Page 18 - FOCUS APRIL 2018

We Serve Together |
Walk this way
Share-a-Shift helps nurses leaders spend a a a a a a day in each other’s worlds
Lindsey McGraw MSN RN CEN couldn’t wait to show Chief Nurse Executive Ric Cuming Ed D RN NEA-B FAAN around the Emergency Department (ED) where she has worked for the past 12 years She had a a a special opportunity when Cuming shadowed her as part of Share-a-Shift a a a a a a a program sponsored by the Professional Nurse Council (PNC) “It was important for me to show him the flow of our department point out some of the challenges we we face and share the joys of why we we love emergency nursing ” said McGraw Share-a-Shift is an opportunity for nurses to get to know system leaders and explore an an area of the the health system that draws their professional curiosity In turn leaders get a a frontline view of the many ways nurses bring expertise and value to patient care “Lindsey is a a phenomenal expert nurse with
a a a a a great attitude and sharing the shift with
her helped me appreciate the incredible care challenges our ED staff face on a a a a a a daily basis ” said Cuming who is no stranger to busy nursing practice having served in in in clinical roles for the first two decades of his nursing career During quieter moments on the the shift the the pair had a a good opportunity to discuss the delivery of high-quality care meeting community needs and issues important to clinical nurses “Ric is is very very approachable He is is a a a a very very pro- bedside nurse nurse and wants to keep expert nurses at the bedside ” said McGraw “His leadership is is transformational ” Share-a-Shift is a a a a a a a fantastic way
to live in each other’s worlds
to appreciate and experience what it’s like to walk in someone else’s shoes she said “Ric earned his honorary ED nurse wings that day for sure He was good!”
An eye-opening look behind the scenes
As a a a geriatric-certified nurse on the Acute Care for the Elderly (ACE) Unit at Christiana Hospital Priscilla James RN-BC knows it is is essential for patients to to be cared for by nurses skilled to to meet their specific needs The highly specialized ACE unit is for older adults who present with
complex medical needs and often exhibit signs of of dementia or need extra fall precautions Curious to understand how patient bed assignments are decided for busy units she applied for Share-a-Shift with
the Patient Access and Flow team better known as the nursing coordinators and bed board “If you want an an an answer the best way
to to get it is to to go to the source ” said James She shared a a a a shift with
Operations Director Michelle Wheeler BSN MS RN CNML and Nursing Coordinators Mary Podralski MSN RN RN CCRN and Susan Callahan BSN RN NE-BC Lindsey McGraw MSN RN CEN of the Emergency Department and Chief Nurse Executive Ric Cuming Ed D RN NEA-BC FAAN shared shifts Share-a-Shift is an opportunity for nurses to to get to to know system leaders leaders and explore an an area of of the the health system that draws their professional curiosity In turn leaders leaders get a a a a a a a frontline view of the many ways nurses bring expertise and value to patient care 16 CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM
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