The Daily Adventures of Surgical Leadership
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
We have all heard the horror stories…of nurses using used needles and syringes, using unsafe techniques, using the same fluid bags or vials, and other of improper injection practices, making patients sick, or at minimum, requiring notification and testing of exposed patients. These unsafe injection […]
I have recently been working with a new manager who is just learning about her center. She’s bright, enthusiastic, experienced, has great critical thinking skills, the right temperament, and should be a great success. She’s also frustrated, and I’m trying to help her alleviate […]
So, today is a milestone for me. It’s my birthday, and I have been writing this blog for four years this month. To honor the occasion, I thought I would switch it up a bit and be a little reflective. I didn’t really start writing the […]
I once had an employer ask me to attend an out of state conference. When I initially heard about the conference, I was interested in the content and locale, and was looking forward to it. Then, I heard that the same employer had wanted about […]