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Welcome to the Salon
A few years ago I stepped down as president of Creative Health Care Management, a health care consulting firm I founded in the 1970s. I looked forward to letting go of the things I had to do and being able to take more time for the things I want to do.
One of the things I love is having more time to talk with nurses about nursing. I host a nursing salon where people who care about nursing gather once a month. We share a meal and talk about whatever is on our minds. It gives me…and all of us…a chance to look at our own experiences and the stories other people share see the patterns…see where we have been and where we might be going.
Lately, I have been feeling a sea change…not just in nursing, but in health care and society as a whole. Last fall I gave a speech at the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Conference. My topic was Leadership for Relationship-Based Care. I spoke on the need for clear roles, healthy interpersonal relationships, and adequate, appropriate resources and the basic values of nursing. The response was overwhelming…people were so excited about what I had to say.
Here's the thing: I didn't say anything I hadn't said a hundred, a thousand times over the years.
My message hasn't changed, but the times have.
I believe now is the time for people who care about health care and the core values of nursing to come together and talk. Nurse execs and faculty and staff nurses and managers and students all need to talk to each other. We need to talk about where is nursing going, about what leaders need to do, about the science behind how we care for people. We need to help nursing find its voice and we need to make that voice heard.
The conversation that began in my dining room with good food and good friends needs to expand…everyone needs to have a place at the nursing salon.
So I have started this blog. I don't know where it will lead, but I can't wait to find out.
© Copyright 2007 Marie Manthey.
Last update: 6/18/2007; 9:51:46 AM.
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