leadership Archives - Shania Lynn

“All communication must lead to change”- Aristotle

In acting, we learn that words are useless. Words only become effective once humans add purpose to them. The greatest actors understand the power of each word and use that power effectively to change the person they are speaking to. The change can be a perspective of a topic or a perspective about themself. We sometimes use the same words with different meanings or inflections to mean different things. This is the beauty of language and communication.

We conducted a communication survey within our facility to evaluate our current communication methods, strategies, and opportunities. A majority of the respondents voiced that they were “not confident” or “fairly confident” about our internal communication, communication with hostile patients/ family members, and communication to different departments.

With Covid, we realized that nurses are out of practice with communicating with visitors and the routine communication with interdisciplinary staff, most of which was eliminated during Covid.

There are two main types of communication that can be evaluated here: assertive communication and aggressive communication. Assertive communication is standing up for your beliefs, voicing your concerns, and not being afraid to communicate different viewpoints. Assertive communication is essential for leaders as it does not just go with the flow, but uses words effectively to evoke a positive change. Aggressive communication is not normally effective because it downplays other views, does not accept criticism, and has the “I am always right” mentality. Rather than offering suggestion like assertive communication, aggressive communication demands a certain way.

Communication is essential for a healthy work environment and relationship with coworkers. Ensuring that all voices are heard, points are spoken clearly, and evaluating different approaches are all ways to improve current communication modalities. If people have the sense that they have a say, their motivation for change can be greatly improved.

Growing up and even now, many ask themselves this question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

After witnessing mental illness in my family and then struggling with my own eating disorder, my answer became “a nurse.” I chose to be a nurse because I wanted to influence others and educate others into creating a healthy lifestyle.

But just the answer of being a “nurse”, only goes so far. I then decide whether I prefer inpatient or outpatient, which unit, which patient population, short term goals, long term goals, etc.

I, ultimately, settled into an adult medical-surgical floor that also served pediatrics and Oncology. I began nursing school wanting to do pediatrics, then ER, then inpatient oncology. There was rarely a job available at the infusion clinic, so I remained on med-surg for 5 years and I enjoyed it.

I started as a student nurse tech, then a nurse extern, then a new grad nurse, then staff nurse, then charge nurse, and now a nurse Retentionist! My medical unit offered classes on chemotherapy administration and pediatric care at no cost to me. I was able to get a wide variety of training and experiences by remaining on the medical floor for as long as I did. I also had the opportunity to switch shifts and worked days, nights, and weekend nights.

Each different experience I had and extra step I took for myself, allowed me to be open for leadership opportunities. My transition into a charge nurse was not as difficult as I thought. And the creation of my new position as a Nurse Retentionist, allowed me to step fully into the role as a nurses’ advocate and leader.

Though the actual transition away from the bedside and into a 8-4:30 job was difficult mentally, the actual work came natural. I was able to utilize my strengths of communication, boldness, and listening to incorporate challenges at the bedside into solutions to present to nursing leadership.

I never went into nursing school thinking I wanted to go into leadership, but it was something that found me and I love it. Though I am not a typical bedside nurse, I am still a nurse. Instead of caring for patients, I advocate for the nurses that continue to care for them.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Until next time,

Shania

Communicating for Change

What do you want to be when you grow up?

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