Blog
Getting back to care post pandemic…some practical thoughts
I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling weary. This pandemic has brought so many “feels”, and all the personal and professional changes are, well, a lot. I’m sure that you can relate to some of my “feels”… grateful to be healthy and grateful…
Practical Guidance and a Reminder to Breathe
Hello! I know it has been a hot minute since I have posted – my apologies. Life has been busy! I also know that the last thing everyone wants to hear MORE about is Covid19. I felt compelled to reach out, however, to offer some…
Managing fall risk: An effective strategy that works
Since falls impact patient safety, require notification for CMS quality reporting, and may result in patient injury or worse, it is good to consider how we assess our patients, educate our staff, and improve our processes to ensure we are doing everything possible. One question…
New Recommendations on Tuberculosis
Did you know that the CDC has changed its recommendations on TB screening? The CDC released updated recommendations for TB screening, testing, and treatment of health care personnel on May 17, 2019. The changes: Healthcare workers that have tested negatively for TB do not need…
Five medication tips to help keep your patients safe
We are all probably a little numb when we read about medication safety. We get it. It’s super important. We live the life. It’s easy to become complacent until we have a problem. I decided to outline some practical best practices and hope…
Why do nurses eat their young?
It is the industry’s dirty little secret: Nurses aren’t always nice to each other. In an environment where teamwork and trust are key for patient safety, this unfriendliness should never be tolerated. But it happens. I have always struggled with the cultural issue in our…
New staff hires: Some onboarding tips to make the process easier
It’s exciting when we find a new staff member that will be a great addition to the team. We are hopeful that they will blend well with our culture, be accepted by all and be an asset. Bringing on new staff adds tasks as well. …
Eight staff scheduling tips to make staffing problems easier
I have found that staffing has always been one of the biggest challenges in surgical leadership. Even with the best plan in place, Murphy’s Law prevails. Someone tends to call out on the one day when you are super busy, relying on yourself as plan…
What was I thinking?
Some days, it’s easy to forget why we are “here”. Working in surgery can be quite challenging. Being in charge can be even more challenging. Have you ever taken a mental inventory of your career choices that brought you to where you are? I know…