The LTC nurse’s dilemma: Hide OR seek?
Working in long-term care is hard, very hard. You can “hide” from realities and then do something reactively, or you can … do the right things first.
The Real Nurse Jackie
The Real Nurse Jackie
Ode to The Annual Survey (‘The DON Blues’)
Oh, annual survey,You stress me so,No matter how we prepare,I’ll dread you, though … Despite skills labs, process reviews,And competency checksFor some reason at survey timeI fret a big hex I’ve made my audit list,I’ve checked it twice,And, like Santa …Know which staff is naughty or nice! I keep Tums in my top drawer,Maalox in…
The kindness of strangers, and friends
I have been very touched by the outpouring of kindness from readers, both whom I know and others I don’t, since my father’s passing a couple of weeks ago.
In medicine, there cannot be favorites; my dad was mine
After battling a long illness, I lost my hero, mentor, and father, Dr. Jack Fine, a week ago today, October 23. Anyone who knows me, knows the special relationship I had with my dad.
A house divided
When it comes to our jobs as managers and department heads, we can’t hide. Nor can we go left or right. We have to walk that middle line and make sure we build a cohesive team, not do stuff to tear it apart.
Rural American nursing ‘homes’
Like many people, I reminisce about our great country (I’m not trying to be political at all, but I think we are already a great country …). This was especially true last week on the anniversary of 9/11.
Round and round and round we go . . .
Hey, I get it. Sometimes we are doing so much we feel like our head is spinning. But, guys, you can’t forget to do your daily rounds. It is THE one thing you can do that will give you your biggest return on investment of time.
All we are saying is give pees a chance
Ok nurses and practitioners, this one is for you. Quit prescribing antibiotics for cloudy, funky-smelling pee. Weird pee is sometimes OK.
Ode to The Nursing Assessments
An ode to nursing assessments and all they entail.
The importance of unlearning
Anyone who knows me knows that I love teaching. And while it is one of my greatest pleasures on Earth, it is also one of my greatest frustrations.
Liar, liar, pants on fire
Does anybody remember when you last said the phrase in the title? I bet you said it when you heard something so outrageous that without a doubt you knew it wasn’t true. So why as nurse leaders do we let that kind of stuff slide instead of pointing out the person whose pants are on fire?
Nurse leaders shouldn’t have to ask: Who’s your daddy?
I was recently telling a good friend of mine about one of the best job candidate interviews I ever conducted.
Actively honoring those who served
As I reflect on Memorial Day and all those who have bravely put their lives on the line for our freedom, I think of the veterans who reside in our facilities, and how we shouldn’t consider them veterans just one day a year.
Are you a one-person rescue team?
I have heard nursing leaders refer to their nursing staff as their children. I think this can be good if it is in the context that your staff is like family. But I think it can be damaging if you feel you need to “parent” your staff.
Way too mathematically challenged
Nursing shortages are nothing new, and they’re going to get worse. So why haven’t we adopted solutions that other countries have already? There ARE ways to get around this.
Don’t let them down
The next time you feel like pulling out your hair if “just one more person puts on that call light,” remember that, as nurses, we’re No. 1 in the hearts and minds of the public out there.
Ah, spring (cleaning time!)
Sometimes we get so stuck in the mud of winter, get so despondent that we forget that spring is right around the corner. Of course, I am talking metaphorically. Often, we forget that we can make changes — heck, even be the change.
No nurse is an island
Let’s face it, healthcare is siloed enough without nurses running around with an “I’ll do it all on my own” attitude. Pride is a toxic condition no nurse can afford to suffer from.
Where did all the spoons go?
As nurse leaders/managers, I believe we have to be smarter in what we decide to let go and shrug off, as we might wind up having to do those things ourselves too often.
Sorry, King Solomon, but I don’t agree
No matter what your faith, pretty much everyone has heard of King Solomon, son of King David, who was given the gift of wisdom. How, therefore, can I say I think he is wrong?
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