Volume 12│Issue 4│Winter 2021
A Final Note from Kim Carter Kim Carter, PhD, RN, NEA-BC - Former Sr. Director of Nursing Research As I reflect on this speeding train of my career from graduating with a diploma in nursing, to 8 more years of undergraduate and graduate education, to practicing in med-surg nursing, public health, a private health promotion business, consulting, academia, and then research, it is difficult to find words that capture how grateful I am to my Carilion family for these last 8 years. What a ride it has been, and I couldn’t have chosen a more wonderful group of people for the last leg of my journey. Your kindness, energy, passion, and devotion to providing the best care for patients inspires me. Thank you for your courage, curiosity and compassion for me – for each other – for our patients. My advice for your career journey: •
Take care of yourself - it’s not selfish, it’s vital
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Take care of your colleagues, especially the newest ones entering nursing. Let them help you remember when you had a dream to be a nurse and how excited you were. Do everything you can to fan the flame of their aspiration to be a nurse.
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Do the same for your colleagues in healthcare, regardless of the position they hold. Treat every colleague from every role with respect. Even if you are having a “bad day”; set your goal to help a colleague to have a “better day”, and your “bad day” will magically change.
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Take care of your family and friends outside of work and separate those relationships from work - they are an important support system. Build these personal relationships around nonwork - related conversations and experiences.
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Remember that your patients may be experiencing one of the most challenging, frightening, and vulnerable times of their life. They are someone’s father, mother, sister, brother, son, daughter, or friend. Or they may have absolutely no one else in the world who cares about them. Care for them as one of your own. Remember that they live their healthcare experience every day and have built expertise around that - hear them and learn from them. Find out who they really are: someone with histories and dreams, regrets and ambitions. And then learn new and better ways to take care of them ......through EBP & Research!
I believe that by doing these things you will connect with your own spirit and be refreshed. My Carilion friends, thank you for making a difference in my life, as a colleague, a patient, and a family member of a patient. Thank you for being here, for caring for our communities, and for finding better ways. With love, gratitude, and deep respect, Kim
Here’s to the New Year! Christine Fish-Huson, PhD, RN, CNE - Sr. Director of Nursing Research Another year has gone, and a new year has begun. I always look forward to the New Year as an opportunity to evaluate where I have been and where I am going, both personally and professionally. I find the new year offers hope, opportunity, and an appreciation for all the possibilities that life has to offer. These are characteristics that are much needed at this time, year three of the pandemic. I feel fortunate to be part of Carilion and a member of a nursing community with a demonstrated commitment to professional development and the provision of quality care. The Winter edition of Within REACH is typically a conference edition used to highlight points learned from the conferences attended by nurses throughout the year; to provide a space for them to share their experiences and conference takeaways. The pandemic and resulting travel restrictions have impacted nurses’ ability to attend conferences and thus limited our submissions for these professional development experiences. Still, our nurses have persevered and have made it possible for us to share the knowledge gleaned from their attendance. We hope you enjoy the stories and find them beneficial. May this new year bring you balance and fulfillment in all aspects of your life. May you continue to embrace curiosity and continue to ask the question, “is what I am doing best practice?”. Happy New Year and Best Wishes for all 2022 has to bring! Thank you, Chris
Carilion Clinic Roanoke Campus