I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce the new Nursing Matters blog feature. We will use this platform to keep you updated on interesting topics, present new programs and highlight service improvement efforts. We will also use the blog to announce specific awards and achievements of your nursing colleagues like the promotion of Lulu Jin of Nelson 8 who will transition from CNE to RN in November. Kudos to Lulu!
It is my privilege to serve as your Director of Nursing. I am proud of the exceptional patient care our team provides and the dedication you exhibit each day. We are a very busy department and I appreciate your efforts. I truly believe we are a first class (five star) hospital, and I am honored to be a part of this dynamic team. As a reminder, I will continue my practice of shadowing staff on Fridays so I can better understand the challenges nurses face. Keep up the great work!
-Ron Langlotz, RN, MSN
As we try to recover from the unexpected loss of our dear friend and colleague Joanna Kaskasian, please remember to support her family by:
Donating to the Joanna Kaskasian Memorial Fund: http://www.gofundme.com/3u8zy7v2s
Or providing meals for her husband and children: http://www.takethemameal.com/meals.php?t=VKMS7109&welcome=1
The Language of Caring
The Department of Medicine is participating in the hospital-wide initiative to reinvigorate The Language of Caring skill set. These seven skills are a resource to improve empathetic communication for patients, their families and all staff members. One skill will be rolled out every two months. Month one will be teaching and review of the skill while month two will be focused on habit builders or exercises to strengthen the skill. Skill #1 Practice of Presence was taught to DOM staff in June by Terry Nelson and Jade Hewitt in general classes. The classes brought together all medicine units and roles to learn collaboratively in a 60-minute session. For the month of August, the department will focus on Skill #2 The Blameless Apology, which is being taught on individual units and in general classes for all unit roles. Habit builders will follow in September on the unit.
Key Words for Skills:
- Skill #1 Practice of Presence “Tune In Fully”
- Skill #2 Blameless Apology “I’m Sorry”
Congratulations to Alma Carillo of Nelson 7 who won the DOM housestaff award for Outstanding Nurse.
A huge thank you goes out to the following nurses and staff who received compliments this month:
- Nurses and staff of Bloomberg 5 South-PCCU: “The nursing staff was absolutely awesome, explain procedures, having a smile and always keeping me informed about what was next…it made me feel at ease and comfortable with everything even though I was scared to death.”
- Ivy, Helma and the nursing staff of Osler 5
- Phoebe, Robin and all staff in Nelson 6
- All staff in Weinberg 4B
- Rachel, Marina, Molly, Lauren, Laura, Kathryn, Ashley P. and Ashley M. in Halsted 2-Osler 2
- All nurses in Zayed 5 West-CCU: “…the word nurse derives from the Latin nutricius, meaning nourishing. Webster’s dictionary definition of the verb nurse includes the following, ‘to take charge and watch over’…I truly felt nourished by your staff, and was comforted by the fact that they did, in fact, take charge and watch over me.”
