Join Forces

Good Morning MOLN District G -


One of the most rewarding things for me is being part of MOLN.  Connecting with interesting and dynamic leaders always advances my own leadership.  Last week the board met for our first meeting of 2011.  Several new members joined the group and I again was excited for nursing and nursing leadership in Minnesota.

I would like to link you through your membership to some exciting opportunities coming your way.  Please join us as well as share this post broadly in your network.


1.  February 24, 2011 MOLN Day on the Hill.   Event details.
2.  March 10 - 11, 2011 MOLN Spring Conference.  Conference details
     We heard you, the schedule begins Thursday in the afternoon and end Friday.  Short and Sweet.
      New pricing options and great values - PLUS, Cy Wakeman returns for part II.
3.  November 3 - 4, 2011 MOLN Public Policy Internship.
     Headed by the Government Affairs Committee, this is a valuable 2 day opportunity for anyone to learn and
     and practice the art of grass roots advocacy work.  Useful for all nurses - attend or invite a colleague.

Have a great week.

MS

Add Value

Good Morning MOLN District G members -

Recently I have been thinking about value at work.  When value is defined as getting the best outcome with the resources available it can redefine how you look at your work.  Consider the places you can get the best outcome for the best input and it will refocus your work - for me it was not so obvious.  To stop and consider this equation has served up a different list of priorities.

Read this blog post from the New Yorker by Atul Gawande to see how he proposes value can be added to health care - it is short, engaging, and can add perspective for the nurse leader on where to focus our work.  And it made me consider my nursing leadership - where can my energies be applied to get the best outcome?  I was encouraged to have fresh eyes and examine the stream of work that flows across my desk each day in a new light.  What "super-utilizers" exist for the nurse leader that we can tackle and add value for ourselves and our teams?

Some "super-utilizers" from my desk -
+ Inadequate or absent communication on your team.
+ Poor patient hand offs.
+ Lack of focus on the patient.

Awareness and an application of the talents you and your team possess are what is needed to add value to your practice, your team, and health care.  Join me in a discussion of how you are tackling your list -

Mike Skobba

Title remorse ?

Last week in her blog Nursing Salon, Marie Manthey wondered about the impact of taking the title of nurse manager v. head nurse.  If the head nurse was in charge of nursing for a respective area, what or who does the nurse manager take charge of?

As a 'patient care manager', yet another iteration of the title, I must say the title does impact the relationships I have with colleagues.  My position is rich with leadership supports and tools that advance my management abilities.  Likewise, my colleagues at the bedside are expert nurses who do the heavy and complex work of patient care shift in and shift out 24 / 7 with incredible outcomes.

More and more I have found myself putting forward to all my colleagues that I am first and foremost a nurse at heart.  For those who see me as a management leader you should know that this means my value lies in bringing forward the voice of the nurse / patient relationship in light of managements work.  For colleagues at the bedside, I am the head nurse.  I have shared experiences and stories just like you with patients and families and I willingly stand for our units nursing practice and lead us professionally.   

I have appreciated the kick to consider my title.  The current complexity of our organizations calls on me to know and develop many connections to meet the needs of patients, staff, and my employer.  In each of these connections, I leverage leadership and managment tools to perform my role as head nurse.

How about you ?

Keeping Resolutions

Good Morning MOLN District G members - Caring for others and advancing health are missions we hold near and dear as nurses whether we work at the bedside or in the board room.  As a nurse leader you innovate and adapt to stay close to those very missions that brought you to nursing.  In 2011 I would like to support your innovation in exploring the intersection of social media and nursing leadership.

Social media and the popularized tools can be expertly focused to support your leadership mission.  In 2011 are you resolved to engage your team, build improved experiences for patients, bring innovation and value to the daily operations of quality, safety, and service?  If you are like me and my hospital, these are the very challenges that must be executed.  The community and access to experts offered online is deep and dynamic - and can support and advance all the goals and resolutions you have for 2011.

Consider the following:

Why Health Experts Embrace the Social Web

Women & Social Media: opportunity to lead, innovate, & build relationships 

District G blog - use the content on the Blogroll List, Interesting Links, and the content on the Twitter feed - consider how the information and connections might add to your work - and how you might add to others.

Finally, thank you for your engagement and comments about MOLN and District G over the past year.  The intent of moving to a blog is to allow for our group to have an online community.  Now those comments, ideas, and expertise you have shared generously with me can be broadly shared by commenting and posting for all to experience.

So sign up for an e-mail subscription, post a reply or comment, and let me know what content you would like added.

See you next Tuesday,

MS