This leadership approach can be explored further in a book (Strengths Based Leadership: Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow) where the authors reveal the results of more than 20,000 in-depth interviews with leaders and more than 10,000 followers around the world to ask why they followed the most important leader in their life. Three key findings emerged from the research that preceded this book. First, the most effective leaders are always investing in strengths, second, they surround themselves with the right people and maximize their team and third they understand their followers’ needs. In part one of three, Rath and Conchie speak to the importance of investing in your strengths, a long term investment. In fact, they report that people who are cognizant of their strengths and build self-confidence at a young age “reap a cumulative advantage that continues to grow over a lifetime” (Rath & Conchie, 2009, p. 16).

I believe this to be of great significance for nursing leaders. Hospitals are a very complex organization and the only way nurses can lead a successful organization is to ensure they surround themselves with the proper talent. I never understood why the entire human resources process and yearly evaluation processes focused on weaknesses. It appeared to be counter-productive to me and now I have found the proper resources to change and influence our practice. In fact, I believe this to be a major common concern that many are facing today that has to be addressed.

“The most effective leaders know better than to try to be someone they are not. Whenever they spot an opportunity, they reinvest in their strengths” (Rath & Conchie, 2009, p. 93). In today’s fast-paced healthcare environment characterized by financial instability, an aging workforce and an increase acuity in the patients we serve, nursing leaders must: know their strengths, leverage them, and build a team of leaders that will possess strengths from all four domains to ensure they achieve all organizational goals.

As a professional nurse, do you know your top strengths? How can you best leverage your strengths to support your organizations mission and most importantly enhance the health of Americans?

Rath, T., Conchie, B. (2009). Strengths Based Leadership; Great Leaders, Teams, and Why People Follow. New-York: New-York. Gallup Press.

Left to right: Shelly Weilenman, Chief Nursing Officer; Jeff Lewis, RN, DAISY Award Recipient; Gabrielle Padgett, the patient referred to in the release; and Angie Garcia, Clinical Lead in the Emergency Department

Jeff Lewis, RN, a nurse who works in the Emergency Department at Coastal Carolina Hospital, didn’t think it was too much of a bother to come in on his day off to be at the side of a young patient who was undergoing some procedures on this particular day. Nervous about the procedures, she specifically asked for Jeff, who had treated her on previous visits to the hospital’s emergency department (ED).

Jeff’s response to the patient as well as his calm and compassionate demeanor that he displays with all patients prompted his colleagues to nominate and select him as a recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

Established by The DAISY Foundation, the award is part of the foundation’s program to recognize the super-human efforts nurses perform everyday. The not-for-profit DAISY Foundation is based in Glen Ellen, CA, and was established by family members in memory of J. Patrick Barnes. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families.  DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.

At a presentation in front of his colleagues, physicians, patients, visitors and family during National Nurses’ Week this month, Jeff received a certificate commending him for being an “Extraordinary Nurse.” He also received a sculpture called “A Healer’s Touch,” hand-carved by artists of the Shona Tribe in Africa. Jeff and other colleagues in his unit were served cinnamon rolls from Cinnabon, in memory of the Patrick, for whom the foundation was established. One day while Patrick was in the hospital, he asked his family to bring him a Cinnabon® cinnamon roll plus enough for all the nurses in his unit. With the help of Cinnabon’s parent company, FOCUS Brands, The DAISY Foundation carries on this tradition by serving Cinnabons to all the nurses in the award recipient’s unit in thanks for everything they do for their patients and families.

Said Bonnie Barnes, president and co-founder of The DAISY Foundation, “When Patrick was critically ill, our family experienced first-hand the remarkable skill and care nurses provide patients every day and night. Yet these unsung heroes are seldom recognized for the super-human work they do. The kind of work the nurses at Coastal Carolina Hospital are called on to do every day epitomizes the purpose of The DAISY Award.”

“We are proud to be among the healthcare organizations participating in the DAISY Award program. Nurses are heroes everyday. It’s important that our nurses know their work is highly valued, and The Daisy Foundation provides a way for us to do that,” said Shelly Weilenman, RN, Chief Nursing Officer for Coastal Carolina Hospital.

Many times, nurses go above and beyond their nursing skills to connect personally and emotionally with patients and families, Weilenman said. “Jeff’s compassion demonstrated that day is a reminder to all nurses that we work in a very special profession and that it is in the smallest acts of kindness that our patient’s perceive us,” she said. A committee of Jeff’s peers, after reviewing nominations, agreed that Jeff’s compassion stands out and was worthy of this top nursing award.

Jeff’s nomination described how 11-year-old Gabrielle Padgett, after suffering lacerations to her chin, came to the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) for treatment. During her visits, she came to particularly close to Jeff.  At one of her visits, she specifically asked for him but was told he was not there. According to Jeff’s nomination, Gabrielle became quite tearful and upset that he was not available. Angie Garcia, RN, the Clinical Lead in the Emergency room, phoned Jeff at home. She explained that Gabrielle was insistent about his presence. Within 20 minutes, Jeff arrived at the ED and stayed with Gabrielle through her course of treatment for her laceration.

• Brookwood Medical Center Celebrates New Women’s Hospital with Grand Opening
• Fountain Valley Regional Hospital Wins Tenet Clinical Innovation Award
• Congratulations to Delray Medical Center’s Palm Healthcare Foundation Nursing Distinction Award Finalists!
• Five Saint Francis Hospital Nurses Are Among the “Top 100″
• Nurses Participate in the Advancement of Nursing at Atlanta Medical Center
• Extraordinary Nurses Recognized at Twin Cities Community Hospital

Download pdf.

Eight of the forty-three 2012 Notable Nurses are from Desert Regional Medical Center: Keith Plant, Vickie Dippner-Robertson, Vicki Schmidt, Leahanne Irwin, Bonnie Holley, Gwen Dawson, Erika Pino, Nelia Reparejo. Congratulations to all the honorees.

Lani Dickinson, Chief Nursing Officer at Doctors Medical Center in Modesto California, discussed the benefits of a residency program for new graduate registered nurses. She explains the value of investing in new graduates. Dickinson states “Residency programs show that at the end of the first year of employment, nurses are practicing with someone at the level of almost two years of experience”.

To read more about Dickinson’s position on residency program for new graduate nurses click here.

Five Saint Francis Hospital – Memphis nurses were chosen as part of the “Top 100” Nurses in Shelby and Fayette counties in Tennessee for 2012. The local Celebrate Nursing organization, which promotes nursing excellence, recognizes 100 nurses every year of over 10,000 registered nurses in the two counties.

The nurses are: Cammie Hughes, Mary Jo Tingle, Terri Stewart (CNO), Shay West and Amy White.

The winners were chosen based on their nominations which had to address how each nominee matched the five criteria of professionalism, interpersonal relations, community involvement, creativity, and caring.

The nurses will be honored at the Celebrate Nursing Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 28, 2012.

Helaine Sherryl Sherman, RN “Laine”
from Education

Pamela Beth Henry-Williams, LPN
from P.C.U. Marie

Joy Blas, RN
from Trauma Services

Jennifer L. Trujillo, RN
from Trauma Services

Please feel free to offer them your personal congratulations. All finalists will be interviewed on March 31^st and the winner will be announced and awarded at the Nursing Distinction Awards on May 4^th at The Breakers.

Congratulations to these four outstanding nurses who represent Delray Medical Center as award-winning contributors to the Nursing Profession!

Fountain Valley Regional Hospital Administration hosted a luncheon celebration for key staff involved in its winning entry for the Tenet Clinical Innovation Award. The reception included a presentation from Laura Garcia, the hospital’s diabetes program coordinator. Garcia gave an overview
of the hospital’s journey in improving processes to reduce inpatient critical hypoglycemia and spoke about the importance of coordinating a team effort among physicians, nurses, staff, dietary services and the Interdisciplinary diabetes committee to bring about change. Dr. Jeffrey Punim, medical director for the diabetes program, also acknowledged nursing’s efforts in the achievement and for the hospital’s commitment to high quality patient care.

Hospital employees also received a healthy treat from the diabetes booth in the hospital cafeteria with FVRH’s Chef Renato Ramirez, of Morrison Food Services, promoting the importance of nutrition in managing blood sugar levels.

FVRH’s award winning entry was for “Innovative Use of Clinical Process Improvement and Data Feedback in Reduction of Critical Hypoglycemia”.
It focused on inpatient critical hypoglycemia (<50mg/dL), an issue that results in reduced patient safety and quality of care. After downloading and analyzing daily glucometric data for a year, more stringent diabetes protocols and greater staff education were implemented. As a result, critical hypoglycemia events were reduced from 8.42 to 2.14 per 1000 patient days, a reduction of 74.5% (t=8.395, p<.001). A secondary finding revealed a decrease in the average LOS for diabetes patients from 5.9 days to 4.9 days.

The contributors to the award submission included Laura Garcia, RN, CVN, BSN, PHN, CDE, CPT-diabetes program coordinator; Yolanda Narvaez, RN-director of quality; Mary Botticella, RN, BSN, MBA-CNO; Jennie Ung, Pharm D-pharmacy manager; and Amrit Kamboj, RN, MSN-FNP-BC-director of education, for their work on the submission for the award.

Thirty-five posters were submitted by departments and teams, each with great ideas and creative thoughts. Those who attended the fair were able to vote on the best poster, and the award winners are: 1^st place – Women’s OR Department poster themed “Neat, Clean and Tidy!”, 2^nd place – Education Department’s poster themed “CSI”, and tie for 3^rd place between – Emergency Department and Task Force’s poster themed Compassion Fatigue/CAMP  and Quality Task force poster “Suicide Risk Assessment”. This year’s event success was due the combined efforts of numerous Brookwood staff/employees.  The Quality Resource Department wants to thank everyone for your participation and cooperation.

Stephanie Conners, CNO, Hahnemann University Hospital

PHILADELPHIA (February 7, 2012) – Hahnemann University Hospital will implement a hospital-wide, all-registered nurse (RN) care model in phases beginning February13 based upon the success of a nursing care model pilot in 2011. The implementation is expected to last for several months with active participation from the nurses.

Hahnemann leadership continually works with its nursing team to explore ways to improve quality of care and patient safety at the hospital. Last year, based on a wealth of existing data which supports that increasing the skill level of the care givers results in better quality and patient outcomes, Hahnemann decided to pilot a new patient care model.

In March 2011 Hahnemann began piloting the all RN patient care model on a 50-bed unit and with successful results, extended the pilot to an additional unit in August 2011.

Among the results, the pilots showed improved patient, employee and physician satisfaction, and a decrease in patient falls, hospital acquired infections and pressure ulcers.

One aspect of this new model is bed-side reporting, a patient-center meeting between nurses at the bedside during nurse shift change. This hand-off communication fosters the nurse-patient relationship, improves teamwork among nurses and encourages patients to participate in their care which improves their understanding and recovery.

“Nurses who participated in the pilots reported the new model gave them the opportunity to spend more time with patients, increased their awareness in changes with their patients’ conditions and allowed for fewer opportunities for errors and miscommunication,” says Stephanie Conners, chief nursing officer at Hahnemann University Hospital.

While this new nursing care model means hiring additional registered nurses, it also means eliminating the certified nursing assistant position over time.

“It is always difficult to make decisions like this. We will work with the union representing the nursing assistants to ensure these employees are transitioned fairly,” says Michael P. Halter, chief executive officer at Hahnemann University Hospital. “We know this change is in the best interest of our patients.”

Hahnemann University Hospital is a 496-bed academic medical center at Broad and Vine Streets in Philadelphia, Pa.  The hospital is a tertiary care institution that specializes in cardiac services, heart failure and transplantation, OB/GYN, orthopedics, medical, surgical and radiation oncology, bone marrow transplantation, renal dialysis and kidney/pancreas/liver transplantation. In 2009, Hahnemann earned Magnet® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. Hahnemann is recognized by the American Heart Association as a leader in coronary artery disease and heart failure treatments. U.S. News and World Reports named Hahnemann among the top 50 Best Hospitals in the nation for Cardiology and Heart Surgery in 2010 and 2011 and number 4 in the Philadelphia region, with two medical specialties ranking “high performing.” The hospital performed one of the city’s first kidney transplants in 1963 and one of the first bone marrow transplants in 1976. Hahnemann became Philadelphia’s first Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center for adults in 1986, and since then has been served by MidAtlantic MedEvac, an aeromedical transport program for critically ill patients.