615-856-8181
shania@shanialynnvo.com

hospital

To Err is Human- A Case for Medical Errors

by

“To Err is human; to forgive, divine”- Alexander Pope

In light of the recent criminalization of former Nurse Radonda Vaught, the topic of medical errors is quite relevant. According to the National Institute of Health, “Medical errors cost $20 billion per year and take the lives of 100,000 people every year.”

There are many different types of medical errors and reporting such errors helps to improve the process and prevent repeatable errors in the future.

Medicinal errors can include acts of omission (not giving a medication when it is ordered) or commission (giving the wrong medication). The main 5 rights of medication administration are taught in nursing school: right patient, right drug, right route, right dose, right time. We are taught to do no harm and every nurses’ fear is to kill somebody.

If a nurse tells you they they have never made a medication error before, they are likely lying. A lot of the time, the error causes no harm and goes basically unnoticed. The nurse will communicate the error to the appropriate people and it is evaluated and a new process may be created. That’s it. In the unfortunate cases where the patient is harmed or dies, that is when the stakes are higher. But, every single error made can possibly lead to death. Fortunately, most of the time the nurse can take a deep breath and carry on with the shift.

Medicinal errors can involve:

Giving the patient a medicine they are allergic to (most often this is caught with electronic systems and pharmacy checks, sometimes it is not flagged),

Giving a drug that the doctor ordered on the wrong patient (nurses can catch this if they understand what the medication does and the story of the patient)

Giving the correct drug but wrong patient label (same drug, same dose, wrong patient)

And so so many more scenarios.. some are very minor and are not noticed. Some are major and become national news. But ALL are human errors involving medicine.

What makes this case so scary for nurses is that reporting a medical error previously is already shameful no matter how small or big. And now that Vaught is now labeled a criminal, many more errors will now go unreported. In a time where we are facing an ever increasing nursing shortage, and now sending nurses to prison for a medical error, how is that going to affect the future nursing workforce?

The healthcare system is in need of some major changes. Where is the forgiveness that is indeed divine?

Until next shift,

Shania

It’s Just a Bad Shift: The Importance of Mindset

by

In the past several weeks, I have transitioned into a new job, got scammed out of $1000, lost and found my “sold” wedding dress, messed up my personal website, and our house closing has gotten delayed. Reflecting on these many frustrations, I remind myself that these are so little mishaps in the grand scheme of things.

I remind myself that I am so thankful that my family is healthy, my country is not under war, Covid numbers are decreasing, I have a successful side job that I love, we are building our first new home, among so many other amazing events that life brings.

There are bad days at the hospital, but there are also bad days at home. It is normal for humans to doubt their abilities and question our life paths. It is so easy to live in life’s frustrations, rather than choosing to embrace the oxygen that we breathe at every moment.

It’s our attitudes and perspectives that determine our outlook on each situation. It is so important to magnify the good and simply experience the bad. Experiencing every emotion- the good, bad, and ugly, is part of a healthy life. The problem lies in adopting a negative viewpoint that determines all future reactions and paths for greater things.

Inpatient nursing is already a high stress environment, so why bring such negative emotions and perspectives to the work? A negative aura is felt by others around you. It truly is amazing how just thinking negative thoughts can affect an outward appearance.

We need to choose to accept healthier perspectives and view all sides of a situation. A bright person is just as recognizable as a negative Nancy.

Until next shift,

Shania

What do you want to be when you grow up?

by

Growing up and even now, many ask themselves this question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

After witnessing mental illness in my family and then struggling with my own eating disorder, my answer became “a nurse.” I chose to be a nurse because I wanted to influence others and educate others into creating a healthy lifestyle.

But just the answer of being a “nurse”, only goes so far. I then decide whether I prefer inpatient or outpatient, which unit, which patient population, short term goals, long term goals, etc.

I, ultimately, settled into an adult medical-surgical floor that also served pediatrics and Oncology. I began nursing school wanting to do pediatrics, then ER, then inpatient oncology. There was rarely a job available at the infusion clinic, so I remained on med-surg for 5 years and I enjoyed it.

I started as a student nurse tech, then a nurse extern, then a new grad nurse, then staff nurse, then charge nurse, and now a nurse Retentionist! My medical unit offered classes on chemotherapy administration and pediatric care at no cost to me. I was able to get a wide variety of training and experiences by remaining on the medical floor for as long as I did. I also had the opportunity to switch shifts and worked days, nights, and weekend nights.

Each different experience I had and extra step I took for myself, allowed me to be open for leadership opportunities. My transition into a charge nurse was not as difficult as I thought. And the creation of my new position as a Nurse Retentionist, allowed me to step fully into the role as a nurses’ advocate and leader.

Though the actual transition away from the bedside and into a 8-4:30 job was difficult mentally, the actual work came natural. I was able to utilize my strengths of communication, boldness, and listening to incorporate challenges at the bedside into solutions to present to nursing leadership.

I never went into nursing school thinking I wanted to go into leadership, but it was something that found me and I love it. Though I am not a typical bedside nurse, I am still a nurse. Instead of caring for patients, I advocate for the nurses that continue to care for them.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Until next time,

Shania

Developing a Nursing Identity: a Unique Proposition Statement

by

What creates job satisfaction? What factors encourage employees to stay in the same workplace for years? Why are humans so hesitant about change culture, but ultimately seek different opportunities?

A unique proposition statement is a fancy word for catchphrase in the voiceover industry. While building my voiceover business, having a logo and UPS are important in the development of my brand and marketing. My UPS is “the cure for the common read.” Within that phrase, I was able to combine my two passions of nursing and acting into one. It also reveals my unique qualities that I can provide for voiceovers. Having a medical background helps me see medical narration from a nursing point of view, rather than studying how to communicate large words.

I realized that identifying what makes you stand out is also important in a professional nursing career. Because no one nurse is the same and there are so many things you can do with RN at the end of your name, it is important to develop your own nursing identity to help guide a successful nursing career. Dr. Sarah Gray with Sigma International speaks highly of this and details the importance of a professional brand with a mission and vision as necessary definitions to guide each nurse’s professional journey.

It is direction, mentorship, and openness to opportunities that encourage nurses to stay in the profession and at a certain facility. The facility must encourage professional growth and provide access to resources that promote successful career advancement.

Before starting nursing school, I told myself that I wanted to work in the ER. I quickly realized that the culture was not right for me, and I worked Med-Surg as a bedside nurse for nearly 5 years. Eventually, I noticed that I did not have as much compassion as I once did, and bedside skills were seeming kind of monotonous, so I began to think about how I wanted to further my nursing career. I connected with Dr. Sarah Gray who helped me to develop my own nursing mission and vision. It was then that I was able to identify what I loved most about nursing and combined those with my strengths to decide where I want to see myself in the next few years. Ultimately, I decided that that was not as a bedside nurse. I have a passion for leadership, mentorship, and nursing education. I was able to step into (and help create) my current position at the same facility as the first Nurse Retentionist- a creative position that focuses on nursing advocacy, empowerment, and professional career planning.

Without first recognizing what my nursing identity is, I would have done more trial and error positions to figure out where I would fit in the nursing profession. Change forces us out of our comfort zones, however positive change motivates lifelong learning.

My personal mission and vision:

Mission: As a voice for medicine and nursing professionals, I will lead others to think creatively in order to foster healthy relationships, a healthy self, and a healthy work environment.

Vision: Health care professionals will engage in meaningful work and have a passionate voice in the workplace.

Until next shift,

Shania

Being Grateful for the Little

by

. “… The foundation for greatness is honoring the small things of the present moment instead of pursuing the idea of greatness.” – Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth

Last night, I cared for a lady with covid who seemed very down when I first walked into the room. She remained on the phone with family as I tried to speak with her and give her her nighttime medications. I began to get frustrated because she was not acknowledging me as she continued to talk on the phone while I do my assessment. After she took her pills, I stepped out of the room and completed the rest of my med pass.

Throughout the night, I checked on her every couple of hours to make sure she didn’t need anything.

At the end of the shift, I rounded my last time and she asked me to bring her a piece of paper and to write down her care team for the night. I brought her the paper and she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “you are my favorite. You are the first person that has come in here to check on me multiple times.”

That broke my heart for a couple of reasons.. First, from our first impression, I was not going above and beyond to make her happy since we did not develop a connection due to the initial lack of mutual communication. I felt almost guilty because I shrugged off her persona since she wasn’t wanting to talk with me when I was in the room. Second, Something so simple as to walk into the room to check on a patient should not be so unheard of. This patient so greatly appreciated the human interaction that she wanted to recognize us for simply caring for her.

These covid patients are locked in their rooms for days and unable to see family. Oftentimes, nurses are the only people they physically see while they are in the hospital and it is at those encounters that we can provide the encouragement they need to get better.

Don’t forget the impact that little acts of care and kindness can bring.

Until next shift,

Shania

Nursing Tidbits: Insights from an Inpatient Nurse

by

Has anyone told you “don’t do it” or regret that they became a nurse?

  • Did you know that the national turnover rate currently is 8.8-37%, costing hospitals up to $56,000 per nurse according to NSI Nursing Solutions?
  • Nursing is a very stressful job especially in inpatient settings, however nothing is more fulfilling than pursuing your calling. It is important to focus on the “why’s” of becoming a nurse and keeping a list of positive patient stories, in order to remain at the bedside.

How long are actual nursing shifts?

  • Typically, 12 hour shifts. Actual times may vary, but most common is 7a-7p and 7p-7a. Actual clock in time is 6:45 a/pm and clock out is no earlier than 7:15 a/pm.
  • We get two 15 minute breaks and one 30 minute breaks. In reality, we are lucky to get a full 30 minute lunch.
  • My facility limits hours worked in a single shift to 16 hours.

Are raises common?

  • Many hospitals promote annual raises based on a yearly appraisal score. This is a point-based system in which rates performance and quality and then based on your score, your hourly rate will raise by a percentage.
  • Raises can also be given based on credentials. Oftentimes, a certification, higher degree, and more experience will pay more.

Do I have to be a bedside nurse?

  • There are many many nursing jobs that do not involve direct patient care. A nursing license can allow you to work in case management/ discharge planning, nurse educator, Quality, clinical nurse instructor, insurance companies, law firms, office jobs, and so many more!

Do I have to start on a medical floor?

  • I highly recommend beginning on a medical unit for your first year as a nurse. It is not required, but it is a great area to hone all of the skills you worked tirelessly for in nursing school. You also see a huge variety of different cases and learn time management skills.
  • It is not required, but starting out on a mother baby unit for instance will not allow you to perform certain nursing skills and you can lose them if you don’t use them!

How do I prevent burnout?

  • The most important way to prevent burnout and promote a healthy work-life balance is self-care. This can include exercise, a healthy diet, sleep, or any hobbies not medically related that you personally enjoy.
  • Overtime is great to an extent, but it is not something that you want to do every single week if you can avoid it.
  • If you notice you are overly anxious before a shift, connect with a mentor, your nurse educator, or even a licensed therapist to talk about your concerns. Sometimes, just talking to someone can do wonders!

What is something that surprised you about the hospital before clinical rotations?

  • I never had clinical experience in a hospital setting besides volunteering before I started nursing school. I was very naive when it came to actual patient care.
  • I was terrified to even take vital signs. I highly recommend a student nurse externship and tech position.
  • I had never seen a naked man prior to nursing school.. You can only imagine lol.
  • I didn’t realize people were placed in restraints if they became unruly.
  • I didn’t know bed alarms were a thing to prevent falls.
  • I didn’t even know we gave patients a bath in the hospital.. It makes sense, I just never though about it.

Do you have any patient stories that immediately stick out to you?

  • My first ever shot I gave was to a screaming elderly man in a nursing home.
  • I cared for a patient who had necrotic fingers.
  • My oncology patients are the ones I connect with the most.. I followed one lady from the time of her diagnosis until her death from multiple myeloma. We brought her downstairs to play the piano one time and I still watch the video her daughter shared with me.
  • The first hospice patient I ever cared for was also a man in his 50s with raging cancer. He was yellow and looked like a literal skeleton. He and his family were so kind. After he died, his daughters showed me what he looked like prior and he looked like a completely different person. I went home and cried that night.
  • My worst Covid case was a 60 year old woman. She was maxed on optiflow plus a nonrebreather. She kept saying how she didn’t want to be intubated and wished she got the vaccine. She was also so lonely, so I sat and talked with her for awhile. Later that night, we had to transfer her to a step down unit, during the transfer she crashed and her O2 was in the 40s. She was placed on bipap and recovered then, but she eventually died in the unit while intubated.
  • Most recently, I cared for a nurse in her 40s. She developed a psychosis after Covid and was a completely different person.. That one hit home.
  • SO many more…

Until next shift,

Shania

©2024 Shania Lynn Dubbert // Voice Over Site by Voice Actor Websites
Website Hosting provided by UpperLevel Hosting

615-856-8181
shania@shanialynnvo.com