V olume 10│Issue 1│February 2019 Carilion Medical Center, 1906 Belleview Ave, Roanoke, VA 24014 http://chsweb.carilion.com/nursserv/NursW eb.html nursingresearch@carilionclinic.org (540)266 -6216
Everyone Loves a Good Story! Shanna Flowers, MA - Carilion Volunteer Services My byline has appeared in newspapers in Michigan, Florida and Virginia—and papers across the country that picked up my stories on the newswire. My name graced the cover of my first book I published 18 months ago. A few years ago, it even showed up under a “satisfied customer” testimonial in an internal booklet Lane Bryant distributes to its employees. But this is a first—and an honor!—having my name appear in a nursing research publication! Wow! Admittedly, when Kim Carter, Senior Director of Nursing Research, asked me to write this piece, I was a little intimidated, thinking, “What do I have to say to nurses? They heal broken bodies and reassure anxious patients. They save lives. Heck, the only thing I’m pretty good at is making my subjects and verbs agree. But as the first non-nurse on Carilion’s Nursing Editorial Board, what I decided I would share with my colleagues is a love of learning new things—and then using the written word to chronicle what we have learned to share it with others. As a newspaper journalist for nearly 25 years, that’s what I did. I met people from all walks of life, in all types of circumstances. They shared their stories— their triumphs, their heartbreaks, their successes—with me. And then I used my love of words to write what I had learned in a compelling way to educate, entertain, compel or prompt. For me, crafting words is like breathing. Writing is cathartic. It is storytelling on paper. Nurses, outlets such as Within REACH are one way for you to share your stories from the bedside, the classroom, or the conference. I already know what some of you are thinking, “Writing is hard.” And it is, even for professional writers like me. But the reward is putting on paper words you know will help your other nurses—with an innovative procedure or just sharing something funny that will get them through another day. That’s the beauty of words. They do all those things. They inspire. They tug at heartstrings. They infuriate. They educate. Collectively, words tell your story. And everyone loves a good story. ~
Carilion Clinic Roanoke Campus
Shanna