I am now an RN BSN AP who works for the OPBB which is a part of the DPLM-CH. Consequently, as part of my orientation, I have been reading a whole new set of manuals. Yesterday, I was in the P&P section of the online LAM, reading CC 11,016, which addresses the billing requirements of the CMS, formerly the HCFA, which is a division of HHS. It deals with ABN’s, ICD-9-CM’s, LMRP’s and NCD’s. It took me a bit of time to grasp all of this. Ultimately, I even found some things beneficial.
I have also made a trip to the CPL. I found that very fascinating and wish I would have had that opportunity before I transfused any blood components as a staff nurse. Now, I notice the CPL has made a few revisions that took effect August 9. I am totally discombobulated that WBC will now be known as TNC! HELP! Yes, I really mean HELP! That is about as monumental as changing cc to ml!
In the course of my day, I often travel to these places: BB, SPD, HIM, SIM, PSR, CD, and, of course SP&D where I get a marvelous CCC! Should you come to visit, K. & I are located at MH, GL, at the OPTR, which is just past POCT. If you reach IDTU, you missed us.
I have a concern that the time will come when none of us will be able to speak, write, spell or understand the King’s English. We will exist in a world of acronyms without understanding one another. Mental gridlock. It is no wonder the JACHO, ISBH & HIPPA, to mention a few, list communication as the number one issue on their radar.
Perhaps, those of you who TT&T have no problem being acronymized. Am I TOOOILF? RUOKWT? LMK.
Sherry
Sherry Holden, BSN, RN Associate Partner, 4South, IU Hospital
It has been just about a month since I last made an entry and announced that I was making a major move. I’m in the process of settling-in: not settled. I have learned a lot about myself in this process, and bits and pieces about a whole lot of other “things.” For instance, there are “things” in life that are pretty absolute. “Things” that don’t co-exist: night and day, up and down, in and out, front and back, life and death... Play with that for awhile and you will realize that you cannot mix and match, you must choose. So, here is my new dilemma: IN-patient and OUT-patient! Hello brain-freeze! Hello melt-down! Hello, Alice! Am I in-side-out or up-side-down? And, where is that Walrus when you need to “talk of many things!”
Comfort zones are wonderful places. That zone might exist in the midst of chaos but it is what one knows and it is OK. Somehow you make it work almost to the point of discomfort. Since man landed on the moon, I have been an IN-patient, multi-specialties nurse except for a clinic stint somewhere in the 70’s. When I abruptly moved, I went all OUT and entered the OUT-patient zone: initially, a new type of chaos for me. I think after comparing IN and OUT to the point of driving my preceptor totally daft, we have settled on this as the trigger point: “Dorothy, you are not in Kansas anymore!”
In reality, this has been a whirlwind month. I have been challenged. I am learning something new every day. (A word to new grads: We survive! We are resilient.) I am having fun. I enjoy the people I have met and I have embraced a wonderful new patient population. Synergy is alive and well on my radar. Out-patient Synergy! WOW! And, I used to think I knew something about blood... merely a drop in the bucket! It is exciting OUT here. The challenge for me is that I’m not IN there.
So, I have moved my cheese. Literally. During this change, I decided I would try new cheese with my new move. I have discovered a magnificent stout Stilton-blue from Britain and a fabulous slice of nursing in a remote corner of the basement in Methodist Hospital.
Sherry
Sherry Holden, BSN, RN Associate Partner, 4South, IU Hospital
In ethics, some concepts and themes repeat themselves over and over again: truth telling, trustworthiness, integrity to name a few. Maybe the reason for the repeat performances is because although the concepts are not hard to understand, sometimes they are hard to apply.
I can remember making a big mistake as a child and being faced with the choice to tell my parents and suffer the consequences, ignore it, cover it up or try to pin it on someone else (usually one of my siblings).
The worst part was knowing deep down inside that I had to tell someone what I had done. It always takes courage to admit a mistake, but being accountable for my actions means I have integrity. People can count on me to do the right thing even when it is hard.
Integrity has to be nurtured when you work in a field like health care where the stakes are high. Who in their right mind wants to relive the feeling of having to tell their parents they made a mistake, especially if the mistake caused harm to someone else?!
We have a code of ethics to remind us, even when it is hard, that we have made a promise to the people in our care that we will try to do the right thing. We will be answerable and responsible for our actions.
Our Culture of Safety survey results suggest that individuals experience apprehension when faced with reporting errors or concerns, yet to maintain a “Just Culture,” apprehension or not, we are obliged to come forward.
Mnemonics are popular because they can help remind people what to do in situations where stress may cloud judgment. Sometimes we all need a little Cultivation of our Professional Responsibility, CPR.
A colleague of mine created something that might help you the next time you have to tell a difficult truth. Remember the CODE: Courage to be moral, Obligations to honor, Danger to manage and Expression and actions. The space between knowing what is the right thing to do and acting is bridged by courage.
Lucia D. Wocial, PhD, RN Clarian Health Nurse Ethicist
IU 4-Medicine is an eclectic mix of humanity: both patients and staff. A few days ago, I was prompted to think about our diversity based on a conversation I had with an elderly patient. He was 76 years old and hospitalized for diagnostic studies. I asked him where he was from and he replied, “Tennessee” and then proceeded to tell me the name of a very small town he was sure I wouldn’t remember. He was right, I don’t! Then I asked, “How did you get to IU from Tennessee?” He replied, “I have LIVED in Indianapolis for 68 years. You asked me where I was FROM!” Point taken. There is a distinct difference between where we are from and where we live.
Since I have been transplanted many times, I have always been curious to know where people are from. Over the years, I have learned a lot about the people, cities, towns, and states where I have lived from patients and staff. Once a man responded to that query by saying, “Well, I am Kentucky breed and Indiana feed!” One of my favorite encounters occurred several years ago at IU when I asked an intern, Dr. Khan, where he was from. His reply, “Where do you think I am from?” My response: “Some place very far East of here.” To my surprise, and his great pleasure, he replied, “Mongolia!” Without hesitation, I told him we were probably related. Then I gave him a great explanation of the westward migration of Mongolians centuries ago. Many of them went to the area of the Ukraine where my mother’s family lived. Consequently, it was very probable we had family ties. Naturally, he thought I was very strange. Thereafter, whenever he came to the unit, I referred to him as “Cousin Kahn” and he always smiled in disbelief. I’d like to think that he has told this story over time from his angle - still smiling in disbelief.
So, where are you from? I posed this question to some of my colleagues and got these responses: Indianapolis, Gary, Avon, Hope, South Bend, Linton, Evansville, Terre Haute and C-ville. (You have to be an insider to know that Indiana town.) Chicago, IL; Bettendorf, IA; Lagos, Nigeria; Manila, Philippines; Cincinnati, OH; Milwaukee, WI; Kampala, Uganda; Bangkok, Thailand; Kansas City, KS; Hastings, MN; San Paulo, Brazil; Addis Abba, Ethiopia; and I am from Valley City, ND - some people consider that a foreign country with its own language! Really, no passport needed. Finally, one nurse admitted being from “Heaven.” I suspect she is one person who really can go home again!
Our journeys have brought us to this place from the North, South, East, and West. We all have stories to tell of the roads we have traveled. My curiosity wonders why we are all here at this place and time - individually and collectively? As a staff, we exist only for a brief period of time. This month, some people are going and new people will come. Soon we will be a different mix and our identity will change. Who are we, and where are we going?
In the scheme if it all, my great hope is that we do not miss one another along the way.
Sherry
Sherry Holden, BSN, RN Associate Partner, 4South, IU Hospital
What does May in Indiana mean? The Indianapolis 500 race of course! Racing cars are on everyone’s minds, as we keep a close eye and ear on the results of Poles and Bumps and the Race itself. Races are fun to watch and of course cars are essential for most of us for transportation. At the same time, cars are also a source of toxins that can wreak havoc upon the individual who encounters them.
Starting with their fuel, cars are filled with fluids that can harm you. Gasoline is a hydrocarbon, which if swallowed and aspirated, can result in hydrocarbon pneumonitis. The end result can be devastating or even fatal. How might someone swallow gasoline?
Usually people do this when they are siphoning fuel from one vehicle to another. The moral of this is to never siphon orally! Motor oil and transmission fluid are also hydrocarbons, but because they are so much thicker than gasoline, they are much harder to aspirate, so are less likely to be a problem.
Other automotive fluids that are poisonous are radiator and windshield washer antifreezes. Radiator antifreeze contains ethylene glycol, while windshield washer antifreeze contains methanol. Both are extremely toxic in extremely small (teaspoons) amounts. Ethylene glycol can cause kidney failure, while methanol can cause blindness, and both can cause death, if very much is ingested. Brake fluid is similar to the antifreezes in toxicity.
How do people accidentally swallow these fluids? The most common error they make is to drain the fluid into a handy pop can or cup, which they then mistake for the can or cup that contains their drink. They take a big swig from it and unfortunately, one swig is enough to be a problem. Young children see the can sitting there and sip from it too – and can also wind up with serious problems.
Fortunately most hydrocarbon exposures don’t end up as aspiration pneumonitis and we have very effective treatments for both methanol and ethylene glycol exposures. Still, the best treatment for any exposure is Prevention. Don’t siphon gasoline or any automotive fluids. Drain automotive fluids into clearly marked waste containers and never use beverage containers for drainage purposes.
Enjoy May and Race Fans……. start your engines!
Gwenn
Gwenn Christianson, MSN, RN, CSPI Senior Partner and Team Leader Indiana Poison Center, Methodist Hospital
Clarian Health has traditionally celebrated National Nurses Week at its downtown Indianapolis hospitals with an extensive lineup of events, activities, get-togethers and giveaways.
It used to start in late April and run through the end of May, usually capped with a day or two for nurses and nurse leaders at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, watching cars practice or compete for spots in the famed Indy 500 race.
Of late, we’ve taken a second (and third) look at our celebrations and asked ourselves: Do umbrellas as gifts and offers of free makeovers really make nurses feel appreciated for the work they do? Do they want to take time away from their families and friends and spend it with us – their employer – at an event we stage after hours to say thanks for a job well done?
More and more, we’ve realized that it’s not the gift or event that counts. It’s the motivation and the thought behind it. Is it genuine? Is it meaningful? Is it appropriately thanking those you intend to thank?
Last year, we changed our Nurses Week lineup and substituted some new things and got rid of some old habits in hopes of instilling a new way of thinking among our professional nursing staff.
For example, in lieu of a small gift for each nurse, we opted for charity and asked our nurses to identify nurse-led or nurse-inspired programs operating at our hospitals so that a significant donation could be made in the name of nursing, in honor of Nurses Week.
One program RNs identified was “Got You Covered” at Methodist Hospital’s Emergency Department, which provides sweatpants and sweatshirts to patients who don’t have clothing to wear after they are treated and released. A nurse started it; a nurse still runs it; and nurses KNOW it makes a difference to patients. We were happy to donate money to that cause in the name of great nurses at Clarian.
We’re doing the same thing again this year, and already, triple the number of nurse-led or nurse-inspired programs have been identified as potential recipients of a Nurses Week donation. That’s a step in the right direction, I think.
I believe, as does Clarian, that nurses are at the heart of health care. Nurses Week is an opportunity to say thanks to nurses who do the work of heroes, but it’s also an opportunity to think differently about how we recognize and appreciate that work … every day of the year.
Lydia Ostermeier, MSN, RN, CHCR Director of Nurse Recruitment, Retention, Workforce Development, Resource Allocation & Customer Service losterme@clarian.org 317-962-1886
I took my 21/2 year old grandson to the library last week. Our library has a great children’s area. It has a big play area with a train table, a Lego table and a puzzle area.But he wasn’t interested in any of those – he wanted to play with my purse!Fortunately he was more interested in my car keys than any of the other contents.
Purses, book bags and other items you use to carry items you use daily, are all sources of potential poisons for the children in your life.Let’s take a look inside the average bag & see what should be avoided.
Makeup – generally not a problem
Perfume – contains alcohol, small amounts cause local irritation
Visine®,Afrin® etc – allergy nasal sprays & eye drops – extremely toxic in small amounts, can cause extreme sleepiness, respiratory depression and bradycardia
Medicine – whatever you are taking – remember, Child-Resistant Caps are just that – Resistant, not Child Proof!The average 2 year old can remove them after a few minutes work.
Inhalers – albuterol or other inhalers – can be a problem if used excessively
Tylenol®, Advil® - or other OTC pain killers – can always be toxic if a little one gets too much of them
Cough drops – choke hazards
Tums® – safe, choke hazard
Gum – Despite what you may have heard, swallowing gum does not cause “gum balls” to develop in your stomach.However, eating large amounts of sugar-free gum may cause diarrhea, because most of those gums are sweetened with sorbitol, a laxative.
Nicotine gum – potentially quite toxic. Eating 1 piece of nicotine gum is the equivalent of eating one cigarette, which is a problem for a small child
Cigarettes – one cigarette is potentially toxic
Tobacco Dissolvables® – Orbs, Sticks, Strips – one of these is equivalent to one or more cigarettes and children tend to eat several, since they look like candy
Cigarette lighters – contain butane, which is a hydrocarbon and can cause pneumonitis
Matches – large amounts can cause kidney problems
Sunscreen – not toxic but eating some may cause a child to vomit, since it has a slimy texture
Insect Repellent –most contain DEET, which is quite toxic. If a small amount of repellant is ingested it will cause only local irritation, but if a large amount is ingested it can cause seizures
Hand Sanitizer – contains ethanol, small amounts cause local irritation
Batteries – small button sized batteries are a risk if swallowed, because they can lodge in the esophagus without causing symptoms. All batteries can be a problem if ingested
Coins – the larger the coin the greater the risk if ingested because they can become stuck in the esophagus
Cold sore meds – often these contain camphor, which can cause seizures if enough is ingested
Hair Spray – contains ethanol, small amounts cause local irritation
Mace – greatest risk is being accidentally sprayed with the mace, which causes immediate pain and tearing and can cause respiratory irritation
Keys – not toxic, but not good for your teeth!
Cell Phone – pieces can come off & be a choke hazard
Pens & Pencils – may make a mess but are not toxic
So, keep your bag “up and away” from children and be aware of what dangers lurk inside.If you suspect a poison exposure has occurred, don’t wait, call the IndianaPoisonCenter at 1-800-222-1222 right away!
Gwenn
Gwenn Christianson,MSN, RN, CSPI Senior Partner and Team Leader IndianaPoisonCenter, MethodistHospital
Clarian Health has a long-standing practice of only hiring nurses who are graduates of schools of nursing that are accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC) or Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
Some people may wonder why this practice is important. I can tell you from experience there are several reasons, but most important among them:
Accredited programs have established standards for nursing education, curriculum and faculty.
Accredited programs consistently prepare nurses to care for Clarian’s high-acuity patient population.
Before enrolling in nursing school, be sure to check whether the program is accredited and consider whether your employer of choice makes hiring decisions with that in mind. It could have an impact on your ability to find a job you want after graduation.
And bear in mind that even though a school claims to be accredited, YOU need to verify from where that accreditation comes. Being accredited to teach HIGHER EDUCATION COURSES is NOT the same as being accredited to teach NURSING PROGRAMS. There is a difference!
If you have questions about which nursing schools are accredited by NLNAC and CCNE, check out these Web sites for an up-to-date list:
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.):
Find a position(s) you want at www.calltochange.org/nursing or www.clarian.org/clarianjobs.
Click through until you reach the online application.
Complete the application and upload your resume.
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.)
When this is done, you will receive an automated reply by e-mail, saying we’ve received your application.
The interview process:
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.
When your recruiter calls, you will discuss career goals, experience, expectations, etc. Your recruiter might also recommend other openings that might suit you well.
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.
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).
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
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.
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.
It was not that long ago that Clarian endorsed an open visitor policy. As an organization we recognized how family presence contributed to the well-being of our patients. I often hear nurses express concerns about the fairness of the visitation policy. Patients aren’t prisoners, so who are we to tell them who can and cannot visit?
We value family centered care, but that does not mean families may do anything they want. The Clarian policy on visitation provides a lot of latitude to customize visitor guidelines to meet the needs of the patients on individual nursing units.
The flexibility may lead to questions of fairness. One way to decide if the guidelines are applied fairly to different patients is to ask “are we meeting the needs of the patient?” If the visitor is meeting a patient need, aren’t we obliged to meet that need? Most would say yes. So when is it ethical to deny a patient something they need?
Sometimes our duty to protect patients from harm means we have to give up something that might be beneficial. This can happen under normal circumstances when a family becomes disruptive or when visitors pose a potential risk, as is true now with the H1N1 virus.
The policy on visitation places the responsibility and the authority to determine what is in a patient’s best interest squarely on the nursing staff. Not all nurses are alike however, so again, how do we make sure the implementation of the policy is fair?
When nurses decide to make an exception to the visitation policy, they must communicate the reasons not just with patients and families, but with other members of the team. When exceptions are made the criteria used must be transparent for all to see so that a reassessment can occur as the situation warrants.
Consider what is relevant, the need being met, the benefit to be gained and the harm to be avoided. Fair can mean different. When fair is different, we have an obligation to be transparent about the criteria we use to enforce a policy differently.
Lucia Wocial, PhD, RN Clarian Health Nurse Ethicist
Vicky, a school nurse called. A special-needs student, a little boy aged 8, had eaten a good portion of a toy. “Well, not the toy itself. It’s this special kind of “Real-Life Reptile” and he chewed a hole in the tail and ate a bunch of these little white beads …. what we want to know is if those beads are toxic or not?”
First I established that the little boy, Ricky, was generally healthy and having no obvious problems at this time. He had been given a glass of water to drink and was doing so without problem. They estimated the amount of beads he had ingested as ¼ cup….
"Do you have the original packaging on the toy, and does it say non-toxic?"
"Oh no, we never keep all that stuff."
"Then do you know the manufacturer’s name or number?"
"Only what it says on the tag..."
Turned out the tag said the product was a "Real-Life Reptile" made by Boinky Ball Toys (all names changed to protect the innocent), but nothing more. The particular reptile he had ingested was a "Fast & Friendly Gecko," blue-green with bulging orange eyes and red toes.
I advised Vicky that I doubted this was a toxic exposure, as toys are generally made with non-toxic components, because kids do tend to nibble on them. I suggested that I take her number, and that I would call the company and track down the actual ingredients, just to be sure. Meanwhile she would closely monitor little Ricky. She was agreeable with that approach.
I called Boinky Ball Toys and spoke to Tiffany in their Customer Service department. Eventually I got her to understand that I wasn’t interested in placing an order but I needed to speak with someone in charge of product development, to find out what the product was made of. Then I spoke to Shelly, who said I needed to talk to Dave, "but he’s in a meeting right now, may I have him call you?" I explained, yet again, that we had a child that had EATEN their toy and we needed to know sooner, rather than later, what the toy was composed of. Shelly promised to interrupt Dave’s meeting.
A few minutes later, Dave called back. He had obtained the MSDS on the toy and was pleased to report that the white pellets were vulcanized plastic and totally non-toxic. I thanked him for his time and called Vicky back.
"Good news, it’s just plastic, completely non-toxic," I told her. "The only risk would be a concern for obstruction, but that’s unlikely since the format that Ricky swallowed was all tiny pellets." Still I recommended that he be fed a high fiber, high fluid diet for a few days and that he be watched for any signs of an acute abdomen. Of course, if he developed any symptoms, he should be checked by his FMD and that the physician needed to be informed of this exposure.
Was all that necessary? Well, I could have slept pretty well that night, knowing that the chance was 99.9% that Ricky’s ingestion was non-toxic... but I’d rather take the extra time, make the extra calls, and make 100% certain there was NO risk – treating that child like my child. So that’s what I did.
Sometimes you look back over the past month and say to yourself, “What just happened?” You discover that you have compacted time and squeezed every minute to its limit. Instead of taking a breath and enjoying a bit of fall, you ratchet it up a notch and say “what’s next?” I’m doing spin-off lists now so I can basically keep track of who I am, what I’m doing and where I’m going. Maybe I need a blueberry!
I’ve been trying to complete my MANDATORIES. I can never seem to get them done during patient care time, so I have to wander in at strange times on my days off. I consider mandatories a necessary nuisance, especially now that I have to go in to do them. I liked the good ole days when I could do them from home in my pajamas on a Saturday night at midnight. I am one of those people who actually read every word and often take notes on things that are new. I also find interesting stuff at times that I might have known at some point in time and have totally forgotten or find that it really is new and I either like it or I mull it over in wonderment. I’ll not expound on the latter but can give you a prime example of the former. Did you know that the brain is 2% of the total body weight, uses 20% of cardiac output at rest, utilizes 500ml of oxygen and 75-100mg of glucose/min and requires optimal perfusion of 50ml of blood/100gms of brain tissue /min.? No one thinks about this stuff until October; unless, of course, your world is neurology.
My world is not neurology. I spent last week working in Video Seizure. I find it all very fascinating but I am not comfortable with it. I am getting better but I can tell you that Nik & Marz are pretty impressive with the whole scene. They are finite in reading the monitors and responding accordingly. It is the one great thing I like about the nursing profession, we all seem to find a niche over time and have the ability to excel in that arena. I even have trouble answering the phone in seizure! Try this a few times: "Video Seizure, this is Sherry." That must do something odd to brain waves!
I also managed to go to Reno this month for a long weekend to visit my college roommate and a grade school friend. What a great interlude! You can’t beat spending time with people you have known for 46 and 55 years. We went to Tahoe, Virginia City, Carson City and the unexplainable Harrah Auto Museum. Couple that with airplane snafus and every weather pattern imaginable, and there are great stories to be told.
I am a great believer in managing time to allow for fun as often as possible. We clog our lives with so much it is imperative we find time to make a few memories. As my sister would say, “We all need marker days”.
(Good rates to Florida - temp is 90; check it out! But, get your mandatories done first!)
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.
This past week has been eventful as we have learned that we will be combining our Nurse Recruitment offices in one location. To date, we have been split between two campuses, which can create some challenges related to communication and scheduling office coverage. It also can cut down on cohesiveness.
I am very excited about going forward in one place where we can work more efficiently as a team, share our successes and frustrations, and just experience more synergy in Nurse Recruitment all around.
I feel so blessed to work with such great co-workers; I truly love coming to work each day, and this just adds to my job satisfaction. Thank you to our leadership team for making this happen! :)
I also was honored to be a part of the Magnet re-designation ceremony at Riley Hospital for Children. It gives me goose bumps to really take time to re-remind myself what it took to reach this point in our nursing history at Clarian.
I can’t believe I have been here 15 years this month, and the preeminent growth I have experienced is immeasurable! I am so proud to be a Registered Nurse and to be applying my experience and knowledge in a health care system that is elite enough to be in the top 2% in the country.
Why wouldn’t a nurse want to work for us?!
Julie
Julie Ruschhaupt, BS, RN, Clarian Health Nurse Recruiter JRuschhaupt@clarian.org 317-278-7082
Clarian Health will be present at the Indiana Black Expo Minority Health Fair. The IBE is an annual event for Indianapolis that grows more and more every year. This is an opportunity for the Clarian staff to volunteer and help the community. We will be providing blood pressure checks and education. I have volunteered in the past five years with my sorority at the March of Dimes booth. This will be my first year volunteering for both Clarian and the March of Dimes.
I encourage everyone to come out to the IBE events and make sure you stop by the Clarian booth and say "Hello." Get your blood pressure checked while you are there. If you are a Clarian staff member and want to volunteer, it is never too late to sign up on the pulse page through the Clarian serves link. Take care.
Shalunda
Shalunda Tyler, RN BSN Nurse Recruiter for Perioperative Services, Endoscopy, Adult Cinics, and Healthnet 317 962-9083 office
Julie entered nursing as a second career in search of a way to give back to the community and as a personal path to fulfillment, after having lived the glamorous but somewhat empty life as a manager in a retail jewelry store.
"Nursing has given me the opportunity to use my God given gifts to both directly help patients and their families and also to support other nurses and physicians who do. This is not a job, it is an identity and an enthusiasm for wanting to make a moment in time the best it can be for someone in need. "
Julie graduated from IUPUI, so despite the short walk to the Clarian campus, her professional path to nurse recruitment includes CV Critical Care and Manager of the Resource Pool.
The weather is beautiful and it always motivates us to get outside and get moving. I always look at the Clarian Daily for the free class opportunities that are offered.
In the past, I participated in the free water aerobic class and loved it. It was offered at the IU Natatorium on the IUPUI campus. I loved it so much that I bought a 15-class pass.
This week I took advantage of the Clarian free Tennis clinic offer. The class had tennis pros from the IUPUI Tennis Center. It was nice weather and the class was so much fun. I join the 5-week class for $50.
I must warn you, I am not an athlete and having fun in the class had me wake up the next morning very sore. But it was worth it.
I recently had the pleasure to go to Indiana University South Bend’s campus and meet with their nursing students on behalf of Clarian. The students were a mixture of May, August, and December graduates. They all were excited about the end of the semester and drained from finals week.
This opportunity gave me a chance to discuss the wonderful education and advancement opportunities that Clarian has to offer its nurses. I discussed with them the importance of getting their applications in early. I asked my group at what date did they start applying for positions. The earliest month the May graduates had applied was in February. Due to the economy there is not a lot of turnover in nursing positions. New graduates should embrace that securing a position in a system and gaining experience, even if the position is not your first choice, is a wise decision.
To view all of the Clarian nursing job opportunities, please log on to RN Job Opportunities Indiana. I enjoyed the beautiful South Bend campus and the opportunity to speak on all the great things going on here at Clarian.
Julie entered nursing as a second career in search of a way to give back to the community and as a personal path to fulfillment, after having lived the glamorous but somewhat empty life as a manager in a retail jewelry store.
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