Marie Manthey: Relationship-Based Care

Remembering the Simple Truths

Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:07:24 GMT

John Nelson --- nurse researcher, president of Healthcare Environments and CHCM adjunct faculty ---frequently shares data with us about the outcomes of our work with our clients. One hospital implementing Relationship-Based Care found that a richer skill mix decreased the dollars per Adjusted Patient Day, decreased ventilator-associated pneumonia and decreased patient falls with injury. John would hasten to add that this is a statistical correlation that does not indicate causality, but only a relationship between variables. I think the more we learn how to interpret and correctly discuss this kind of statistic, the better able we are to explain the importance of adequate staffing.

After the "reengineering" of nursing in the nineties (which had nothing to do with nursing, and everything to do with changing skill mix to save money), we lost sight of simple truths and replaced our authentic experience with "grids" which supposedly save money but which in reality wreak havoc with common sense.

What Re-ignites You?

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:01:24 GMT

This past week I've had the pleasure to work with nurses in Arkansas and Missouri. I continue to be amazed at how simple truths about the nature of our work touch nurses deeply. At no time have I been with hard-shell attitudes or cynical skepticism.

Not that skepticism and resistance isn't there. It’s just that when we strip away the 'problem seeking' approaches we customarily use, there is an incredible source of positive energy waiting to be tapped. I don't remember this positive energy being so apparent in the past. I think this is part of the sea-change I sense happening in nursing.

There seems to be a much stronger recognition of the values that form the base of our profession. I sense a belief that we have solutions to problems caused by dysfunctional systems but we just aren't sure how to go about implementing them. I hear a clear appreciation of the importance of our intellect and our compassion.

I am encouraged by the whole notion of 'Re-igniting the Spirit'.

I want to hear from like nurses whose spirit has been re-ignited. Tell us how it happened and what it means to you on a daily basis.

Some Fundamentals

Fri, 10 Mar 2006 20:31:55 GMT

My friend and colleague, Mary Koloroutis, is working on a field guide to Relationship-Based Care. She has been looking over some of my old writings and asking me questions, trying to clarify some fundamental concepts. As we talked, I realized it is important to review those fundamentals every so often.

So, here is what I shared with Mary about Articulated Expectations and Authority.

Leading for Change

Fri, 16 Dec 2005 17:23:48 GMT

Recently a graduate student in nursing asked if she could interview me for an assignment on Leadership. As I answered her questions ..."when did you first know you were a leader?", "where did you learn how to be a leader?" "what is the most important thing you learned?" ... I was led into some insightful reflections about change I'd like to share with you. I hope the readers will share their own insights as we 'blog-on' together.