Tune in now to the latest Moments Move Us episode with Rhonda Brandon, SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer at Duke University Health System 🎧
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Rise & Lead with Rhonda Brandon
As we enter another year of celebrating the nursing profession thanks to the extension of The Year of The Nurse and The Midwife, we are reminded of the daily service and sacrifices nurses provide in order to better the healthcare experience for all. Nurses have distilled kindness in their care while beleaguered by the adversities of a raging pandemic and inequities in healthcare. Evident in Dr. Bonnie Clipper’s numerous conversations with influential nurses around the USA, we see that at the end of the day, nurses are people who are simply caring for people. Care is a core part of the nursing identity and in tribute to the outstanding care nurses continue to issue, we at Wambi are uplifting their testaments and truths. We turned to the counsel of 5 celebrated female healthcare nursing leaders, making a difference in the areas of advocacy, innovation, education, company culture, and consultancy, to impart their takeaways on joy, compassion, gratitude, imagination and fearlessness. Watch and listen to our interviews with:
Meet Brittany Merkle, RN, BSN, and Lead Innovation Strategist at University Hospital Ventures. Armed with a nursing degree and a M.A. in Service Design, the first in the country with this specific degree combination, she supports UH Venture’s nursing innovation initiatives. She has built a creative career from both her passions and exhibits her imagination for the future of the nursing profession in her post-pandemic reflections.
“When we talk about nursing innovation and the ability to think creatively and real-time solutions, this was pre-existing…. How MacGyvering is already happening on the frontlines and the real key issue here is scale. COVID-19 has illuminated this tenfold. ED nurses are jerryrigging their own masks to enhance fit and ensure their comfort, or they’re finding new ways to approach social distancing. Nurses and frontline staff are very creative but we know this now more than ever… we have an opportunity to see these workarounds as a means of education in terms of our leadership and opportunities for design. Nurses also need to be at the table when we’re doing advance care planning for our systems, our policies and our procedures, as we move into this new normal, and many new normals to come. I try to channel my inner Amy Poehler or Tina Fey and grab a seat even though I may not be invited and my form of leadership may look different than others at the table. I just saw a post by Dr. Dan Weberg and it said, ‘You don’t have to be a hero, you’re a human.’ I really love that because nurses get people; we really get people. And yes is that our superpower, but that also comes with responsibility and a lot of heaviness, a consistent need to bounce back after hard times. There’s a lot work to be done to maintain this positioning of more proactive resilience. We need to support each other in this transition ultimately.”
“When we talk about nursing innovation and the ability to think creatively and real-time solutions, this was pre-existing…. How MacGyvering is already happening on the frontlines and the real key issue here is scale. COVID-19 has illuminated this tenfold. ED nurses are jerryrigging their own masks to enhance fit and ensure their comfort, or they’re finding new ways to approach social distancing. Nurses and frontline staff are very creative but we know this now more than ever… we have an opportunity to see these workarounds as a means of education in terms of our leadership and opportunities for design.
Nurses also need to be at the table when we’re doing advance care planning for our systems, our policies and our procedures, as we move into this new normal, and many new normals to come. I try to channel my inner Amy Poehler or Tina Fey and grab a seat even though I may not be invited and my form of leadership may look different than others at the table. I just saw a post by Dr. Dan Weberg and it said, ‘You don’t have to be a hero, you’re a human.’ I really love that because nurses get people; we really get people. And yes is that our superpower, but that also comes with responsibility and a lot of heaviness, a consistent need to bounce back after hard times. There’s a lot work to be done to maintain this positioning of more proactive resilience. We need to support each other in this transition ultimately.”
Meet Dr. Sarah Abel, DNP, RN, CEN, FAEN, the Director of Educational Resources, Global, and Marketplace at Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and a creative visionary for transformational leadership. Her enthusiasm for empowering others stems from over 15 years of work in emergency and occupational medicine. Today, Dr. Abel educates healthcare providers with resources, knowledge, and tools, to help with professional development, as well as prepare the next generation of nursing leaders. In her years of service, she prioritizes gratitude for frontline colleagues as a means to mitigate clinician burnout.
“I just want to take some time to say thank you to all of those working on the frontlines that have sacrificed. They have dedicated their time, their efforts, and energies to a community that may not always be grateful back and may not understand all that you are doing for them. It is so important that we take time to appreciate each other. Make sure to show gratitude for those on the frontlines, working besides you in all the different areas. Make sure you’re showing gratitude to everyone along the way and to everybody you come encounter who is continuing to serve and has been in service for quite sometime because they may be growing weary.”
Meet Martie Moore, MAOM, RN, CPHQ, a seasoned healthcare expert, innovator, and strategist with decades of experience in advancing patient and employee safety, transforming workplace culture, and bettering care delivery systems. She serves on a number of advisory boards, and is a member of AONL, Sigma, ANAm and NAHQ. Due to her contributions as one of America’s finest female nursing leaders, Martie Moore was recognized by Saint Martin’s University with an honorary doctorate degree. Hear Martie speak joyfully on the inspiring work of present-day healthcare providers.
“Nurses see more in the course of the day than most people see in their lifetime. If I can say anything about this moment in time, it has opened the world to what nurses do. Using this analogy, we are the glue that holds healthcare together. If all the nurses disappeared overnight, in my personal opinion, healthcare would fall apart. And now, so many people truly understand how nurses and healthcare providers are the glue. And that glue is something we have to celebrate, acknowledge, support, and elevate.”
Dr. Sophia L. Thomas DNP, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, FNAP, FAANP, is a devoted Family and Pediatric nurse practitioner at The Daughters of Charity Health System, while also acting as the current President of The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP). For 23 years, Dr. Thomas’ career has been a demonstration of service above self. She has given back to her colleagues in the form of mentorship, advocated for the nursing community as a member of several national-level organizations, and provided medical care to underserved families of Louisiana. She has been featured in Money Magazine and on NBC News with Brian Williams. Listen firsthand to the ways in which compassion has been woven into Dr. Thomas’ work and personal life philosophy.
“We can’t change the past but we can define the future. I think on a personal level, I think it’s important for people to listen and be a good neighbor and follow the golden rule. Listen more than we speak. Mentor others and bring up others. Mentorship is so important in the medical field. I think it’s also important that we advocate for the voiceless. As nurses and nurse practitioners, many times, we’re advocating for patients, speaking up for what’s right for them. I think that should go across all lines, all professions.”
Meet Dr. Renee Thompson, DNP, RN-Nurse and a Workplace Bullying Expert. She founded the Healthy Workforce Institute, whose mission is to cultivate supportive and respectful work cultures in nursing. In her tenure as a female nursing leader, Dr. Thompson has been a champion of courageously addressing disruptive and negative behaviors in healthcare as a way to better the care experience for all. Hear her fearless wisdom for leaders looking to lead their teams in times of crisis.
“Look, in a crisis like this, we see the best and worst in people. Today, I need you to be your best. Neither you nor I have extra energy to devote to pettiness, nitpicking, and cruelty. Can I count on you today?”
Because you only have control over today. It’s understandable that people are behaving and reacting in negative ways. But address it — don’t ignore it. You need to address it.
NEWARK, NJ — Mar. 25, 2021. As National Nurses Week approaches, the call to recognize nurses for their compassion and dedication to their work and to the patients they serve grows even stronger. Hackensack Meridian Health recognizes the importance of public appreciation for nurses and how easy it is to thank them at Carepostcard.com.
Hackensack Meridian Health, the largest integrated health network in New Jersey, is partnering with Wambi to make it easy for all Americans to share their appreciation for frontline heroes by sending a Carepostcard.
“The unwavering dedication, commitment and courage of our healthcare workers make them true heroes, especially during the pandemic. Their selfless sacrifice in service of patients saves lives every day, and they deserve our deepest gratitude and admiration. Carepostcard allows everyone to do their part by saying thank you,” said Tria Deibert, Vice President, Culture, Hackensack Meridian Health.
Last year, during the first wave of the pandemic and in celebration of National Nurses Week, recognition and culture transformation company Wambi announced the relaunch of Carepostcard.com, inviting the public to honor those on the frontlines battling COVID-19 by sharing their gratitude or a personal story with a digital postcard. Anyone can now create a Carepostcard for a healthcare worker, whether to the general healthcare community or for a specific care provider, sharing a small token of appreciation for those risking their own health and safety to care for others every day.
Wambi CEO and Co-founder Rebecca Metter added, “We know Americans are looking for new ways to express their continued support for frontline workers. Carepostcard is a powerful outlet for these intentions. We’ve seen great success with Hackensack Meridian Health, with grateful patients offering thousands of Carepostcards to those providing caring, motivated, and exceptional care. We look forward to extending this gratitude to as many healthcare heroes as possible through the public platform.”
Those giving or receiving Carepostcards have the option to share posts to their social networks or remain anonymous. Carepostcard is integrated with the Wambi platform which is deployed across healthcare organizations like Hackensack Meridian Health nationwide. Wambi delivers a patient-driven healthcare employee performance and engagement platform aimed at promoting gratitude and empowering compassionate care. Through its gamified digital system informed by real-time patient and peer recognition, team members are armed with their individual data as a means to uplift and inspire behavioral change.
Send a Carepostcard today. It’s a meaningful way to show our healthcare heroes that we care.
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About Wambi Wambi’s holistic real-time recognition and culture transformation solution improves the healthcare experience for patients and staff through the power of gratitude. Its gamified technology delivers real-time feedback from patients and other team members that recognizes, rewards, and motivates optimal care. With the proven ability to increase workforce engagement, reduce clinician burnout, and drive higher patient satisfaction, Wambi improves human connection for all.
Wambi launched Carepostcard and the Compassionate Care Movement™ in July 2017 as a public way to promote compassion in healthcare. Through creating a positive giving circle where patients, families, and providers can share and receive gratitude, we fostered a more grateful community and better patient experiences for all.
Now, Carepostcard has evolved into something much bigger. Since COVID-19, the ability to share gratitude with the frontline is more necessary than ever. Through Carepostcard, every American can share a story, a moment, or a simple declaration of gratitude for those who have impacted them in ways big and small. Through illuminating positive moments and expressing gratitude, those risking their lives on the frontlines can be recognized meaningfully and on-goingly in ways they whole-heartedly deserve.
“Small acts of kindness, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”
CEO and Co-Founder of Wambi, Rebecca Metter, alongside healthcare advisor Dr. David Shulkin, the Ninth U.S. Secretary of Veteran Affairs, drove robust discussion about patient experience, from macro strategies down to micro solutions. As leaders on patient experience, our panelists shared stories, learnings, and healthy solutions that strengthened the resolve and resiliency of their teams. Here are some key takeaways from the conversation:
Dr. Adrienne Boissy, Chief Experience Officer at Cleveland Clinic (Ohio)
Dr. Adrienne Boissy co-chairs the Empathy and Innovation summit, the largest independent summit on patient experience in the world.
Megan Chavez, Vice President of Patient & Family Experience at Cook Children’s Healthcare System (Texas)
Megan Chavez has dedicated the last 20 years as an experience leader in large healthcare organizations to better the human experience and reduce preventable suffering.
Sven Gierlinger, Chief Experience Officer at Northwell Health (NYC)
As Chief Experience Officer for Northwell Health, one of the largest Integrated Delivery Networks in the country, Sven Gierlinger is driving culture transformation grounded in patient centeredness and empathy.
Amy Mansue, President of Inspira Health Network (New Jersey)
In addition to her duties as CEO and President of Inspira Health Network, Amy Mansue was appointed Regional Coordinator in Central New Jersey by Governor Murphy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dwight McBee, Senior Vice President and Chief Experience Officer at Jefferson Health Enterprise (New Jersey and Pennsylvania)
Dwight McBee has oversight for continuous improvement of the patient experience for Jefferson Health New Jersey’s integrated healthcare network servicing over 120 thousand inpatients and 3 million outpatients yearly.
Wambi focuses on addressing the patient and team member experience through a unified and holistic recognition and engagement tool. In light of a major new release of our platform, which includes real-time actionable patient and team member experience insights that lead to improved human connection and drive behavior change and uplift people where it matters, we invite you to request a demo today. As a special gift, you will get a free copy of The Rabbit Effect by Dr. Kelli Harding with a completed Wambi demo. The Rabbit Effect is a meaningful read on the science of kindness.
It is often challenging to find the words in times like this but so important we do and show up. Not just for our own self-reflection but the people around us who mean so much and should not have to fight for their basic human rights. What happened in Atlanta is abhorrent and we all must come together to #StopAsianHate for our AAPI sisters and brothers. Silence is acceptance and we must speak out against hate and do so inclusive of ALL marginalized groups. As part of my personal commitment to this, some of you may have heard me mention Atlanta on the panel today when health equity was discussed. All of our pain, healing work, liberation can coexist and will collectively make us stronger as individuals and a human race.
Workplaces are often another extension of our society and it is always my goal to exemplify and create the environment we want to see in the world. A space that respects all voices, perspectives and celebrates our unique heritages and diversity. And first and foremost, a space that leads with compassion not only recognizing the suffering of others but driven to take action, understand and uplift one another. It is through listening and seeking to understand that we can begin this important work.
To all of our amazing AAPI team members and beyond: We stand with you. We support you. We offer our compassion and what’s more, we will not be silent.
With strength and love, Rebecca Metter | CEO, Wambi