up around the house, and general goofing off with my children.  The second week was spent in sunny Florida, and involved two amusement parks, the ocean, a wave runner,  driving around the Daytona 500 track for Daddy’s Father’s Day present. . . a significant amount of time in the sun.  It is really one of my only vices.  There is just nothing like the feeling of the warmth of the sun, the breeze across your skin, music playing, children laughing and splashing in a pool, and me in a chaise lounge doing nothing but take it all in.

Of course it all comes to an end, and it is back to work.  While I was on vacation, several prominent celebrities passed away, some in the prime of their lives. When I returned to work, I experienced a patient loss on my first day back.  With children, it is always in the prime of their lives, regardless of their age.  This brings me to my thoughts on significance.  One of the many blessings of my job as a registered nurse is that it keeps me grounded as to what is truly significant, important, and meaningful in life.  You may come in to work feeling sorry for yourself that you only had a two-week vacation, and now it is time to come back to work, and oh isn’t that just so sad for you.  And then you look around you.  And you see what is truly important.  And you count the blessings that you have.  That you had a vacation, because that means you have a job.  And you got to see your beautiful children playing in the ocean, laughing and smiling. And you very quickly start counting up these sorts of blessings and realize. . . I don’t have any problems, do I?  Because the beauty of my job is, I help people through the most helpless, scary, uncertain time of their lives.  I see the significance in life, and know that you should appreciate all of the rich blessings that you have.  Right here, right now.

Tracy

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

This morning I got to participate in one of my favorite events. It was the post-orientation evaluation of one of our newly hired nurses. She is a lovely young lady who is embracing the new challenges that our unit is bringing to her life. We covered the usual evaluation topics such as organizational skills, communication with colleagues and physicians, realistic expectations we have for her, goals for the next six months…those sorts of things. Then we blew her right out of the water I believe. Though not on purpose. We talked about self-care. We talked about how important it is to take care of yourself as you go about doing this work.

We told her that we expect her to rely on us for emotional support when a child dies, and to talk through it with us. That when something happens that is upsetting to her, no matter how small it may seem, we want to know about it. Our goal is always to retain our nurses. We need to know what is going through their minds. Helping them process things that come at them, and there are many things, is part of all of our jobs. Over the years we have found that what we thought were small things to us were really very big things in the minds of our “baby nurses”. We need to take care of them like they are our children in many ways. I think if they feel that, they will flourish in the growth of their practice.

One thing I am proud of in this unit is a post-orientation ritual we have that was started by a manager many years ago. In an effort to help those that support us outside our walls understand what we do, we like our new hires to bring whomever it is that is their support system in to the unit at the end of their orientation. That way, when we come home sad, quiet, angry, crying, or just not quite ourselves, it is our hope that they will have seen why that may be. When they see the critically ill or injured children, their devastated families, all of the technology that we must be highly adept at maneuvering, and all of the constant noise and interruptions, we think it really helps our loved ones understand. It is one thing to talk about your job. Seeing truly is believing. And it is vitally important that we take care of each other. It starts with taking care of yourself.

Tracy

To become a Registered Nurse at Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses.

In the past two weeks I have had the pleasure of going on my children’s end-of-the-year field trips. The first was to my son’s 5th grade trip to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game. It was a positively gloriously sunny day, as if we had ordered it. About 75 degrees, blue skies, light breeze, all was right with the world. The second trip was my daughter’s 1st grade trip to the Indianapolis Zoo. This was a bit of a different trip. Overcast the whole day, light rain occasionally, cool at about 63 degrees, not a thought of sunshine.

Both trips were made on “the big Twinkie” as someone once called the school bus. When I was shorter, like under 5’ 5” I fit in those seats much better. Now at just over 6 feet it is a little different ride. But it does not matter. Because over my many years of caring for these ill and injured children that I do, I know one thing: Appreciate and treasure every moment. They come and go way too fast.

It is the precious opportunity to be with my children that matters. Not the fact that I have seen the same dolphin tricks over and over. Not that the Lunchable I am about to eat is not quite gourmet. It is the fact that it is a true gift that I get to spend the entire day with my beautiful children that counts. The looks on their faces when I arrive in their classrooms ready to board that bus is all I need. As nurses we make a difference every day. Sometimes in big ways, sometimes small. The same is true of parents, on a bus, eating ham and cheese on a cracker.

Tracy

To become a Registered Nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Position Indiana.

It has been a fun-filled time around here lately as we celebrate Nurses Week. I have the privilege of being on the Nurses Week Committee that is responsible for planning all the fun! I think what makes it so interesting is the unbelievable variety of ways we go about honoring and rewarding the hard work of our nursing staff.

I was especially proud of a decision by our staff to forego their own gift and instead give to others. It was felt that in these tough times, it was just the right thing to do. Not surprising really, if you know the people around here. The funds that would have been used for a staff gift instead went to fund two nurse-related Clarian charitable programs, a scholarship to a deserving nursing student, and a generous donation to help a nurse and their family in a time of need. Just like the hearts of nurses….usually taking care of others before themselves. The staff does receive some great recognition, too. Ice cream delivery to all the nursing units is a huge hit. There is nothing like hearing “woo-hoo” when you go into a staff lounge and tell them you just brought dessert on a busy Sunday afternoon. Or if it is a really busy day, it may be lunch! There is Clinique Day, tickets to an Indianapolis Indians baseball game, tickets to a Colts game in the Clarian suite, and tickets to practice at the Indianapolis 500.

It is a great time to recognize all that our staff provide to our patients and families each day and night, 365 days a year. They are truly deserving of all the fun that comes their way!

Tracy Davis

To join the fun as a Registered Nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.

A perfect opportunity to get a majority of the Pediatric Critical Care staff together is for a Clinical Practice meeting. It is a monthly meeting held on the unit. We usually update everyone on news of the day, which may be as ordinary as upcoming inservices, to sometimes startling news such as wedding announcements, baby news, and those important matters.

We always have food, that is mandatory. It may be simple, but at our last meeting, that was not the case. It was a celebration, actually. Our Clinical Manager and Director brought a fantastic chocolate cake/cheesecake in for the group. It was to celebrate our unit going 358 days without a central line infection. It was a great reason to celebrate! We take a great deal of pride in our care, and that was an example that was worth recognizing.

Now mind you, we were all in need of insulin midway through the meeting, but it was worth it. Trust me. We then talked about all kinds of important issues such as the incorporation of the hospice team into our care, proper medication reconciliation upon discharge, improvements in our computer documentation, the list goes on.

We ended with a very clever Easter egg hunt, the brainchild of a couple of staff nurses. They had hidden the usual plastic eggs all over the unit. But instead of putting candy inside them, they had hidden all kinds of small clues about our care towards children that everyone had to answer correctly before they could get the candy. For example, it might be an IV connector hub, and they had to answer a question about how often that piece is changed with IV tubing. Brilliant!! Just another example of fun coworkers, committed to making this unit the best it can be.

In the end, the children and their families are always the real winners.

Tracy Davis

To join Registered Nurses who are committed to great nursing, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana

As usual, this week was very busy... but aren’t they all? I finally got the Pediatric Resuscitation Manual revised and distributed to all 3 hospitals - a major task to have done. Of course while distributing throughout the hospitals, there had to be a little visiting with some old friends. This place is full of them - so many friendly people.

I participated in one of my favorite activities, the Career Advancement Program Board of Review. It is a unique opportunity, a blessing really, to have the privilege of reading the practice of my colleagues from all across Clarian. I am always inspired, and reminded why I am so proud to work here.

Then the best part of my week came on Thursday, when I got to take care of a couple of trauma patients... great fun. You just have to love kids...

It was an unbelievably busy day, start to finish. One of those days where you eat on the run, standing up. And you leave with a smile on your face because you know you made a really bad set of lungs better, a whopping headache post-op better, a couple of really scared children and even more scared parents better. You helped to teach a little. You didn’t let the slow computer get the best of you. You helped a colleague on another floor troubleshoot a situation. You helped in a variety of ways, and you know that is why you are here.

It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Tracy

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