Cultivating Your Creativity

Despite what you may think, creativity isn't just an attribute that's helpful when you want to paint a picture or write a poem. In fact, a healthy dose of imagination and inspiration can actually help your healthcare organization run more smoothly and efficiently. How so? Simply put, when you “think outside of the box” you're using your creative skills, and in turn, those skills can be applied to anything from solving a scheduling problem to creating a balanced budget.

If you want to enhance your creativity, you can begin by simply taking an interest in the world that sur­rounds you. As we get older, we often lose the capability or desire to explore our surroundings because we're so preoccupied with the many demands of adult life. However, taking a child-like approach to the world (i.e., being curious, asking questions, etc) can uncover your hidden creativity.

Take note of the tips below to get a jump start on your own creative process.

Pay attention. Observe what is around you. As you go through your day, try to recognize when things are new and surprising—then focus your energy on exploring those things. Remember, it's very impor­tant to adopt a learning attitude. If you think you already know everything, then you will greatly hinder the creative process.

Mix it up a bit. Say or do something new or different. Veer away from your routine. See a movie or play you've never seen before. Voice your opinion about something you've kept quiet about before. Change your hairstyle or wear something that is out of the ordinary for you. These simple changes can help transform your perspective, and thus open your mind up to new thoughts and ideas.

Jot it down. Creative thoughts and ideas can pop up at any moment—when you're eating dinner, going to bed, in the shower, etc. So, keep a journal of what these ideas are, and what sparked them (i.e., what you were thinking about at the time). When you write these experiences and thoughts down, you prevent them from being lost. Moreover, you may eventu­ally see a pattern you had not noticed before, which will help you discover what sparks your creativity.

Bottom line: By simply keeping an open mind and exploring your surroundings, you will be much more likely to get in touch with your creative side.

Feeling the Heat?

How to Prevent Burnout

Healthcare professionals are increasingly aware of burnout and know that it can have an extremely negative impact on the individual as well as the healthcare team. The resulting loss of energy, motivation, and enthusiasm is frightening for the effected individual. Moreover, one employee's dissatisfaction with work can disrupt the entire healthcare setting.

As a general principle, an effective and caring leader can be a very powerful factor in the prevention of burnout. A good team leader will engage group members on a regular basis in defining and re-defining group goals so that each member feels personally engaged in the decision-making process and feels that his or her own role is important to the organization. Thus, a good leader can help prevent burnout by establishing clear communication, as well as a calm and supportive environment, so that staff members feel good about coming to work and feel respect for their work.

Of course, preventing burnout isn't solely a manager's responsibility. Staff members have to play an active role as well. The strategies below are intended to help healthcare professionals prevent burnout.

Don't deny it. Listen to your mind and body. Begin to freely admit the stresses and pressures which have manifested physically, mentally, and/or emotionally. If you suppress these feelings, and allow them to build up, you risk the chance of having a major meltdown.

Don't isolate yourself. Don't do everything alone. Develop or renew relationships with friends and loved ones. Having someone who can listen to your concerns and offer advice is invaluable.

Focus on you . If you routinely take on other people's problems and responsibilities, learn to gracefully disengage. Focus on getting what you need to relax and rejuvenate.

Say no when necessary. It's a simple word, but many people have a hard time saying it. If you have a feeling that someone might ask you to take on additional tasks or for a favor, practice saying no beforehand (i.e.,” Sorry, John, but I'm swamped, and I can't do that.”). This rehearsal will prevent you from giving in and saying yes.

Pace yourself. Try to take life in moderation. You only have so much energy available. Determine what is wanted and needed in your life, then begin to balance work with these main needs and wants.

Don't forget the essentials. Eat a balanced diet, make sure to exercise, and get enough sleep. Don't use alcohol or cigarettes to ease your worries. Take care of yourself!

Laugh. Healthcare is a serious business, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun and enjoy a good laugh. Very few people suffer burnout when they're having fun. Talk to a co-worker about a funny movie you saw, or tell a joke (an appropriate one) to help bring fun into the workplace.

Above all, it's critical to recognize the signs of stress at an early stage. Burnout at work can affect your quality of life. So, if your job, or a specific co-worker is dragging you down, try to alter your circumstance with the tips above. If that doesn't help, seek professional help, or if necessary, leave.


National Nurses Week is May 6-12. This year's theme is "Nurses: Strength, Commitment, Compassion." As you celebrate and recognize the valuable nurses at your organization, consider the facts below—they'll make you even more appreciative of your healthcare staff.

• The nation's registered nurse (RN) workforce is aging significantly and the number of full-time equivalent RNs per capita is forecast to peak around the year 2007 and decline steadily thereafter.
  
  
• According to projections released in February 2004 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs top the list of the 10 occupations with the largest projected job growth in the years 2002-2012. Although RNs have listed among the top 10 growth occupations in the past, this is the first time in recent history that RNs have ranked first
  
  
• There are nearly 2.9 million registered nurses in the United States . And, 2.4 million of them are actively employed.
  
  
• Schools of nursing were forced to reject more than 147,000 qualified applications to nursing programs at all levels in 2005 – an increase of 18 percent over 2004, according to a report by the National League for Nursing (NLN). The NLN blamed the problem in part on a continuing shortage of nursing educators.
  
  
• The January 5, 2000 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association reported the results of a study which revealed patients fared just as well when treated by nurse practitioners as they did when treated by physicians.
  
  
• The nation's nurses rank first for their honesty and integrity, with 82 percent of Americans rating them "high" or "very high," according to a 2005 Gallup Poll. Nurses have consistently rated first every year but one after being added to the list in 1999.
  
  
• A study published in the January/February 2006 Journal of Health Affairs provides new evidence that if hospitals invest in appropriate RN staffing, thousands of lives and millions of dollars could be saved each year. Specifically, the study shows that if hospitals increased RN staffing and hours of nursing care per patient, more than 6,700 patient deaths and 4 million days of care in hospitals could be avoided each year.
  
  
• A study published Sept. 23, 2003 , in the Journal of the American Medical Association determined that the educational level of RNs working in hospitals has a significant impact on whether patients survive common surgeries. The study probed the impact not only of the numbers of RNs providing bedside care, but how the educational preparation of RNs impacts patient mortality. Among the study's most significant findings: that raising the percentage of RNs with bachelor's degrees from 20 percent to 60 percent would save four lives for every 1,000 patients undergoing common surgical procedures.
  
  
• A study on the nursing shortage by Linda Aiken of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Nursing found that an estimated 20,000 people die each year because they have checked into a hospital with overworked nurses.
  
  
• The link between adequate and appropriate nurse staffing and positive patient outcomes has been shown in several American Nurses Association (ANA) publications and studies. One report published in May 2000, found that shorter lengths of stay are strongly related to higher RN staffing per acuity-adjusted day and that patient morbidity indicators for preventable conditions are inversely related to RN skill mix.

2001 ANA Staffing Survey revealed that America 's RNs feel that deteriorating working conditions have led to a decline in the quality of nursing care. Specifically, 75 percent of nurses surveyed felt the quality of nursing care at the facility in which they work has declined over the past two years, while 56 percent of nurses surveyed believe that the time they have available for patient care has decreased.

Paying for the Hospital Bill

Mr. Smith was brought to a Catholic hospital and taken in quickly for coronary surgery. The operation went well and as the groggy man regained consciousness, a Sister of Mercy waited by his bedside.

“Mr. Smith, you're going to be fine,” said the nun. “We do need to know, however, how you intend to pay for your stay here. Are you covered by insurance?

“No, I'm not,” the man answered.

“Then can you pay in cash?” the nun asked.

“I'm afraid I can't Sister.”

“Well, do you have any close relatives?” the nun asked.

“Just my sister in New Mexico ,” he said. “But she's a humble spinster nun.”

“Oh, I must correct you, Mr. Smith. Nuns are not spinsters—they are married to God.”

“Wonderful,” said Mr. Smith. “In that case, please send my bill to my brother-in-law.”