In the Spotlight
Acute Care
Katherine Graham, Clinical Manager at Concordia Hospital
We asked Katherine Graham to provide some suggestions and ideas to inspire nurses to help facilitate improved patient flow. Here are her thoughts:
Nurses and leadership
Sometimes nurses don't feel they are in a position to connect the dots. But the reality is, nurses are often in a powerful position to not only be leaders, but to help prepare a person for what comes next - based purely on their knowledge and experience.
It's a matter of saying, "Based on my experience and knowledge, I'm thinking this will likely be the plan . . . "This perspective can help people we're caring for understand common everyday stuff, what we're doing and why. Nurses are in a strong position to facilitate this greater understanding.
Nurses can't sit back and wait, they need to drive an effective discharge. It's crucial for nurses to ask questions, line everything up. Communicating is part of it but so is asking the right questions. We can help people navigate the system.
It's one thing to have a great plan but to make that plan happen, you need to know how to work the system to your advantage, and direct things, move them along.
A nurse can help fit all the pieces of the puzzle together, bring it all together - that's when it's a beautiful thing . . . when it clicks. Knowing home care's role, what occupational therapy does, what physiotherapy does, and ultimately helping make the plan come to life is where nurses have a strong role to play.
On managing expectations
Communication with patient is a big part of that, helping them understand that once they can walk and eat and things like an IV come off their body, they're going home. Sometimes people have the idea that they will be in a hospital until they're 100%. The truth is in the hospital they can get to a place where they are stable and continue their recovery at home.
Part of this is helping break through the public image of what we should be providing, and help them not only understand but change the way they think about a hospital stay. Hospitals are there to provide care for people who are in acute trouble. Once they are through the acute trouble and mobile, they don't need to stay in a hospital. They can be assessed and further supported in their recovery with home care services. If we can avoid people sitting in beds waiting for other services, we can help improve patient flow.
On communication
I always want to talk to a person, not send an email or a fax. When I get on the phone, I can get answers much quicker. I can provide an idea of the situation and we can problem solve together. I can confirm they received the information I sent, instead of delaying things for days because of an error. It also helps us all get on the same page about what the plan for care is.
Nurses, don't just sit back. We can be actively involved in pushing things through and quickly addressing any hold ups. That call is an important one to make. It can save you time, the patient stress and help them get the care they need, which is a win all the way through.