Health literacy is an ongoing issue in healthcare today. Low health literacy can be detrimental to a patient’s care. There are many interventions we can implement to improve patient literacy and empower them in their care.

Language

Imagine being in a different country where English is not the primary language. Maybe you are backpacking Europe and find yourself in a foreign country feeling pretty crummy. You head to the ER with a sore throat. You point at your throat, so they tenderly examine it. A nurse gestures to open your mouth and you do, expecting to have your throat inspected. You startle as they shove swabs in the back of your throat, checking for various illnesses.

Imagine being diagnosed with mononucleosis and being handed an “After Visit Summary” in a language you can’t speak or read. You can’t read that you should abstain from heavy lifting to your enlarged spleen and increased risk for splenic rupture. You don’t know how contagious it is, so you throw your heavy backpack onto your shoulders and hit the road with your friends. See the problem?

Columbus has the privilege of being home to countless diverse populations all over the world. Because many of our patients may have learned English as a second language, it is imperative to provide education in the patient’s primary language. Hospitals have many options in providing translations: in-person translators, phone translators, video robot translators, and more. I always make a point to introduce myself to my patient in their primary language with a translator so that I can explain their plan of care, provide education, and guide them through a physical exam. This allows them to be involved in their care. It is also an ideal time to perform an education assessment – what was their highest grade in education? How do they learn best – demonstrations or pamphlets?

Jargon

            Now that you are speaking the same language, you need to make sure you do not use lofty medical terms when speaking to a patient. First, most patients are not healthcare professionals and will not understand you. Second, patients tend to be less attentive and invested in conversations with healthcare professionals who use lofty, hard-to-follow terms. Figure out how to explain things in ways that make sense to the average, non-medical person. Instead of saying, “With your recent history of generalized malaise and weakness, the doctors’ differential diagnosis includes: Borreliosis, a demyelinating condition like RRMS, and hypovitaminosis D, so we will be performing phlebotomy tests and a magnetic resonance imaging study”, say something that sounds less scary. You could say “since you’ve been feeling tired and sick lately, we’re going to draw some blood to check for Lyme Disease and make sure you’re getting enough Vitamin D and get a scan of your brain to make sure there aren’t any changes that would make you feel this way.”

Education

            Now that your patient has a diagnosis, you have to explain this to them. This is crucial! You have a role in educating them about their illness and the interventions needed to get better. My grandfather returned from WWII and began working for the US Postal Service. As he aged, he developed many chronic illnesses, including atrial fibrillation. His doctor prescribed coumadin, but did not explain the rationale or importance to him. My grandpa did not understand the importance of having his INR checked frequently while on the medication and suffered an embolic stroke. I had been frustrated with him in his recovery period. I told him he needed to keep up with his appointments. After talking to him, I realized he had no idea why his INR needed to be checked or why he was on coumadin in the first place- “why would something for my heart affect my brain?” he asked. This conversation was the start of a long review of all of his medical conditions and treatments, in which I broke down each condition and told him why his medications and treatments were important.

Rapport

            Perhaps the most important factor in improving health literacy is the ability to build rapport with your patients. I try to build it with my patients as soon as I knock on their door in the morning. If you build a relationship, patients are more likely to express concerns or uncertainties with you.  I cannot count the number of times during bedside rounds the team asks a patient if they have any questions, to which they reply “no”, but quickly turn to me with questions as soon as the team walks away. Patients frequently express, “they were using words I’ve never heard before,” “I have no idea what they were talking about,” or “I was afraid to ask questions because I thought I’d look stupid.” I regularly make a point to check with my patients and their family members to ensure they understand their plan of care. Not only does it help them understand their disease, but it provides them with autonomy.

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

The last six months have held some of the most difficult moments in my nursing career. When Covid-19 began its conquest in March, I was recovering from a surgery and was on light duty. I spent March on light duty at the Covid-19 Call Center, where I triaged patients, students, and staff and determined if they required testing. While I thought that light duty would be easy work, this was far from it. Each day I spoke to healthcare workers exposed in the line of duty, panicked parents, and anxious students. I remember speaking with one woman for about a half hour, as she tearfully told me about her employer forcing them to come to the office for non-essential work and refusing to let staff stay home if they get tested. She shared her worry for her job, her fear of getting her family sick, and her feelings of helplessness. I wanted so much to reach through the phone and hug her, and I couldn’t. I felt helpless. I helped empower her; arranging for her to get tested, provided instructions for infection prevention at home, and gave her the Ohio Department of Health’s number to report the unsafe work environment.

When I was cleared to return to work, it was a huge shock. The hallways, once bustling with patients being wheeled to appointments by family and staff powerwalking to the cafeteria on their break, were empty. I imagined a tumbleweed blowing across the hallway, bringing a faint smile to my face under my mask.

Because I’m in the Critical Care Float Pool, I float to all of the ICUs and the ED. In the “Before Times”, before Covid, I was already taking care of the sickest patient populations in the hospital. Covid brought even sicker patients. Even patients who didn’t have Covid were sicker; they had been holding off on seeking care due to fear of catching the virus, finally arriving to the hospital sicker than ever. I will never forget one day when I was a resource nurse in the ED. When I resource, I help triage new patients, care for stroke alerts, traumas, and code blues. I am an extra set of hands. Within thirty minutes, I ran to help intubate a patient in status epilepticus, ran to help with a burn trauma that just arrived, but was pulled into another trauma bay to help code a patient with a probably pulmonary embolism who had gone unresponsive en route to the hospital. After stabilizing that patient, I was pulled to the other side of the ED to help with another intubation. I remember walking out of work that day letting tears quietly roll down my cheeks. When I reached my car, I released the sobs that had been growing inside me all day. I felt panicked; helpless. Was this what it would be like? Intubations, codes, traumas, strokes, all at the same time? How would we help everyone? I sobbed on the phone with my parents my entire drive home. I purged myself of my scrubs as soon as I got home and took a hot shower. I sat on my couch holding my cat, Bingley. He wrapped his paws around my neck and licked the tears from my cheeks. His constant purring calmed me. I reflected on that day, and I still do. I am so grateful that I was there in that role to help the patients and my coworkers. Most of the units have started having a resource nurse each day to help with the increased acuity and complex patient needs.

Withdrawing care on a Covid patient and not being allowed to bring family to the bedside was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done in my career. I stayed with the physician while she called the family to tell them that the patient was Covid positive and would not be allowed visitors in her final hours. I cried with the physician as she told them- it was awful. We were determined to allow every family member time with the patient. I used a hospital tablet to contact family via FaceTime and Zoom, making sure everyone had a chance to say goodbye. Pastoral care provided the family with prayers, and we all prayed together. I used my Spotify to play classic gospel in the room, her favorite. I used lavender essential oil to calm the room. I was able to be singled with her for my shift, so I sat in the room with her and held her hand so she wouldn’t be alone. I was joined by the physician, who stayed after her shift to hold her other hand. That day, I felt overwhelming support; support from the physician who was so attentive  and involved in the patient’s care, the charge nurse, who allowed me to be singled with the patient, the floor staff, who frequently checked in on me in the isolation room to see if I needed supplies, and the management, who provided the tablets to call family.

I became an aunt on May 27^th. I have looked forward to being an aunt for so long; I pictured all of the amazing adventures I’d take my niece on- hiking, camping, kayaking. I love babies and I was so excited to place my finger in her tiny hand and feel her fingers curl around it. I was excited to brush my fingertip up the bottom of her foot and watch her tiny toes fan out in the Babinski reflex. I was excited to cradle her to sleep in my arms and guard her dreams as she slept. Last week, I met my beautiful niece for the first time. I gazed adoringly at her through the storm door at my sister’s house, hands pressed against the glass. I was outside, looking in at my sister, my brother-in -law, my parents, and our dog, Eddie. I wanted so badly to hug them all, but I couldn’t. It’s too risky right now. Despite the heartache, I am glad I went. I got to make sure my family was safe and healthy and meet my niece.

Back in May, I became unable to leave my bed or the couch on my days off work. I put in the bare minimum effort- going to work, completing schoolwork, and attending online meetings and lectures. I constantly took naps and wasn’t doing any of the activities I normally did. I was depressed. I started new medication to help my symptoms and it’s going well so far. I’ve started cycling more; putting in about 50 miles per week. I’ve been working on my garden and my patio, creating an oasis for days off work to relax. I don’t see having to start a new medication as a failure, I see it as an accommodation that is necessary under these circumstances. With my mental health back in check, I can take on most anything.

I’ve never felt closer to my coworkers. We see a side of Covid that most don’t.  We’re all going through the same experiences- the collective anguish and joy we’ve experienced brings us together. We cry together when we lose a patient and we smile together when our patients get better. We keep each other smiling throughout the day, through bad puns, quiet music at the nurses station, and perfecting the “air high five”. We’re in it together, and together we’ll overcome.

I have had the privilege of working among countless great nurses in my five years of Critical Care Nursing. I have benefited greatly from experienced nurses who trained me, passing along their knowledge and wisdom while also benefiting from the upbeat energy radiating from new nurses. Each brings unique skills that contribute to excellent patient care. I’ve decided to describe some of these qualities.

Compassion is the heart of nursing. We have compassion for our patients, finding ways to make them feel better on their worst day. We hold their hands when they’re scared and dab away their tears. We have compassion for their families, coming to console them when they break down in grief outside patient rooms. There are days that your heart breaks, and the compassionate understanding of your coworkers is the only thing that holds you together.

Inclusion means “to include”. A good nurse provides care to a diverse patient population, regardless of race, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. A great nurse actively seeks opportunities to learn about these populations and the disparities affecting their health and access to care. They acknowledge the existence of implicit bias and combat it. A great nurse sees the different cultures in their patient populations and celebrates them.

Innovation is an asset found in great nurses. Great nurses see weaknesses in processes and find ways to improve them. Great nurses scour medical journals and databases seeking high quality evidence to incorporate into practice to improve patient outcomes.

Sincerity A great nurse is sincere with patients and their families. They avoid the scripted responses so often heard and speak from the heart. They are authentic in their interactions with patients and their families.

Ownership is a quality found in great nurses. They understand all of their responsibilities and strive to surpass expectations. They take pride in their practice, endeavoring to improve shortcomings because it is a representation of themselves.

Wisdom comes with experience and is a quality shared by many great nurses. Wisdom is the knowledge accumulated over time. A great nurse can be presented with a patient and recall a similar situation and the treatment process. It needs to be shared among nurses, physicians, and other members of the care team.

Communication is a key quality of great nurses. Therapeutic communication must be used with patients and peers. Additionally, great nurses know when to be assertive; when to express concern to the care team. A great nurse communicates clearly and concisely, reducing error and mismanagement in delivery of care.

Critical Thinking is a hallmark of a great nurse. Critical Thinking skills are not developed overnight; they are learned over time with each new experience. Great nurses understand the effects of medications and treatments on their patients, noting potential hazards, interactions, and more. They think beyond an order and understand the ripple-effect it may have on their patient.

Humor is something all great nurses must have. There are many different types of humor I’ve encountered when working among great nurses. While sarcasm seems to be the international language of nurses, it is not the only type found in great nurses. Great nurses find ways to make patients smile, from drawing silly cartoons on patient’s doors to a running commentary on the Jerry Springer show. Laughter is, after all, the best medicine.

I’ve just reached my fifth year in Critical Care nursing. From day one, I was surrounded with great nurses. I’m inspired daily by my coworkers- the new grad who can always start conversations with the most guarded of patients; the nurses who are champions of wellness, doing twenty squats each hour at the nurse’s station; the Emergency room nurse who radiates hilarity with each breath they take; the nurse who singlehandedly researched and implemented a policy change; and the nurse who totes a shampoo bin throughout the unit to make patients feel a little bit more like themselves- They exemplify greatness and their example is invaluable to me.

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

With the ominous threat of COVID-19 looming over us, it’s hard to think about much else. Nurses are known for having Type A personalities- having detailed and regimented plans for each day. With the ever changing guidelines and protocols related to COVID, it’s hard to plan. This has led to a lot of feelings of frustration and helplessness in myself, and I suspect many others. During these unprecedented times, it’s important to reclaim your sense of control.
I’ve been able to grasp some control in these times through arbitration. While I can’t go hiking with my friends, I can Facetime them while at the park. While I can’t meet up with coworkers for a night out, I can meet them online and play games together. While I can’t throw my sister the baby shower I’d originally planned, I can organize a virtual baby shower. Our sacrifices now-the things we are giving up through physical distancing- will be so worth it in the end, as each time we choose to distance ourselves, we help flatten the infection curve.
Before COVID, I was having regular visits with my counselor to use Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help combat my anxiety. I’ve found relief in practicing CBT because it allows me to “reframe” my perceptions that are often clouded by anxiety. Despite COVID, I am still able to meet online with my counselor. Employees at OSU also have access to the Employee Assistance Program as well as the Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (S.T.A.R) team. Working from home, combined with inconsistent work hours has been a detriment to my sleep. I’ve actually found that OSU has free guided imagery online. I’m planning to use this before bed to help clear my mind of all the intrusive and stressful thoughts covid has released. Students at OSU have access to Counseling and Consultation Services, which is currently offering phone and Zoom appointments. These are all great options to help combat the stress we’re experiencing.
Lately, I’ve received countless emails and social media posts regarding “ways to beat” COVID-19. I try to remember that not everyone has taken an Evidence-Based Practice course and they may not be able to distinguish between someone’s opinions and observations and high quality evidence. Most recently, my Dad sent me an “article” that stated it was from a well-established and respected hospital system. As I read the document, it became apparent to me that there were no citations present, either in text or at the bottom. The document was also littered with grammatical errors. Had this been an actual study or official guideline, it would have been proof-read prior to publication and it would certainly have citations linked to high quality data. I determined this was another case of misinformation and encouraged my family to use official recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) for evidence-based recommendations.
Throughout these difficult times, it is imperative that we practice self care. If you’re feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or fearful, don’t be afraid to reach out. Chances are, someone else is feeling the same way. In times like these, we must band together. We might not agree with each other when it comes to politics or taste in music, but this is something we need to have a unified front on. We need to put our differences aside and come together for our patients, families, and communities. I leave you with a quote from the ever-wise J.K. Rowling, as expressed through Albus Dumbledore, “We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.”

As I reflect on my senior year of nursing school, there was a lot of angst and stress surrounding the NCLEX exam. I had been told that statistically those who take the exam close after graduation perform the best, so I scheduled my exam about a week after graduation.
It was the culmination of four years of undergraduate studies. I was required to purchase the ATI program for school, so that was my first step in studying.
There were only certain ATI tests we were required to complete for classes, but I took advantage of all of the exams offered, completing and reviewing each one at least once. This allowed me to identify areas of study that I needed to review more.
One of the most helpful things I did to prepare for the NCLEX was attend a Mark Klimek two-day review course. Several of my classmates split a hotel room in Springfield and attended the class together. The course was an excellent way to identify important elements from each course and commit them to memory. It also provided us with two review books, which we could study afterward.
Once I had completed the Mark Klimek NCLEX review and identified the areas I needed to improve on the most, I settled into a booth at Panera day after day and reviewed lessons, notes, and resources. The day before I took the exam, I did not study. I gave myself a full day of rest and relaxation in preparation. I made sure my mind and body were well nourished and rested before the exam.
I took the exam on a Friday, meaning I would have to wait the whole weekend before finding out my results. My exam shut off after 75 questions. I think that everyone that experiences this thinks they failed. I was devastated- I thought, “gee, it only took 75 questions to prove I’m stupid.” In retrospect, this was my test anxiety speaking. I ate my feelings when I got home, crushing an entire Dutch apple pie over the next day. As Monday arrived and I emerged out of my shame-filled cocoon, I received my results. I passed. I was an RN!
I learned a lot from the experience of preparing for and taking the NCLEX- not just not to eat a whole pie for three meals a day. Don’t do it. My test anxiety had been my nemesis for so long. Later into my nursing career, as I prepared for the CCRN certification exam, I was able to combat my anxiety. Sitting in the exam room, I was able to refocus myself. Just tell yourself, “I’ve put in years of study for this- I’ve done the time, I know what I’m doing.” These positive affirmations were crucial to my success in the CCRN examination.
In a little over a year, I’ll be preparing for the APRN boards exams. Will I be scared? Of course. Will I be prepared? You betcha. I’ll be well rested going into the exam, having given my brain rest after reviewing coursework. Will I eat an entire pie afterward? NO!
If I can leave you with anything, it’s that you’ve got this. You put in the time- just sit back, relax, and breath. You’ve got it!

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

As I reflect on the early days of my nursing career, I remember the anxiety and indirection I felt stepping into the world of nursing. There were so many different specialties and directions I could go in. Prior to graduating, I already had several steps in place to assist with the job hunt.
Fall semester of my senior year in college, I decided to trade in my server apron for green scrubs. I wanted to expand as many skills as I could before graduating. While being a hostess/server/busser in a restaurant in my hometown was an excellent first job that gave me tons of multi-tasking and memory skills, I needed to dive into nursing. I applied for several jobs as a Skilled Nurse Assistant (SNA) within the Columbus area. Through the interview process, I got to shadow a lot and see which fields I liked and which ones I wasn’t particularly fond of.
It was during this job search that I discovered an excellent opportunity. There were Safety Coaches, who sat with patients to ensure their safety, and SNAs, who assisted with daily cares. This position was an “SNA/sitter”, a combination of the two. I was excited because clinicals and STNA certification had given me experience with daily activities and skills but being a sitter or Safety Coach would allow me a venue to utilize therapeutic communication and de-escalation skills. These were stills we didn’t get to use often in the busy clinical setting. I jumped on the opportunity.
I maintained this position throughout my senior year. Around March of my senior year in nursing school, I began applying for RN positions. I made a big list of areas that I liked from clinicals and areas I couldn’t see myself working. I knew I wanted to work inpatient so I could further improve my clinical skills. The age demographics I preferred were babies and adults. I absolutely loved my post-partum clinical- I could sit and rock babies all day! I worried that I might disservice myself by going into such a specialist area right after graduation. I decided to stick with adults. I then became aware of a new opportunity within my very own department. There was a pilot plan of sorts to introduce new grad nurses to the Critical Care Nursing Float Pool. If I had learned one thing about myself by then, it was that I learn best by diving head first. As I thought about it, I became more enthusiastic about it. There would be so many new skills to learn and master! I would be able to compile endless information in my mind about the new medications, diseases, and treatments. I applied.
I knew there would be a lot of applicants for the position, so I made sure I had two or three backup plans in place. I applied and interviewed for positions in the CVICU at Cleveland Clinic, the Critical Care Fellowship at Riverside, and many more.
On graduation day, I got the phone call that I had been accepted as one of the two first new grads in the Critical Care Float Pool. I accepted the offer and I’ve never turned back!
In summary, get experience. Find out what your passions are. Pursue your goals but have a backup plan. You got this!

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.

There is a reason why U.S News places Registered Nurse in its Top 20 Best Jobs- nursing is one of only three careers listed in the Top 20 that only requires a Bachelor’s degree, with the rest requiring Master’s or Doctorate degrees. How is it that a career that only requires a Bachelor’s degree can be so awesome? You’re about to find out!

1. Job Security

 The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts the demand for nurses in the US to increase by 26% by 2020 (Nursejournal.org, 2019). An estimated 10,000 Baby Boomers retire each year (Friedberg, 2019). This opens up vacancies in a lot of crucially important nursing positions. Additionally, as older members of these cohorts require skilled nursing care, they will need nurses to care for them. With the population of senior citizens predicted to increase by 75% between 2010 and 2030, the Geriatric nursing specialty is in high demand (Lanigan, 2018). 

2. Versatility

 One of my favorite perks of nursing is the versatility of your degree! There are so many specialties within nursing. Not only does this allow you to switch specialties when you get disinterested or burnt out, but it allows you to constantly evolve within your professional practice. If you find that bedside nursing is hard on your body, you can be impactful away from the bedside with nursing research or nursing informatics! You can even be a nurse from home by being a medical transcriber or a telehealth triage nurse. Another perk- travel nursing! Say you’re sick of the joys of Ohio weather- take an assignment somewhere where the wind doesn’t hurt your face. There are so many different things you can do with nursing! 

3. Community

The nursing community is quite huge- the community you find in nursing is so much more than the 250k + followers on the “Nurses with Cards” Facebook page. You’ll find so many nurse-founded and managed social media accounts sharing everything from recent evidence-based research to funny memes. Additionally, there are so many professional organizations you can join that will connect you with nurses who share the same passions as you do. I personally belong to American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), which connects me to thousands of critical care-loving nurses as well as hundreds of hours of continued education. When I speak of nursing community, I also speak of the great relationships you’ll be able to make with coworkers. In my position, I have the privilege of floating to each ICU and ED, making so many friendships along the way. The support system you’ll find in nursing is second to none, and it truly makes a difference on a difficult day. 

4. Compassionate Career– Nursing is truly one of the most compassionate careers. Each day you get to help people- you see patients at their worst and have the privilege to make each day a little less difficult for them. A gesture as small as hunting for a grape popsicle or making sure the T.V is set to play Jeopardy can make the greatest impact for your patient. As we show compassion in labor and delivery, watching newborn babies experience everything for the first time and helping nervous parents through each new step, we also show compassion in palliative nursing, helping patients reminisce on a life well lived while providing comfort. The ability to make a difference each and every day, no matter how small, is so rewarding. 

5. Career Advancement/Lifelong Learning 

Another wonderful perk of nursing is the access you have to education. Within each specialty, there are tons of skills and competencies you’ll pick up along the way. For example, within ICU nursing, I’ve learned the following skills: Cortrak Nasoenteric feeding tube insertion and bridling, CRRT (Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy), Ultrasound-Guided IV placement, NIHSS (Stroke certification), ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support), and so much more! I was also able to achieve my CCRN certification for critical care nursing. My initial thought when presented with all of this education was “man, that’s going to be expensive”, but we actually get paid education hours to complete training and OSUNO reimbursed me for my CCRN exam cost. In addition to the education you can pursue at work, you can also pursue advanced degrees within nursing. Many health organizations will provide tuition assistance, making career development achievable for employees. With Nurse Anesthetist and Nurse Practitioner showing up on almost every list of “top jobs”, tuition assistance is a priceless perk! 

Nursing has been a wonderful experience for me. As someone very much committed to professional development,  lifelong education, and spreading smiles, nursing has been an outlet for all of my passions and a doorway to countless opportunities. 

References

Friedberg, B. A. (2019, August 12). Are We in a Baby Boomer Retirement Crisis? Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/032216/are-we-baby-boomer-retirement-crisis.asp

Lanigan, K. (2018, January 3). 10 Fastest Growing Nursing Careers in 2018. Retrieved from https://www.nursingjobs.com/news-resources/10-fastest-growing-nursing-careers-in-2018/

Writers, S. (2019, August 26). 5 Booming Nursing Specialities Where the Demand is High – 2019 NurseJournal.org. Retrieved from https://nursejournal.org/articles/5-booming-nursing-specialities-where-the-demand-is-high/

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing. 

Hi there!

My name is Kate Best. I graduated from The Ohio State University College of Nursing in 2015 and have been working in the ICU Float Pool ever since! I grew up in a small city East of Cleveland called Chardon- I came to Columbus for school and never left! When I was 14, my sister was struck by a car and life-lighted to a Level 1 Trauma Center in Cleveland. She was diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury. Watching the nurses’ positive impact and compassion along her road to recovery (she’s doing great!) inspired me to pursue a career in nursing. I’ve received a lot of great advice over the years, but the best has come from Dean Bern- practice wellness! My job gets SUPER stressful at times, so I balance out the stress with amazing hiking trips, daring climbing adventures, and relaxing camping trips… and cats.

Fun fact: I recently made a cat calendar featuring my cats and I!

Kate Best is a 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing. 

The holidays have always been my favorite time of the year. My family is spread out all over the country and the holidays are the only time of the year that we all get together to celebrate.

A large part of my family’s holiday traditions revolve around food. Coming from a diverse European ancestry, my family has accumulated countless “secret recipes,” ranging from my Czech grandmother’s stuffing to my German grand mother’s Christmas cookie recipe.

For the past several years, I have hosted Friendsgiving, which has been a really cool experience. Everyone brings a dish that is part of their family tradition. It’s really great to experience different cultures this way.

Working in healthcare does cause some scheduling difficulties when it comes to the holidays. I have gotten into the habit of celebrating Thanksgiving a week early with my family so that I can work the holiday. It has worked out pretty well and has formed a new family tradition! I don’t get too upset about not being able to celebrate on the actual holiday because I feel like any time my family and friends are together, that’s the real spirit of the holiday.

Kate Best is 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing. 

As a novice nurse, I experience a fair amount of self doubt. I work among some extremely talented and knowledgeable nurses. When I compare myself to these nurses with decades of experience, I sometimes feel discouraged and inadequate. I have been able to combat these feelings of self doubt with a few steps:

1. Ask questions. If you don’t understand something- just ask. This is the easiest way to learn new things. If I’m getting shift report and someone uses an abbreviation I don’t understand, I’ll ask for clarification. If doctors order an intervention that I’m not familiar with, I’ll ask for the meaning behind the intervention. A lot of the times this occurs during bedside multidisciplinary rounds, so it creates a learning moment for everyone.
2. Educate yourself. A major perk of working at a teaching hospital is the large amount of continued education and specialization classes offered. If I feel inadequate in a certain area of my practice, there is always an educational opportunity available to help me combat that inadequacy. For example, last year I took care of several immigrant patients, which I had minimal experience with. I found a continued education class on providing care to the immigrant population and now feel better prepared to work with this population.
3. Get involved. I recently joined the Critical Care Quality and Education committee and am working with other ICU nurses to provide education to our units to improve care. For example, OSUWMC just rolled out the Yale Swallow Evaluation, which is a tool developed to determine whether patients are able to swallow safely or if they need a formal speech therapy consult and swallow evaluation. Our committee received education on the evaluation and we in turn presented the material to our units. In other words, the best way to learn is to teach!

In summary, be proactive in your practice. When you feel inadequate, reflect and determine why. It’s scary being a new nurse, but you’ll have tons of resources at your fingertips and lots of people to help you along the way!

Kate Best is 2015 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Nursing.