I want to tell you about the best front line nurse leader I have had the pleasure of meeting. There may be others that are as good but none better. I had the pleasure of meeting RN LaRhonda about five and a half years ago. Every day I would see her at rounds, in the 501 ICU, taking notes and participating in rounds. She was one of the team that went to every bed and was calm and confident. I was not sure what her role was then but I would eventually find out.
One day I walked into Dad's room and a tube was pulled out of him and on the floor, thinking he must have pulled it out, I freaked out just as she walked by, I told her "I think Dad just pulled this out". Calmly and confidently, she said "no we were taking it out and an emergency came up", she took care of it assuring me it was routine.
Another day I saw her post a communication board in the unit asking for comments on how to improve it. Continuous improvement is great and it was very evident that the 501 worked hard to improve continuously. Since she was posting this I assumed she must be the head nurse or someone really working to make things better.
As we were finishing our multi-month stay I told her how I loved the rounding in 501 and the continuous improvements they were making there. She asked me to let her bosses know about the rounding because she thought it should happen on every unit. She wrote his email address on her business card. Just then I found out she was not just interested in improving, or a head nurse...she ran the whole unit. The whole time she led her team with grace and humility, I never noticed she was "in charge". She led her team and served them. A humble servant leader that continuously improves. That is someone who is among the best but in my opinion, it is only the start for LaRhonda. She also serves the families and patients in the same servant and humble manner that her team sees. LaRhonda is someone who has a wealth of wisdom and can provide clear guidance. I have turned to her several times to ask for wisdom on how to get more help and she either provided the help or gave me simple guidance to find the best path.
One day after we left Baptist, I had concerns about my dad's declining condition and she went to see him in another hospital during her lunch break/run. That visit likely saved his life for a third time in a month, the other two times were by her team.
She was my first call earlier this year when we were not getting the feedback expected when Dad was in another facility. This has led the PFAC and Integris to develop a better communication plan for family members unable to be at the bedside.
My dad was back at Baptist again recently and again LaRhonda provided perfect guidance to help us make the best plan of care for Dad. His first nurse was trained by her team in the 501 ICU and had the same servant humility with a full dose of confidence. Later LaRhonda texted me and asked to come see him. While she was in his room the Physician's Assistant came by for rounds. She said "Oh you know LaRhonda! No wonder you were asking such great questions during our consultation. I thought you were a PA."
This is only my point of view and a couple of our stories. I am sure the providers she works with would have the same opinion and her nurses would assuredly hold her in the highest regards.
These stories are examples of how LaRhonda Loves, Learns, and Leads by embodying those values. Although I do not believe it is a set of values for her, it is who she is. Anyone could do the things I am talking about but she does them because they are her values as well. Please honor her for who she is and what she does and then display her as an example for others.