RN Jobs Careers Indianapolis

Last week, 4-Medicine at Clarian-IU hosted the August meeting of the Central Indiana Chapter of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses. Our guest speaker was Dr. James Watkins, Associate Professor of Medicine at the IU School of Medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology. In keeping with the education tenet of the organization’s mission, the presentation was on Pancreatitis: Cause, Current Treatment and Specific Care. When one cares for this specific population on a daily basis it is interesting to note that “just when you think you know something, you don’t.” I was fascinated with treatments on the horizon for this disease and a bit surprised with what I don’t know regarding the pancreas. I guess that is the necessity of “continuing education.”

The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses is the “only national professional nursing specialty organization dedicated to adult health medical surgical nurses.” It was formed in 1991 with the goal of nurturing medical-surgical nurses as they advance their careers. Their motto is “Nurses Nurturing Nurses” and the organization is available to assist with everything from education to research to networking to legislation. They provide a journal, newsletter and an endless resource of information on their website at AMSN.org.

There are 50 Chapters throughout the United States and local chapters are designed to provide educational meetings with CEU’s, networking opportunities, professional support, volunteer leadership opportunities and input into national issues and program planning. The Indiana Chapter includes a local charity emphasis at each meeting. Last week school supplies were given to the Riley School at the Riley Hospital for Children. Each year AMSN members convene for a national convention. This year the convention will be held in Washington D.C., September 9-14. They have also designated a time of celebration each fall as Medical-Surgical Nurse’s Week. This year it will be held November 1-7 and entitled Medical-Surgical Nurses: Making a World of Difference.

I provide this information because I am a major proponent for professional nurses aligning themselves with a professional organization in their area of specialty. These organizations are the voice of nursing and will hopefully have input in health care decisions that effect nursing in the present upheaval. Membership seems to me to be timely. I have had the privilege of attending four national conventions - I hope I can attend at least one more! I went to my first convention in Florida as a recruiter representative and enjoyed it so much I joined on the spot. I also had the privilege of doing a Synergy Poster Presentation at the Chicago Convention. Someday I would like to be a presenter, but so far they haven’t jumped at my ideas for a break-out session!

Let me encourage every nurse to join a nursing organization - it’s a gift you give yourself. The things I have learned, people I have met and places I have been have added greatly to my career and my respect for medical-surgical nursing.

Sherry

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

Search for Available Nursing Jobs at Clarian Health by Nurse Specialty

People like plain old soda crackers, especially when they are sick. Recently I became intrigued with this fact because I had a barrage of cracker requests and an encounter with a man who wasn’t grasping my explanation of NPO when he said, “I understand all of that, but can I have a cracker?” People always want crackers when they can’t have anything else. They seem to get focused on crackers and don’t consider them food. “Why would it hurt to have just a couple of crackers?” People want crackers when they aren’t really hungry but would like “a bit of something.” We need crackers with soup; likewise with a salad. We need crackers and 7-Up for an upset stomach. Pregnant woman want crackers and water. People that are nauseated for any reason want a soda cracker. The lowly cracker consists of flour, shortening, salt and baking soda. In and of itself, that combination doesn’t sound very inviting. Bicarbonate of soda is the key ingredient. It will heal you inside and out! There must be a book out there on all its uses - nothing better to clean a kitchen sink than bicarb and vinegar. Maybe it helps our inner pipes also. Sorry, I digress.

As you can tell, I have spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about soda crackers. My plan is to purge my mind in this space and transfer the topic to you so you can get it stuck in your head - like an old song that you can only remember the first line.

In the midst of my cracker intrigue, I went to Southern Indiana to visit a nursing friend of mine who has just moved to the “burbs of Evansville.” We spent some time in Newburgh at the Newburgh Country Store - a fascinating place worthy of a day trip. In the middle of the store was an old cracker barrel filled with soda crackers - naturally! As we munched, I asked Nathan, a third generation proprietor of the store, what was up with the soda crackers. He proceeded to point out the fact he had a rare original balsam cracker barrel in the store - it was a dandy. He explained how crackers were transported in these barrels and arrived here with the British. He considered the soda cracker a comfort food and stated that people enjoyed the combination of browsing, snacking and reminiscing. He reminded us that crackers have a unique bond with our childhood. Of course, they are the right size for a little hand, they have fun little holes, they crunch when you eat them and they make a mess and leave a trail. What more could a kid want. It seemed a fitting treat in the midst of an old general store; clever and a source of conversation.

That encounter led me to learn a bit more about crackers. After all, we are a generation of people who have embellished the cracker to the point of selection that includes an entire aisle in the grocery store and so much variety we are "paralyzed with choice!” And there is absolutely no end to what we can use as toppers! Here are a couple of fast facts courtesy of the Internet and Time/Life books: Cookies and Crackers, 1982. Premium saltines first hit the market in 1876 in St. Joseph, Missouri. However, “10,000 years ago, Neolithic farmers were making a grain-water-paste baked on hot stones.” ( Soda crackers are 32% water.) “A flour paste, cooked once, then cooked again to dry it thoroughly, becomes a hard, portable victual with an extraordinarily long storage life—perfect for traveling. For centuries, no ship left port without enough bone-hard, twice-cooked ship’s biscuit. The word biscuit comes from the Old French 'biscoit,' meaning twice cooked…to last for months, or even years. While sailors and other travelers chewed their way through unyielding biscuits, cooks of the ancient civilizations of the Middle East explored the culinary possibilities of sweetness and richness.” Of course, now we move into the area of cookies. I will certainly not go there today! Nor will I entertain discussion about whether crackers are a French or British original!

The morale of this entire rambling is the fact that the little square soda cracker seems to bind us with all of humanity. Bicarb may not be the key ingredient after all. Soda crackers provide a little comfort and seem to have healing powers that soothe the body, mind and soul.

Sherry

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

Embedded within the Nurse Characteristics of the Synergy Model of Nursing is a fine thread of gold that allows me to weave a picture of my nursing practice whenever I deem it necessary. Perhaps, it is a little PRN reality review that allows me to evaluate my practice, set goals and discover something special.

I’ve done a little weaving today because the week has been brutal. I hit a little negative snag yesterday as I was overtime more than I ever wanted to be in my whole life! I was in good company with several other people. We were all physically, mentally and psychologically exhausted and I can tell you there was not a lot of positive conversation and none of us were looking for a thread of gold or a silver lining!

Now, in the stillness of the morning, I can think about my day and the culmination of the week in the light of Synergy and I am actually feeling pretty good about nursing and pretty good about what I accomplished this week. I looked at my clinical practice and clinical judgment: wanting but intact. I can think of situations where I have been a good patient advocate and a good nurse advocate. I always try to maintain a high level of caring practice and respond to diverse needs. I have to remind myself that when I am tired and have multiple tasks to do that I have to always keep that aspect fine- tuned. I strive to incorporate communication and collaboration because they can make or break a day.

Looking back on this day I find it ran the gamut from rewarding to hilarious! Perception is the tricky part. And, today I was a facilitator of learning as a preceptor. I hope Miss S. was not too overwhelmed. She had good opportunities to do new hands on things and certainly was challenged to figure out how to organize a day. I can see areas where I was more of a help than a hindrance; albeit I was both! Sometimes preceptors get in the way and sometimes they need to be there to help find the way. I need to find that balance.

The Synergy Model always helps me find new energy, new perspectives, new challenges.
Today I found a little nugget that is my reward for the week. It may actually be a reward for a very long time. I cared for a VietnamVet who had a few bumps in the road this week on his way to a transplant. He was a bright spot: always cheerful, wondering how MY day was going, amenable to having a new nurse, and along with his wife, provided a little levity in my chaos. I’m thinking about Mr. M as I prepare to go north this weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July with family and friends. I am thankful for all the freedoms and privileges that America still embraces and I am thankful for men and women like Mr. M who have sacrificed to secure them. This week he put his life in my hands and I tried to handle it with care.

In spite of a horrendous week, the thread of gold continues to weave a pattern of my nursing practice: not a finished product, but a work in progress that requires a little attention now and then, for within the weave is the reward.

Happy Birthday America! And thank you Mr. M.

Sherry

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

I personally do not know many people that get really pumped for the Track & Field season. Few people speculate during the week about the next great pole-vaulter or the hottest shot putter on the planet. There are not packed stadiums and cheerleaders but the fans that do partake are never disappointed. These events all seem to showcase during tournaments or the Olympics. Individual Track & Field events have always intrigued me, particularly the hurdles. First of all, I cannot, and never could imagine how one could co-ordinate the speed, steps, rhythm, efficiency and technique that hurdles require. Timing is everything. There are many factors that slow a hurdlers performance and I have seen some nasty falls that end the race in a second. The higher the hurdle and longer the race, the more impressed I am. My legs hurt and I am out of breath just writing this paragraph!

I was thinking about hurdles last week in the context of what we have to overcome in life in order to finish the race. I was thinking about nursing specifically as I watched the new grads prepare for the State Boards. They had overcome many obstacles and endured many sacrifices to get to this one big hurdle that all registered nurses have to clear. Everything depends on one test! Until one passes that test, there is no moving forward! It is demanding and stressful. It is the culmination of years of preparation. Each one runs their own race in their own time and waits for the results. I have seen the exhilaration, relief and sense of accomplishment that comes with one word: "Pass," and the total devastation that accompanies "Fail." Completing this one hurdle means that EVERY nurse begins their career as a success, with endless opportunities to develop and own their own practice.

Kudos to all of you who have completed the challenge, and welcome to the nursing profession.

Sherry

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

At dawn on a glorious Sunday morning in Dakota, my mother died. Fitting for a master gardener, May 24 was the new strawberry moon - a time to grow. Ironically, my mother was highly allergic to strawberries! However, she spent her entire life as a part of the prairie. She lived and died by the rhythm of its seasons.

This blog is one of my observations on life and death.

MAKE PLANS FOR DEATH
I was amazed how prepared my parents were for a time such as this. My mother was 86 and my father is 90 - sharp as a tack. They had planned for death. When my mother endured a sudden event that entailed making very hard decisions very quickly, my father knew her wishes and was able to make those decisions with a clear head, albeit a heavy, heavy heart. Death is a hard conversation and most of us avoid it. I certainly experienced the benefits of the many details my parents had settled beforehand.

RESPECT AND HONOR CHOICES
There are 11 children in my blended family. Trust me, we are all very opinionated - especially my parents. They made some end-of-life choices that even surprised the funeral director! They certainly surprised us! But, in unity, we respected and honored their wishes. Many families have a difficult time with this and often divisions ensue. At Clarian we talk about “crucial conversations.” I guess if we have those in life, they aren’t as necessary in death.

MAKE PLANS FOR LIFE
Within the hour of my mother’s event, she was making plans for her garden. She was moving plants and fussing with her cactus. They were planning to attend the graduation of a great grand-daughter the day she died. Life has gotten so busy and demanding we live by reaction most of the time. I asked people on my unit this week what their plans were for fun this summer. Interesting, we don’t seem to plan for fun. I think I’m going to get a new planning strategy and live life a bit differently.

DON’T FORGET LOVE
I have no doubts my mother loved me, and in kind, she knew that I loved her. It was a relationship of “show and tell.” She had a great capacity for loving her family - especially the grand and great grand children. Never miss an opportunity to let someone know they are loved before it is too late.

NURSES MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE
I was a part of a rotating vigil at my mother’s bedside. The situation was surreal; full circle. It was the hospital I worked at as a student - 45 years ago! My mind covered a lifetime during those quiet hours. I had the opportunity to share that time with a kind and caring physician and some pretty remarkable nurses: Michelle, Katie and Bonnie were very special people. My sisters and I did many of my mother’s cares while the nurses cared for us. (The Clarian philosophy of patient, family and community.) It was validation for me that a nurse doesn’t have to be DOING - mere presence sometimes makes all the difference in life and death.

Sherry

To become a Registered Nurse at Clarian, visit Nursing Jobs Indianapolis.

I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous, and will not take of knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work, and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

I attended Jamestown College in North Dakota. The Nursing Department was steeped in tradition and our nursing ceremonies were conducted with great fanfare and significance. We memorized and recited “The Pledge” during our capping ceremony, we received our lamps, Bibles and stripes with great pride and at graduation, our “Pinning Service” was the creme de la creme of pomp and circumstance surrounding that day.

We bring all of our history and traditions forward during the month of May as we celebrate nursing and nurses. Today is May 6, 2009. In 1982, by a joint resolution of Congress and the signature of Ronald Reagan, this day was set aside as a day of Recognition for Nurses. Traditionally, it began a week of celebration that culminated on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale.

Today, my mind is flooded with memories of the many, many wonderful nurses I have worked with over the years. Nursing is a profession like none other and I am glad that each year we take time to recognize each other and the incredible work we do. To all of my colleagues at Clarian and beyond, I say ,“Well done!”

I encourage you to think about these statements from “The Pledge” sometime during this month as we blend our new traditions with some very old tried and true fundamentals:

I will practice my profession faithfully. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid. With loyalty will I devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.

Sherry

To join the Registered Nurses of Clarian, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses.

Tuesday was a very difficult day for me on 4-medicine. The emotional high & low provided such a contrast I will have to go into a mulling phase to put it all in perspective.

It all has to do with the intricate nuances of our units: the patients, the staff, the delicate balance it takes to maintain… The challenges, obstacles, personalities, and stressors are overwhelming. It is interesting over time to look at how our units evolve. Who decides to combine certain patient populations and who decides what type of individual is best suited to manage that creation, and how does that person decide who will be the best people to keep the thing running. Somehow, at some point in time, everything clicks and somehow it all works quite nicely.

And, then of course, things change.

On Tuesday, one of our finest left, and, one of our finest returned. What an emotional dilemma! Selfishly, I was very sad to see Miss M. depart. We knew when she arrived it would be for a season and then she and her husband would pursue their careers beyond IU. But over the months, relationships develop and Miss M. was a vibrant part of our unit. She is a very kind and gentle person whose presence calmed and cured not only the patients but the staff. She brought us a fine combination of professionalism, fun and laughter. On the day she left, there were tears. Miss M. was a person who made an impact in a short period of time. It is hard to let go but we are all excited for her because she is on a wonderful journey and is someone we are not going to forget. She left a void.

Last year, Miss E. left us and pursued a dream of travel. She did some nursing along the way and covered the country and beyond. I oriented Miss E. as a SNE, SNEM, SNG. She provided 4-medicine with a personality like none other and developed into a very good charge nurse and excellent team player. I was sad to see her leave but have an album of pictures with details of her adventures. It has been wonderful staying connected with her.

Now, she is back. It was Tuesday. In the midst of a busy, busy day, she asked me what she could do to help me, and in an instance, I realized now much I had missed her and how very, very glad I was to have her back.

In the scheme of things, it is all about people. Ask any nurse why they work on their particular unit and they will respond, "because of my patients and my colleagues." We have strong unit bonds that go far beyond the borders of the workplace and forge timeless friendships.

Sherry

To join and bond with the Registered Nurses at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Career Job Search

Dr. Spencer Johnson wrote a little book in 1998 entitled Who Moved My Cheese. It is a timely-timeless parable about change: two mice and two humans. When change is upon me I often return to this tale; perhaps, because I lived in Wisconsin long enough to fall in love with good cheese and never want it to move very far away from me. I am also a creature of habit and do not adapt well to constant change. I’m not against change, but I like to adjust to one thing before rapidly moving on to the next. I’m sensing I might be losing my cheese. Read the book, about 40 minutes of your time, and I am sure you will recognize which character I am. But, who are you? Who would you like to be?

I address the issue of change because we are once again in the midst of a major change in the system. Tomorrow we will begin using the CareMobile System for passing medication. I realize patient safety is the major benefit of the system but it is new and requires time I don’t perceive I have to invest. Added to our new computer system, I think I am about as challenged as I want to be for the rest of the year! My brain wants to be “unplugged” or at least put on pause for awhile. I wonder if it is really thinking or just reacting.

This brings to mind a story I read years ago about a man who started out in life as a migrant worker. Picking beans was his specialty. He enjoyed picking beans and felt he was good at his job. He was very content. One day, very abruptly, without discussion or training, he was told that he would no longer be picking beans but he would now pick peas. He recalls what a major change issue this was for him. He could not explain it, but with a degree of trepidation, he wondered if he would ever be able to pick peas.

So, on the eve of another change in my life, I’m wondering where my cheese is exactly and if I will ever be able to pick peas? Food for thought.

Sherry

To help our nursing team bring positive changes to Clarian Health, visit Jobs for Registered Nurses

Working this week, I had a new awareness and appreciation regarding my patients who live with chronic illness. Many of them have End Stage Liver Disease, Eng Stage Renal Disease, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, hypertension… A major part of their treatment includes alteration in diet: sodium, sugar, fat, cholesterol, etc. All the things most of us tend to enjoy in excess. The fine tuning that has to happen for these people to achieve a degree of wellness is incredible. This includes a daily dose of discipline and compliance: what a hard pill to swallow. But, without that combination, there is always a price to pay.

As nurses, we have a major role to play in educating patients and families regarding diet, compliance and consequences. Above all, we need to be supportive. Outcomes are paramount in all of these situations.

From experience, I am well aware that there are certain times of the year when discipline and compliance are not on the menu: holidays! It is very difficult for people to maintain in the midst of celebration, family gatherings and bounty. I am a Norwegian-Ukrainian and it is pretty incredible to me what we can conjure-up in the name of tradition and I can assure you that none of it involves discipline!

As I think of Easter Sunday, my family and my patients, perhaps, the idea of “sampling vs. indulgence” is a good food option for all of us. In reality, we all could use a bit more discipline and obedience in our lives. Have a wonderful holiday; but be good to yourself.

Happy Easter! Happy Spring!

Sherry

To join the Registered Nurses at Clarian, visit Registered Nursing Position Indiana

Although the calendar says it is Spring, I think Mother Nature is a bit skewed with her timing because the temperature belies the season. My perennials are trying to come forth but the signals are very mixed: warm one day and cold the next. My grand-daughter started snap peas in the greenhouse and gave them to me for Valentine’s Day. They were climbing all over in the house so I put them outside. Now I have to baby sit them and hope for the best. Things are ready to grow; a bit skittish with so many mixed messages.

I guess we can be thankful we aren’t in North Dakota. My dad tells me this is the worst winter he can remember, especially March. They had to dynamite the Missouri River to break up the ice to stop the flooding in Bismarck. That sounds a bit excessive to me, but it worked. My problem is that I am mentally ready for a taste of warmer weather and I want it to happen now! With great anticipation, I realize that at any moment, Spring will burst on the scene and be brilliant.

Having said all of that, let me reel this blog in, or maybe that is “real,” and make it somewhat relevant to nursing.

We had a discussion this week on 4-medicine regarding the pros and cons of being certified in Medical-Surgical Nursing, or any specialty for that matter. The leading question being, “What are the benefits?” I have done some “mulling” since then and think we need to encourage one another regarding certification more than we do.

I think certification provides both nurse satisfaction and patient satisfaction, which are both within the concept of the Synergy Model for Patient Care that we follow at Clarian. Certification validates ones practice and knowledge base, and with that comes confidence, which leads to a greater sense of achievement and personal satisfaction. Patients relate to a nurse of that caliber. They feel secure and are more apt to develop a bond of trust.

Moreover, I think nurses need to periodically assess their practice and always make provision for growth. With so many opportunities available within the profession, it is important for each of us to evaluate where we are and where we want to go. That might include laying the ground work for an advanced degree, attending workshops, going to a national conference, publishing a paper, or spear-heading a unit-based research project. It might mean considering advancing to partner or senior partner, beginning the charge nurse role, or joining a Clarian committee. It might mean moving from medicine to OB! (Maybe that’s pretty drastic!) The question is: where do you want to grow from here? I think certification is the key to being “prepared for opportunity.” Experience and credentials are both powerful elements for one to possess in a world of change.

Indeed, it is the season of growth. Let me challenge each of you to push the revitalization button: go out to “burst on the scene and be brilliant.”

Sherry

To join our Registered Nurses in their quest for brilliance, visit Registered Nursing Opportunities Indiana

On Tuesday at our Clinical Practice Council Meeting, our LPN enthusiastically announced, “I have 47 more days left of school.” She will then be an RN! Good for her. Good for us. She has been an excellent part to our staff for several years as an LPN and will be an outstanding nurse.

She will be in good company, because this year we have a very special group of SNEM’s that will graduate and stay on 4-medicine. They, too, are eager to finish school and adjust to real changes in their professional and personal lives.

As a member of the "old guard," it is a joy for me to see these new people make the transition and began their careers. I can remember 42 years ago when I was one month from completing my college career. I absolutely loved everything about college. I still have many friendships from those marvelous days. Jamestown College is a small, Christian college on a windswept hill in North Dakota - hardly imaginable to most people. It was a very special time in my life. Nevertheless, with one month remaining, I was more than ready to move on and start “practicing” nursing.

As I watch that circle beginning again, I am encouraged that the profession is sound with this class of students. They have been stellar in their eagerness to learn and grow on the unit. I have noticed that they are a group vested in teamwork and are always available to help anyone. I would challenge them to “be the nurse you always wanted to be” and above all, define and own your practice. And, some where along the way, have the ability to articulate that practice.

Clarian is a great place to start a career. I bet the recruitment people are looking for a few good nurses this time of year. Call and tell them you are interested in IU - 4-medicine in particular.

Sherry

To join learn more about nursing at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Job Opportunities

Clarian Health is in the process of implementing the six standards of a Healthy Work Environment outlined by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). In a nutshell, this program seeks “optimal outcomes” on a “journey to excellence.” I rather like both of those statements because they conjure up something good in my head.

The six standards are:

1. Skilled communication
2. True collaboration
3. Effective decision making
4. Appropriate staffing
5. Meaningful Recognition
6. Authentic leadership

When I was first introduced to these standards, “authentic leadership” jumped right out at me as the key to the entire program. I have been around long enough to know that much that happens in nursing depends on leadership, beginning at the unit level and rising to the top.

I have had the pleasure of working for some great nursing leaders, and that makes all the difference in nurse satisfaction.  At this point in time, we are very fortunate to have a renowned CNO, a bright and enthusiastic VP at IU, and a wonderful manager on 4-Medicine.

I’m making a point of leadership today because last Monday we celebrated one year with JF as our manager. I have been on this unit for 16 years and management has been a “trial of my faith!” It is amazing that I have survived!

Then, something very good happens: a true leader arises in out midst - a manager who is a “nurse’s nurse” that orchestrates “all that stuff” with his staff in mind. First, his availability is his strongest quality. He is approachable for anything: staff issues, personal issues, controversial issues, non-issues! He is available for clinical issues, he can start an IV, sink an NG, or do the Heimlich Maneuver with a moments notice.

Secondly, he has a knack for surrounding himself with good people. He chose an excellent Shift Coordinator and is hiring an impressive group of nurses to complement our staff.

On our journey to excellence, I think 4-Medicine has the leadership key that will guide us to achieving a Healthy Work Environment.

And, Congratulations to us for a great year!

OK! Congratulations to you, too, JF!

Sherry

To join our journey to excellence as a Clarian Registered Nurse, visit Nursing Job Employment Positions

When I consider last week, the words of the Scottish poet Robert Burns are very apropos: “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”

My daughter, sister and I had planned a trip to North Dakota to visit my parents. And my daughter-in-law and the grand kids were going to Wisconsin for one last visit with her family before the arrival of a new baby June 1. We had all made plans for these adventures far in advance and were scheduled to start our journeys last Thursday.

On Tuesday, the moon was full and the barometric pressure dropped like a rock. If you remember correctly, the temperature dropped 50 degrees in less than twenty four hours! I worked that day. It was a very busy day of multiple discharges and admissions. I was in charge and problem solving seemed to be the order of the day. But I left on time and got home for one of my favorite TV programs. Then, I smartly went into A-Fib.

The whole affair resulted in an electro cardio conversion and a pretty interesting cardiac cath via my radial artery.  My daughter-in-law didn’t get to Wisconsin either. She had an emergency c-section! Baby is tiny - but breathing on his own; mama doing great. To end this tale, North Dakota had a blizzard last week and the interstate was closed for two days: 15 inches of snow, 40 mph winds and wind chills –35 degrees.

Let me make two observations about this drama. First of all, I went to the Methodist ER - Clarian Cardiovascular is located there. Without exaggeration, it was five minutes from the time I walked in until I was attached to telemetry and not much longer before I had an IV. A team of three nurses, D-B-B cared for me. They were all professional, smart, reassuring and witty. I’m not sure anybody does it better. The remainder of the experience gave me great satisfaction in my colleagues at Clarian Health.

Secondly, when I think about “the best laid plans of mice and men,” I think about my average day on 4-medicine. When I hear report and get a plan for the day, I am always amazed how quickly that plan changes based on a myriad of circumstances: a patient’s condition changes, procedures are backed up due to emergencies, a staff member goes home sick, equipment doesn’t work… things often go awry.

Flexibility is one of the greatest qualities of a good nurse. And, that quality must be cultivated in our every day life also. Without it, I’m not sure we would have survived last week!

Sherry

Last week was an exciting week at Clarian Health; maybe the better terminology would be exhilarating week, We had planned, prepared and primped for our Magnet Visit. My best analogy of such an event is “a reviewing of the troops”. I remember years ago I attended a military graduation. Each company was required to perform for the top brass. EVERY individual in EVERY company was scrutinized for perfection. It was an amazing display of excellence. Upon review, the general saluted his troops and they responded with a “roar”. I’m assuming it signified a mixture of relief, success, accomplishment and pride. I have never forgotten the sights and sounds of that day.

Four years ago Clarian achieved Magnet Recognition, granted to approximately 1% of the hospitals in the country. This program was designed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center to reward nursing excellence. Key words for me that signify Magnet are quality, innovation, achievement, vision and accomplishment. I also like their review process which requires a detailed document showcasing nursing, followed by an on-site visit. Magnet appraisers from all over the country converged on us last week and I would like to think we exhibited “an amazing display of excellence!”

The appraisers came to my unit. Night staff nurses throughout the system attended a breakfast and day nurses went to a luncheon. These events were designed to receive input from the bedside nurse. The reports came back that the encounters were open and honest. I was pleased to represent my unit along with our shift coordinator as we reviewed our unit and then discussed my favorite topic, The Synergy Model of Nursing, and my colleague presented her online communities page. She created and maintains this page and it is a wealth of information for the unit. She was very articulate and knowledgeable. In my busy day, this was a time for me to think about my unit: the patients, the hard work, our accomplishments and the contributions every one makes every day.

In the afternoon I was invited to attend a session on Recruitment, Retention and Reward. It was a stellar group comprised of every level of management I could personally imagine, staff nurses, students and a financial consultant, representing all Clarian Hospitals in Indianapolis. I knew many of these people from committee work, but listening to their stories and contributions made me want to stand and shout BRAVO! BRAVO!. I did, however, maintain some degree of decorum!

Late that evening, as I was mulling over the day, I was overwhelmed with a great sense of pride. I am proud and humbled to be a nurse. I am proud that my hospital upholds excellence as a standard and I am very proud of my colleagues.

Sherry

To join in the exhiliration of nursing with the best, visit Registered Nursing Position Indiana

Sometimes in the midst of chaos, one is given a “revelation of clarity”.

Last night, after three busy, challenging and very rewarding 12-hour shifts, I was extremely tired: O.K., exhausted! I was wondering if three in a row is too much for me, when it dawned on me that I didn’t have to work that pattern if I didn’t want to, because on my unit we do self scheduling and I get to choose how, when and why I want to work. It truly is a great system. Hours are posted in four-week blocks of time and each of us pencils in when we want to work, and somehow it becomes reality - most of the time.

If there are conflicts there is discussion and resolution. So I could work any pattern of time during the week. Maybe I’ll think about three eight hour shifts and one twelve, or two of each. I normally work days, but I might think about a couple of evenings or I might even add a night now and then.

Maybe I’ll do a full weekend!

I think I’ll take a day off on the next schedule. I can see my manager coming out of his office saying, “What are you doing”?! Then I’ll give him some kind of an explanation and he’ll respond, “I’ll see what I can do”! Somehow it all works.

It also dawned on me last evening that I have the next four days off - my choice and a reward for hard work. I thought my plans were pretty concrete regarding these days, but now “spring-break” has arrived in Indianapolis and I might map out my garden: Good Friday is coming and I’m thinking about planting potatoes. The Big-Ten Women’s Tournament is in town. I might take in a couple of games, and the Butler Bulldog’s are red hot for the NCAA. A game at Hinkle Fieldhouse is always fun.

Sorry, I digress. Back to my revelation. On 4-medicine at IU Clarian, the gift of controlling my own time is invaluable to me. Time is the great equalizer in life. We are not all given an equal number of days but in each day we are given exactly the same amount. The only variable is what we do with it.

Choose wisely.

Sherry

To make your own nursing schedule, visit RN Job Opportunities Indiana

At Clarian Health, we use the Synergy Model for Patient Care as our care delivery system. This is a very rich model based on the nurse-patient relationship. VULNERABILITY is one of the tenets of the patient side of the model-referred to as a characteristic.

I have always found vulnerability to be quite fascinating. I believe that every patient that enters the hospital has a certain degree of vulnerability. My favorite definition of vulnerability remains this: susceptibility to actual or potential stressors that may adversely affect patient outcomes.

Thinking about the present patient population on my unit, I would be inclined to believe the man with cerebral palsy who had an ERCP and requires a sitter for several reasons is more vulnerable than the one who is independent and is here for a work-up of elevated liver enzymes.

Nevertheless, that is merely an assumption unless I “know my patient”. Developing a relationship of honesty and trust with a patient is established through communication. Unfortunately, we have evolved into a society that uses blackberries, cell phones, computers, texting and i-everything  to communicate. 

We are loosing that “direct contact” interaction that allows both patient and nurse to bond on a higher level: one of awareness and understanding.  If that “Synergy” does not occur, vulnerability becomes a two-way street. Communication is definitely the challenge.

If you visit Clarian's Synergy Model, you will find a wealth of information that might peak your interest regarding this delivery system.  I have a great appreciation for this model and like toying with its concepts. So I challenge you to think about vulnerability not only in the context of the patient but in the context of oneself.

Sherry

Clarian nursing positions available at: Registered Nurse Career Job Search

Happy Valentine’s Day! As you love someone today, remember to be kind to yourself. Beyond the joys of chocolate, remember who you are and the contributions you make every day.

This has been a grueling week at IU Clarian. I think a full moon, Friday the 13th and Valentine’s Day all within the same week skewed the universe a bit and impacted us greatly. We had many patient challenges, some electronic glitches that were un-nerving , lots of overtime for many people, and we just seemed to work flat out every day. Now we are all exhausted!

Last night, after a 50 hour week, I once again concluded that nursing is a hard job. On my way home, I reflected on why and how I have done this job for so long! As always, I reminded myself of this fact: the reward of nursing is in the work itself. Beyond multiple, multiple tasks, there is caring, comforting, advocating, sharing and connecting... I have had some special moments this week with patients and families that are stories yet to be written – I’ll savor them for now.

I have had times this week as an older charge nurse where I have been impressed with, and proud of the young people I work with - one particular situation involving a terminally ill patient. And, I learned something new: I can now tell you about a Klatsins tumor! I love a teaching hospital. Once again, I have been “rewarded by the work” and by Monday morning. I will be refreshed and ready.

However, I am keeping a watchful eye on February 22! That is the day the Moon forms a line with Mercury, Jupiter and Mars... Now that could really skew my universe!

Sherry

For information about nursing careers at Clarian, visit Registered Nurse Jobs Indianapolis

Milestones in our lives are cause for celebration.  Clarian recognizes that annually with a dinner for those who have given service for 15-20-25-30 years and beyond.

The affair was held in the Sagamore Ballroom at the Indiana Convention Center on January  29. My invitation read, “To celebrate your anniversary with Clarian Health Partners, You are cordially invited to a “Simply Elegant” Tenure Dinner in your honor. I had just completed 15 years at Clarian - same unit - and decided to attend, knowing that I would not have the opportunity for another 5 years.

It was indeed a “Simply Elegant” celebration. Over 1000 people attended. The food was great, the prizes were amazing, the live music got people dancing, and the camaraderie made one feel a part of something very special.

The person who had been with the system the longest had give 52 years of service. I was thinking maybe 15 years was a good fete!  I departed feeling I had been rewarded. At 0330 the next morning I was headed to Florida to celebrate a dear, dear friendship that was established 13 years ago when a new grad arrived at IU from Ohio State.

I have been blessed with wonderful colleagues over the years who have transcended the workplace and become a part of the fabric of my life. Every year in January I have lunch with a friend who started the same day I did. We have great history and fun stories to tell. She was a new grad then and now has her masters ...

So, it has been a time of celebration and reflection for me. I’m refreshed, ready to keep on keeping on... Let me encourage you to find something to celebrate this week. It will be a little gift you give yourself.

Sherry

Find Registered Nurse Jobs at Clarian - Call a Clarian Recruiter at 877-354-2996 or 317-962-2600.

My colleagues from the XY&Z generations learned a little something this week about the “Radio Generation”. I grew up using a Royal Upright typewriter & now I am trying to learn how to do a new system of electronic charting. They tell me an exercise such as this will markedly cut my chances of varying types of dementia & all the time I’m trying to decrease my stress level so I don’t have a stroke!

Well, the XY&Z’ers have all been marvelous! They have been very patient, given clear instructions & even clearer instructions when needed. We have worked together as a team instituting the new system & have had a great deal of fun. When I precept new nurses, I always tell them it will be there job to help me with the electronics & what is new in the science of nursing & I will be the experience that will teach them the art of nursing.

This was a good week of the student teaching the teacher & I learned much more than charting.

Sherry

Nursing Job Employment Positions - Call a Clarian Recruiter at 877-354-2996 or 317-962-2600.

 

Last week was a particularly interesting week at Clarian Health-IU. I was one of twelve staff nurses invited to breakfast with the VP of our facility. She is new to the system & is using this venue to get to know the staff.

We were a combination of people from OB, ICU, OR, ER, Surgery & Medicine: nurses discussing nursing. The dialogue was open to the positive, negative & the questionable. It lasted about 90 minutes & I found it open, honest, encouraging & refreshing. The VP has positive energy & enthusiasm peppered with realism. I was impressed with her candor.

The session was highlighted for me by listening to issues, concerns & solutions expressed by my colleagues.  Also, listening to
their  stories & triumphs proved as a great reminder for me that I work with the best of the best in this profession.

Sharing across specialties & listening to the life in a day of an ICU nurse or an OB nurse reminds me that I am a part of a wonderful profession comprised of extraordinary people doing extraordinary deeds every day. And, as a medical nurse for 40 plus years, I am very content with my niche & very respectful of the accomplishments of my colleagues.

They say “everyone should start the day with a good breakfast”. Well, isn’t that the truth!

Sherry