Sherry A. Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner

Sherry A. Holden, RN, BSN, Associate PartnerSherry has worked for Clarian for over 15 years, and currently works as a bedside nurse on the 4-Medicine unit at IU - a 48-bed unit with several medical specialities: renal, including hemodialysis, CAPD & next stage patients, pulmonary, hepatology, GI, including a very specific ERCP service, general medicine, endocrinology, and neurology. She has served in managerial roles, but her first love has always been bedside patient care.

“When I was 3 years old, I declared to the world, "I am going to be a nurse" and I’ve never looked back. I have been a registered nurse for 41 years. I started my career as a "cleaning lady" in a nursing home and advanced to a nursing assistant during my high school years. Then I went to college, and the rest is nursing history!”

Sherry spends as much of her free time as possible with her children and grand-children. She loves to garden (“in my mind I am a master gardener, but in reality I am more of a master "putterer"). She enjoys reading, writing and traveling, and can be perfectly content just watching people for long periods of time!

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

Marker Days

Monday, August 23, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
This has been a very good week at Outpatient Transfusion - if one uses the threefold criteria of “difference, learn and fun” as the yardstick. Actually, I think it has been a smashing success, because I believe in some unique way we are making a difference, probably leaning more than my brain can contain, and we certainly are having fun. Nonetheless, as I reflect on the events of the week, my mind has been on 4-S at IU.
 
Five years ago, I was diagnosed with lung cancer. I have had many interesting twists and turns since then and many “marker days” that vividly invade my mind unannounced. This week I visited my oncologist and he kicked me out of his program: a command to go out and embrace life cancer free! Victory! As I walked out of his office I wanted to shout, dance…do something crazy. It was obviously not the place to celebrate. Many people surrounded me who remain in the throws of the battle, without reason for joy. My prayer was that they still maintain hope.
 
So, what did I do? I went to 4-S! Some people might say, “I’m going to Disney World”! Not me. I went to 4-S and hugged some very special people. Sorry, Mickey, they have a bit more pizzazz than you do. I carefully and purposely engulfed myself in the moment because I know the people on that unit five years ago were part of my healing process. They willed me to live. I have a big lump in my throat right this moment recalling the extraordinary things people did for me. I’ve attempted to express my gratitude over the years but there are some things that cannot be expressed with words or deeds. Those things just continue to consume me with what is good and right in life. If you will, ponder kindness.
 
In reality, what constitutes a “unit?" In whatever context you use the term, measure comes to mind; and, beyond that, value. When I think about a unit in the hospital, I wonder how one might measure its value. I firmly believe the answer is, “by its people.” Each unit has its own heartbeat, powered by individuals. When those individuals care for one another, they are able to provide care to others. I have been very fortunate to have known “care” from both sides of 4-S. Priceless!
 
How do you measure the value of your “unit” at Clarian? Do you care enough to care?
 
Sherry
 
Sherry Holden, BSN, RN
Associate Partner, 4South, IU Hospital
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Career Job Search.

ACRONYMIZED

Friday, August 13, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
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
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.

In-Side-Out and Up-Side-Down

Monday, July 26, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
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
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.

The Walrus Said

Monday, June 28, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner

Regardless of the “sense and non-sense” and endless interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s writings, I have always enjoyed a certain segment of the poem The Walrus and the Carpenter which is tucked away somewhere in the adventures of Alice Through The Looking Glass. The poem has been around since the 1870’s and I learned it from my grandmother and passed it on to my children. My grandchildren will not be spared. I have not done any great in-depth analysis of the poem, as many have, but often repeat these lines:
   The time has come, the Walrus said,
   To talk of many things:
   Of shoes..and ships..and sealing wax..
   Of cabbages and kings..
   And why the sea is boiling hot
   And whether pigs have wings.

We could have a great talk about sealing-wax. In my mind, I would love to see it make a comeback. However, the time has come to talk of many other things:
   Of early mornings that become endless days..
   Hallways that are racetracks..
   Opportunities, timing, choices.
   Bundles and sets
   Of Policies, Protocols, Politics & Patient Care
   Fear of falling; Fear of not falling; Fear of Failing; Fear of Succeeding; Fear of You
   Anagrams: ITYK
   Input, output, opinions, ideas, place
   Of crossroads, decisions, direction, self-evaluation
Oh, we could talk of many things! But, someone has to listen! Is that me or you?

And, we could talk of life. Of times when roads diverge and we are compelled to stop
and carefully analyze the complex maze of direction choices on the map before us. And, we could talk about what Alice really saw in the Looking Glass! Well, this is what I see: the cheese is moving, pigs are flying, the oysters are dead and after 17 years on 4-medicine, I’m moving to the Mother Ship. Why? Because the Walrus said, “The time has come”!

What is in your Looking Glass?

Sherry

Sherry Holden, BSN, RN
Associate Partner, 4South, IU Hospital

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

Where Are You From?

Monday, May 24, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
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
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.

Enjoy Nurses Month; Eat Some Ice Cream

Monday, May 3, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
Get ready, set, go…it’s May! From the first to the last day, there will be some type of race: horse races, people races, cars races. We will move from inside to outside and begin grilling, gardening, biking, hiking-it seems endless. Add an ING to just about any word and we will do it in May. I’m a bit weary thinking about all of the possibilities and the month is only a few days old!
 
May is also “Nurses Month” at Clarian. It is really supposed to be Nurses Week, but Clarian always goes above and beyond. This year’s agenda is no exception. There is certainly something for everyone. Several awards are bestowed to highlight excellence in practice, banquets are held and a few lucky people get to spend a day at the track. I personally enjoy the Nursing 2000 Scholarship Banquet. It is a great cause for nursing and a great venue for networking. Sherry G., the person who hires me 17 years ago, is usually there. I consider her one of the greatest nurses I have known over a long career and a wonderful human being. Colleagues are the greatest! I also like the concept of “Nurses Helping Nurses”. While nurse gifts in the past were appreciated, I think it’s much more appropriate to make a donation to a nurse-inspired charitable program. I like to see the innovative contributions nurses are making. Most of the time, I am oblivious to these programs but May brings them to the forefront. I like the traditions that surround the festivities and I like the improvisation: last year on 4-Medicine we had a surprise birthday party for Florence Nightingale!
 
I have concluded that one of my favorite traditions of Nurses Month is Ice Cream Day. Sure, some nurses would prefer a healthy alternative, and that is fine. But me, I really like ice cream! I think in moderation it is a good thing. I also really like the concept of administrators coming to MY space to serve me ice cream and say “thank you” for a job well done. It would be great if Ms. Lydia O. would bring my ice cream this year. How fun would that be? Ice cream is such a good celebration treat: versus broccoli, for example.
 
I am also a person that needs a little recognition and appreciation now and then, which is another reason I find Nurses Month so fitting. Fifty years ago, my grandfather gifted me with a simple work ethic I have carried all my life: if someone is willing to hire you, you owe that person 100% effort for a day’s pay. I strive to reach that mark everyday. I have also learned over time that the reward of nursing is much more than the pay we earn. It is in the work of our hands and hearts and it returns to us through the lives we have touched.
 
This month is a time for all nurses to celebrate. A line from the musical, Camelot, says, “It’s May! It’s May! The month of YES, you may!” This month, I am consciously going to say: YES to nursing, YES to appreciating my colleagues, YES to having fun and YES to ice cream!  Next month….. I’ll eat broccoli!

Happy Nurses Month!
 
Sherry Holden, BSN, RN
Associate Partner, 4South, IU Hospital
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Position Indiana.

Be Good to One Another

Wednesday, April 14, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
I am in the midst of a little Spring downtime. Tomorrow I am going to North Dakota to visit my family. Time off is always a good thing. It changes perspective and allows one to hit the refresh button. Before my adventure begins, I would be remise if I didn’t remark on the events of last week on 4-Medicine.
 
My manager and one of my colleagues made it possible for me to go the “Celebration of Life” of a dear, dear patient who passed away on Easter Sunday - very fitting for Mr. F. I was scheduled to work that day and it required some sacrifice on the part of two people to get me there. I went with another nurse from our floor and we had a wonderful time. The family treated us like family and it was well known that the IU nurses were there.
 
As I have been reflecting on the entire event, one word comes to mind: goodness. Mr. F’s life was filled with goodness, he left a heritage of goodness and my colleagues exhibited goodness in responding to an unplanned, last minute need. I like Webster’s take on goodness. Among other attributes, he describes it as the “best part of a thing, the essence.” I am also wondering about the giver and receiver of goodness. It seems to me it is a two-way blessing in any circumstance. Blessed and grateful - that would be me.
 
So, a reminder regarding the essence of it all: be good to one another - it’s the best part of anything.
 
Sherry
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana.

I Am a Staff Nurse, Bedside Nurse, Nurse Clinician, and Associate Partner Everyday

Wednesday, April 7, 2010 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
I lost the month of March! I had a major interior house project done and my computer was shut down. A month of e-mails is a terrible thing to face! This whole situation raises the question: what would you do without technology for a month? No desk-top, lap top, T-3’s, I-3’s, cells or for that matter, TV. I found myself in the garden and I caught up on some reading: what a novel idea! Nursing journals: oh, my! It’s enough to make your head swim.
 
 I was particularly interested in one snippet in NurseWeek that was a simple letter to the editor from a retired nurse in Michigan. She was concerned that the nurses receiving recognition were administrators, managers, educators, practitioners - everyone but the “everyday nurse.” She went on to describe the “everyday nurse” as the person who was everything to everyone all of the time. From patient and family care to linens, floors & garbage, she drew a picture of the “everyday nurse” and felt they needed more recognition.
 
 I didn’t disagree with any of that, but I was a bit perplexed regarding the terminology “everyday nurse.” It was new to me, and for some reason, I didn’t like it. It reminded me of everyday shoes or everyday “wash and wear” or an everyday hair-do. Naturally, when something niggles me, I want to know what other people think. I guess I need verification that I am not an odd-ball! I did a random survey on 4-Medicine, assuming there were no odd-balls there, and discovered the same response. People did not like it, but they weren’t sure why. The terminology itself seems to have negative connotations for people. Over-time I have been a staff nurse, bedside nurse, nurse clinician, associate partner…Of the mix, people seem to like staff nurse the best. It has a stellar tone.
 
In reality, when it is all said and done, I am an “everyday nurse.” Just don’t call me that!
 
Oh, and whatever my title, I need recognition.
 
Sherry
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Career Job Search.

Nurses, Go for the Gold!

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

Sherry

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

Beyond Schatzki to Maglinte

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

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

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

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

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

Sherry

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

I Wonder What the Parrot Says

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

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

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

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

Sherry

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


December 24, 2009

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

I Miss Your Mustache

Wednesday, December 9, 2009 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
I find people very interesting. The big dichotomy of humanity is that we are all very different and very much the same. All one has to do to prove that theory is watch and listen. It will not require a government grant to collect a large amount of data nor a team of experts to publish the results. A few days on 4-Medicine at IU will suffice. Last week I had two fun encounters that have swirled in my head regarding people and how we relate to one another.

I had a patient who was quite ill and had no definitive diagnosis. We finally decided to put her in respiratory isolation for a few days until some things had been ruled out, or in, whatever your preference. I was in her room when she called her husband to inform him not to visit that evening for safety reasons. Her closing comment to him was, “I love you and I miss your mustache!” The other situation involved a man who was admitted for twenty-four hours with chest pain. When his wife came to take him home, her parting comment to me was, “I’m glad he is coming home. I miss his noise.”

So the question is, "What do we like about one another enough to miss?" I have been thinking about many people in this context: family, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. I love my children and grandchildren dearly, but what is there that I really like about each of them? I have friends that I went to kindergarten with fifty years ago. Why have we maintained a life long connection? I enjoy the people I work with every day. Why? When I arrive, why am I glad to see the people of the night and always happy to work with the people of the day? I especially like the banter in the med room. Uncensored! When I gave report yesterday I told my replacement, “You will really like this patient.” What was there about that person that I liked enough to feel confident that someone else would like them too? Do I just like people who are like me or do I like people who are really different than I am? In order to answer that question, I have to know what I like about me.

The reality is this: there are many people that I genuinely like; more and more I am discerning why. And, that adds a richness to my life. However, at this moment, I am not sure what I think about mustaches and noise.

Sherry

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


When the Power Goes Out, We are Empowered

Monday, November 16, 2009 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner

Instantly, the power is gone. Darkness prevails. If you think about it, most of us are not comfortable with darkness – we are hard-wired for light. Twenty-three hours of darkness at IU Hospital this week was an interesting challenge. I’m sure debriefings have run the gamut of every department within the system. I’d like to add my two cents with a few observations from my perch on 4South.

There is a plan. Disaster drills are such a nuisance – especially when you are in charge and the day is horrendous. So are fire drills when it is 0705. And, code drills. Nonetheless, they are all the foundation of preparedness. I suppose the people who are responsible for all of this stuff are going over the details with a fine-tooth comb. From my vantage point: It’s a good plan, and it worked.

People become very resourceful and depend on one another when it is dark. Night shift people can verify this in particular. I understand morning blood draws were more than interesting. So once again we revert to what we learned in kindergarten: “Hold hands and stick together.” Teamwork is a great force.

4South had the benefit of a few working computers. We had to share. It worked well. By and large, people do not want to PAPER CHART. I even found myself being one of them – imagine that!

Patients are very resilient. Given the appropriate information they respond in kind. From the moment a patient is admitted to the hospital, they become dependent. I find it amazing how people respond in that state when given “appropriate information.” I also find it interesting how communication and relationships change when we are all in the same boat: We bond quickly.

Management was right there with us. They were visible, available, resourceful, dependable and appreciative – working for the common good. Why is it that we don’t always see them in that light? I even had a few personal minutes with the Chief of Staff. How special was that!? What he offered was encouragement.

During the day, the unit was quiet. We had limited light, fewer people using our space and a slower pace. It was nice.

We will all have stories to tell. Over the years I have endured many situations without power – some of them lasting for several days; most of them weather-related. We will have fun remembering.

Without electricity, how would we function? Think about that for a minute. And then, think about this: When the power goes out, we are empowered, and the power of the individual is endless.

Sherry

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

Medical-Surgical Nurses Make a World of Difference

Tuesday, November 3, 2009 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner

November 1-7 is designated Medical-Surgical Nurses Week. This is a time set aside to celebrate and appreciate Med-Surg nurses. When I first became involved in the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses and became aware of this week, I wondered why we needed another week in addition to Nurses Week in the spring. Over time I have grown to appreciate the difference.

During Nurses Week, I set aside a bit of time to reflect on why I became a nurse. During this period of time, I think about why I am a medicine nurse. Why did I choose this specialty, and why in the world have I stayed with it for forty-two years?!? Medical nursing is never really a comfort zone. Just when you think you know something, it changes. There are many specialties that are more glamorous than medicine. And there are many places in the system where people don’t have to work at such a crazy pace or have an odd appreciation for chaos.

Over the years I have done many interesting things within the framework of medical nursing, and I have had opportunities to do numerous things in other areas, but have never made the leap. Four years ago, after my round with cancer, I was sure I would never be able to keep up with 4-medicine again. I interviewed several places and was offered a couple of very interesting jobs, but I couldn’t make the move; just couldn’t imagine myself without liver patients!

Medicine is always a challenge. It is about critical thinking, honing one’s senses and developing keen assessment skills. It’s about team-work at its finest. Many years ago I referred to medicine as the “theater of dependency.” We like to think of ourselves as very independent practitioners, but in reality we rely on each other constantly. Medicine nurses have very distinctive personalities - need I say more? Let’s just consider IU 4-medicine for a brief moment... (How wild and whacky was that?!?) I guess medical nursing gets in your blood. Over the years, I have had three criteria for staying the course in any position I have held: am I learning, am I having fun, and am I making a difference. If all of those things are operational, I am pretty content. Medical nursing has been a place of satisfaction for me.

I was pleased with the slogan for this year: "Medical-Surgical Nurses: Making a World of Difference." Medicine Nurses share an umbrella with Surgical Nurses. Somewhere along the line, I have made a distinction because I am pretty much a pure medical nurse. I hope I haven’t slighted any surgical nurses in this blog, because I can tell you right now, I have a great appreciation for what you do. Actually, I pretty amazed at what you do! I think you know that as truth because when I float to your areas a lot of hand holding occurs to get me through. For some reason it is hard for me to wrap my brain around all that cutting and pasting! So, to all of my colleagues in Medical-Surgical Nursing, enjoy the week, share your stories. re-commit to your specialty and never doubt for one moment that you indeed “make a world of difference.”

And, if you are out there as an “undecided,” consider Medical-Surgical Nursing, because it could make a world of difference in your life, too.

Sherry

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

Have Fun, But Get Your Mandatories Done First

Thursday, October 15, 2009 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
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!)
 
Sherry
 
To be a registered nurse at Clarian, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana.
 
Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty
 

What Do Nursing and Catching Chickens Have in Common?

Monday, September 28, 2009 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
Staff nursing is challenging and intense. It requires physical, psychological, mental and spiritual prowess, and stamina. In order to survive, one must find a bit of levity in any given day, recognize it as such, savor it for a moment, exhale, refresh, regroup, and move along. In current terms, that would be known as the “levity bundle.” Levity is spontaneous and fleeting so one must grab its nuances and quickly partake of its benefits. Sometimes we are so stressed and overwhelmed we totally miss our moment of reprieve. I’m embracing levity nowadays as a survival technique, and it is interesting to me where I find it.

I floated to O.T,U. this week; a fish out of water. I’m always amazed that I function quite nicely on my unit, but when I go to another unit I might as well be in a foreign country and not speak the language! My first patient’s chief complaint was listed as 129.9! I kept that little number in my head throughout the day; chuckling and scheming. I have no idea what it means but I will not miss an opportunity to take advantage of it in the future.

We had a pitch-in last week, mostly sweets, because everyone knows that stressed spelled backwards is desserts. I missed a great opportunity to make my infamous “Beefy Brownies,” but many good bakers provided wonderful treats. It was an appreciation/farewell for one of our favorite physicians - a very special interlude with a lot of banter and one moment that was quite hilarious; one that shall always be remembered. Levity.

Sometimes these levity moments are long remembered. When I first started working at IU, I worked nights. I was reading the nurse’s notes from the day and a student nurse was caring for an elderly gentleman that was learning the art of walking with a 4-prong cane. The entry: patient abel to use cain. Priceless.

And, then, there is the “Chicken Catcher.” One day a group of us converged at the nurses' station and started talking about the program America’s Got Talent. I stated that I liked the “Chicken Catcher.” The conversation that ensued went fifty directions regarding the job of a “Chicken Catcher.” Wikepedia finally gave us the job description: A chicken catcher is one who catches chickens. OK then. In the final analysis we decided there was a need for such a job because chickens cannot be herded.

The next day our conversation centered around the fact that the chicken catcher had won the million dollars and a show of his own in Vegas. He was a quiet, shy man that had moved way out of his comfort zone to catch a dream. It changed his life completely.

Chicken catching and dream catching have enough merit to be independent blogs, our reality is “levity catching,” and when we accomplish it, we can exhale.

Have a nice day.

Sherry

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

Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.

Nursing Defined

Monday, September 14, 2009 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner

I like words. I like concept analysis. I like it when I discover the “right” word. I like new words. I like words that I always pronounce wrong or words that roll off my tongue. I’m actually looking for a certain word. Here’s the challenge: if you could define nursing in one word, what would it be? I would much prefer we were having this as a round table discussion so each of us could have the opportunity to expound, because I am going to give you my word, which I, of course, think is the best - and the only way I will have “thought variables” is if you send me a reply. Otherwise I am going to be pretty smug about my choice.

Nursing is "relationship." A cascade of other words are contained within relationship. Thus, one could define nursing in great detail based on a single word. Try it for a little word exercise and see where it takes you.

I have been thinking about the nurse-patient relationship a lot this past week. Over the past few months I have had a wonderful relationship with CW and his wife B. It all started with, “Hello, my name is Sherry and I am going to be your nurse today.” That introduction has forged great relationships over time. CW was special. He endured many difficult medical interventions, numerous trips to the hospital, and was forced to make choices and decisions that were very challenging. Each time he came to 4-medicine, I wanted the privilege of caring for him. I learned a lot about his history, his family, his life, their great 4th of July Celebrations, his daughter’s wedding, his children, the wonderful home he loved on the Ohio, and a wife who sacrificed beyond his expectations. I have his address and phone number on my dresser. I had planned to visit CW & B after his surgery this summer; maybe go to a horse race. It was not to be.

On September 4th, I went to Ohio for his funeral. I wanted to see him one more time, say good-bye and connect with B. She is a special, gifted woman and I think we will maintain a relationship, too.

There was never a time that I cared for CW that he didn’t ask about me: what was new, how were the kids, the grand-babies, the garden... He always made me feel good. He was a joy to care for and always appreciated anything done for his well-being. I told B the other day, “People like CW are the reason I am a nurse.”

With relationship comes joy and sadness; the memory of both will linger in the case of CW. Understanding that full scope of involvement, tomorrow I will once again walk into the room of a stranger and say, “My name is Sherry and I’m going to be your nurse today.” Nursing defined.

Sherry

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

Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty.


“Are you there? Are you there?”

Thursday, August 27, 2009 by Sherry Holden, BSN, RN, Associate Partner
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.

Search for available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty