Knox's Blog

Our guest poet-blogger today is Madelyn Grace Webb, who works in Telecommunications at Fair Oaks Hospital. Madelyn has a real gift that speaks so eloquently to the human dimension which volunteers and staff bring to our patients and their families.

One time while working at Fairfax Hospital, she noticed a young child in the lobby playing with two bottle caps driving them around like cars. He and his father were waiting in the lobby and didn’t appear to be leaving anytime soon. Madelyn ducked into the gift shop, bought a little toy fire truck and ambulance and with permission from the father gave them to the child. “Oh, he was a happy little camper,” she said. Madelyn quickly shrugged off the story though as being no big deal. “I see things like this all the time. I feel that the people that work at Inova seem to be exceptional. I don’t know if it’s that way at other places, but I see it everywhere here.”

Thanks Madelyn, I think you’re exceptional too! You know you’re at Inova when everyone you encounter treats you like family! Enjoy Madelyn’s creativity!

Privileged to Serve You

Welcome to my world, please come in
I am never too busy to greet a friend

Can I assist you in any need?
May I direct you to your destination?
Would it be better if you followed my lead?

Anything to make this visit better I offer you
Maybe it’s just a smile…or to listen for a moment or two
Whatever it may be, I’ll give to you

Over the time that I’ve been here
So much has been given to me
I have met the kindest people

I have witnessed joy…and sorrow
I have experienced life… both bitter and sweet
From the heights of happiness… to the depths of grief

More than once a baby has been placed on my knee
While the mother stepped aside, to shed tears…secretly
I have been hugged and kissed by new fathers
As they celebrated their fist encounter with
The wonder of birth

Each day is new with events and problems
To claim as its own
I try to be ready to respond
To the dynamics of what is going on

I am the look of compassion for those with heavy hearts
And the essence of empathy…comforting with a gentle touch
I offer encouragement… to those who have forgotten their strength

I sometimes sit in silence, nearby, where I can be seen
So you won’t be alone with your thoughts or needs
I am a hospital volunteer; it is my privilege to serve you

I read an article recently about a high school basketball player from east Baltimore. At 5.7” and 145 pounds folks wonder if it’s possible for him to make it to the NBA. Sure he averages 30 points per game, sure he has already been accepted to a college, but they think it’s probably not possible for such a small player to make it to the NBA. After all, it’s never been done before. And that’s what he hears all the time, “it can’t be done.”

I would imagine this statement causes most of our Inova family to bristle. After all, we are in the business of saying that it can be done! You can learn to walk again, you can carry your baby born two months prematurely home soon, you can get in shape, learn to eat well and avoid future visits to our cardiac suite. Yes, it’s possible. And we are here to help you!

I would hope that this is also our attitude about healthcare reform, electronic medical records and the other changes we face daily. As we learning about the HCHAPS rating system of ‘always, usually, sometimes/never,’ some people may wonder, Is it possible to get everyone at Inova to be an ‘always’ when the average patient comes into contact with 75 different people? The basket ball player’s story says that the young man’s plans are to make it as a professional athlete. He explains, “I’ve been proving people wrong a long time now. And I’m just getting started.”

And that’s how I feel about Inova. Together we are facing challenges with gusto and I want the entire community to be asking the same of us as the author of the article asked of this young man, “With an attitude like that, how can they possibly fail?”

Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I here?” What about, “What is my role at Inova?” Or, “Am I living my full potential?”

Potential can be viewed as a feeling – a feeling of adequacy and satisfaction of a job well done. It’s a feeling that is so much better when shared. You know how when you complete a project or come up with a great idea you can’t wait to tell someone? Who is your “someone?” Probably a combination of your biggest supporters and someone who understands. And this is a different group each time depending on the project.

And when you have a great “someone” around you, it’s much easier to accomplish projects and tackle new ideas. I know that when I rely only on my viewpoint and ideas, that’s all I get – my limited perspective. But if I gather a handful of folks around the table and ask for input and help, horizons are broadened. I am presented with ideas I wouldn’t have thought of and I’m given the opportunity to make my original goal even better.

While rounding at Fairfax several months ago, a nurse in the Women and Children’s building commented that the team environment makes a huge difference in terms of feeling like work has purpose because folks feel that they’re part of a larger community. She said that folks generally stick around because they like the people they work with and that is why she has stayed.

A great team can make all the difference. For just about every goal or idea someone has, there’s been someone who has either done it, knows something about it or is thinking about doing it. I try to learn from those around me, try new things, push my boundaries and assume there is a better way. If we all use our unique talents on a daily basis to make a difference, we can all take the leap into the great scary idea of  change together, as a team, with the confidence of a great future ahead.

So, back to the question of “Am I living my full potential?” I think for me, it’s being willing to push myself into areas that make me uncomfortable. It’s being willing to acknowledge that mistakes are okay because at least I am trying. So when I get anxious about the future, I remind myself that our real progress is created by our inner strength and so long as we support each other, we’ll be able to keep up with this ever changing world. Potential is created by combining talent, excitement and the courage of being willing to face the unknown, because of knowing that I have a great team at my side.  Buckle up and live your potential!

I’d like to hear your stories.  How do you know when you’re living your full potential?

I am beyond proud! Only five nurses were chosen from across the entire country to visit with Michelle Obama and one of our very own Inova family members was selected to share his viewpoints on healthcare!

Samuel Kojo Asamoah works nights in the Beacon recognized MSICU at Alexandria Hospital, has a masters in nursing and is a member of the American Nurses Association, ANA. When Mrs. Obama was looking for a representative from Virginia who was also an ANA member, Sam’s name was submitted by his supervisor, Carol Feike.

In September, Mrs. Obama held a teleconference about healthcare reform provisions. More then 5,000 nurses from across the country joined in the call, which focused on The Affordable Care Act. The discussions centered on how nurses can educate their patients and the community about the new protections and benefits of health reform.

Sam says he loves his colleagues and the way things are structured at Inova. He was able to benefit from our tuition reimbursement program.  He appreciates that we are constantly trying to improve our standards of care for our patients.  Sam is proud that we constantly reassess our way of practice and improve upon what we learn.

For Sam, that is the Inova difference and the reason he has been with us since 2005. I’m always bragging about how we have the best and the brightest nurses in the world.  I love it when the rest of the country, not to mention The White House, shares in our excellence!

I happened upon the photo of Sam and Mrs. Obama while rounding.  What will I find when I round in your unit?

My October 25 blog titled, Our Unique Calling, has led to a few interesting conversations and there are two points I’d like to expand upon. The first is a reminder that our commitment to you is as strong as is our commitment to our patients. The second is that sometimes a job is just a job, I get that!

Taking care of our Inova family is paramount to our success as an organization. If we are happy in our careers, feel valued and that what we do does make a difference, chances are we will give our colleagues, clients and patients five star service. With the success this inevitably will bring, we will have more resources to pour back into education and training and we can all continue to grow together.

So on those days when the emails never stop, the budget is due, there are too many meetings and indeed, sigh, a job is a job, how do we cope? We reframe the situation. Accept rather then stress. Easier said then done, I know. We’ve all been there. But the more tools we collect and have at the ready, the better prepared we are to make it through.

Everyday, every hour, every moment we have a choice. We can choose to be miserable, angry, fearful or grumpy. Or, we can stop. Freeze. Breathe. Breathe deep from the solar plexus and take a moment to ask ourselves is this attitude worth it? Is it helping my colleagues? Is it healthy for me? What can I do right here, right now to create an attitude adjustment? The problem is not the problem but our attitude about the problem is our problem!

I’ve always felt that one of the benefits in working in healthcare is that our innate abundance of compassion led us to a field so in need of giving, empathetic people. Therefore, we are surrounded by caring, giving, compassionate people. What a blessing, one worth stopping and reminding ourselves about.

I love the saying, “Love what you do and you will never have to work a day in your life.” And now that I’ve gone down this path, I realize I could easily write ten more blogs on this subject with different tips. But I’ve gone on long enough, so I’ll end with just one. Gratitude.

Make gratitude an action word. It’s hard to maintain a rotten mood when you learn to flip your energies. I know for me some of what I thought were the toughest times became opportunities for growth and learning. When I’m in the midst of tough times, or even just a rotten day, I stop and remind myself that this too shall pass. So today, I’m grateful for having you in my life. You are taking a moment out of your day to check in with me. That makes me want to do a better job.

Back on Dec 12,  in my post “Your Name Here!” I asked you to submit either your funniest holiday memory, the best or worst gift ever, or what giving means to you. I also promised that I would pick the winners and invite them to lunch with me and my blog team. 

Wow! We had lots of entries, making it a tough call for the judges. We even had to call upon a 4th judge to help break a few ties. But at last, we are ready to announce our winners. They are (envelope please):

For funniest holiday memory: Jan Rayl, RN at Inova Home Health
She wrote: “Another year, I recall was when my Dad first went into business for himself. Mom made it clear to each of us three girls that there would not be much under the tree this Christmas. So to “make Christmas last longer,” my creative mother made a jar of treasure. You had to pick a slip of paper from her jar of treasure and do, sing, or answer the question. It was hysterical to listen to the things each family member did – I had to sing Jingle Bells while doing the hula! I don’t remember a thing I received that year, but I sure remember my sister acting out all the parts of the story of baby Jesus being born in a manger. You should have seen her ride a donkey across the living room with the pillow to make her look pregnant.”

For Best Gift Ever: Gail Grandela, Health Coach
She wrote: “My best gift ever was from my husband. Our first Christmas together he gave me the book, ‘Yes Virginia there really is a Santa Claus.’ He gave me this book because growing up in my family, my parents were very practical. They gave each of us children a set amount of money, took us to the toy store, had us pick out the presents we wanted,wrapped them and put them under the tree. We got up on Christmas morning and unwrapped them knowing what each one was. This was always Christmas in my house.There was never a ‘Santa Claus.’ My husband wanted me to know what being surprised at Chrismastime was all about. He surprised me so much that Christmas that I cried due to his generosity. I can’t imagine having a more wonderful Christmas than that. Now, Christmas at my house is always wonderful.”

For Worst Gift Ever: Tracy Rickard with the Special Care Nursery at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
She wrote: “The worst present my husband and I ever received was (are you ready)? A bolt cutter. It was from a family member and we had a lot of giggles trying to figure out why he would get us this as well as where he got it. Some of the suggestions were: One day one of us would be in jail and the other would have to bake a cake….complete with bolt cutter. Another was maybe he thought we were short on Christmas presents and may need a few bikes so his present would “assist” us in getting more presents. Who knows and we never asked….because it is the season of giving….”

For What it Means to Give: Edith Leon with Telecommunications at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital
She wrote: “My mother taught me through example that to give is to love and to love is to serve with a joyful heart!! I grew up in a middle class neighborhood just of Mexico City. I never experienced poverty; I was always well dress and never knew hunger. My parents owned several homes and businesses, so I was very surprise to learn their background.

One day (as usual) our very poor neighbor (mentally disabled) came to knock on our door to see if we had dirty laundry she could wash for a couple of pesos or some bread. She had a severely disable child that she would tie on her back. Everyday this lady would come to the house and every day my mother would give her something to do, and it wasn’t just her, it would be any one in need. Most of the times I saw my mom “helping” these ladies and ended up doing all the work herself, not because she didn’t like the job they were doing, but because she said ‘they too deserved to be served.’ This always puzzled me, especially because she always paid them more than they had agreed even though my mother did most of the work. My mother later explained to me how she didn’t even make it to second grade and she made her shoes out of car tires, these among other hardships. She said she will never forget the feeling of hunger and would never cease giving to those in need.

She not only told me but showed me how ‘give, how to love and how serve with a joyful heart.’ She lived by this then and continues to live by it now.”

I want to thank everyone who participated in the contest and made it such a challenge to pick the winners.

If you happened to be in the Philippines over the holidays, you would have seen parols everywhere. As early as November, these multi-colored lanterns start to appear in homes, offices, malls, restaurants and lining the streets. If you weren’t in the Philippines but still saw a large silver and purple parol, chances are you were at Alexandria Hospital on the ICU unit. It certainly caught my eye when I was rounding a few weeks ago. In fact, there was an entire display of holiday traditions from around the globe including Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa and Three Kings Day.

It all began with Denise Clarke, an ICU nurse who was also intrigued by the beauty of the parol that was brought in for a holiday party. Where some might see an opportunity to shy away from a religious decoration in the office, Denise, who is also on the morale team, saw an opportunity. After the party, she hung the star front and center at the nurses station and built an entire display including as many different cultures as she could find, making sure to include every tradition represented by her colleagues. She felt that it was a great way to celebrate, to make people aware and to allow others to celebrate traditions from their homelands. Diversity opens minds by combining many different viewpoints, increases our understanding of a variety of lifestyles and enriches our experiences.  Thank you, Denise, for going above and beyond in bringing us together in a different kind of a OneInova celebration.

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Kathy Hamilton, a nurse from T9 at Fairfax, sent me a poem she wrote for the holidays. Here are the first two stanzas:

Twas the week before Christmas and up on Tower Nine, 
HCAHPS were scoring, and all was not fine.

Directives, the advance kind, in charts were not found.
Nor were heights, nor were weights, not in inches nor pounds.

Auditing daily is little elf Jean.
Overseeing it all is our Santa Irene.

They know the nice. They know the naughty.
They know who has been following CAUTI.

Nine stanzas later, I was chuckling and wondering how difficult it is to write a poem. I certainly found it impressive that someone could rhyme CAUTI and was inspired to try my hand at this poetry thing too. Here goes:

The old year is gone, the New Year is here
And the need to refocus is certainly clear,
Cuz healthcare reform is just about near.

The EpicCare team is now in full motion,
It’s not just an idea or another new notion.

There’s a new paradigm coming our way,
Full speed ahead is getting closer each day.

Are you on board and ready to soar?
The future of health is behind the next door!

Okay, I tried. Back to my day job. Do you have a poem you’d like to share?  Made up or an old favorite, I’d like to read ‘em all!

“The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.” Oprah Winfrey

Ever have one of those mornings where you stub your toe, spill your coffee and think, “ugh, it’s gonna be one of those days.” Then you get to work and you tell everyone about the awful traffic. By complaining and not letting go, I think we set ourselves up for a day of too many emails and phone calls. When I forget to focus on the positive, the days tend to rush by in a mediocre blur.

A few of the comments posted on my “Your Name Here,” blog were quite inspiring and helped me decide on my new year’s resolution. One person described a very memorable moment in her life.  Her takeaway was that giving is something that can be done every moment of every day. Another comment mentioned the importance of being present. These really hit home for me.  They gave me cause to stop and reflect on how often I rush through life zipping from one event to the next. So this year, instead of adding something to my ‘to do’ list, I think I’ll erase something. I’ll hit the backspace and remember to slow down and appreciate the moment. Since I get to write the script of how I’ll act each day, nothing is permanent. I can start fresh at any time and free myself from what no longer works.

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I remember reading an article about an executive who would take an occasional 10-20 minute break to meditate and refocus. He was asked, “How can you find the time?” His answer was that he was much more productive when calm, centered and feeling positive, than when barging around like there wasn’t a second to waste. He couldn’t afford not to take the time.

This year I resolve to celebrate – every day! It seems that the happiest people I know are those with the most optimistic outlooks. Nothing is a big deal and they are able to make the best out of every situation. I want to catch the infectious attitude of those folks that come in with a big smile. It’s hard to remain down when the joy within them permeates the room. I do feel that the more we appreciate and are grateful for, the smoother life flows. I am a believer that we get what we work for, at least most of the time.  So this year, I’ll make it my priority to slow down and enjoy the moment, whatever that moment holds. What about you? Any good resolutions this year?

Happy New Year!