Dr. Sellars Educate

Hello Fans!!  I'm in the final stages of preparing my article titled, "Impact of Caring on Transforming Culture", which is expected to be published in Dec 2011 or Jan 2012.  Here's a highlight: A Caring Work Environment-- The nurse leader’s ability to develop and demonstrate caring will support building a collaborative, quality clinical environment.   Leaders in the organization are responsible for creating a caring environment supporting respectful, patient-focused interdisciplinary teams and to develop a culture of quality care and clinical excellence.   Nursing care is increasingly complex, and requires all team members to be aligned and prioritize patient safety and quality patient care.   The objective is to integrate the concepts of caring, and foster team behaviors that positively influence nursing practice and foster collaborative relationships among the healthcare team.   The development of collaborative relationships will lead to decreased adverse events f

There continues to be much debate defining best practices in the OR.  This blog is #1 of #10 that points eye key authors who have researched this topic.  The full reference list will be included on #10. Blog#1-Team Training and the OR Team training is now widely used in healthcare to help improve patient outcomes and minimize human error.  The healthcare system needs significant reform to prevent injuries and to improve patient outcomes.  The Institute of Medicine reported in 1999 that between 44,000 and 98,000 Americans die each year from preventable medical errors in hospitals alone.   Team training minimizes human error leading to more favorable patient outcomes.  Team training supports collaborative processes that integrate safe practice principles into the within the team leading to decreased injuries and better patient outcomes (Salas, Wilson, Murphy, King, & Baker, 2007).  The nurse leader must engage the entire clinical team, including physicians, in recognizing and pra

The nursing community is still trying to understand the critical elements and recommendations from the IOM FON Report.  The book is now readily available for everyone to purchase; all 600+ pages.  As an educator, leader, and consumer of healthcare, I am excited to learn more about our future in healthcare and encourage you to purchase your own copy today.  See link below... http://books.nap.edu IOM Book /catalog.php?record_id=12956

It's an exciting time to be a nurse leader living in San Diego!!  This week nurse leaders throughout the country have enjoyed a phenomenal nurse leader conference held in the most beautiful city in the US, San Diego.  The topics have been incredible, and ranged from CNO succession and onboarding to interruptions and distractions during medication administration, and beyond.  Tomorrow concludes the conference and I'm looking forward to another exciting day full of best practices sharing by some of the strongest healthcare leaders in the country.

Several years ago there was a state mandate supported by former Governor Schwarzenegger to require mandatory nurse: patient ratios in all acute California hospitals.  Today, almost two years shy of a decade, there is a federal proposal, supported by CNA, to provide financial support for these ratios to be sustained.  Given the financial state of California, I'm not clear on how/when this funding for nurse ratios would take place.  It's a great idea and much needed, just not sure if this makes the best financial sense given our economic climate.  Perhaps the CNA can work with healthcare leaders across California to develop a funding strategy.  Lots more to come on this very sensitive, and timely subject... All the best, Nurse Leader Today

Just returned home from the ACNL annual conference.  Wow-what an exciting and amazing time to be a nurse leader in California!  The conference was both re-energizing and educational.  As a new adjunct faculty member, there are more pearls of wisdom that I garnered at the conference that I will be sharing with my nursing students next week.  First, I must remind my students to " Be an experience! " for their patients.  Nurses touch so many lives and it's important to remember that you should engage in remember-able, positive experiences with patients, families, and your peers.  You must understand -not just know the information.  So much of what is necessary to know in nursing school is not often understood.  Will you accept the challenge to help your new nurses understand? More to come on the ACNL Conference... All the best, Nurse Leader Today

The January 2011 edition of the AONE newsletter has embraced a new logo with the incoming president, Dr. Cheryl Hoying.  I have had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Hoying and attending one of her previous presentations at AONE-what a great role model and remarkable choice as the AONE president.  I am looking forward to exciting times as AONE moves forward to impact nursing practice in our communities.  The AONE 44th Annual meeting and exposition will be in the finest city in the US-San Diego, CA and I'm sure it will be a treat.  Hope you can join us in sunny San Diego!! All the best, Nurse Leader

The "Future of Nursing" (FON) report identified their 1st key message was to emphasize the importance of nurses using their skills, knowledge,and training to practice within their scope.  The biggest barrier to this occurring has been the individual state's regulations regarding scope of practice for nurses.  Every state has their own board of nursing, that's right, every state decides what the scope of nursing practice should be.  Having traveled quite a bit as a military wife, I can tell you that this creates a lot of confusion and often times, disappointment.  Obviously I strongly support this initiative, but it will require a lot of legislative and bureaucratic support to move this forward.  The article also points out that in 2002 the Joint Commission recommended an increase in the number of nurse residency programs to support nurses to develop skills and competencies in specialized areas to strengthen their clinical knowledge.  It is now 2011 and I think this re

It's a new day...and year for nursing.  We are gearing up in California for the ACNL (Association of California Nurse Leaders) Annual Meeting in Sacramento next month.  I am registered and excited about the learning and networking opportunities.  The conference will open on Sunday with committee meetings, of which I am a member of the voice of nursing leaders, nursing leadership subcommittee.  It will be an exciting time to discuss the next steps for nursing leaders in California, and around the country as we partner, like never before with our MD colleagues, fellow administrators, and even politicians, to re-empower nursing.  This week the Congress will reconvene in Washington, DC and I'm hopeful that we will hear more soon about additional funding for nurse education programs.  Look forward to an update on my next blog.  Lots more to come...stay tuned.  All the best, Nurse Leader