The Daily Adventures of Surgical Leadership
Leadership
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…
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…
Preparing for that next survey? Here are a couple of things I’ve learned lately.
As a nurse, a surgical leader, and a consultant, I have been through many surveys. I have been on the sidelines, assisted with readiness, been responsible for answering questions, and led the process. I have been through state, Medicare and accreditation surveys. They are…
Some practical thoughts about Risk Management
Risk management can be challenging. We know that we are responsible for “managing risk”, but what does that really mean? In practical terms, we support a culture of safety to reduce risk as it relates to our daily operations. If you think about it, so…