Let's Connect: Using Social Media to Our Advantage

   

Dennis Doherty, MSN, RN is a Staff Development Specialist in the department of Clinical Education and Informatics at Boston Children's Hospital. You can follow him on Twitter at: @HWE_Nurse.       

A little less than four years ago I joined a new Crossfit gym that opened up in my town.  For the uninitiated, Crossfit involves doing a different daily workout in a bare-bones gym that includes weightlifting, gymnastics, running, and bodyweight exercises.  One of my favorite aspects of belonging to this gym is the community.  It is filled with people of different backgrounds and athletic abilities.  Everyone supports each other.    

   

This community continues outside of the walls of the gym through its private group Facebook page, where members log in to share accomplishments, articles, invitations to social outings, and a little light-hearted ribbing (okay, maybe a lot of light-hearted ribbing). Only members are invited to join the group.  Coaches post videos of the daily workouts and highlight members’ personal and athletic accomplishments.  Members can reach out for non-gym related questions like recommendations for a plumber or where to get the best haircut.  Most importantly, when someone achieves a personal best, it is celebrated on this forum.   The private group page keeps members engaged and motivated when they are away from the gym.

Joseph Kelly Photography

In July, I attended the Nursing Professional Development Certification Preparation course, a part of the pre-conference for the ANPD annual convention.  I spent the better part of two days with close to 100 NPD colleagues in a ballroom tucked deep in the bowels of the Mirage Events Center in Las Vegas.  Going into the course I was concerned that I would not be able to focus on nursing professional development with craps tables, tropical themed pools, and outdoor bars mere yards away (I can do damage in Vegas).  It turned out that this was not the case. 

As the course progressed, I saw a camaraderie that developed among the group.  People shared stories of their work, motivators to become certified, and fears of taking the exam.  Here was a group of NPD specialists with a common goal and at the end of the convention we would all go our separate ways.  Thinking of ways to try to keep this momentum going, I thought of my gym’s private group page.  If we can celebrate my personal best back squat (405 lbs.), then we certainly should celebrate this journey to certification.       

By the end of the break I had published the ANPD Cert Prep 2015 group page on Facebook.   Within minutes we had forty members join by using their smart phones or computers.  Over the rest of the conference week, members shared pictures from the course; Lauren posted the Wall of Terms & Important Stuff and Kathy captured the Play-Doh model interpretations of Change Theory.   Several days after returning home Ashley shared flash cards, which members can download and use to study.  In August several dates were posted by members brave enough to make their test date Facebook official.  Personally, being engaged with colleagues from the certification prep course has motivated me to send in my registration, transcripts, and exam fee.   In the last several weeks we have had members post that they passed the certification exam. Congratulations to Joni RN-BC and Gloria RN-BC—we will be coming your way for exam advice.

Certification has a way of "popping up" in Facebook

In my professional experience, social media has felt like a four letter word.  There are ethical and professional concerns when anyone shares what happens to our patients or in our places of employment.  I see posts by nurses sharing the difficulties of their shift or sadness over another angel in heaven.  I have heard of a student expelled from a nursing program for posting a picture of a patient.   I hear clinicians worry that social media enables families to get the wrong information about diseases.

While I admit there are potential misuses when we mix social media with professional practice I wonder if we are short-changing ourselves by not exploring uses for applications such as Facebook and Twitter to our advantage.   Social media has made the world much smaller.  Using social media to connect professionally can break down the geographical barriers we face as professionals.   My example from the NPD certification preparation course this summer illustrates how connections, bonds, and support can be maintained despite the miles that separate us. 

74% of Americans online report using social media.  I am connected to over 845 people from my childhood, college, and professional years by a click of a mouse.   I know when my favorite bands have gigs, learn of hockey trade rumors, and read the latest news via Twitter.   Through Facebook I have been able to help plan my 20th high school reunion and learn that most of my town prefers Pizza Palace over Broadway Pizza.  Why shouldn’t we connect with our professional colleagues as we do so readily with our acquaintances from other aspects of our lives?  Why not seek uses that will move us forward professionally?  Why not engage our clients by meeting them where they are?  

I will share two ways I am attempting to use social media to our advantage.  Recently the chairperson of a unit-based council approached me for advice on ways to engage the membership.   They meet every two months and she felt that each meeting was spent doing work that should have been completed between meetings.   She said that people are too busy when they are at work.   Nurse’s work schedules are irregular so it is difficult for members to connect between meetings.  I challenged her to use a Facebook private group to connect between meetings.  Work groups provide updates on action items and discussions can be on-going.   Will members respond positively to this approach?  I am not sure, but I think we can accomplish more by taking a chance than the current non-productivity the chairperson reports.  

One of my roles as NPD specialist is co-coordinating new graduate nurse orientation.  My colleague and I have been thinking of ways to support our nurses in their transition to practice.  We would like to connect our new grads with experienced nurses who have gone through the program.  Our hope is that connecting with someone who has more recently walked in their shoes will benefit our orientees.  Again, busy assignments and varying schedules can make it difficult to maintain these connections.  This fall we will pilot using social media as a forum for our new grads and former new grads to meet virtually. 

My institution offers shuttle buses to take employees to satellite parking lots and public transportation.  Over the last couple of weeks I have observed that at least half of the passengers on these trips have their eyes glued to their smart phones.  Many are looking at Facebook pages and Twitter feeds.  Is it possible that we are missing out on captive audiences by not bringing nursing professional development to these platforms?  I encourage us all to think outside the box for ways that we can connect, engage, and motivate through social media and share ideas with our colleagues on the ANPD Facebook Page.

Are we missing our captive audience?

Apps for Educators

Jobeth Pilcher, EdD, RN-BC, and attendees of the Bring Your Own App! Crowdsource a Toolbox for Mobile Learning session during the 2015 ANPD Annual Convention developed a list of useful apps for nurse educators. You can find the list here: Apps for Educators.

Celebrating our Role: A Tribute to NPD Specialists

Joan Warren, PhD, RN-BC, NEA-BC is the President of the Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD). 

Greetings and congratulations to all Nursing Professional Development Specialists!

We are celebrating NPD week in honor of all of us and the work that we do every day as NPD specialists. As practitioners we should be proud. Our role is unique and diverse. As our recent NPD Role Delineation study found, we fill several important roles.

First, transitioning new graduate and experienced nurses for success in their practice specialty is a key role. As an NPD specialist role we prepare student nurses to transition to the “real world” of nursing.  We also partner with experienced nurses as they transition to new practice areas or new levels of leadership. Through this NPD role new graduates as well as experienced nurses gain competence and confidence, are retained by the organization, and are prepared to meet the needs of our constantly evolving healthcare environment. Not only do we impact the professional growth of individual nurses, we impact the organization. Successful role transition ensures high quality and safe patient care.  Our impact on positive patient outcomes and nurse retention saves organizational dollars. Take a moment this week to walk the halls and meet with the many nurses you transitioned into practice.

As NPD specialists we are also facilitators of learning. In this role, we are accountable for educating staff for the future. Every day we are challenged to create and implement cost effective, efficient, and timely education for staff. We use innovative teaching methods and technology to facilitate knowledge retention and competence. Not only are we expected to be knowledgeable about patient populations, we must be experts in learning - two very diverse yet complimentary skill sets. Take advantage of NPD week to highlight the many innovative education programs you have conducted and demonstrate how these have impacted nurses’ knowledge and patient outcomes.  Both staff and leadership should know!

Next we are change agents. Healthcare is rapidly changing and we are essential in translating new knowledge into practice and then motivating and educating staff to adopt these new practice changes. As an adaptive expert, we must implement sustainable rapid cycle change and must be knowledgeable about strategies to influence practice change and ultimately patient outcomes.

As change agents, we must ensure that changes we promote are evidence based.  The Institute of Medicine Roundtable on Evidence-Based Medicine (2008) set a goal, that by 2020, 90% of clinical decisions will be supported by the best available and most accurate evidence. Our role as Champion of Scientific Inquiry serves as a driving force in translating knowledge into practice. As a consumer of research we guide nurses in interpreting evidence and managing practice change to improve patient outcomes. Take a moment this week to highlight the many practice changes you facilitated and the resulting patient outcomes.

Perhaps one of the most rewarding roles of NPD specialists is the role of mentor. Think about it - we influence and change people’s livelihood. Helping others to help themselves to become successful in achieving their personal and professional goals is a rewarding experience. Reflect on the many nurses you assisted in obtaining certifications or advanced nursing degrees and how these nurses have advanced professionally in their careers either at the bedside or as nurse leaders.

Leadership is the most important role we have as NPD specialists. In today’s healthcare environment we must demonstrate leadership to be successful in our roles. Yet we often fail to think of ourselves as leaders.  Learn from Miss Colorado and do not refer to yourself as “just the educator”. If we are to be true organizational leaders we must be engaged at all meetings.  Since we are experts in facilitating learning, practice change, nurse transitions and patient care, it’s important for us to highlight our expertise and let members of committees know our value to the organization.  Further steps to enhance your leadership include the following:

• Learn and be able to articulate your hospital’s, department’s, and unit’s quality, patient safety and patient experience scores.

• Know your organization’s strategic plan and be able to explain your role in helping to achieve it. 

• Lead teams and share your outcomes.

• Don’t wait for others to acknowledge you – take an active role in sharing your value.

• Participate in ongoing learning, growth and development opportunities to enhance your leadership abilities.
  

Finally, as NPD specialists, we must advocate for our specialty practice.  This is our week to articulate the value of the role of the NPD specialist. As you continue to advance in your practice, enroll in an advanced nursing degree program or obtain certification.

This week’s blog is full of suggestions for optimizing our roles and promoting our specialty.  Develop your action plan – not just for this week, but for the whole year!

Have a wonderful NPD week………

Leveraging Technology

Stacey Brull, DNP, RN, NE-BC is the Senior Director of Research, Education, and Informatics, as well as the Magnet Program Director, at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland.

I believe I realized the way we were teaching could be more effective when I was sitting with my then 6-year-old daughter and she showed me an app called Toontastic.  Toontastic provides a venue to tell a story using cute characters and fun backgrounds.  My mind started thinking, "What if we used a tool like this in education?  What if we told a story about a patient who received a nosocomial infection because the nurse didn’t wash her hands?"  And, thus, my journey into the world of apps, social media and e-learning began.

My story may or may not be unique to you.  Everything I know about leveraging technology has been self-taught.  Many people want to know how I started.  I want to share with you what I have learned along the way. 

1.       Start small.  I remember my very first self-imposed project using an e-learning authoring tool.  I was determined to provide a unique educational twist for nurses during Nurses Week.  I wanted to inspire staff to “think differently” and began working on my e-learning masterpiece. After many, many hours of trial and error utilizing a software program that I barely understood, I was able to pull together a matching game with some strange, sort of eerie music to go with it.  I tried to take too much on and didn’t have the expertise at the time.

2.       Realize there is a learning curve.  It is easy to watch a company’s advertisement on the internet and think creating innovative teaching methodologies is easy.  Most of the programs I have worked with took time for me to learn to a point where I felt comfortable using them.  Watching videos and taking a few classes online helped me understand the various programs.  However, another option is to use a program you already know, such as PowerPoint, and experiment with some of their more advanced features. 

3.       Utilize experts when you need them.  Experts can be in the form of content experts or technical experts.  There are times when you just need someone to help you or point you in the right direction.  I have utilized nurses, other fellow e-learning gurus as well as programmers, developers and graphic designers in my projects.  Online support communities are also a great venue to ask questions or find experts. 

4.       Look for freebies.  There are a fair amount of free resources for educators on the internet.  Once I bought a very expensive graphics package only to find out I couldn’t modify the pictures. If I had trialed the program, I would have figured that out pretty quickly.  Instead I purchased it in the interest of time.   Take the time to practice using the free trial and ask questions.   It may even save you money and time in the long run.

5.       Set a goal.  Lastly, I would recommend setting a goal for yourself or your team to utilize one new technology per year.  Without a goal, you may find yourself putting it off.

I hope this entry has been helpful as you take on innovative teaching strategies.  I love the breadth and depth of what our organization and team of nurses have done to reshape professional development at Mercy.  Take a minute and look at the infographic I created about  shared governance to get a sense of how technology can work for you.

http://sharedgovernance.org/?page_id=1603

Let me know what you think or if you want to discuss ideas further, please do not hesitate to contact me.  I will most likely be in front of my computer.

What do you look for in a leader or mentor?

We posed this question to those who are newer in their roles in various organizations across the country. These are some of the answers we received:

"I look for someone who is patient, likes to teach and coach not only new nurses, but seasoned ones as well. They must be able to take criticism from those they lead as a charge nurse. They must be able to adapt to all kinds of changes/interruptions and be flexible. As a charge nurse they must be able to present new initiatives or changes in a positive manner, even if they disagree with them (and never let the co-workers know they disagree)." -- Charge Nurse

"I look for someone who is trustworthy, patient, and knowledgeable in their field." --Educator

"As a new NPD Specialist, the thing I have struggled with most is structuring my role with the ANPD standards in mind as well as meeting the needs of the organization. It's definitely a balancing act. The transition would have been much easier if I had some clear direction and goals from a mentor." -- NPD Specialist

"As a newer educator, I am looking for guidance in my role as a mentor - i.e. making sure I am doing the job appropriately, aligning our competencies so we are prepared for TJC visits, and proper record keeping for all associates. In addition, I am looking for new and creative ways to do my job to keep up with the changing educational needs of the staff across all generations as it is a challenge to keep things new and exciting. I am always looking for educational opportunities, but looking for the mentor to help guide me towards those professional opportunities." -- Educator

"A mentor is someone who values people and me as a person; someone who listens AND has the wisdom to guide. I look for someone who leads with kindness and who is not afraid to feel/be attached while not crossing professional boundaries. And someone who is positive, who makes it safe to fail because you can grow from those experiences." -- Nurse Manager

"The biggest attribute is someone who wants to be a leader or mentor. Yes, they have to have the skills and knowledge base, but if they really don't like to teach or lead, they won't do a very good job. They need to be a good listener, approachable and non-judgmental, respectful and well-respected, and a person of integrity." -- Clinical Nurse Education Specialist

"For me, a mentor should be driven to advance the nursing profession and willing to treat others as they would like (not expect) to be treated. I would love to be mentored by someone who is nurturing, patient, experienced, knowledgeable, self-sacrificing, and professional." -- Nurse

"I have had staff nurses tell me a role model nurse has the following characteristics: confident in the practice, very knowledgeable and a resource, willing to pitch in and help when needed, expert in the topic they are teaching, never resorts to gossip, praises in public and offers constructive criticism in private." -- NPD Specialist

"To me a mentor is made up of a few characteristics, which are obviously tied together and similar, but each has a specific meaning or value to me. A mentor is someone who values my opinions, experiences, and goals and has the resources and knowledge to help me reach them. It is someone who has the ability to actively listen, but to interpret what I say in a new way and realize the potential of my ideas. It is someone who provides me with opportunities for success, but has the understanding to let me find my own way, even if it is different from the mentor's choice. Mostly, a mentor is a person with whom I can develop a trusting relationship, where I feel empowered and inspired to continue learning and growing in a professional manner, and know the mentor will always be there to encourage and guide me while keeping my best interests (personally and professionally) at heart." -- Critical Care Nurse Educator

As a leader and mentor, do you embody these characteristics? Are there elements you could improve upon? When assigning mentors to those who are new in their role, do you take these qualities into consideration? 

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader. -- John Quincy Adams

Nurse Burnout: Finding a Work-Life Balance

Janeane Walker, MSN, RN, CPN, CCRN is a Clinical Practice Specialist at Northeast Georgia Medical Center Braselton

Since 2007, I have been a part of nursing education.  It has been exhilarating watching nurse residents grow, preceptors develop, experienced nurses expand their knowledge base, and nurse educators master their craft of education.  Over the years, I’ve seen great nurse preceptors become nurse educators and eventually return to the bedside as a staff nurse or move into management.  At first, I began to wonder why an educator would not want to stay and be a part of nursing education.  It was clear to me that there were issues that needed to be further explored. 

One main issue is support.  Are these professionals receiving adequate support to be successful?  There is a great deal of stress associated with the role of a nurse educator, especially if they are juggling multiple projects.  This is where work-life balance can play a significant role in maintaining a healthy base line for our nurse educators. Work-life balance is a concept of properly prioritizing between one's work and lifestyle. 

It is imperative to successfully introduce work-life balance into one's daily practice.  Once a balance is achieved, this will aid the nurse educator from experiencing burnout.  Educator burnout really goes beyond just having a bad day. Chronic stress or emotional and physical exhaustion exacerbates burnout.

There are some questions we should ask ourselves as professional development specialists.  First, how do we not fall victim to an imbalance in our work and personal lives? Second, when you know you are feeling overwhelmed or overworked, how do you rebalance yourself?  Some of my thoughts are:

1. Recognize that you feel imbalanced. 
2. Find time for yourself! Do things that bring you personal enjoyment.  If you like tennis, for example, go play a game with a friend.  Sounds basic, but you will be surprised to know that neglecting yourself leads to stress. 
3. Get rid of the negative talk and speak positive dialogue daily. 
4. Find a trusted mentor that you can share your experiences with. 

 Let’s hear some of your thoughts on how you can achieve the ultimate balance!  

Paying it Forward

Susan Bindon, DNP, RN-BC, CNE is an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing

I am very lucky.  I have a job that combines my two professional loves, nursing and teaching.  Like other nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners, the chance to do both keeps me busy, interested, and on my toes.  I’m constantly reading, thinking, asking questions, and learning.  My days go quickly and the weeks fly by.  But I certainly have not gotten here by myself! I have had incredible help along the way, in the form of generous others who’ve provided guidance, feedback, opportunities and support.  How I wish I could pay them all back!  I would tell them how much they meant to me, and how often I borrowed their confidence to bolster my own, used their words to strengthen my spirit and pictured their successes when I could only imagine my certain failures.

I grew up a Pennsylvania dairy farm.  There I learned to work hard, persist, and appreciate the generosity of family, neighbors, and friends.  I watched my parents help other families and contribute to the community that had once welcomed them as newcomers.  I remember my mother explaining to us that people can either be contributors or consumers. Basically, she was reminding us to give more than we receive.  I didn’t understand it at the time, but I’ve come to embrace her idea.  Now I encourage my own children to contribute however and whenever they can, and I share stories of my own good fortune.

Thirty-five years have passed since I decided to become a nurse.  I can’t pay back all of the professional debts I surely owe.  But I can pay it forward. Paying it forward is the notion that the recipient of a gift or good deed repays it to others instead of to the original benefactor.  I can now help others in some of the same ways I’ve been helped in the past. 

I remember my first preceptor, Marcella, who told me in no uncertain terms that I was her last “project” before retirement, and that I had exactly six weeks to learn what I needed to know.  I cherish those six weeks from so many summers ago.  The real-life experiences and pithy advice she shared set the course for my career.  She sparked my curiosity and helped me recognize that learning never ends.  I’m grateful to a part-time faculty member, Linda, who took me under her wing when I became a new clinical instructor.  She went out of her way to help me, and answered questions I didn’t even know enough to ask. Following her example, I developed my own style as a teacher. I can never repay Liz, who took a chance and hired me, with no experience, into an education specialist role during a difficult time in my life. Her straightforward “West Virginia wisdom”, as she called it, guided me through countless situations and decisions as my career forged ahead.  I often think about Jim, a retired military officer and NPD specialist whose keen instincts led him to a remote classroom one afternoon where I was in a worrisome situation with a disgruntled employee.  I was never so glad to hear the words “You ok, boss?” Wendy, the veteran nurse whose undeniable “people skills” (we didn’t call them that at the time!) showed me how a charge nurse gets everyone safely through a busy night shift.  Joanne, who put down her bags on the way out of the office one evening and stayed late to help me sort out an incredibly complex clinical schedule. Carol, a trusted advisor who encouraged me to take a leap and seek leadership positions.  My children, who keep me grounded and inspired.  Friends who not-so-gently remind me now and then that I’m missing in action.  There are hundreds of examples that come to mind.  Profound acts of kindness, perfectly timed opportunities, and invaluable pieces of advice have all come my way.  Peers, colleagues, friends, family members, and even strangers have contributed to and helped shape my professional path.

What does this have to do with teaching, nursing, and NPD?  A lot, I think!  All of us have benefitted from the contributions of others.  Regardless of where we are in our careers, there are opportunities to pay it forward every day.  I love talking with new grads during their nurse residency program, and imagining with them what they’ll be doing 2 or 30 years from now.  I enjoy working with new educators as they hone their teaching skills. I’m thrilled when students break through a real or imagined barrier. I share the excitement when a novice author gets published for the first time.  We can all look for ways to contribute (thanks Mom!) and help others succeed.  What might this look like?  We can help staff submit a poster abstract, offer to mentor a new committee member, nominate a colleague for a well-deserved award, take a team member to a leadership meeting, volunteer to precept a graduate student, contribute to a specialty panel, share expertise via a guest lecture or webinar.  The possibilities are endless!  The important thing is to be mindful of who and how we can help, and what we can do to “pay it forward” to the next lucky individual.  Let’s do so with enthusiasm and a nod to those who have done the same for us. You never know whose career you may be influencing!