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.
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.
"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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
I was visiting my niece in the hospital a few weeks ago. She was at another facility in Indy, had her own private room and received very good care. However, as I was sitting in her room and visiting, her nurse came in to check on her. (Now watch out, I am going to get on a soap box.) I truly believe that nursing is a profession. We, as nurses, have a tremendous amount of knowledge in our heads. Our patients expect us to know our stuff and to manage their care appropriately and efficiently while they are in our care. Why wouldn’t we want to dress the part of a professional? The nurse that came in and checked on my niece had on nursing scrubs. Appropriate, right? But what wasn’t appropriate was that when she bent over to read the measurement on the pleurovac, I could see her underwear and half of her bare bottom!
Now wait. I don’t consider myself a prude by any means. But I do care what people think of nurses as a whole. Think about it. How do you want to be viewed when you are at work? Think of those men and women who you consider professional. How often do you see a lawyer or physician walk into a room with their clothes wrinkled and stained? Or the shoes scruffy? Or too much skin showing with tattoos and piercings blatantly glaring at you? Think about it. Aren’t you a professional nurse with critical thinking skills tasked with the utmost care of another human being? Be proud. Demand respect. Dress the part.
Laurie
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Now wait. I don’t consider myself a prude by any means. But I do care what people think of nurses as a whole. Think about it. How do you want to be viewed when you are at work? Think of those men and women who you consider professional. How often do you see a lawyer or physician walk into a room with their clothes wrinkled and stained? Or the shoes scruffy? Or too much skin showing with tattoos and piercings blatantly glaring at you? Think about it. Aren’t you a professional nurse with critical thinking skills tasked with the utmost care of another human being? Be proud. Demand respect. Dress the part.
Laurie
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Tracy
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.
All morning long the phone has been ringing and everyone I’ve spoken to has apologized for calling me. “I’m sorry for bothering you.” “I’m sure this is nothing, but … ” “This is a stupid question.” “I feel really silly bothering you with this …”
And all morning long my response has been some version of “There are no stupid questions,” “It’s no bother at all,” “I’m here to help you,” or “That’s why we’re here.”
It reminds me of an old song, but I can’t for the life of me remember what it is ...
One of the major challenges in working at Indiana Poison Center is persuading the public to call us right away, and not to wait for symptoms to develop. Despite all of our attempts at educating the public, a great majority of callers still worries about “bothering” us with trivial calls. So we go on attempting to educate, one at a time, that there are NO trivial calls and we welcome ALL calls. The best policy when it comes to poison control is better safe than sorry.
I don’t expect the average parent to be able to recognize or determine when a toxic exposure has occurred. I do expect them to realize when a non-food substance has been ingested, sprayed into the eyes, inhaled, or spilled on the skin, and to call for help right away. MY job is to help you determine how serious it is.
I don’t expect a parent to know which will be a problem: ear drops or eye drops (it's eye drops), Advil infant drops or Tylenol infant drops (Tylenol), Grandma’s beta-blocker or her ACE-I (BB), or pansies or petunias (neither). Figuring out what is toxic is a complicated process. It involves more than just the substance, but also includes the patient’s age, weight, PMH, current condition and other pertinent factors.
So, our conversation continues. Most of the time the exposure turns out to be a trivial event. Occasionally it is a serious situation and we send that child to the nearest ER. But even the calls that are not emergencies are important – they give me a chance to interact with the parent, to do some teaching regarding normal childhood development and poison proofing, to discuss when it is appropriate to call the PCC (always!) and to send them some educational literature about the PCC.
So the moral of the story is – ALWAYS CALL US. We’re here to help!
And thanks to Google, I found the song I was thinking of. It’s by Conway Twitty and the words are:
That’s my job
That’s what I do
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe, you see ……
That’s my job.
Gwenn
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.
And all morning long my response has been some version of “There are no stupid questions,” “It’s no bother at all,” “I’m here to help you,” or “That’s why we’re here.”
It reminds me of an old song, but I can’t for the life of me remember what it is ...
One of the major challenges in working at Indiana Poison Center is persuading the public to call us right away, and not to wait for symptoms to develop. Despite all of our attempts at educating the public, a great majority of callers still worries about “bothering” us with trivial calls. So we go on attempting to educate, one at a time, that there are NO trivial calls and we welcome ALL calls. The best policy when it comes to poison control is better safe than sorry.I don’t expect the average parent to be able to recognize or determine when a toxic exposure has occurred. I do expect them to realize when a non-food substance has been ingested, sprayed into the eyes, inhaled, or spilled on the skin, and to call for help right away. MY job is to help you determine how serious it is.
I don’t expect a parent to know which will be a problem: ear drops or eye drops (it's eye drops), Advil infant drops or Tylenol infant drops (Tylenol), Grandma’s beta-blocker or her ACE-I (BB), or pansies or petunias (neither). Figuring out what is toxic is a complicated process. It involves more than just the substance, but also includes the patient’s age, weight, PMH, current condition and other pertinent factors.
So, our conversation continues. Most of the time the exposure turns out to be a trivial event. Occasionally it is a serious situation and we send that child to the nearest ER. But even the calls that are not emergencies are important – they give me a chance to interact with the parent, to do some teaching regarding normal childhood development and poison proofing, to discuss when it is appropriate to call the PCC (always!) and to send them some educational literature about the PCC.
So the moral of the story is – ALWAYS CALL US. We’re here to help!
And thanks to Google, I found the song I was thinking of. It’s by Conway Twitty and the words are:
That’s my job
That’s what I do
Everything I do is because of you
To keep you safe, you see ……
That’s my job.
Gwenn
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.
Hello to all who deign to read this blog!
Isn’t it funny how we change over the course of our lives? When I was in high school (in the dark ages of the late 60s), I worked in a private nursing home that was attached to our local hospital. I started working in the dietary department right after I turned 16. Back then you HAD to keep your grades up and actually show your report card to the manager in order to keep your job and your hours. That was a great motivator to do a good job in school. I was one of eight children, so money was very sparse. If you wanted money, you had to go out and earn it.
Prior to starting my senior year of high school, I went to my school counselor to see about what classes I needed to take to get into college. At that time, my counselor asked me if I wanted to be a nurse. “A nurse? No, I don’t want to be a nurse!” He assumed that because I was working in a nursing home. Back then the nursing field was not all that great. It was assumed that women would become nurses, secretaries or teachers. But I was a rebel and decided I wanted to be a dietician. So off to Ball State I went in 1971. My fear of chemistry effectively killed that dream, and I ended up earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Teaching and an Associate’s degree in Food Management.
After college, I managed a restaurant for ten years. I married my high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children, and later divorced. As a single mother, I knew that I could not make it on my salary as a restaurant manager and raise my children in the way I wanted.
Once again I found myself back at Ball State in the Nursing program. It was a struggle to work full time, take classes full time, and raise a four-year old and a four-month old, but let me tell you every minute of struggle was worth it. If you are “hungry” enough, then you can achieve anything. I earned my Bachelor’s in Nursing and moved to Indianapolis to work in Neuro Critical Care. Guila Thompson was the manager that hired me and even though I had no idea what Neuro Critical care was, Guila made me feel at home - and that was all I wanted.
So, I guess if I had taken my counselor’s advice back in 1970, I would have become a nurse much sooner, but I don’t know that I would have appreciated it as much. Sometimes the struggle makes you savor it that much more.
We all have many paths in front of us to choose from, and each one takes us in a new direction, but some actually lead us back to the beginning - a bit worse for wear, but much wiser.
Happy Nursing.
Teri
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.
Isn’t it funny how we change over the course of our lives? When I was in high school (in the dark ages of the late 60s), I worked in a private nursing home that was attached to our local hospital. I started working in the dietary department right after I turned 16. Back then you HAD to keep your grades up and actually show your report card to the manager in order to keep your job and your hours. That was a great motivator to do a good job in school. I was one of eight children, so money was very sparse. If you wanted money, you had to go out and earn it.
Prior to starting my senior year of high school, I went to my school counselor to see about what classes I needed to take to get into college. At that time, my counselor asked me if I wanted to be a nurse. “A nurse? No, I don’t want to be a nurse!” He assumed that because I was working in a nursing home. Back then the nursing field was not all that great. It was assumed that women would become nurses, secretaries or teachers. But I was a rebel and decided I wanted to be a dietician. So off to Ball State I went in 1971. My fear of chemistry effectively killed that dream, and I ended up earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics Teaching and an Associate’s degree in Food Management.
After college, I managed a restaurant for ten years. I married my high school sweetheart, had two beautiful children, and later divorced. As a single mother, I knew that I could not make it on my salary as a restaurant manager and raise my children in the way I wanted.
Once again I found myself back at Ball State in the Nursing program. It was a struggle to work full time, take classes full time, and raise a four-year old and a four-month old, but let me tell you every minute of struggle was worth it. If you are “hungry” enough, then you can achieve anything. I earned my Bachelor’s in Nursing and moved to Indianapolis to work in Neuro Critical Care. Guila Thompson was the manager that hired me and even though I had no idea what Neuro Critical care was, Guila made me feel at home - and that was all I wanted.
So, I guess if I had taken my counselor’s advice back in 1970, I would have become a nurse much sooner, but I don’t know that I would have appreciated it as much. Sometimes the struggle makes you savor it that much more.
We all have many paths in front of us to choose from, and each one takes us in a new direction, but some actually lead us back to the beginning - a bit worse for wear, but much wiser.
Happy Nursing.
Teri
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.
As I enter my 23rd year of nursing, I wonder where all the time went. It sometimes seems like just yesterday that I graduated from nursing school.
So many things have changed in nursing since then. When I took my boards ( NCLEX) we spent two days at the Indiana State Fair buildings taking our exams. Everyone in the State of Indiana took them at the same time. In fact everyone in the USA took them at the same time, so questions and answers couldn’t be divulged to others across the country. Very secrety stuff!
Of course, back then you had to wait eight or more weeks to get your results back from the State to know if you passed or not. That was very nerve wracking and I think I went through about two hands of fingernails over those weeks. Now, you take your NCLEX exam on the computer and know right away whether you passed or not. Technology at its finest - no waiting.
Speaking of technology and research, we have really come a long way with that. We didn’t always have the ISTAT machines or Accudata machines. We didn’t swab or brush our patients teeth every 2-4 hours or do subglottal suctioning either. Our ACLS guidelines were so long and confusing that it scared the bejeebers out of you to have to take it. It was like taking the NCLEX again. We didn’t have IOPO coming in to talk to our families about donation of organs because WE did that. We didn’t have Pyxis or the Omni cells. We actually had to count the narcotics drawers every shift, every day. We didn’t have our education modules on the computer either. Those were done in person on the units. Compared to what we have now it seems archaic, doesn’t it?
But, the one thing that has not changed is taking care of our patients. Treatments have changed, but there is still no technology that can truly care for our patients. There’s no replacement for the human touch. We feed them, bath them, cry with them, pep talk them and hopefully send them home to resume their lives. Technology’s great… but there’s nothing that can replace a great nurse!
Happy Nursing.
Teri Weller Sundine
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.
So many things have changed in nursing since then. When I took my boards ( NCLEX) we spent two days at the Indiana State Fair buildings taking our exams. Everyone in the State of Indiana took them at the same time. In fact everyone in the USA took them at the same time, so questions and answers couldn’t be divulged to others across the country. Very secrety stuff!
Of course, back then you had to wait eight or more weeks to get your results back from the State to know if you passed or not. That was very nerve wracking and I think I went through about two hands of fingernails over those weeks. Now, you take your NCLEX exam on the computer and know right away whether you passed or not. Technology at its finest - no waiting.
Speaking of technology and research, we have really come a long way with that. We didn’t always have the ISTAT machines or Accudata machines. We didn’t swab or brush our patients teeth every 2-4 hours or do subglottal suctioning either. Our ACLS guidelines were so long and confusing that it scared the bejeebers out of you to have to take it. It was like taking the NCLEX again. We didn’t have IOPO coming in to talk to our families about donation of organs because WE did that. We didn’t have Pyxis or the Omni cells. We actually had to count the narcotics drawers every shift, every day. We didn’t have our education modules on the computer either. Those were done in person on the units. Compared to what we have now it seems archaic, doesn’t it?
But, the one thing that has not changed is taking care of our patients. Treatments have changed, but there is still no technology that can truly care for our patients. There’s no replacement for the human touch. We feed them, bath them, cry with them, pep talk them and hopefully send them home to resume their lives. Technology’s great… but there’s nothing that can replace a great nurse!
Happy Nursing.
Teri Weller Sundine
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.
When I was growing up in North Dakota a few decades ago, we had one telephone. It was the basic black desk phone that was housed in a specific little phone alcove. We had one outlet so it couldn’t travel very far. We were on a party line - each family had their designated number of rings, but the whole world had the same ring tone. I can remember hearing people on the line when I was talking, and often they would request that someone hang up so they could place an emergent call. When you were on the party-line, there was a code of telephone ethics that was respected. Because we were sharing the air-waves, our phone time was limited. I can remember our phone number was 1173J. We had that number for years until things started to change. The party-lines gave way to private numbers and we all had new seven digit numbers - that seemed to be a real challenge for everyone for awhile. Then they came out with a line of phones known as “princess phones.” They were multiple-colored and stream-lined. People thought that surely signaled a moral change in society. We never owned anything but the desk phone - eventually we switched from black to beige. When Ma Bell “broke” it seems to me that everything went “nutz.”
In my life, some things die hard. Today I still have one beige, desk-top phone at home and a hand-held connection that I can take a short distance. I don’t much like the thing because I have a tendency to turn my head ever so slightly and invariably I disconnect during most conversations - some of you are well aware of that annoyance. I much prefer the desk model with the giant colored buttons. (That’s another story!) I do have an answering machine but that is the extent of my bells & whistles. In May, my daughter provided me with my first “cell-phone”. It is a Tracfone to be used for emergencies when I am out wandering alone & find myself in some kind of trouble. I have yet to use it in the produce department at WalMart. It is incredible what I learn about the love life of absolute strangers when I am innocently trying to select a head of lettuce! Maybe I’ll progress to that phase, but for now, I am still in the education phase of learning how to use the thing. This is the bottom line: if you want to call my cell, I need to call you first so you can get the number. And, I have the standard ring on my phone so I will recognize that it indeed is a phone call. I don’t have music or strange noises or a code for everyone that calls me. My son has song lyrics for his wife, mother, sister and friends. He always knows who is calling and can decide if he is going to answer immediately. Who in the world needs to make a decision when it comes to talking to their mother!?!
And that is the point of this entire tale: RING TONES! On 4-Medicine we all have phones now. I guess it is supposed to be a time saver but it doesn’t cut down much on noise. My favorite feature is the text message. Mind you, I can’t send a text message but I like receiving them: to the point and no noise! At the beginning of my shift, I am designated a specific number and have to log it in. Each day I have a new number that I tape on the back of the phone so I know it when I need a call back. I really need my own personal number but that doesn’t seem to happen. I think it is a flaw in the system. Then, I select a ring tone. I ALWAYS go to the classic ring because then I seem to recognize when the phone is actually ringing. I have about 30 ring choices: saxophone, chime, clockshop, Jamaica, mucic box, drums, Koto effect, and, a parrot-like voice that abruptly shouts “Are you there? Are you there?” When I here all these weird sounds throughout the day, they seem to be an intrusion into my “designated oto space” And, in the middle of the day when I hear that lonesome saxophone, I think I am on Beale Street, alone in the rain on a Saturday night - you get the picture.
I’m not sure what happened with the telephone. It is now a camera, a computer, a music machine... It gives you the time in London, the temperature in Japan and pork belly futures from the Board of Trade. The telephone is used far beyond my wants, needs or desires. In reality, I am like that crazy parrot - I am out here in the wilderness shouting, “Are you there? Are you there?”
Sherry Holden
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
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In my life, some things die hard. Today I still have one beige, desk-top phone at home and a hand-held connection that I can take a short distance. I don’t much like the thing because I have a tendency to turn my head ever so slightly and invariably I disconnect during most conversations - some of you are well aware of that annoyance. I much prefer the desk model with the giant colored buttons. (That’s another story!) I do have an answering machine but that is the extent of my bells & whistles. In May, my daughter provided me with my first “cell-phone”. It is a Tracfone to be used for emergencies when I am out wandering alone & find myself in some kind of trouble. I have yet to use it in the produce department at WalMart. It is incredible what I learn about the love life of absolute strangers when I am innocently trying to select a head of lettuce! Maybe I’ll progress to that phase, but for now, I am still in the education phase of learning how to use the thing. This is the bottom line: if you want to call my cell, I need to call you first so you can get the number. And, I have the standard ring on my phone so I will recognize that it indeed is a phone call. I don’t have music or strange noises or a code for everyone that calls me. My son has song lyrics for his wife, mother, sister and friends. He always knows who is calling and can decide if he is going to answer immediately. Who in the world needs to make a decision when it comes to talking to their mother!?!
And that is the point of this entire tale: RING TONES! On 4-Medicine we all have phones now. I guess it is supposed to be a time saver but it doesn’t cut down much on noise. My favorite feature is the text message. Mind you, I can’t send a text message but I like receiving them: to the point and no noise! At the beginning of my shift, I am designated a specific number and have to log it in. Each day I have a new number that I tape on the back of the phone so I know it when I need a call back. I really need my own personal number but that doesn’t seem to happen. I think it is a flaw in the system. Then, I select a ring tone. I ALWAYS go to the classic ring because then I seem to recognize when the phone is actually ringing. I have about 30 ring choices: saxophone, chime, clockshop, Jamaica, mucic box, drums, Koto effect, and, a parrot-like voice that abruptly shouts “Are you there? Are you there?” When I here all these weird sounds throughout the day, they seem to be an intrusion into my “designated oto space” And, in the middle of the day when I hear that lonesome saxophone, I think I am on Beale Street, alone in the rain on a Saturday night - you get the picture.
I’m not sure what happened with the telephone. It is now a camera, a computer, a music machine... It gives you the time in London, the temperature in Japan and pork belly futures from the Board of Trade. The telephone is used far beyond my wants, needs or desires. In reality, I am like that crazy parrot - I am out here in the wilderness shouting, “Are you there? Are you there?”
Sherry Holden
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty
This past week I have had the opportunity to be “on the other side of the bed” so to speak. I have had a dear family member hospitalized in a local competitor hospital. One always goes through a variety of emotions during this time: anxiety, fear, uncertainty, sadness, and to a degree helplessness. There is also a realization that there is truly a feeling of vulnerability associated with leaving someone you love in the care of strangers.
I have been truly impressed at the customer service of the other hospital. Not only by the nursing staff, but by each person I have encountered - from housekeepers to security guards. It is such a comfort when you are having all of the emotions that I previously mentioned. They will never know how much it has meant to me. It is also a lesson reinforced. While I am so grateful for all of them, it strikes me that most of them do not know that I am watching and listening from perhaps a different point of view than most customers might be, that of another care provider.
I know that first impressions mean so much... both positive and negative. While we always tend to think collectively of good impressions as “those nice people at that place,” we are always left with a strong memory of a bad experience. One bad apple does indeed ruin a bunch. I always strive to treat the patients I care for as if they were my family members. I tell my orientees that they need to picture that parent or grandparent at the bedside as if they were their own, and to treat them as such. To humanize everything we do is essential. It really does come down to treating people they way we would like to be treated. Every once in a while, though perhaps not in the way we would have asked for, a lesson comes along to reinforce that.
Tracy
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.
Search for Available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty
Although the calendar says it is Spring, I think Mother Nature is a bit skewed with her timing because the temperature belies the season. My perennials are trying to come forth but the signals are very mixed: warm one day and cold the next. My grand-daughter started snap peas in the greenhouse and gave them to me for Valentine’s Day. They were climbing all over in the house so I put them outside. Now I have to baby sit them and hope for the best. Things are ready to grow; a bit skittish with so many mixed messages.
I guess we can be thankful we aren’t in North Dakota. My dad tells me this is the worst winter he can remember, especially March. They had to dynamite the Missouri River to break up the ice to stop the flooding in Bismarck. That sounds a bit excessive to me, but it worked. My problem is that I am mentally ready for a taste of warmer weather and I want it to happen now! With great anticipation, I realize that at any moment, Spring will burst on the scene and be brilliant.
Having said all of that, let me reel this blog in, or maybe that is “real,” and make it somewhat relevant to nursing.
We had a discussion this week on 4-medicine regarding the pros and cons of being certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing, or any specialty for that matter. The leading question being, “What are the benefits?” I have done some “mulling” since then and think we need to encourage one another regarding certification more than we do.
I think certification provides both nurse satisfaction and patient satisfaction, which are both within the concept of the Synergy Model for Patient Care that we follow at Clarian. Certification validates ones practice and knowledge base, and with that comes confidence, which leads to a greater sense of achievement and personal satisfaction. Patients relate to a nurse of that caliber. They feel secure and are more apt to develop a bond of trust.
Moreover, I think nurses need to periodically assess their practice and always make provision for growth. With so many opportunities available within the profession, it is important for each of us to evaluate where we are and where we want to go. That might include laying the ground work for an advanced degree, attending workshops, going to a national conference, publishing a paper, or spear-heading a unit-based research project. It might mean considering advancing to partner or senior partner, beginning the charge nurse role, or joining a Clarian committee. It might mean moving from medicine to OB! (Maybe that’s pretty drastic!) The question is: where do you want to grow from here? I think certification is the key to being “prepared for opportunity.” Experience and credentials are both powerful elements for one to possess in a world of change.
Indeed, it is the season of growth. Let me challenge each of you to push the revitalization button: go out to “burst on the scene and be brilliant.”
Sherry
To join our Registered Nurses in their quest for brilliance, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana
I guess we can be thankful we aren’t in North Dakota. My dad tells me this is the worst winter he can remember, especially March. They had to dynamite the Missouri River to break up the ice to stop the flooding in Bismarck. That sounds a bit excessive to me, but it worked. My problem is that I am mentally ready for a taste of warmer weather and I want it to happen now! With great anticipation, I realize that at any moment, Spring will burst on the scene and be brilliant.
Having said all of that, let me reel this blog in, or maybe that is “real,” and make it somewhat relevant to nursing.
We had a discussion this week on 4-medicine regarding the pros and cons of being certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing, or any specialty for that matter. The leading question being, “What are the benefits?” I have done some “mulling” since then and think we need to encourage one another regarding certification more than we do.
I think certification provides both nurse satisfaction and patient satisfaction, which are both within the concept of the Synergy Model for Patient Care that we follow at Clarian. Certification validates ones practice and knowledge base, and with that comes confidence, which leads to a greater sense of achievement and personal satisfaction. Patients relate to a nurse of that caliber. They feel secure and are more apt to develop a bond of trust.
Moreover, I think nurses need to periodically assess their practice and always make provision for growth. With so many opportunities available within the profession, it is important for each of us to evaluate where we are and where we want to go. That might include laying the ground work for an advanced degree, attending workshops, going to a national conference, publishing a paper, or spear-heading a unit-based research project. It might mean considering advancing to partner or senior partner, beginning the charge nurse role, or joining a Clarian committee. It might mean moving from medicine to OB! (Maybe that’s pretty drastic!) The question is: where do you want to grow from here? I think certification is the key to being “prepared for opportunity.” Experience and credentials are both powerful elements for one to possess in a world of change.
Indeed, it is the season of growth. Let me challenge each of you to push the revitalization button: go out to “burst on the scene and be brilliant.”
Sherry
To join our Registered Nurses in their quest for brilliance, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana
Well, life has certainly been interesting around here. In the Pediatric Critical Care there has certainly been no lack of business.
In fact, we have pretty much been at capacity throughout Methodist. As soon as a patient leaves, there is at least one more waiting to take their place.
It can be an exhausting time, as staff work extra hours to continue to provide the quality care our customers expect and deserve. But as always, a rewarding time.
I took an idea that was generated from our Partner/Senior Partner Council and began the process of developing a policy for Clarian with our Social Work department.
One of my colleagues brought up the very keen observation that we have a Safe Haven law in Indiana. This provides a way for babies less than 45 days of age to be left at safe places if the birth mother feels she is unable to keep the child for any reason. However, as an institution we have not addressed how to handle that situation if it were to happen here.
As we talked, we realized that our hospitals are very large, and there are a variety of places a baby could be brought in. All staff would need to be aware of their role in the process. This sparked a discussion of the need for education not only to our own staff, but also to those outside our walls, who are vulnerable and at risk, the pregnant teens, etc.
It was great dialogue, and as always, made you proud of those you serve beside. I think if we can all learn something, and perhaps serve the greater good in the process, this will be one of our better efforts at education. More later!
Tracy Davis
Visit aCallToChange.org/Nursing for Pediatric Registered Nurse Jobs in Indiana
In fact, we have pretty much been at capacity throughout Methodist. As soon as a patient leaves, there is at least one more waiting to take their place.
It can be an exhausting time, as staff work extra hours to continue to provide the quality care our customers expect and deserve. But as always, a rewarding time.
I took an idea that was generated from our Partner/Senior Partner Council and began the process of developing a policy for Clarian with our Social Work department.
One of my colleagues brought up the very keen observation that we have a Safe Haven law in Indiana. This provides a way for babies less than 45 days of age to be left at safe places if the birth mother feels she is unable to keep the child for any reason. However, as an institution we have not addressed how to handle that situation if it were to happen here.
As we talked, we realized that our hospitals are very large, and there are a variety of places a baby could be brought in. All staff would need to be aware of their role in the process. This sparked a discussion of the need for education not only to our own staff, but also to those outside our walls, who are vulnerable and at risk, the pregnant teens, etc.
It was great dialogue, and as always, made you proud of those you serve beside. I think if we can all learn something, and perhaps serve the greater good in the process, this will be one of our better efforts at education. More later!
Tracy Davis
Visit aCallToChange.org/Nursing for Pediatric Registered Nurse Jobs in Indiana
A nurse recently asked me about her rights at work. She said: “What am I supposed to do if a patient touches me inappropriately?”
On the face of it, this seems like a simple question. But when several nurses asked me the same question about the same patient, it led me to believe that nurses often spend so much time protecting the rights of patients that they (nurses) forget that they also have rights.
According to the ANA Bill of Rights for Nurses, “Nurses have the right to a work environment that is safe for themselves and for their patients,” among other things. View the ANA’s stance on the issue at www.nursingworld.org. The Bill of Rights sets forth expectations for the workplace environment. Any behavior that is considered offensive or fails to respect the rights of others is a form of harassment.
Experience shows that a number of considerations sometimes prevent nurses from addressing harassment from patients: fear that no one will believe the report; concern that what the patient did was not intentional; and even embarrassment or failure to recognize that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.
Clarian has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment from patients or co-workers, and a policy exists to define the expectations when someone experiences this type of behavior.
The short answer to the original question is: Immediately report any harassing behaviors to your supervisor and/or an employee relations consultant. Any nurse reporting such behavior should expect a timely confidential investigation and an action plan to resolve the situation.
At the very least, the nurse reporting the behavior should expect a person in authority to speak with the offending individual AND expect to hear the outcome of the investigation, including what plans are in place to protect you in the future.
In most cases, having an individual in authority speak to the patient effectively resolves the behavior. If you do not report the behavior, no one can help you and it likely will continue – if not with you, then with others.
Lucia Wocial
Registered Nurse Jobs in Indiana - Call a Clarian Recruiter at 877-354-2996 or 317-962-2600.
As a Nurse Recruiter, Shalunda recruits for all preassessment units, recovery rooms and operating rooms, endoscopy untis, adult clinics, and Healthnet Clinics. Prior to joining our Nurse Recruitment Team, Shalunda served in a wide variety of positions at Clarian - perioperative intern, OR staff nurse, IU/Riley OR Transplant Team member, OR Clinical Educator, and OR Clinical Manager.“I had a mentor as a young girl who was an OR nurse and I was attracted to the opportunities that nurses have. I love being a nurse because I am in the position to care for others. I am in a field that constantly grows and has numerous opportunities.”
Shalunda enjoys spending time with her family, reading, playing piano, listening to jazz and R&B. She is a HUGE animal lover (especially dogs), a den leader for her son’s Cub Scout group, and she performs community volunteer work monthly for her sorority (Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc).
You can read more about where Shalunda works at Clarian's ACallToChange.org website: Find Registered Nurse Jobs in Indiana
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