Happy Nurses' Week!

In case you missed it, the yearly celebration of nurses has begun. We got the whole week covered at the Hotel with "fun" stuff in between work.

Since the theme for this year's celebration is "healthy nurse, healthy nation", maybe it is time for some nurse-centric play-by-play from yours truly.

Yes, the Hotel has some great facilities, so we are fortunate that a lot of the celebrations occur right by our unit, but the problem: many people don't attend. Why? Because they don't have time.

So consequently, if we could get ANYTHING we asked for this Nurses' Week, here's what would be on the list.

1. Unlicensed staff that actually listen, work, and communicate with the RNs. Too many of them on our unit have a bad habit of dissing the RNs. It needs to stop. Period.

We work together as a team. If you diss the RN you're assigned to on your shift, it's a rubber-glue scenario. You make yourself look bad, too.

2. How about the Captain Obvious question: if you want everyone to document everywhere, why not make it easier at the bedside?

Just saying! If you think logging in after walking 300 feet to the nurses' station, then opening the software, then logging in again, finding the patient, then starting your note is good, you haven't taken care of a bedside patient lately.

No, rehab supposedly has stable patients, but you really need things, like computers that accept the data from the beds, the scales, etc. without double charting.

3. Since I went big on #2, why not on this one. How about a fully stocked cabinet outside each room with the basics, a la TCAB projects of the not so distant past? It would have helped if they had planned this on the last remodel, but here's some food for thought.

Having supply staff actually supply it, would also be nice. If you can't do it outside every room, how about on every wing. Steps do make a difference in a workday (you could be charting, checking labs, etc.)

Finally, no matter where you practice, I wish you a very Happy Nurses' Week. Your work matters and you make a difference.

More to come...

It's HOT!

Dear Summer:

I know it's not Labor Day yet, and the kids are back in school, but this 100+ degree temperature thing needs to go.

I finally got used to not freezing to death at the Hotel. Now my space is so cold I have to either 1) talk to patients in the hallway, if it's possible or 2) turn the air off and sweat while I talk to patients.

All this stuff about designing rooms for patients is nice, but once in a while, couldn't we get a universal design that works for EVERYONE?

I know I'll be waiting for the remodeling (that may never come) in my end of the Hotel. Here's hoping the HVAC folks can get it right.

Sincerely (only if you fix climate control),

RehabRN

It may seem like a no-brainer

But having patient input in developing a rehab hospital, really is a good thing. One large rehab hospital in Nebraska is actually using a design firm headed by a quadriplegic designer most of you know if you shop at a very large retailer.

Yes, it is really important. So when Madison opens its satellite unit at Washington, our chief NP, a rehab nurse from way back, was duly insulted when she heard this.

"Well, we will just ask a few people to pretend to be a para or a quad and check out stuff in the patient rooms." (I wish this paraphrase was a joke, but it's not).

No, not okay, says the NP. So she makes a few phone calls, and lo and behold, we have several former and current patients volunteering to do a dry run before the unit opens.

Maybe the Manglement will really get this patient engagement thing involves REAL patients, not pretend ones.

You never know...stay tuned!

A good Nurses' Week gift

Tired of all that stupid stuff you get for Nurses' Week? Are you creative?

Here's your chance to 1) get something you want, 2) potentially win a real prize and 3) support a good cause, the March of Dimes.

I got this note from the mailbag today, so read and have a look.

Dear RehabRN,

My name is Josh Lohr and I am the Promotions Manager at Fibers.com. Fibers.com is a custom clothing company that gives our users the opportunity to design and order personalized products, such as t-shirts, hoodies, and a variety of other clothing items.

In observance of the approaching 2010 Nurse's Week May 6th-12th, Fibers.com and MedicalSolutions.com have partnered to bring you Give it a Shot! Nurses Week T-Shirt Challenge, a contest where Nurses and Nurse-aficionados can create clever and compassionate t-shirt designs all for the appreciation of the Nursing profession.

Beginning April 12, users may submit designs using the simple yet powerful Fibers.com design tool. No design skills necessary! Fibers.com has everything you need to create your own contest entry with over 400 fonts and 10,000 images. The contest ends May 12, the birthday of the founder of modern nursing Florence Nightingale. Three winners will be chosen to win over $500 in prizes. Vote for your favorite design today!

Visit the following link to view, participate, and vote in the contest:

http://www.fibers.com/contests/nurses-week-2010

I am writing in hopes that you may also help us promote the contest by sharing it with your readers. The goal of the contest is to honor the nursing profession all whilst rewarding those with the best design or slogan. Proceeds from the winning designs will be donated to March of Dimes. All are encouraged to participate and vote! Please feel free to share on Twitter, Facebook, or any other social media.

Grab a banner for your site here:

http://www.fibers.com/contests/nurses-week-2010/rules

Best of luck and feel free to contact us with any partnership or promotion ideas!

Best,
Josh Lohr
Promotions Manager
Fibers.com
1931 H Street
Sacramento, CA 95811
1-888-542-0808 ext: 706