Belinda Urdiales is a nurse in the Emergency Department at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital.  When we heard that part of her nursing essay was published in the New York Times, we asked her to tell us more about it.  This is what she shared: “The New York times ran a Nurses’ Week essay contest during the month of May 2007.  The theme of the essay was “Why nursing?”  When I saw this, my first response was immediate, I wrote down my thoughts and submitted my 500 page essay not really expecting a response, after all this was the New York times…a place so huge and very far from my home here at Metro.  My main intent was to release my own personal joy and satisfaction regarding my chosen profession.  Feeling my essay was to be passed over I did not even submit my home phone or e-mail address for notification should my essay be chosen.  Instead, I kept the date of June 10 in the back of my mind knowing that was the day the winning articles were to be published.  When that day finally arrived I got online to read the article entitled- nursing diaries: Celebrating a History of Caring and Professionalism.  As I read through each one I was impressed with the sincerity, the honesty and the care that jumped from the selected entries.  My entry was the second to last.  I was stunned to see my name/state listed underneath my essay.  My 500 word essay was reduced to 7 sentences but to me that didn’t matter. What mattered most was the idea of my words, my thoughts, leaving an impression on others on what the meaning of nursing meant to me.” 

From the New York Times, Sunday June, 10, 2007 issue: “Before entering the nursing profession, I had a fear of blood.  Just the sight of a finger prick would make me dizzy.  I know you’re wondering, ‘Why is this child entering the Florence Nightingale profession?’  It wasn’t the money or the fame.  It was conquering my hemophobia.  It’s not easy, but I have not deterred in my chosen vocation.  I wait for crises with an open mind, some M&M’s in my pocket a half-finished lunch and the belief in the miraculous.”          

HOW AWESOME IS THAT…HOW AWESOME IS NURSING!  Congratulations Belinda! 

Medical studies indicate that intensive insulin therapy to achieve tight glycemic control improves clinical outcomes, particularly in patients that have cardiac surgery. Additionally, postoperative glycemic control is one of the SCIP measurements. The SICU and Cardiac Progressive Care units at the

Methodist Healthcare offers nursing internships to graduate nurses and new registered nurses interested in working in a specialized nursing area. Internships are available in Critical Care, Intermediate and Progressive Care, Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care, Neonatal, and Perioperative and vary from 16 to 20 weeks in length.  Internships provide intensive training designed to support the transition of the novice nurse to collaborative nursing practice as a professional nurse working in fast-paced highly technical specialty care environment. 

Interns work with a team of educators, nursing preceptors, and nursing managers and participate in evidence-based learning and interactive skills applications in specialized areas to develop fluency in nursing knowledge and clinical skills.  Interns are assigned  nurse preceptors and follows the preceptor’s work shift schedule. The preceptor-led clinical practicum is a progressive, performance-based learning experience designed to develop the knowledge, skill, and competence required to provide safe, evidence-based care. Development of critical thinking skills required in the planning and provision of care for critically ill patients is emphasized including problem identification, anticipation, assessment of urgency, prioritization, problem-solving, reconciling differences, teamwork, collaborative practice, patient management and patient advocacy. Patient assignments increase in acuity and complexity of care as the intern progresses through the internship program.  

The internship is open to graduate nurses with a temporary registered nurse permit or new nurses with an active registered nurse license. The internship is a fulltime 40 hours/week position with full wages. Nursing internships are operated and managed by the Education & Research Department.    

To apply prospective applicants should:

1. Complete the full Methodist Healthcare employment application
2. Obtain the internship packet at Human Resources
   1. Complete Goals Form
   2. Obtain two recommendations from Nursing School Instructors (forms in packet)
3. Complete the interview process for admission to the program
4. Sign a 24 month employment agreement to begin after completion of the internship program
5. For further information and to submit an application contact the Human Resources Department at
   1. 210-575-0458
   2. www.SAHealth.com
   3. Methodist Healthcare System
      Human Resources Department
      
      
      8109 Fredericksburg Road
      
      San Antonio, Texas
      78229

When we talk about voice, we mean your ability to have a say in how things are done here…such as making improvements in working conditions affecting quality or safety. Here are just a few of the many ways nurses have a voice at Methodist Healthcare:

Employee Advisory Group- the purpose of the EAG (Employee Advisory Group) is to provide a forum for employees to voice concerns or issues that affect them in their workplace, share their ideas and suggestions for improvement, and work collaboratively with management to continuously improve the work environment. The volunteers on this committee come from a wide variety of departments. Look for the EAG posters or contact your Human Resource consultant if you would like to know the names of the employees that represent your facility.

Staff Nurse Leadership Council (SNLC)- as outlined in our Nursing Bylaws Organization and Function Manual, the SNLC addresses issues of nursing importance and provides input to the Staff Nurse Leadership Board on issues that may improve clinical practice, hospital operations and a healthy workplace environment. Every nursing unit/department should send a representative to the meetings. The representative facilitates communication between hospital administration, nurse managers/directors, and the nursing units. Often times the representative will return to the unit and gain feedback on a certain issue so that he/she can take it back to the next SNLC meeting. In effect, your unit representative will carry the voice of his/her unit back to the meetings in order to make decisions.

Unit/Department Staff Meetings- staff meetings are another time for two way communication. Although the manager/director may have a lot of information to share, staff meetings are also an opportunity for the employees to speak up and discuss things as a team. Leaders always appreciate your ideas and feedback.

Town Hall Meetings- these meetings are held on a quarterly basis and all employees are encouraged to participate. The meetings are led by Senior Leadership and the discussion is always interactive. There is always time on the agenda for an open discussion. This is a great time for employees to voice their comments and suggestions.

Bright Idea Boxes- just jot down your thought or suggestion and drop it in one of the boxes posted in the high traffic area of your facility. You can include your name or you can submit something anonymously.

Employee Satisfaction Survey- this anonymous survey is conducted once a year by an outside company. We use the survey to validate that we are doing well and to identify opportunities for improvement. The results are compared to previous years and to other HCA facilities. It is a very effective tool as directors are required to design a work plan in response to their respective department survey results. So by sharing their voice, employees’ concerns are targeted and addressed.