Tag: Healthcare leadership

Break the Behavior of People Pleasing

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Do you have difficulty saying no when someone imposes on you? Do you feel responsible for how others feel, and do you say that you agree when you don’t?  Do you avoid conflict and accept fault when you aren’t to blame?  If so, you are not alone.  According to a 2020 survey by YouGov, 49% of US adults classify themselves as people pleasers so you are in good company.   And like most others in the PP club, you have probably discovered that deferring to the needs of others does not enhance your mental health or happiness.

Nurse Anesthesiologists and nurses in general are at increased risk of being people pleasers because of the job we do and the role that we play.  After all, nurses are nurturers, and our profession is built upon rendering care and comfort to others.    Although our intentions may be noble, extending the professional caregiver role to our personal life and sacrificing our own needs in deference to the needs of others will ultimately create stress, unhappiness, and burnout in the pleaser.    The stereotype of healthcare workers being people pleasers is reinforced by the introduction of the drama triangle by Stephen Karpman in 1961.  Psychologist Karpman studied workplace drama and noted that there are three positions on the drama triangle: persecutor, victim, and rescuer.  His work revealed that people usually enter the triangle at the same position and once the drama begins, individuals shift from position to position.   In my work with groups of nurse anesthesiologists, I have found that approximately 80% state that they enter the drama triangle as the rescuer which is totally consistent with nurturing and people pleasing.  Nurses want to make things better…they need to be needed.

Author Johanna Schram notes that people pleasing denies our personal needs and is not healthy.   She lists the following as dangers of people pleasing.

  • It sends a message that we are not good enough and changing who we are to please others reinforces a concept that we are inadequate as we are.
  • It creates a barrier to a deeper relationship.  When we focus on what they think of us, we lose the opportunity to get to know who they really are as individuals.
  • We neglect ourselves by always putting the needs of others first.
  • We suppress our emotions out of dread that expressing joy, sadness, anger or fear will make the other person uncomfortable.
  • Our actions are manipulative and dishonest.
  • We teach others how to treat us and as we accommodate, they make even more requests for our time and energy.
  • We lose track of ourselves and suppress our preferences in lieu of approval from others.

The extreme opposite of the people pleaser is the narcissist who puts personal importance and selfish needs above all else.  We have all known people who think they own the world and the rest of us are there to serve them.     The key for your own mental health and personal happiness is to carve out a niche that falls in between people pleasing and narcissist.   Setting boundaries for yourself and others is a good way to start re-defining how you interact with others.

Author Kim at the Clay behavioral health center urges people to be aware of their personal needs, be true to those desires rather than trying to fit in, and suggests that learning to say no is a great way to start the process.   Negotiation coach Chris Voss emphasizes that an honest no is better than a false yes and that sincerity reinforces personal integrity.  Offering additional advice on how to break the people pleasing habit, Psychology Today author Jennifer Gutman provides the following tips:

  • Keep the plans that you make for yourself.   Don’t knee jerk and abandon your personal agenda just because someone puts a demand on your time.  Practice saying, “thanks for asking but I have other plans.”
  • Practice being alone.  You don’t have to become a hermit, nor are you obligated to be immediately available to the whims of others.  Balance yourself by taking a break from being with others and find fulfillment in activities that you enjoy.
  • Decide by yourself.  People pleasers hedge their desires by first considering how others will react.  Have confidence, follow your instincts, decide, and stand by it.
  • Don’t offer unsolicited advice.  People pleasers are fixers and want to rescue others.   Your intentions may be honorable; however, it is much better to show empathy than to offer solutions to other people’s problems.  Don’t give a solution, rather, help them discover a solution themselves.
  • Develop a positive inner dialogue.  Everyone has a constant inner dialogue running in the background of their thoughts.  Focus on positive self-talk and reassure yourself that you are capable, competent, and your happiness is not dependent upon the approval of others.

In general, people want to be appreciated and accepted by others and some individuals think that altruistically giving of themselves is the key to success.  However, people pleasing is driven by insecurity, low self-esteem, and a commitment to avoiding conflict at all costs.   Escape the negative spiral by valuing your strengths and set both internal and external boundaries to manage rather than avoid conflict.  Follow the suggestions above and free yourself from the endless obligation of pleasing others.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Ban Affective Polarization in the workplace

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

It’s been four years since our last presidential election, and now we are entering the final countdown toward election day 2024.   Despite rhetoric from both sides pledging to unite the country, the current political season finds our population more polarized than ever.  The emergence of social media as a primary means for gathering news only adds fuel to the fire.

Writing for Forbes magazine, author Tony Ewing notes that we all have thinking biases that distort our interpretation of the opinions of others.   He states that topics such as politics, religion, race, and sexual preferences push emotional buttons that often lead to heated reactions and arguments between formerly congenial colleagues.  This disruptive behavior polarizes the team and affects not only those who disagree with one another, but also others in the workplace who observe the behavior.  In the end, teamwork, productivity, and patient safety are all threatened by workplace polarization.

What about freedom of speech?

For over 250 years the United States has thrived on the free exchange of ideas with open dialogue and debate between both individuals and political parties.  Freedom of speech is so important for democracy that the first amendment to the constitution enshrined it as an American right.  The founders of our country believed that democracy could only exist within an environment of open debate of the issues.  Political disagreement was viewed as healthy all the way back to the early days of our independent nation when Thomas Jefferson introduced the two-party system.   Historically, political opponents openly debated the issues yet respected one another and remained friends at the end of the day. 

Affective polarization

Over the centuries, political debate has been taken to new levels and our society has moved from debate of the issues to affective polarization.   Wikipedia identifies affective polarization as progressing from a disagreement on the issues to an emotional dislike and distrust of those with opposing opinions.   Writing for Brookings, authors Overgaard and Woolley describe affective polarization as hostility and animosity toward those who disagree with your political viewpoint..  

The American Psychological Association studied affective polarization in the workplace and note that 1 in 4 employees report being negatively affected by political talk during the election season.  The APA study revealed that younger employees are more affected by polarization than older workers and that they report feeling stressed, isolated, and having negative views of co-workers who engage in political dialogue at work.

Ironically, behavior scientists have found that dogmatically promoting your political view causes the other person to dig in their heels and become more deeply entrenched in their position.  You are not changing their mind but rather solidifying their point of view. 

The bottom line is that affective polarization moves the interaction from “I don’t agree with you” to “I don’t like you.”  Your political opponent then becomes a “bad person” and labeling them as ignorant, out of touch, or deplorable turns dislike into hatred.  Behavior scientists find that most people have more in common than they realize, and that affective polarization needlessly drives a wedge between them.   This is not what you want in your workplace.

Preventing workplace polarization

Creating a preferred workplace is a goal for every effective leader.  Preventing political division from invading an otherwise collaborative and cohesive team takes foresight and courage.  It is easier to prevent a problem than to rebuild a team, so guardrails must be in place, especially going into the upcoming election season.   Author Roger Carbajal offers tips for controlling affective polarization in the workplace.

  • Establish a policy about political speech and signs in the workplace
  • Apply the rules consistently, without exception
  • Monitor workplace discussion
  • Periodically remind everyone of the rules

Regardless of your position on the team, be a champion for promoting collaborative teamwork and have zero tolerance for behavior that divides members of the group.   Review the mission, vision, and values of the organization and most likely you will find that affective polarization does not align with the core values that are meant to guide employee behavior.  Enforce and role model the core values of the organization.  In the end, workplace team unity is more important than the outcome of an election. 

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Boost your value in the workplace

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

You are at the end of another work year and it’s time for your annual performance review…what will you learn about yourself?  You spent a year delivering high-quality patient care but is that enough to be rated as a high achiever and earn a merit-based bonus?   Read on to discover the behaviors that elevate you to all-star status on your team and position you for rewards.

The indeed.com editorial board notes that the most valuable employees are dedicated individuals who use their skills and attitudes to not only improve their performance, but also to positively influence the work environment and elevate the entire team.  Clearly, establishing yourself as a highly valued employee requires more than doing your job well; it also involves your impact on achieving team and organizational goals. 

So how do you become the cream of the crop and rise to the top of your workgroup?  The editorial team at Star Staffing note that high achievers are skilled in the following areas:

  • Consistency.  Be rock solid consistent, reliable and predictable regardless of the chaos that often occurs in the workplace.  Respond with reason rather than emotion.
  • Nurture a positive attitude.  Attitudes are contagious.  Show up every day with pep in your step, a smile on your face, and anticipate that good things will happen.
  • Accept change.  The old cliché is true…the only thing that is constant is change.  Be a leader by accepting and embracing change.  Look for the potential good that will arise from the proposed change then leverage and promote the positive.
  • Grow your personal network.   Move beyond your immediate workgroup and connect with others in the organization who are outside of your department.  For example, if you work in the operating room, develop contact with people in radiology, pharmacy, and lab.
  • Hone communication skills.   Emotional intelligence is a foundational skill in the modern workplace regardless of the job that you do.  How you say it is as important as what you say…delivery is everything. 

Writing in Forbes Magazine, author Kara Dennison adds insight into increasing your value in the workplace with the following suggestions:

  • Build your personal brand.  Develop exceptional skills and expertise in a particular area to the point that you are recognized as a content expert and then become a resource outside your immediate department.  For example, anesthesia providers can become known throughout the organization as content experts for pain control, particularly non-narcotic, multi-modal techniques.
  • Never stop learning.  Equally important to constant learning is freely sharing your knowledge and skills.  Stay at the forefront of your profession and enhance your value by becoming a mentor.
  • Treat the job as if it is your business.  Gain an understanding of the cash flow within the department and actively market the services that your department delivers.  Develop and implement ways to improve workflow and cut costs.

Author Scott Mautz identifies core strengths that are shared by the most highly respected workers on the team.   Incorporating these strengths into your daily behavior will elevate your value to the team.

  • Self-confidence.  The inner belief that I am competent, capable and up to the challenge at hand.  Self-confidence arises from trust and acceptance of yourself and a sense that you have control of your life. 
  • Fortitude.  This refers to the ability to encounter difficulty or danger with courage.  In the workplace, this is demonstrated when a person stands up for what is right despite being faced with peer pressure to do otherwise.
  • Boldness.  In the workplace, boldness is a willingness to take risks and be innovative in a confident manner that shows no fear.   Boldness is demonstrated by setting high goals and then aggressively making them happen.
  • Decision-making.  Quickly consider the options and then take a stand.  Base decisions on increasing the good rather than avoiding a loss and then conclusively set a course of action.
  • Messaging.  Take control of your inner dialogue and eliminate negative thoughts, then, use your positive energy to influence and elevate others on the team.  Openly share your knowledge and skills with others in a manner that affirms their needs.  Make it obvious that you are there for the benefit of others. 

Pulling it all together

The collective wisdom of the authors mentioned in this article will position you to be a shining star and win the MVP (most valuable provider) award for your team.  Read through the behaviors listed above and pick out two to focus on immediately and then add one per month until you have mastered all of them.   It is easy to read an article like this and walk away motivated, however, your commitment to change must be more than a New Year’s resolution that lasts only a few weeks.  Rather than making the behaviors in this article what you do, make them who you are.  With commitment, over time you will be successful.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Dealing with Angry People

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

A surgical technician came into the locker room at our outpatient center with out-of-control anger shouting, “They have idiots running this place and I’m not going to take it any longer.”  He changed clothes, walked out the door and never returned…road rage on steroids.

Anger in the workplace is something that we have all witnessed during our career.   At times it is a colleague who is irritated by a careless comment or glitch in the workflow and wants everyone to know about it. At other times, anger presents itself as full blown, out of control, road rage.  Either way, team members become uncomfortable, workflow suffers, and gossip is rampant in the break room.  If the event is a one-off, calm will be restored. However, when tension and anger are everyday occurrences, morale is destroyed, and patient safety suffers.  Regardless of your position on the team (leader versus worker) there are things that can be done to defuse anger not only in the workplace but also with people in other areas of your life.

Emotional intelligence.

Emotional intelligence was a buzz word 10 years ago and now has become an important skill for successful people at all levels.  In the leadership course that I teach at the Medical University of South Carolina, students learn that emotional intelligence is based on recognizing/controlling one’s own emotions and the emotions of others.   Techniques for self-awareness and self-control are relatively easy to master; the challenge is controlling the emotions of others including methods to defusing anger.

Understand Anger

The psychology and behavior science communities have done extensive research and posted publications about anger and its connection to the amygdala area of the brain.  In short, when we are stressed and something finally pushes our button, the brain responds by shifting both electrical activity and blood flow away from the thinking areas of the brain and shifts them to the emotional amygdala area triggering a flight or fight response.  We respond by saying and doing things that we would not normally say or do when the thinking brain is in control.  Therefore, the key to maintaining self-control when stressed is to be aware that you are stressed and actively keep the thinking brain in action thus preventing a takeover by the amygdala. Here are a few tips for achieving self-control and avoiding amygdala hijacks.

  • Pause.  Unless someone is shooting at you or you are about to be hit by a car while crossing the street, most stressors do not require a knee jerk response.  Intentionally take a moment to take a deep breath and calm yourself.  Then, organize your thoughts before responding.
  • Engage the thinking brain.  Rather than responding immediately when stressed, start an inner dialogue, and ask yourself several questions.  “Are things really as they appear on the surface?”  “What are my options for responding?”  “What will be the consequences of my action/response?” “What would the person I respect the most do in this situation?”  By keeping the thinking brain engaged, the shift of energy to the amygdala is prevented and you are more likely to make a response that you can live with.

Dealing with people who are angry.

Recall that emotional intelligence involves controlling your emotions and the emotions of others.  The first part is easy because you govern your thoughts and actions but how do you tame the anger in others?

Writing in the Harvard Business Review, author Leane Davey suggests when you are confronted by an angry person that initially you show support by NOT disagreeing or pushing back.  Use a calming tone of voice and listen while seeking to understand the emotion that is driving the anger.   Similarly, Psychcentral suggests that you NOT take the other person’s anger personally and that you focus on responding rather than reacting. 

Tips for defusing an angry person.

First and foremost, the other person’s anger is not about you.   You did not make the person angry; there may have been an issue that triggered them, however, it was their choice to respond with anger rather than reason…it’s not personal and it’s not about you.  Fighting back only throws kerosene on the fire and further shifts the other person’s brain activity to the amygdala.  So, how do you proceed when confronted by an angry person?

Force the other person to pause.  A pause gives time for stress hormones to dissipate and for the other person to regain composure.  For example, you are walking down the hall, and you are confronted by a colleague who uses an angry voice and is very upset about an issue.  Use a calm voice and say, “I have an urgent message that I have to send then I will give you my full attention because I want to learn more about what is going on.”  Then take out your phone and take a full minute to send yourself a text message.  Give the other person time to cool and regain composure.  Sometimes it’s best to schedule a time to meet later in the day thus allowing anger to dissipate.

Use a calm voice.  When stressed, we tend to speak with a higher voice pitch and at a faster pace.  Instill a sense of control by speaking in a low, slow voice.  People tend to mimic one another and often the other person will respond by calming their voice.

Set boundaries.  Hopefully the first two steps have started to calm the other person but if they remain irate, it’s time to set boundaries.  Famous FBI negotiator Chris Voss suggests using an “I” message where you identify the behavior, state how it affects you, and outline the consequences if it continues.  For example, “when you yell, I become defensive, and I want to withdraw.  I don’t think we can continue this discussion if you have this level of anger.”  Often, the person will calm out of fear of your walking away.

Listen to understand.  The single most important factor for defusing anger is for the other person to feel heard and understood.   Use body language to show interest in the other person, ask questions, and listen to understand rather than to rebut.  Ask questions that engage the other person’s thinking brain and be attentive to their point of view.   Use questions that start with “how” or “what”.   Questions that start with “why” or “you” put the other person on the defensive and must be avoided.  Always restate your understanding of what was said and allow the other person to correct you if you don’t have it exactly right.   Remember, you don’t have to agree with the other person, but you do have to understand them.

Guide the other person to the solution.  It’s human nature to get behind something when it is your idea.  Use guided questions, active listening, and allow the other person to discover the solution that you want.  Questions such as “what if”, “what would it look like if” or “how does this align with” forces the person to solve the problem.  If their solution is not reasonable, respond with “how am I supposed to do that?” and then remain silent until they find a workable solution.  When they come up with an appropriate solution, they are more likely to follow through and make it happen.

Use emotional intelligence to defuse anger.

The parable of the blind men and the elephant demonstrates that it is human nature to make decisions based on the piece of information at hand and rather than considering that others who have different experiences are equally correct.  Often, angry people do not have all the information and feel as if they are victims of something that they cannot control.  Consciously slowing the pace and taking an active interest in discovering the other person’s perspective will calm the anger and place you in a position where you can collaboratively find a solution.  Use the techniques described above to take control of your emotions and tame the wild beast in others.

  Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

The Emperor’s New Clothes; Lessons for leaders

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Born in Denmark in the early 1800’s, Hans Christian Anderson was a prolific writer best known for his fairy tales.  Among his famous fables, The Emperor’s New Clothes is a classic story that continues to be referenced two centuries later when the reality that we experience does not align with what we are told is “the truth”.  

In the story, two con men implement a plan to cheat a prideful emperor by manipulating his ego.  The men pretend to be weavers who have developed an amazing fabric that is invisible to those with a simple mind or unfit for their job.   Eager to have the best clothes ever made, the king was captivated by the ruse and hired the men to weave the fabric and make the clothes.  The men went to work pretending to weave fabric and make the clothing.  At intervals the emperor would send staff members to check on the progress and, knowing that only simpletons unfit for their position could not see the fabric, they reported that it was the most beautiful material ever made.  Finally, the tailors dressed the emperor in fake clothing and his staff marveled at the elegance of the new clothes.  Wanting to show off, the emperor paraded through the streets where everyone applauded and admired the beauty of the clothes…until a child called out…” but the emperor has on no clothing at all”.   Once the words were spoken, everyone, including the emperor, knew that they had been deceived and the embarrassed leader quickly returned home wearing only his underwear.

The most obvious takeaway from the story is that we must always trust what we see and experience rather than what we are told to believe by those who want to control the narrative.  Entering an election year, we will have ample opportunity to compare the reality of our lives to the narrative of the politicians and determine for ourselves whether the emperor is wearing clothes.

Leadership lessons from the story

Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi once said, “Leaders aren’t born, they are made and just like anything else, they are made through hard work.”   Becoming a respected leader takes effort and the story of the emperor’s new clothes contains a wealth of guidance for those who are leaders or aspire to leadership positions.  Here are some takeaways from the story.

Pride comes before the fall.  People aspire to leadership positions for a variety of reasons and, unfortunately, some seek power and position to boost their ego.  Authoritarian leaders use a heavy hand to maintain dominance and control over a workgroup and quickly silence those who challenge or disagree with them.  Workers learn very quickly to filter information and share only that which the leader wants to hear.  When open and honest communication is stifled, the leader is blinded from vital information.  Decision making without access to all the details ultimately results in failure.

Create the right environment.  Regardless of the leadership style, creating an environment based on open and honest communication ensures that the collective wisdom of the group is combined to formulate the best answer to a challenge.   Author Chris Voss notes that success is most likely when you enter a discussion with the mindset that you do not have all the information and that there is more to be learned.  By being receptive and rewarding feedback, both positive and negative, colleagues openly share their knowledge and trust is built within the workgroup.  When leaders value listening over telling, they are on the path to success.

Build the right team.  As an Air Force officer moving up through the ranks, I made it a point to observe my leaders and question what made the good leaders good versus what made the bad leaders bad.  Early in my career I observed that the worst leaders developed an inner circle of people who were most like themselves and shared the same view on most topics.  In contrast, the strongest leaders knew their strengths and weaknesses and built a team of individuals who could best cover the weaknesses.   Confident leaders delegate tasks and authority to those who are most skilled in that area.  The best leaders created a diverse team and actively sought out contrasting opinions.  A strong leader welcomes criticism and is willing to learn from mistakes.

Have realistic expectations.  Grandiose ideas set the leader up for failure when they cannot deliver on promises.   It takes more than imagination and good intentions to bring an idea to life.  A solid plan backed by resources, both materials and human, and a realistic timeline are all required for success.  In this story, the emperor foolishly believed that he could have whatever he imagined.

Learn from the Emperor

Whether you are a leader, worker or a citizen who desires to live in a just world, the lessons the emperor can be applied to your life.   Exposing yourself to contrasting opinions and listening to understand rather than to rebut will reveal information that is essential for decision making.   Avoid group thinking and once you have the facts, trust your instincts.   Trust what you see and experience and have the courage to say it like it is. 

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Reverse mentoring; Unite and enlighten the workplace.

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Josh has been a solid frontline healthcare worker for 4 years, he is respected by colleagues and has developed a comfortable workflow.  His boss seems to be a little aloof and although Josh does his job well, he is stagnant in his work and does not sense an opportunity for professional growth or promotion.   The corporation is at risk of losing a qualified and productive worker. 

Marsha is in her 50s, Josh’s supervisor, and is the perioperative administrator in a busy 10 room suite of operating rooms.  She skillfully moves workers like pieces on a checkerboard to cover the hour by hour needs of the unit.  Many of the workers on her team are in their 20s/30s, and Marsha does not understand why they complain about their work.  She believes that younger workers lack the work ethic that she grew up with.

This workplace has a toxic disconnect between management and workers which is taking a toll on morale and productivity.

Harvard Business Review tackled the question of why people quit their job and offered these three primary reasons; 1) they don’t like the boss, 2) lack of professional development or opportunity for promotion, 3) the offer of a better gig elsewhere.  In this case, Josh did not sense a connection with the boss and experienced a void regarding professional development.  Suddenly, the pop-up recruiting messages on his phone started to catch his eye and he noted that others in his profession were not only making more money but also enjoyed jobs that included professional development.  Two months later, josh submitted his resignation and moved on.

In contrast, Marsha was so driven by production pressure and so focused on the immediate task at hand that she did not know or understand the personal challenges of younger workers, nor did she have a concern about their professional development. 

Culture change with a focus on professional development will convert this toxic environment into a preferred workplace.

Professional development is one of the three key pillars of a preferred workplace, the other two being emotional intelligence and values-based leadership.   Professional development can be achieved externally through the effort of the individual worker. However, in a preferred workplace, the leader ensures that opportunities for professional growth are offered and encouraged within the organization.  An effective mentoring/reverse mentoring program is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to connect individuals, develop young workers, and enlighten older workers to both new technologies and the personal needs of the younger generation. 

The advantages of mentoring are well documented.  Author Nicola Cronin lists benefits to the mentee to include:

  • Increased self-confidence
  • A sense of being valued
  • Increased self-awareness
  • Improved communication skills
  • Developing a personal network
  • Becoming a good listener
  • Exposure to new and different perspectives
  • Increased emotional intelligence
  • Reduced level of anxiety
  • Increased chance for promotion
  • Increased job satisfaction.

In the scenario above, an ongoing mentoring program would have given Josh a support system and connection to a trusted person who was committed to developing Josh’s talents and helping him to advance in the organization.  Josh would have developed new skills and more importantly, he would have felt connected to the workplace and loyal to his supervisor.

Reverse mentoring is equally important.

Mentoring is most thought of as a top-down sharing of knowledge/skills from an older experienced person to a neophyte worker.  Reverse mentoring is equally important and often overlooked.  Simply stated, reverse mentoring is when a junior employee mentors someone more senior to them in the organization.  What can the apprentice possibly offer to an executive that would improve the functioning of the organization? 

The modern workplace tends to be multigenerational and multicultural.  It is not unusual for the executive suite to be filled with baby boomers while millennials shoulder the burden of the frontline work.  To further complicate things, Gen Z workers are graduating from college and enter the workplace with skills and expectations that are foreign to the Boomers in the front office.  Reverse mentoring closes the generational gap, teaches the latest technology to high level executives, and gives them a first-hand glimpse into issues that are important to young workers.  In contrast, young workers have face time with executives and gain insight into the C-Suite and plans for moving the company forward.  In the process, the junior employee feels valued and develops a sense of loyalty to the organization.

Legendary leader Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, was one of the first to promote reverse mentoring.  In the 1990s, the internet was a new technology, and the use of personal computers proved to be a challenge to upper-level executives.   Jack noted that new college graduates were all experts on computer use and quickly set up a reverse mentoring program connecting entry level workers with upper executives to help the elders understand and become comfortable with the new technology.  It was a win/win for GE.

Similarly, the modern healthcare workplace is a melting pot where new technology updates and replaces older techniques and, as Jack Welch noted in the 90s, the new graduate, junior employees, are the experts.  The use of ultrasound in the practice of anesthesia is but one example.  As noted by one of my colleagues, “anyone who has been out of school for over 10 years needs to be taught how to use ultrasound to assess gastric volume, new graduates know how and routinely use the technique…they are the best teachers.” 

Senior workers who openly seek mentoring from junior workers learn new skills and make personal connections which promote increased emotional intelligence.

Published in the online blog, Together, author Matthew Reeves identifies benefits for the senior workers that arise from reverse mentoring.

  • Closing the generational gap.  Each generation was raised at a different time and grew up with different life experiences.  For example, there is no way that a baby boomer can fully appreciate the life experiences of those who used computerized home schooling during the COVID crisis, nor do they fully appreciate the impact of social media on the younger generation.  Learning is about sharing new knowledge that transcends top-down teaching.  With reverse mentoring, senior employees learn new skills while junior workers gain a wealth of information based on the experiences of the senior worker.
  • Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Marian Wright Edelman said, “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.”  The corporate world has made a commitment to increasing diversity in upper-level positions and reverse mentoring affords the opportunity for minority junior workers to have one on one time with executives.   While learning new technology skills, senior workers become aware of cultural challenges while junior workers are introduced to life in the front office.
  • Millennial retention.  Millennials (age 29-43) make up almost 40% of the workforce in the United States and recently an increasing number of them have negative feelings about their employers.  Workflow changed with COVID as did the expectations of the workers.  Reverse mentoring re-connects millennials with leadership, improves communication and aligns the company with post-covid worker and customer needs.
  • Enhancing creativity, open-mindedness, and innovation.  Connecting with and learning from a person of a different generation promotes learning about new technologies as well as becoming sensitive to their cultural needs.  Artificial intelligence is a concept to baby boomers however it is an everyday reality for new graduates.  AI and other technology are fertile ground for senior managers to learn from junior employees.
  • Empowering emerging leaders.  Young workers receive knowledge and technical skills that did not exist when the Boomers were in school, yet the youngsters are often intimidated by senior people who are high on the corporate ladder.  Reverse mentoring allows the junior employee to develop communication skills and self-confidence by mentoring senior leaders in the organization.  Once they realize the value that they bring to the job, junior workers become eager to expand and take on new and more challenging roles.

Mentoring is an essential component of a preferred workplace, and the most successful workgroups view it as a two-way process.  TED talk speaker and author Chip Conley notes the value of merging the knowledge of the young worker with the wisdom of older person when creating solutions to modern problems.  Regardless of your position in the organization, the first step in mentoring is opening your mind to the reality that others have something of value to share with you.  Seek them out, identify their strengths, and actively listen with the intent to learn as they share their knowledge with you.  You will grow professionally, and the other person will feel valued, which creates common ground for trust in one another.  Both parties in the relationship will walk away feeling empowered…a win/win situation for all.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Exterminate your ANTS; Conquer Automatic Negative Thinking

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

“I wish I were a better person”, “I’m so helpless”, “I always get the worst assignments”, “I feel as if I’m an imposter”, “Work is sucking the life out of me”, “Nobody appreciates the stress that I have in my life”, “I’m so disappointed in myself”.

Is your head filled with ANTS?

Psychologists estimate that the human brain has up to 70,000 thoughts per day and those thoughts determine how we interact with those around us.  At the heart of how we collaborate and network with others is our ongoing inner dialogue of thoughts that guide our behavior.  ANTS, Automatic Negative Thoughts, are a part of the internal dialogue and when left unchecked, can undermine achieving happiness in life.

When negative thoughts pop up in moderation, they serve an important role in protecting us from potential danger in the world.  A baseline level of caution protects us from con artists and scammers who prey on gullible victims.  They also allow us to see potential consequences and help us to establish boundaries with ourselves and with others.  In moderation, a blend of negative thoughts with an otherwise optimistic attitude is a good thing.

However, all too often, negative thoughts dominate the inner dialogue and become the new baseline.  When ANTS take control of the brain, a negative spiral develops, people view themselves as inadequate, and the world around them as a threat.  Author and psychologist Jaoquin Selva notes that negative thoughts can be impactful and affect health outcomes as well as quality of life.   Yale news reports that negative thinking and depression can shrink the brain and cause a loss of synapses.  In addition, negative thoughts deplete the feel-good neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.  While negativity shrinks the brain, the brain’s fear and emotional center, the amygdala, becomes enlarged.   Buddha was correct when he noted, “nothing can harm you as much as your own thoughts.” 

So, what’s in your head?  What soundtrack do you have running in the background as you move through your day?  Forbes leadership author Christine Comaford notes that 90% of our thoughts are repetitive and we tend to think the same way today as we did yesterday.    Put differently, many of us have ANTS in our heads out of habit and not out of necessity.  Moving from a baseline of negative thought to a more balanced blend of optimism and caution requires erasing the old soundtrack and developing new habits, but as we all know from New Years resolutions, it takes more than good intentions to make the change.  Focused commitment is required.

Exterminate the ANTS

Restoring a healthy balance of thoughts in your brain begins with self-awareness.  What is your baseline?  Does your mind automatically see the downside to every encounter or are you upbeat and optimistic?    Here are some tips for those who want to exterminate ANTS, reduce anxiety, and increase happiness.

Removing ANTS begins with changing the news feed that you put into your head.  Being aware of negative thoughts allows you to question them and separate truth from unfounded fear.  When people wanted to pass negative news to the ancient philosopher Socrates, he would ask three questions: 1) Is it true? 2) Is it good?  3) Is it useful?  If the answer to any of the questions was no, he considered it to be gossip and would not listen.   When ANTS creep into your head, ask yourself the same questions and, like Socrates, reject thoughts that are not true.

TED talk speaker Anthony Metivier reinforces the advice from Socrates and suggests asking yourself two questions when experiencing negative thoughts; 1) Is it true. 2) How does it affect my behavior.  I would add a third question…how does my behavior affect the behavior of those around me?  Attitude is contagious and how you show up can either build up or take down the morale of the entire work group.

Viktor Frankl, author of Man’s Search for Meaning, states “in between stimulus and response is the most powerful human freedom; the power to choose. Here are some suggestions for stamping out the ANTS.

  • Increase your awareness of your baseline thoughts and question whether they are true, if they are useful, and how they influence the way you interact with those around you.
  • Find new evidence.   Rather than focusing on your shortcomings, make a list of your strengths.  Never say “I can’t”, rather say “I’ve not yet mastered that skill.”
  • Become aware of how the brain works. New neural pathways are developed through repetition so bathe your brain in positivity.
  • Be kind to yourself.  You are not obligated to focus on weakness or demeane yourself in any way.
  • Know your personal values and be true to them.  There are several online values assessment tools…select one and gain insight on the things that you value the most.
  • Define yourself based on your strengths and values.  Don’t waste time trying to be the person who someone else wants or expects you to be.  Limit your time on social media.
  • Ignore ANTS.  Use Socrates questions and throw out thoughts that do not rise to the standard of being truthful, good, and useful.
  • Meditate.  Start the day with a focus on positivity and end the day with a review of the good things that happened.
  • Be receptive to help.  If  ANTS are so deeply embedded into your brain you may need professional help.  Connect with a therapist who can give you practical advice for removing negative thoughts.

We live in a fast-paced, media driven world complete with pop-ups alerting us to every threat known to humanity.  As stress increases, so does the potential for an ANT infestation.  In the process, health and happiness falter and we are cheated out of the peace of mind that we deserve.  Removing the ANTS is a life changer.  Make a commitment to pest control and shake the ANTS out of your head.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Had I known then what I know now; Wisdom gained from experience

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Time travel is a captivating theme for Sci-fi movie enthusiasts.  Wouldn’t it be fun to go back in time 30 years knowing what you know now and be able to re-live the decades knowing in advance what the outcome will be.  If we had it to do again, we would all be successful…and very wealthy people.

While we await the development of time travel capability, there is another way to make decisions in our life that will open the door to success as if we were looking into the future.  The approach is so simplistic that many will doubt its effectiveness, however, listening to and building on the knowledge of successful people who are at the end of their careers will pave the way for people at all levels to advance themselves.  Regardless of whether you hold a leadership title, or if you want to be more effective in your daily life, learning from those who have walked the walk is a great starting point.

Published in Forbes.com, the article “15 Leadership lessons these leaders wish they had learned sooner” offers wisdom gained through the school of hard knocks.  Similarly, an article published by Christina Desmaris in Inc.com, “17 things these successful leaders wish they had known years ago” adds to the pool of wisdom meant to encourage the confidence of those developing their human interaction skills.  Reading through the articles, I must admit that I have learned some of the same lessons the hard way and only wish that I had known then what I know now.  As you read through the advice offered by experienced leaders, keep an open mind, and imagine that the advice is true.  Apply the advice to a current challenge that you are facing and visualize success in the months and years to come.  Learning from others can be a life-changing experience.

Things that leaders wish they had known earlier in their life.

  1. Leaders are there to help people grow professionally and personally.  If you are in a leadership position, know your people as individuals and focus on their professional development.  If you are a worker, let go of fear of your boss and assume that he/she truly wants you to be successful.  Develop a relationship that will enable your growth and position yourself to help others with their advancement.
  2. Successful people can adapt to any situation.  We are all more resilient than we think so open yourself to finding a creative solution and don’t throw in the towel.
  3. Self-awareness is the key to successful interaction with others.  Become self-aware and be mindful of how you affect others.  How you show up every day and your basic attitude is contagious.  Self-confidence, upright posture, optimism, and a great smile set the tone for any interaction that you engage in.
  4. The leader isn’t always the smartest person in the room.  People who are intent on alpha-dog dominance and insist that their solution is the best tend to micromanage and stifle the creative thoughts of others.  The most effective leaders surround themselves with talented people, establish the goal, provide resources, let them do their work, and are open to learn from them.
  5. The best leaders are transparent.  Transparency goes beyond basic honesty and builds a foundation for integrity.  Transparent people freely share the reason behind decisions and admit when they make mistakes.  Being transparent opens the door to revealing vulnerability which is frightening for many people.  Transparency requires courage.
  6. Confident people define themselves.   Never change who you are based on who others think that you are or want you to be.  Know yourself, your personal values, and your vision for the future and then be true to yourself and your goals.
  7. Great leaders listen to and respect frontline employees.  Diversity of thought adds strength to any group or organization and must be actively encouraged.   Solicit creative thoughts from others, actively listen with the intent of understanding, and then incorporate new ideas into problem solving.  Your team members will feel validated, and your supervisor will be amazed and the creative ideas you put forth. 
  8. There is a difference between leadership and management.  Leadership is about people and management is about things.  People have personalities and individual needs, things do not.  Use charts and spreadsheets to organize things, use emotional intelligence to connect one on one with people.
  9. Morality matters as much as competency. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Who you are speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you say.”  Your honesty, integrity and transparency are reflected by your behavior, and you will be judged on what you do and not how intelligent you are or what you say.
  10. Personal growth is a lifetime process.  There is no single philosophy or leadership course that will ensure success for the remainder of your career as a leader.  As the world changes, so do the leadership challenges and the approaches for solving them.  Regardless of whether you hold a leadership title, make a commitment to being open minded, observant, and learning from every experience.

The ten pearls of wisdom listed above were compiled based on feedback from experienced leaders.   I am now in my fourth decade as a healthcare provider, educator and leader and have learned many lessons along the way myself.  Looking back over my career, the most important thing that I have learned is that leadership is about the people, not the leader.   Success arises from using emotional intelligence to connect with those you supervise, those who supervise you, and the population that you serve.  True success comes when you can align the personal goals of others with the goals and vision of the organization to reach the point where, in the words of General Eisenhower, “people do what you want them to do because they want to do it.”  

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

How well do you know your patient?

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

You know the type of surgery that your patient will receive, you have reviewed the lab work and history/physical and you have a sense about their basic health.  It’s time to meet the patient, assess the airway, explain what you will be doing and then get the case going.   You feel as if you know your patient, but do you know who they are as an individual?

The business community has learned that regardless of the product being offered or the knowledge of the salesperson, it is the consumer who makes the decision about what to purchase or pass up.  Over the past decade, the business community has become increasingly aware of the importance of understanding consumer intent.  Simply stated, consumer intent is the desired outcome that drives the person to purchase a product.  It is the foundational reason that creates the motivation to buy the item.  You may know your patient from a medical perspective, but you don’t truly know them until you understand what drives their desire to obtain medical care and their desired outcome.

How does consumer intent apply to us as healthcare workers? After all, we are in healthcare to provide a basic service and promote wellness.  Yes, we provide essential care, however patients have ownership of their medical records and are no longer geographically bound.  Our patients are free to travel either locally or to distant communities to obtain healthcare as they desire.  As a result, healthcare delivery has become competitive, and providers must be sensitive to creating a loyal customer base that generates the cash flow required to keep the doors open.  Becoming aware of customer intent builds a foundation for a trusting relationship and promotes two-way loyalty between the provider and the patient. 

On the institutional level

Healthcare organizations want to be at the forefront delivering state of the art, evidence-based care to their population base.   Introducing new lines of care and investing in technology to support emerging programs is expensive, therefore, upper-level leaders assess return on investment before moving forward.  Gathering information about consumer intent gives important insight into what services their client base want the organization to provide.  Writing in Loyalhealth, author Brian Gresh describes how healthcare organizations are using chatbots linked to artificial intelligence to assess consumer intent.  Prominently displayed on the company website is a chatbot with the Question, “How can I help you.”  Questions from patients are submitted and AI links to evidence-based information that answers the person’s question.  In the background, the organization captures the questions that are asked and gains valuable insight related to what is on the mind of the population that they serve. 

Consumer intent on a personal level

Reviewing information gathered by the company chatbot may be interesting, however, it is up to us to connect one on one with our patients and determine not only what they want, but also why they want it.  The task may sound daunting, yet by making a commitment to connect with each patient and following a simple plan, you will be amazed how easy it is to gain insight into the patient and their family.  Let’s get started.

Develop a routine.  We are creatures of habit and are less likely to forget something when it is part of our routine.  Review your order of events for doing the pre-operative assessment/teaching and create a space to learn about the patient as an individual including their expectations related to the desired outcome.  Create and ask personal preference questions at the same point during every pre-op interview. 

Develop open ended questions.  Establish one or two non-medical questions to assess who the person is as an individual.   Writing in the Harvard Business Review, Authors Awdish and Berry recommend questions that reveal individual preferences and expectations.   Rather than opening the pre-operative interview with questions about the person’s baseline health, introduce yourself and then ask, “What is important for me to know about your health, your preferences, and you as a person?”   If you listen attentively, you will gain valuable insight about baseline health as well as expectations.  A favorite question that I ask patients as we roll to the operating room is “Tell me something about you that is not on your medical record.”  Again, careful listening will give you insight into the things that matter the most to your patient.

Hone your listening skills.  The questions in the previous paragraph are only effective if you actively listen.  Enter the conversation with a curiosity to know more about the person and a commitment to using higher levels of listening to gather insight.  Writing for The Black Swan, author Derek Gaunt describes five levels of listening:

  • Listening for the gist.  In a busy, high production pressure environment, who has time to effectively listen?  When you listen for the gist, you say “ya, ya” as the other person talks and all the while your mind is elsewhere.  If you check your phone for messages while another person is talking, at best you will get the gist of the conversation and no more.  Not only is it rude, but you also cheat yourself out of an opportunity to learn about what is on another person’s mind.
  • Listening to rebut.  Unfortunately, we spend too much time at this level of listening.  The entire time the other person is talking, your mind is on your reply.  When talking to patients, we don’t always rebut them, rather, we flip the conversation away from them and toward ourselves.  The patient opens the door with a statement, and you jump right in to tell the patient about your experience.  Suddenly, the patient is silenced, the conversation is about you, and you learn nothing new about the person.
  • Listening to the logic.  At this level of listening the focus is on the other person and you have a sincere desire to learn what they are thinking.  Whether you agree or disagree doesn’t matter, the important thing is to learn their point of view.  Keep the conversation alive by restating what you hear and say, “tell me more about.” 
  • Listening to the emotion.   When you achieve this level of listening, you are experienced at listening to what a person thinks and now you desire to learn why they think that way.  Again, use open ended statements such as, “that must have made you tense, frightened, happy…”  Then listen as they describe their feelings.
  • Listening to their point of view.  It is rare that we would get to this level of listening with a patient.  At this level, you learn where the person feels they fit into the global scheme of things.   It takes time and trust to get to this level of communication where it is safe to share political, religious, or personal preferences without judgement.

Why is connecting with patients important?

We work in a competitive market where many organizations vie for the healthcare business of our patients.  Connecting one on one with each patient and giving the impression that you understand them as an individual creates a loyal client base.  However, the greater benefits include higher patient and provider satisfaction, improved patient safety, and improved outcomes.  Simply stated, we tend to take better care of patients when we feel a sense of connection and, likewise, patients are more likely to comply with medical directions when they trust and feel connected to the provider.  Actively gaining insight into our patient’s consumer intent is a win/win for patients, providers, and healthcare organizations.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Production pressure; Tame the wild beast

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

In November of 1999, the Institute of Medicine shook America’s healthcare consumers when they released their report “To Err is Human.”  The report noted that up to 98,000 patients were being harmed each year by medical errors.  The healthcare community responded with an endless line of safety initiatives meant to protect the patient, however in the past 23 years, the safety numbers have not changed significantly.  What is driving those numbers and what can we do to make the operating room a safer place for our patients?

Many factors contribute to medical errors and two common causes that are high on the list are production pressure and its byproduct, normalization of deviance.  Understanding and controlling those two important contributing factors will position you to become a leader in patient safety. 

What is production pressure?

Writing in the AANA Journal, authors Evans, Wilbanks and Boust define production pressure as “the emphasis on increasing efficiency, output, or continued productivity to increase monetary gain at the expense of patient safety.”   Writing for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, author Pascuale Carayon PhD reinforces the definition noting that production pressure involves both overt and covert pressures and incentives to place production, not safety, as the primary priority.  

Definitions are nice but as CRNAs we know first-hand what production pressure looks like.  Being called in early to get the extra case done before the posted schedule starts, being judged by how quickly the next patient gets into the room, staying long after fatigue has set in to do the add-on case.  These expectations are rationalized by the benefit on the bottom line of the organization through an increase in case numbers.  The unfortunate downside is that increased productivity is frequently attained by the risky practice of normalization of deviance.

What is normalization of deviance?

Normalization of deviance is the theory that minor deviations can be managed and tolerated.  Writing for the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation, author Richard Prielipp notes “the normalization of deviance process breaks the culture of safety and applies equally to clinical anesthesia practice.  Production pressure is frequently cited as a major driver of normalization of deviance and causes providers to work even when fatigued, create workarounds for safety systems, stretch the boundaries of hospital or departmental guidelines, and expedite patient care to the point of “cutting corners in the interest of staying on schedule.” 

Production pressure, normalization of deviance and wrong site surgery.

When reviewing literature related to normalization of deviance, the crash of the space shuttle Challenger is a prime example of what can go wrong when decision makers bend the established policy and thinking that nothing bad will happen.   In the operating room, wrong site surgery is equally devastating as the tragic explosion of the Challenger and leaves one to wonder how it could happen. 

Wrong site surgery is an event that should never happen, however, the National Institute of Health reports that wrong site surgery occurs up to 40 times per week.  This statistic exists despite the universal precautions of preoperative verification, marking of the operative site and the surgical time out.  How does this happen?  Production pressure encourages cutting corners and when nothing bad happens, more corners are cut until eventually a tragic event happens. 

Be a high reliability organization

Author Amanda Bonser notes that “high reliability” describes an organizational culture that strives to achieve error-free performance and safety in every procedure, every time, while operating in a complex, high-risk, or hazardous environment.  Providing high reliability requires an element of frontline empowerment where healthcare providers can slow the process and ensure that policies and procedures are followed as intended in every surgical case.  In high reliability environments, there is a reluctance to simplify or cut corners and exploring the root cause and understanding a failure is more important than bragging about the things that go well.  At the heart of a high reliability mentality is the refusal to be pushed to compromise any part of the surgical process.  Likewise, it is equally important not to pressure others to make compromises. 

Develop a traffic circle mentality

For decades, traffic engineers have sought to design intersections that eliminate the possibility of death or major injury.  Knowing that the highest risk scenario is a left turn on a high-speed road, engineers are installing traffic circles at high-risk intersections.  When approaching a traffic circle, drivers are forced to slow the pace, assess the danger of other cars in the circle, make eye contact and coordinate with other drivers and then safely navigate through the intersection.   Even though fender benders may occur, it is almost impossible to have a fatal crash in a traffic circle.

Developing a “traffic circle” mentality with each surgical patient requires that providers slow the pace, assess potential risks to the patient, coordinate with others and finally, successfully perform the surgical procedure.  In such a scenario, safety is more important than speed, the needs of others are recognized, and patient safety is the top priority.  Using a traffic circle mentality in the operating room with an emphasis on slowing the pace while communicating and coordinating with everyone on the team eliminates the need to cut corners and makes it almost impossible for events such as wrong site surgery to occur.

Every time you allow yourself to be pushed or you push another person on the team to value productivity over safety you are inviting a sentinel event in your operating room.  Develop a traffic circle mentality and transform your workplace into a high reliability organization. 

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

8 simple steps to create trust in the workplace

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Trust is a glue that holds relationships together whether they be family, social, or work related.

Brittany has been a chief CRNA for almost a year and is struggling in the position.  As a colleague, she was a rising star on the team and when the Chief CRNA retired, she was quickly moved into the position.   Brittany is a person who likes to be liked and needs to be needed, therefore she avoids conflict by saying yes to every request that is made.  Unfortunately, “yes” often turned out to be a “false yes” leaving Brittany not trusted to follow through on her word.

Like Brittany, Jason is struggling as a Chief CRNA.  He is active in the clinical area and has frequent meetings with his team to assure them that he has their back and that he will not allow them to be abused.  However, when a surgeon, makes a request, Jason quickly bends policies to accommodate, and in the process, throws a team member under the bus.  Simply put, frontline workers cannot trust Jason to support them when disagreements arises.

Brittany and Jason are both in leadership positions and both have eroded the trust of the team.  When this happens, morale is poor and team members give up and move on. 

Leadership matters and trust is the foundation that must be created before a preferred workplace can be built.

What about you…are you a trustworthy person?  Whether you are in a designated leadership position, building relationships with colleagues, or interacting with others in your personal life, trust must be present before you can be fully successful.  On an intellectual level, we know the value of trust, but life happens and along the way we are vulnerable to losing the trust of others.  Increasing your awareness of the importance of trust and becoming sensitive to behavior that will either enhance or destroy it is the first step toward establishing yourself as a trustworthy person.

The Mindtools content team describes trust as “reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.”   They note that trust is enhanced when the person leads by example, communicates openly and transparently, follows through on commitments, and doesn’t blame others.

“To earn trust, money and power aren’t enough; you have to show some concern for others.  You can’t buy trust in the supermarket.” ~His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Writing in the business blog, Jostle, author Fae Wai notes that trusting relationships are developed on two levels; practical and emotional.  Practical trust is developed by consistently showing up on time, doing what you say you are going to do, and working with others to get the job done.  Over time, people learn that they can count on you.  Emotional trust is equally important, takes time to develop, and is present when others know that you are on their side.  It grows from treating others kindly, respectfully, and in a non-judgmental manner.  Emotional trust can be sacrificed in an instant with an unkind word or false accusation.

8 Tips for building a trusting relationship.

  1. Tell the truth.  Veracity gives others a reason to believe that what you say is, in fact, correct.   Untruth and half-truth are always revealed and once exposed, it is difficult to believe anything the person tells you.   Trust is gone when you walk away from a conversation thinking, “I’ll take that with a grain of salt.”  A person who is not believable is not trustworthy.
  2. An honest NO is better than a false YES.   People want to be liked and accepted by others and therefore are susceptible to saying yes to gain the favor of the other person.  The problem is that once you say yes, the other person expects your action to make it happen.  Through strength of character and knowing your limitations, it is much better to give an honest NO rather than creating expectations that will not materialize.  When you say no, the other person may not be happy, but they walk away trusting that when you do say yes, you will mean it.
  3. Follow through.   This is living proof that you did not give a false YES when a request was made.  To create the practical trust, show up with a commitment to achieve a goal or keep a promise and you will be on solid ground.
  4. Set the standard.  Honesty, transparency, follow-through, and all the things that enable us to trust another person must set the standard for how we make decisions and interact with others.  If a colleague were asked to describe you, what would they say?  When you set a high standard for yourself, the other person will likely begin by describing you as a person who can be trusted.
  5. Be vulnerable and admit mistakes.   Despite our best intentions, we all make mistakes, however, our foibles do not necessarily kill a trusting relationship.  Quickly seek out the other person, admit your mistake, and do what is possible to correct the error.  Hiding a mistake shrouds the truth and creates a barrier to trust.
  6. Never blame or accuse.  A common behavior in a toxic workplace is the blame game.  In a trusting relationship it’s not about who did something wrong but rather, what happened and how do we fix it?  When you move beyond blaming, an error becomes fertile ground for creating trust by supporting the other person, correcting the problem, and ensuring that it is not repeated.
  7. Listen to understand.   People trust you when they sense that you understand them and are truly interested in them as individuals.  All too often we listen to the gist of what is being said so that we can formulate a rebuttal.  Move beyond superficial listening and listen with intent to learn how the other person feels and what motivates them in life.
  8. Be aware of how your words and actions affect others.  The words that we choose and the tone in which they are delivered determine whether the other person walks away feeling affirmed or chastised.   Interacting with emotional intelligence opens the door to a trusting relationship. 

Some who are reading this article are starting at ground zero with a new group and don’t have to worry about prior mistakes.   Others have made mistakes and want to rebuild trust in a stressed relationship with colleagues.  In either scenario, making a commitment earn trust and using the tips in this article to guide your interaction will create the reputation that you desire.  Soon when others are asked to describe you, they will begin by saying that above all else, you can be trusted.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Take control of Holiday stress

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year
With the kids jingle belling
And everyone telling you be of good cheer
It’s the most wonderful time of the year”

~Song by Andy Williams

The earth is completing another trip around the sun and the holiday season is rapidly approaching.   It is a time of the year when we are forced out of our daily routine and thrust into glitz and glamor of the holidays.  Regardless of your culture or religious background, business as usual is cast aside and festivities abound in our homes, workplaces, and communities.  In many ways, it’s the most wonderful time of the year, however, along with excitement comes expectations, obligations, and stress.

It’s the most stressful time of the year

Intrinsic to the holiday season are both internal and external sources of stress, however, taking time to plan and prepare will enable you to bypass many of the frazzled moments that commonly accompany festivities.  Like it or not, we are creatures of habit and being forced out of a routine is known to cause anxiety and frustration.  Holiday obligations disrupt the status quo and take time away from normal activities.  Gatherings with the family or workgroup require proper attire, hair, makeup, childcare, not to mention the hostess gift and the dessert tray.  In addition, children have holiday events at school that conflict with a busy work schedule and cause guilt if you ask for time off or guilt if you don’t. 

My podcast interview with Cathy Horvath, DNP, CRNA and Chair of the AANA Wellness committee exposed the extent to which healthcare workers are feeling stressed.  Her statistics reveal that 77% of our colleagues report frustration and exhaustion related to their work and 45-55% report feelings of stress and anxiety on a frequent basis.  Even more telling, 50% of healthcare workers report feelings of depression with 13% stating that they have had suicidal feelings.  The numbers are alarming, and the stress only increases during the holiday season.

Thinking that the workplace will provide a haven from the chaos at home may lead to disappointment when work does not provide the escape that is desired. Typically, patients have reached maximum co-pay by the end of the year and are in a rush to get procedures done before the ball drops in Times Square.   The case load is high, the vacation calendar is full, and your work hours are longer just as you have a million other things to do.  Yes, it’s a stressful time of the year.

The Mayo Clinic healthy lifestyle blog identifies the holiday season as a potential source of significant stress and advises that we become attuned to our feelings and acknowledge them.  In addition, they recommend that we remain realistic by not abandoning healthy habits and by saying “no” to set boundaries.   The Johns Hopkins wellness blog advises that we keep sight of what really counts and always respond with kindness, even when stressed.  Building on the theme of reducing stress, author Kaleigh Carter notes the importance of physical activity, meditation, and sleep during the busy holiday season.  Regardless of the source that you reference, all agree that the holiday season is stressful and that a combination of anticipation, planning, and preparation will make the stress manageable…and may even re-infuse fun into your life.

Practical tips for managing holiday stress

Ramp up your self-care.  A healthy body is the first line of defense against stress and your body’s basic requirements don’t change with the season.  Put differently, the body does not need more calories and less sleep during the holiday season.  Taking charge of the body’s basic needs requires focus, discipline, and commitment.  Self-control is empowering.

  • Nutrition.  The body’s basic need for high quality fuel does not change just because holiday parties are on the calendar.  Essential nutrients are still required, and harmful foods are still harmful.   Unless you become a mega-cardio gym rat, your calorie requirements remain the same during the holidays and extra food volume will give you extra work to do when “lose weight” appears on your New Year’s resolution list. Go heavy on fruits and vegetables while limiting foods that are high in fat and salt.
  • Exercise.  Keep moving and don’t let distractions pull you away from your exercise time. Participate in outdoor activities when the weather permits and move indoors when the snow flies.  A gym membership offers the opportunity for a social aspect to your workout.  Buy a mat and use online programs at home to assist with stretching, yoga, and meditation.
  • Sleep.  When things get hectic, it’s easy to sacrifice a few hours of sleep, however over time the lack of sleep will take its toll.  Get into a bedtime routine and allow your body to relax by quietly reading or meditating before retiring for the day.  Keep a regular schedule that ensures the proper amount of sleep.
  • Seek the sun.  Seasonal affective disorder is described in the DSM5 as depression related to a lack of exposure to the sun.  Military personnel returning from duty in Alaska will affirm the negative effects caused by the long periods of darkness during the winter months.   Similarly, OR personnel drive to and from work in the dark during the holiday season with little opportunity for sun exposure.  Be creative, walk to a different area of the building, find a sunny spot for your lunch, and you’ll get the added benefit of exercise.
  • Take a break.  Rather than slurping coffee on the run, plan a mid-day break into your schedule.  Get out of the lunchroom and leave the gossip to others.  Plan a 5-minute walking route that includes going up and down one flight of stairs and passes through a sunny location along the way.   Be creative and find a quiet location to put a mat on the floor and do some stretches at work.  Both your mind and body will thank you. 

Anticipate and prepare for external stressors

It’s always easiest to pick the low hanging fruit and taking care of oneself physically is easier than dealing with all the external expectations/obligations of the holiday season, however, by setting goals and limits you can develop a plan to minimize stress.   Here are some holiday stresses that may emerge from the festivities and knock you off track.

Social gatherings with the workgroup and/or your family.  Receiving an invitation to the annual office party or family holiday gathering gives you a sense of inclusion and the expectation of a joyful evening.   The invitation also creates an obligation to add another item to your already packed schedule.  Time, effort, and money are required to get the right attire, arrange childcare and put together a hostess gift.  Once at the party, high calorie food is abundant and alcohol flows freely, both are challenges to your commitment for self-care.  Here are a few tips.

  • Eat a small amount of healthy food before going to the party so that you are not ravenous when you arrive.  At the party, commit to sampling a few items rather than filling your plate several times with high calorie, high salt, food.  “All you can eat” does not mean eat all you can.
  • Drink alcohol slowly and commit to alternating each alcohol drink with a non-alcohol drink.
  • Make it about the people, not the food/alcohol.  You work with these people daily, but do you really know them?  Challenge yourself to learn something new about each person at the party.  As you talk to colleagues, remind yourself of something that they do particularly well or something about them that you are grateful for.

Financial obligations.  We criticize congress when they pass a budget and then spend millions of additional dollars for “off budget” items.   Often, during the holiday season we imitate our government, throw caution to the wind, and throw “off budget” money at gifts and parties.   Establish a reasonable budget for the holidays and stick to it.  Find low-cost activities such as a family hike through the woods to replace the high dollar trip to the theater complete with twenty-dollar popcorn.  Make a hostess gift such as an ornament rather than buying an expensive bottle of wine.  When you finish buying gifts for the family, be finished.  That one extra gift or stocking stuffer for each member of the family can add another $100 to the cost of the holidays.  The bottom line is that unlike the Federal Government, you must pay your bills so pull the reigns and spend wisely.

Create good cheer and positive vibes for the Holiday season

The holiday season is a time for gift giving and the best gift that you can give yourself is an organized, low stress month filled with pleasant memories.  Your internal dialogue sets the tone, and an optimistic and proactive attitude are building blocks for success.  Start and end each day by practicing gratitude and think of three things that you are grateful for.  The activity will reduce your negativity bias and help to remove the feeling of being victimized by the holidays. 

The bottom line is that in addition to being the most wonderful time of the year, the holiday season can also be the most stressful time of the year.  Be mindful of the tips put forth by Cathy Horvath in the podcast and use a combination of self-help activities, planning, and an optimistic mindset to set reasonable boundaries and ensure a memorable Holiday season.

Click here for the podcast with Cathy Horvath, DNP, CRNA

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Be a Rising Star in your Profession

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Rising stars in the workplace and in the profession…we all know who they are and the contributions that they make to group.  It would be a cliché to say that those entering a profession are the future of the organization, and we all know that it is true.   To ensure that nurse anesthesiologists continue to be valued members of the healthcare community, a combination of solid workers and rising stars are essential.

Ask any Chief Anesthetist who the “go to” people are in the workgroup, and they quickly point out the all-stars.   Likewise, ask any program director to identify students most likely to move into leadership positions at the State level and they will instinctively point out the rising stars in the class.  What is a rising star and what do they look like?

Writing in the Inc.com blog, author Scott Mautz discusses the characteristics of people who are rising stars in the workplace or the profession

  • Ability to adapt (resilience) Rising stars are always moving forward and are not stopped by speedbumps along the way.  Their vision for the future is more important than a temporary setback and glitches only motivate the rising star to find a solution.
  • Zeal for improvement The status quo may be good enough for today, but rising stars have a vision for the future and have a keen eye for establishing new policies and streamlining the workflow.   They move beyond having a concept and develop a plan for implementing change.
  • Ability to influence Rising stars tend to be the “go to” person in the group and are often referred to as the influence leader.   They may or may not have a title in the group but they have a powerful influence on the mood and motivation of the group.
  • Powerful presence When a rising star enters a room, everyone knows it, usually in a positive way.  The rising star instills confidence in others and makes the group believe that challenges can be conquered.
  • Both EQ and IQ Emotional intelligence is a buzz word in the business community and organizations are using EQ evaluation when selecting new hires.  In nurse anesthesiology, many training programs are incorporating EQ assessment into the selection process for students.   The rising star tends to be intelligent, visionary and can blend IQ with EQ when working with others.
  • Solid decision-making Rising stars know what they want to accomplish, believe that it is possible and are not shy about making decisions to support the goal.

In 2016 I had the privilege of meeting a rising star in our profession.  While attending an AANA leadership summit in Chicago, I was introduced to Julie Linton, a senior SRNA interested in leadership and doing a great job networking with others at the meeting.  Three short years later while speaking at the West Virginia State association meeting, I became re-acquainted with Julie who was serving as the president of the West Virginia association.   In three short years, she progressed from new graduate to State president.  Recently, I recorded a podcast with Julie and learned about rapid journey to leadership.   Click here to listen to the podcast.

Listen to Julie Linton’s podcast about her path to leadership

Some people are born with an outgoing personality, but nobody is born with leadership skills.   Rising star status is something that can be achieved through mindful practice.  The biospace.com blog offers tips for behaviors that will make you a rising star at work or in your life.  

  • Know when to listen.  We live in an electronic world where texting is easier than talking.  Take time for conversation and view it as a chance to listen and learn.  You don’t learn anything new when you state your opinion, you only learn when you listen.
  • Give credit when credit is due.  When others have good ideas give them full credit and then build upon the foundation that they have provided.  Engage the other person as a collaborator rather than a competitor.
  • Be agile.  Those who are agile can move through awkward situations gracefully.  Be respectful of the feelings of others and seek collaboration when dealing with difficult situations.
  • Be honest.  Honesty is a value that is essential when building trust between individuals.  You will never be trusted as a go to person or viewed as a rising star if you are dishonest.
  • Come up with a new idea.  There is a solution to every challenge and the best ideas arise from many ideas.   Brainstorm with colleagues, listen and learn from others, and develop a new approach to the problem.
  • Bring solutions, not problems.  Asset-based thinking is built upon identifying the resources that you have and doing the best that you can with them.  Avoid whining about what you lack and create a solution with what you have.
  • Make yourself available.  You must be present to win.  Enter the room with a positive attitude and a presence that inspires confidence from others.   Say yes when asked to participate and follow-up quickly when asked to do a task.
  • Be a doer.   Achieving is an active sport and requires participation.  You may have great ideas, however, if you want to be a rising star you must put them into motion.  The person who sits back and says “they ought to” will never be recognized as an achiever.

My friend Julie Linton is a rising star, but she is not unique.  We are in a profession with many talented and intelligent people who can take us into the future.  Julie has mastered many of the traits listed above and will be a great role model for future rising stars.   Click here and enjoy the podcast describing Julie’s experience as a rising star.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Teaching, coaching, and mentoring; the key to effective leadership

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

In his classic book, The 5 levels of leadership, author John Maxwell notes that in the lower levels, people follow leaders first because they must and later, if earned, because they want to.  However, in the modern workplace, truly memorable leaders take the next step and achieve level 4 status by shifting their focus on developing the talents of members of the team.  

The Gallup Q12 staff engagement survey is the gold standard for assessing staff engagement in the work environment.  Reviewing the content of the survey reveals that aspects of teaching, coaching, and mentoring are present in half of items assessed, which reinforces the importance of professional development in the workplace.  The Q12 survey reinforces the concept that teams with Maxwell level 4 leaders who focus on developing the strengths of its members are the groups with the highest morale and productivity.

Take your team to the next level through teaching, coaching, and mentoring

Teaching

Teaching is designed to impart academic information and instruction to a group of learners.  In most cases, the material is presented in a pre-determined manner and is designed to fulfill a specific need.  Communication is frequently one way and directed by the teacher.  Presentation of information is focused on content related to the goal.  In the workplace, leaders are called upon to assemble the team, explain changes in policies or workflow, and solicit support from team members.  In addition, teaching sessions may be held to update the team on best practice guidelines for various procedures.  Depending upon the size of the group, discussions can open the door for feedback however the bulk of the information is presented as one way communication from the leader to the group.

Coaching

Whereas teaching takes place in the classroom, coaching occurs in the actual work environment.  Typically, the coach uses his/her knowledge and experience to teach skills to less experienced people on the team.  Picture the little league coach who, in addition to teaching baseball strategy and teamwork, works one on one with each child to improve their personal skills at various tasks.  In the workplace, the level 4 leader works one on one with team members, or they may hit a home run by matching the lesser trained person up with a senior person on the team who fills in as the coach.  In this case the leader not only ensures that the newbie is coached, they also develop the coaching skills of the experienced person assigned to be the coach.   In this case, two people walk away with a sense that the leader has an interest in their professional development.

Mentoring

Mentoring is a special relationship between two people in which the senior, more experienced person helps the underling define a vision, develop a plan, and achieve a goal.  The relationship is built upon trust and often develops into a lifetime friendship between the two individuals.  A key element of mentoring is for the senior person to be committed to helping the younger person achieve their goal.  Often, effective mentoring enables the up and comer to become a leader somewhere else in the current organization or with another organization all together.  One word of caution, a relationship in which the senior person attempts to build a clone of him/herself is doomed for failure.   The key to success is helping the other individual to be the best person that they can be and encouraging their promotion.

“As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others”  ~Bill Gates

Frontline leaders are constantly pulled in many directions at the same time and in the chaos of crisis management may find it difficult to carve out time for developing individual members of the team.  The savvy leader knows that accomplishing the workload and staff development are not mutually exclusive.  Through teaching, coaching, and mentoring, members of the team are trained to pick up leadership tasks resulting in a reduced workload for the leader and more time available for additional staff development.  The investment of time and effort spent on developing others improves morale, increases productivity, creates a pipeline of capable future leaders.  In addition, it elevates you to “best boss” status.  Expanding the capabilities of others is a cost-effective win-win activity for the team and the organization.  Step up and capture the rewards of level 4 leadership.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

10 Behaviors that generate powerful results

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

People are always looking for an edge; a way to position themselves a half step ahead of the crowd.  To that end, they throw caution to the wind, use money or power to get their way, and rationalize their extreme behavior because it justifies the results that are achieved.   For example, Lori Laughlin made the headlines when she was caught paying thousands of dollars in what is now referred to as the college admission cheating scam.

Leaders at all levels who are climbing the chain of command can fall into the same trap as Lori by using their current position to bully their way to the next level.  Ironically, instead of positioning themselves for promotion, their bullying creates a toxic workplace environment that becomes a roadblock and prevents promotion.  Rather than flexing political muscle or throwing money at a problem, the savvy leader wins the day with behavior that costs nothing.   Start on the road to success by eliminating negative behaviors and quickly follow with positive actions to affirm and unite your team.

Eliminate the negative

Travis Bradberry, author of emotional intelligence 2.0 notes several behaviors that generate ill will must be avoided by those who want advance in their career. Activities to be shunned include:

  • Overworking people
  • Lack of empathy for co-workers
  • Taking credit for other’s work
  • Banning socializing / punishing fun
  • Making stupid rules
  • Letting others struggle / withholding help
  • Controlling the agenda / ignoring feedback

Rather than using heavy handed authoritarian leadership to bully those on your team, ease up and remember that the most effective leadership behaviors are free.

It does not take a heavy hand, threats, and bullying to get the results that you want. An article in the archives of prosynex.com titled Scout for a promotion leveraged the boy/girl scout code of conduct with hot tips for grassroots leaders who want to create a preferred workplace  Similarly, an article by Molly Fletcher posted in Linkedin lists behaviors that require zero talent, are cost free, and enhance your position within the organization.  Combined, the two articles are a treasure chest of behaviors that are based on common sense and reap huge rewards.  Incorporate these principles into your leadership style and you will become a preferred boss.

  1. Be on time.  Legendary basketball coach John Wooden had three rules for his team and one was punctuality.  He felt that being on time was an overt display of respect for others so he always started and finished workouts on time.  Being where you need to be in a timely manner creates a foundation of trust and finishing on time respects the personal needs of your team members solidifies their sense of being valued.
  2. Demonstrate an honest work ethic.  The most trusted grassroot leaders know the job and frequently pitch when needed.  Schedules, payroll, and supplies are important however working shoulder to shoulder on the front line to ensure that the mission is accomplished sends a powerful message and contributes to team morale.
  3. Give full effort.  Leadership is not an 8 hour per day job, rather, it is ongoing.  The best leaders pitch in and do whatever needed to support team members including responding to team member’s personal issues even when they arise in off hours.  Tireless work to guarantee that goals are met reflects positively on the team as well as the leader.
  4. Use appropriate body language.  How you show up in the morning matters, as does your aura that others perceive throughout the day.  Your appearance and behavior sets the tone for your team so stand tall, put a smile on your face and some pep in your step.  Let your image portray you as a competent and capable person.
  5. Increase your personal energy level.  Personal wellness is important for you and for each of your team members.  Adequate rest, healthy nutrition and focus on goals all combine to boost your energy, stamina, and positions you as a positive role model for your team.   Your energy level is contagious and will elevate the morale of your team.  Conversely, dragging in with low energy and a negative attitude is equally contagious and will draw your team down with you.
  6. Improve your listening skill.   Move beyond forming your rebuttal while listening and focus on hearing to understanding the message that is being sent.  It’s more important to grasp the other point of view than to defend yours.  You don’t learn anything new while you are talking; you only learn new information when you are receptive and listening.
  7. Focus on emotional intelligence.   Accept and appreciate how your words and actions affect the members of your team.   Face to face discussions, preferably without masks, allows you to view expressions and judge the reaction of others.  Email and texting quickly transmit information but blocks your awareness of the person’s emotional response.
  8. Be receptive to feedback.  Creating diversity in the workplace includes encouraging diversity of thought and learning from one another.  You hire the best and brightest people for your team and now it’s time to showcase their talents and encourage their creativity by being receptive to their ideas.  By actively listening, you may find novel ways to solve a problem and leave team members feeling as if they are valued.
  9. Role model loyalty.  Loyalty is a two-way process and starts with the leader being loyal both individually and collectively to team members.  Never take credit for the work of others and never throw a team member under the bus just to save your ego.  When you establish that you have their back, they will have yours.
  10. Have fun.   Nobody says that work can’t be fun.  Celebrate birthdays and holidays by decorating the break room and supplying a cake or other food.  Reward the team when goals are achieved.  Sponsor quarterly events that promote teambuilding and create and opportunity for team members to know one another outside of the work environment. 

Leadership can be lonely especially for an authoritarian boss who feels that success or failure rests exclusively on his/her shoulders.  Rather, use the tips above to connect with and promote the talents of your team members.  Being interested in the team rather than forcing them to be interested in you opens the door to diverse thinking and new solutions to old problems.  Being a great leader does not arise from your knowing all the answers, instead great leadership arises from the trust that develops when team members feel valued, and their ideas are rewarded.   Replace authoritarian power with common sense and watch your team soar to new heights.  It’s true, the best approach to leadership is free.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

How COVID has changed the healthcare workplace

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

COVID-19 has changed the way we live, work, and interact with one another.  For some, the hype and hysteria connected to COVID lifestyle changes are oppressive whereas to others it is viewed as the way we should have been conducting business all along.    I remember my early days in healthcare when being fitted for PPE was an annual event and something that did not really affect day to day life.  Fast forward to the present and PPE is the barrier that we demand and use daily to protect ourselves and ultimately our families from the dreaded pandemic.

In January 2021 President Biden signed an executive order directing OSHA to issue safety guidelines for businesses and created implications that transcend to the healthcare workplace. Writing for McKinsey and Company, author Susan Lund notes that work environments with the greatest physical proximity to clients will be affected the most by COVID changes.  The hands-on care that we deliver to our patients puts healthcare workers at the top of the list for proximity to clients.   Visit your primary care provider, lab, radiology, or surgery center and you will likely be greeted by a person wearing a mask while working behind a plexiglass barrier.  In come cases, you may be required to show evidence of a recent negative COVID test before receiving treatment.  Yes, delivery of healthcare is a one-on-one frontline hands-on environment that has changed to protect both providers and the patients we serve.

How the healthcare workplace has been changed by COVID

The physical environment has been re-defined.  Regardless of where you work, look around and you will see barriers and social distancing that was not in place pre-covid.  I work in a surgery center where the once crowded waiting area is essentially empty because only patients are allowed through the door.  Family members or drivers are on call for return to pick up the patient but not allowed to wait in a common area.  Once admitted, patients move to the pre-op area where every other bay is closed to increase social distancing.  Healthcare workers preparing the patient for surgery are all wearing masks, as are the patients.      Likewise, every other bay in the recovery area is closed to increase the distance between patients.   Once adequately recovered from anesthesia, patients are wheeled to the pickup area and helped into the awaiting car.  In discussions with CRNA colleagues from around the country I realize that the changes made in my workplace are not unique and have been adopted by many other workgroups.

The workflow has been re-defined.  Social distancing and PPE is the name of the game in the current covid environment.  We do not want healthcare workers to become COVID infected nor do we want our patients to become infected while under our care.  As describe above, distancing and wearing masks has become part of every-day life.  Once in the operating room, the greatest risk to anesthesia providers is related to airway management.   The N-95 has replaced the traditional OR mask for anesthetists working with airway management.  Likewise, the video laryngoscope has replaced the traditional laryngoscope in many workplaces and enables the anesthesia provider to maintain a greater distance from the patient while intubating. 

In some operating rooms, anesthesia providers use a plexiglass shield in addition to the video scope and create yet another barrier between the provider and the patient.   COVID has increased the use of the video laryngoscope to the point that many providers recommend it as a standard of care for all intubations.  When COVID goes away, the video blade will remain as a foundation for airway management.   Extubation at the end of the case requires similar precautions in order to prevent the potential spread of the COVID virus and some workgroups require a minimum number of room air exchanges before the doors are open and the patient is taken to recovery.

Leadership agility is essential.   Writing in the World Economic Forum, author Sarah Kirby notes that COVID has changed the way leaders interact with workers to include a new emphasis on leadership agility and transparency.  At the top of COVID related leadership challenges is dealing with worker fear and uncertainty.  Workers fear for their own welfare and that of their families and are uncertain of job security.  At the height of the pandemic, many anesthetists were given the choice of furlough or working in ICU when elective cases were halted.  As healthcare workers, collectively we are needed to provide many levels of care for those infected with the virus.  In addition, many healthcare workers face personal challenges created by home schooling for children.  Effective leaders, including Chief CRNAs, must develop the emotional intelligence to be sensitive to the needs of the workers and maintain the flexibility to alter scheduling to accommodate the new needs of the workers.   Trust and transparency are the keys to effective leadership in the COVID environment.  With mandates and regulations changing almost daily, workers must trust that their leaders will be honest and open with them regarding required changes and will always keep the welfare of the worker as a top priority when altering workflow.

Online interaction will continue to expand.   In the early stages of the COVID pandemic, many healthcare clients rejected the concept of connecting with providers online and vice versa.  Now, after more than a year of online appointments, many patients and providers prefer the format and appreciate that the video connection can be scheduled for a specific time, and eliminate travel and time in the waiting room. 

Professional development for healthcare workers has transitioned to an online format.  Those seeking doctorate level degree completion are doing so via asynchronous online education and others who need CME are finding it online rather than in-person meetings. 

In many cases, employers have converted to a video interview for prospective candidates with contracts being offered without an actual face to face meeting with the applicant.  The format offers a cost savings to the employer and protects the applicant from exposure to the virus while traveling.

Without doubt, COVID has changed our individual lives in many ways including how we interact in the workplace.  At some point, the COVID pandemic may be reigned in and reduced to the level of other threats such as the flu, however, the workplace changes triggered by the virus will remain for many years into the future.  As mandates and restrictions are eased, many workplaces will view some of the changes as the way we should have been doing business all along.  Regardless of your individual situation, remain vigilant, cling tightly to the changes that will protect you in the future, anticipate creative use of computer-based expansion of healthcare, and continue to develop your emotional intelligence skills which will enable you to connect with patients and colleagues.   COVID has changed how we live our lives and in many ways the changes have been positive.  Be safe.

Tom is an experienced leader, educator, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Workplace Wellness: Important and achievable

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

follow@procrnatom on Twitter

“Leadership is the ability to get others to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.”

Effective leaders tend to be savvy resources managers and recognize that their workers are the most valuable resource that they manage.  The health of each team member is directly tied to morale, productivity, and retention, all indicators of effective leadership.  Therefore, the leaders who place value on team wellness tend to be the ones who gain appreciation from both their team members and the organization.

Writing in 15Five, author Pamela DeLoatch notes that both mental and physical health are important in an effective wellness program.  She notes that designing activities into the workflow that encourage movement and defuse stress are creative ways to infuse wellness into your workgroup. 

Building on the theme of workplace wellness, author Steven Aldana notes that lifestyle choices are correlated to 70-90% of chronic diseases challenging healthcare workers including stroke, cancer, heart disease and diabetes.  Creating wellness in the workplace begins with awareness and then, driven by motivation from leadership, morphs into a culture change that encourages healthy habits.   This all sounds great, but how do you create the culture change necessary to make wellness a priority in the workplace?  Read on.

Promote physical wellness.

Our bodies were meant to be active and in motion.  As healthcare workers, we are aware of the devastating consequences when ICU patients become immobile.  Similarly, over time, a sedentary lifestyle will impair the body’s mobility and eventually prevent the person from participating fully in activities that they once enjoyed.   Make a commitment to personal health and extend that commitment to practicing healthy habits both at home and in the workplace.  Here are some ways to improve physical wellness in the workplace:

  1. Eat healthy foods for lunch.  Pack a nutritious lunch from home and avoid the high salt/high fat fast foods at the drive-through on the way to work.  Skip the 800 calorie Starbucks super-deluxe beverage and drink more water at work.  Keep candy, cake, and cookies out of the employee lounge.  Challenge your team to a vegan challenge where only vegan foods are allowed in the break room for a week.
  2. Sit less.  Select a lunch spot on the other side of the building and enjoy a brisk 5 minute walk each way during your lunch break.  The change of scenery will give you a mental break and if you can find a sunny spot, you have the additional benefit of sunshine.
  3. Stretch.  Operating room workers sit for long periods of time during challenging cases and then race between cases to get the next patient going.  While in a long case, set your watch to alarm every 30 minutes, stand up, and stretch.  Touch your toes, stretch overhead, twist at your waist.   Stretch every 30 minutes each day for a week and note the increase in flexibility.
  4. Promote sleep awareness.  Use a team meeting to have a healthcare professional talk to the team about the importance of sleep.  Design work schedules to allow full recovery after a demanding night on call.
  5. Encourage sick employees to stay home.   If a person were in a car accident, you would figure it out and get the cases done.  Have the same consideration when a colleague is truly sick and should not be at work.
  6. Design group activities.   Have a monthly group activity on a Saturday or Sunday morning that promotes both activity and a sense of community.  Meet at a park for a hike, bike ride or swim.  Participate as a group at a local 5K race/walk or charity bike ride.   Have several members of the team take up a new activity together such as pickleball, tennis or volleyball.

  Promote Mental wellness

  1. Speak candidly about mental health.  Let your colleagues know that you are aware of the effects of stress on mental health.  Make it OK for others to express their anxiety or concerns by listening in a non-judgmental manner.  Avoid offering solutions or telling the person how to fix a problem and remember that they need a sympathetic ear, not a lecture.
  2. Invite a mental health professional to a team meeting.  Have the person describe the resources available to team members who are experiencing stress and how to access them in a confidential manner.
  3. Encourage walk breaks.   The surgical suite can be a noisy, hectic place that is driven by production pressure.   When possible, encourage colleagues to take a 5-minute walk break between cases.  Finding a hallway with windows that provide a sunny view is uplifting and provides the mental break that will put you back on track.
  4. Provide a quiet place.  Have one area where employees can quietly sit and reflect on the day.  Encourage meditation, yoga, or other activities to refresh the mind.
  5. Encourage relationships.  Colleagues who chatter with one another and share experiences unrelated to work form social networks that are essential during stressful times.
  6. Defuse production pressure.  This is a tough one and requires a culture change.  We are taught early on that the most important thing we do is to get the next case going.  We are encouraged to cut corners where possible and move as quickly as possible.  Leadership at all levels must value the safety of the patient and the mental health of the worker enough to slow the process and allow team members to move at a reasonable pace between cases.  Courageous leaders and workplace champions are necessary for this culture change to occur.
  7. Get outdoors.  Where possible, ensure that you and your colleagues spend time in the open air.  During good weather, encourage people to eat lunch outside and plan weekend gatherings at a local park.

Historically, wellness programs in the nurse anesthesia community were designed to prevent or treat those who developed an addiction to drugs or alcohol.  Over time, the concept of wellness has expanded to include the daily mental and physical health of workers.   Research has documented the positive effects of wellness programs on the morale and productivity of workgroups both in healthcare and the business communities.   As healthcare providers, we take pride in the application of evidence-based medicine in our practice.  Now it is time to apply evidence-based wellness programs in the workplace to protect our most valuable resources…our workers.

Tom is an experienced leader, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Emotionally Intelligent Teambuilding



By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

follow@procrnatom on Twitter

A review of the literature from the business community reveals that having and using emotional intelligence is one of the most important skills of a successful leader, both at work and in the individual’s personal life.  Simply stated, emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability to recognize and control emotions in ourselves and in others.  Writing in PositivePsychology.com, author Elaine Houston notes that EI is the interface between the emotional and thinking centers in the brain.  Having emotional intelligence increases our capability for resilience, motivation, empathy, reasoning, stress management and communication…all desirable traits.

Think back and recall your favorite boss and then ask yourself what made that person stand out compared to others you have worked for over the years.  Most likely, your chosen best boss was a person who was easy to talk with and seemed to understand and accept you as a unique person. This person could probably sense your need for professional development and connectedness with the team.  In short, your favorite boss was most likely a person who was strong in the area of emotional intelligence.

Why emotional intelligence makes a difference?

Writing in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, authors Romanelli, Cain and Smith reveal that those with strong EI skills are better able to make sound decisions, build and sustain relationships, manage stress, and adjust to change.  It is for those reasons that hiring managers across the country are assessing the EI capabilities of applicants during the interview/hiring process in hopes of building a strong and collaborative workgroup.

Recently I had the privilege of teaching a course for an exceptional group of nurse anesthesia students.  In a discussion with the program director, I learned that when evaluating students, the selection committee placed greater value on EI than academic credentials during the interview process and that the class of students was selected based on their emotional intelligence skills. 

Like the savvy program director, Chief CRNAs across the country are placing value on building teams filled with collaborative workers who are empathetic toward one another and resilient when faced with a challenge…emotionally intelligent teams.  Hiring managers have learned that it is better to leave a position open rather than fill it with a “bad apple” who will demoralize others on the team.  Gone are the days when positions were filled out of desperation and those who lack EI are finding it more difficult to find a job.

Tips for building an emotionally intelligent team.

Strong, collaborative teams don’t happen by chance, they are developed by leaders who can visualize what they want, develop a plan to achieve it, and stick to the plan without exception.  It takes foresight, preparation, and follow-through to achieve the desired results.  Let’s get started.

Truth in advertising.

When posting a job opening, include a job description that describes not only the work that is to be done but also the personality traits that you desire.  Weave the core values of the organization into the job description and state up front that you are seeking a candidate with a strong history of collaborative teamwork.

Check references.

Typically, applicants submit three references, forms are sent, and prior work is documented.  Basically, the form documents that the person held the job and was not fired due to incompetence or moral deficiency.   Take the next step by calling the reference and asking questions that would reveal the applicants EI abilities.  Ask “what is the applicant’s greatest strength?” and listen for indications that he/she works well with others.  Ask whether the applicant has overseen projects or mentored others and what was the outcome.  Talking with a reference gives insight into the applicant’s people skills.

At the job interview.

Start your interview with a review of the mission, vision, and values of the organization and clearly let the applicant know that if he/she is not in alignment with the values, this is not their job.  Rather than discussing case management and work schedules, use the interview time to learn about how the person interacts with others.  Ask leading questions such as:

  • Describe your ideal workgroup.
  • Which of the organizations core values do you most identify with and why?
  • Tell me about a time when you disagreed with your supervisor, how did you handle it?
  • Tell me about a time when somebody criticized your work, how did you handle it?
  • How would you resolve a dispute between two colleagues?
  • What was your greatest success in your last job?

These questions will get the ball rolling…add others that fit your specific job situation.  Listen carefully and if you get a superficial stock answer, ask follow-on questions.  “Tell me more about” or “what happened next” are ways to reveal how the applicant works with others.  Listen for we versus I when the applicant answers questions.  Strong team players credit others for participating in success whereas those who lack EI brag endlessly about themselves.

Success.

Strong teams and preferred workplaces don’t happen by accident, rather, they are the product of insightful and effective leadership.  Screening applicants and hiring based on emotional intelligence will produce a highly productive and collaborative team that pulls together during stressful times and is a pleasure to supervise.

Tom is an experienced leader, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.



Evidence-based Leadership

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

During my four decades as a nurse anesthetist, I have seen many changes in our profession and our day-to-day management of surgical cases.  Back in the day, I was just as proud of my hospital-based diploma as our current doctorate level graduates are of their terminal degree.  Upgrading entry level education first to the master’s degree and now the Doctorate level has mandated that nurse anesthetists be active players in gathering and applying evidence to case management. 

The Johns Hopkins describes evidence-based practice as the integration of research, clinical expertise, and patient values to ensure the safest and most effective outcome for patients.  Throughout our workplaces, policies and procedures have been developed based on scientific evidence obtained through peer reviewed research and patients have benefitted from the upgrade in practice.  Now it is time to apply the same evidence-based activities to the process of leading and managing perioperative teams, including nurse anesthetists.

Leadership matters.

Employee engagement and morale affect patient safety, satisfaction and ultimately the outcome from the treatment that they receive.   Worktango.com notes that leadership is the driving force in determining employee engagement and productivity.  Connecting the dots, effective leadership drives employee engagement which, in turn, improves patient safety, satisfaction, and outcome.  Truly, leadership matters and healthcare leaders at all levels, including Chief CRNAs, must incorporate the principles of evidence-based practice to their leadership style as they interact with their team.  Let’s get started.

Identify your needs.

Improved team dynamics starts with an awareness that the status quo can be changed and that those changes will augment both morale and productivity.  What are the greatest challenges dragging your team down?   Common barriers to high productivity include poor communication, lack of resources, unfair work assignments, production pressure, inappropriate leadership style, or workplace drama.  To address your unique challenges, designate a team meeting to openly identify and discuss the changes needed to improve your greatest needs.  Listen attentively and take notes.

Gather evidence.

Only a scant amount of literature has been published specific to frontline healthcare leadership, however volumes of articles have been written about workplace dynamics.  The Harvard business review, Forbes magazine, and Psychology Today are but three sources of information related to workplace dynamics…many more exist.   Just as you would complete a literature review before updating best practice guidelines, use the same process to learn ways in which businesses have addressed issues like the ones that you face.  A solution to your problem may already exist.

Develop a hypothesis.

Select a workplace issue that could be improved if you were to become a champion for change.  Use the format commonly employed by Doctorate level students and create a hypothesis that includes the planned change as well as the desired outcome.  Writing your theory in the PICOT format will clearly identify what you plan to change as well as a desired outcome that can be measured.  Engage several allies on your team to review your plan and assist the implementation. 

Implement the plan.

The best chance for successful change in the workplace requires buy in from team members.  By including the team when identifying the problem and creating a solution, each member has skin in the game and a personal interest in the success of the proposed change.  Conversely, surprising the team with a plan that they did not help develop is a sure way to provoke passive-aggressive behavior and sabotage.

Gather data.

Establish milestones that indicate progress and track numbers as you implement your plan.  Take a “null hypothesis” mentality and assume that the change will not make a difference in the workflow or staff engagement and then gather data to prove yourself wrong.  Some things such as compliance with the time out policy or postoperative handoff checklist can be tracked immediately whereas indicators of employee engagement, such as reduced staff turnover, may not be apparent for several years.  Regardless, track numbers to document the effectiveness of your leadership.

Share your findings.

As previously stated, there is a paucity of research related to frontline healthcare leadership.   By using a research approach to implementing change, you position yourself to collect data that can be shared with your peers.  What may seem like a simple change in workflow to you can become valuable information to others who share similar challenges.  Publishing in a peer reviewed journal is the gold standard for evidence-based practice however, sharing in a blog format can be equally helpful to other frontline leaders.  Regardless, take an active role in expanding the body of knowledge by sharing your experience with others.

Join the movement for evidence-based practice by gathering evidence to support your leadership decisions.  Rather than shooting from the hip, take a scientific approach to implementing change, develop a hypothesis, engage your team to develop a plan, collect data, and share with your profession.  You can make a difference.

Tom is an experienced leader, author, and requested speaker…invite him to your next meeting.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s current speaking topics.

Coming june 13th; Tips on using emotional intelligence in the hiring and teambuilding process.

Cognitive reframing; Reduce stress and increase productivity



By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Healthcare delivery is stressful for both leaders and workers regardless of the title behind the person’s name or their position on the chain of command.   Ever-increasing expectations from patients and their families combined with demands put forth by physician colleagues creates a high-pressure environment for leaders and workers alike.  Chief CRNAs, OR managers and rank and file workers all experience production pressure in a high stakes environment and are all susceptible to work related anxiety and depression.  Rather than succumb to the pressure, a little cognitive reframing creates a different perspective and changes the internal dialogue in the person’s mind.  Here is what you need to know.

What is cognitive reframing?

According to the Wikipedia, cognitive reframing is a process by which a person identifies and then changes the way situations, experiences, events, ideas, or emotions are viewed.   It is a process by which thoughts are challenged and then changed.   Simply put, it is looking at a stressful situation and consciously opting to consider alternative perspectives and then visualizing a positive outcome for the problem.  It is a process that requires changing the internal dialogue in one’s head and replacing negative, fear-provoking thought with options that support a positive outcome. 

Choose your thinking framework

We can’t always control the problems that are thrown at us, but we can control the way we respond to them.  You have choices as to how you mentally react when stressful situations emerge.

Asset-based versus deficit based.  Asset based thinkers step back, assess the resources that are available and consider ways to leverage them to achieve the goal.  In contrast, deficit-based thinkers focus on what is lacking and throw in the towel.

Proactive versus reactive.  Proactive thinkers take control, rally support from others, and implement solutions to the problem.   In contrast, reactive thinkers are at the mercy of others and often view themselves as a victim of the system.

Reframe your thinking

Whether in your personal or work life, the ability to reframe a stressful situation sets you free from being dragged down by the problem of the day.  Start by asking yourself, “If I knew ahead of time that things will work out OK, how would I respond?”  Then proactively assess the situation and intervene as appropriate.   The online resource leadership now offers the following suggestions for actions to take after you reframe your thinking.

Structural changes.  This requires looking at the process, redesigning the workflow, re-writing policies/procedures, and engaging colleagues to embrace the changes.

Coaching.  Assume that you are surrounded by good people, but not all are fully capable in every area.   View the situation as an opportunity for career development and either work with the person yourself or assign him/her to a supportive mentor.

Political.  When discord within the group is causing stress, step in as a peacemaker.  Review the mission, vision, and core values of the group and enforce a code of conduct that includes civility and bans gossip.

Motivation.  Teams function most efficiently when they have a sense of common purpose.  Reduce stress by creating goals and ensuring that the team sees the connection between the goals and the overall mission of the organization.  Generate milestones to assess progress and never miss an opportunity to celebrate success.

Take control

You can proactively ward off some situations however you can’t deflect every problem in either your personal or professional life.  Rather than viewing yourself as a hopeless victim, take charge and reframe your thinking.  Focus on what you can do with available resources, seek additional help, and focus on a positive outcome.  You will be amazed at how your productivity increases and your stress evaporates after you alter your outlook and confidently take charge.

Tom is an experienced leader, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.



Values-based Leadership



By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

The healthcare workplace is fast-paced and often a hectic arena that challenges the skills of leaders and managers at all levels.  Frontline leaders who work at the grassroots level where provider priorities collide with the patient’s needs and expectation are especially challenged daily to keep the train on the tracks.  Values-based leadership brings stability and predictability to the workplace.

What is values-base leadership?

Values-based leadership is a philosophy that teams do their best work when they share common values and apply them to every interaction in the workplace.   Indeed.com career development blog notes that following a shared set of beliefs increases employee collaboration and increases productivity.  Writing in Forbes.com, author Harry M. Jansen Kraemer Jr. notes the four pillars of values-based leadership:

  • Self-reflection; knowing who you are and what motivates you.
  • Balance; the ability to see a situation from different points of view.
  • Self-confidence; knowing that your decisions are based on a solid ethical foundation.
  • Humility; respecting the values of other individuals and of the organization.

Clearly, building a team that knows, embraces, and lives the mission, vision and values of the organization will level the playing field and form a solid foundation for decision-making.

Implementing this powerful leadership style begins with self-awareness and an understanding of the values that most effect the way you make your decisions both at home and at work.  Several values assessment tests are available for free online and offer insight into your personal principles.  Knowing who you are and what you believe will increase self-confidence in all your interactions.   Encourage your team members to gain awareness by also taking the values assessment test.

Values-based team building

The rubber hits the road when the principles of this dynamic style of leadership are applied to the daily operation of the team.  Dedicate a team meeting to discussing the mission, vision, and values of the organization.  Encourage a “what if” discussion…what if we conducted our business in alignment with these values?  Build a consensus within the team that going forward, the core values of the organization will be the norm for the behavior of every team member.

Incorporate values-based leadership into the recruiting process.  Ensure that job advertisements contain verbiage that reflects the core values of the team and re-write job descriptions to include the core values.  At interview, discuss core values with the applicant and have the candidate discuss examples of how they have aligned with the values in past situations.  End the interview by saying, “these are the values of our team.  If this is not you, this is not our job.”  You will be amazed at how applicants are attracted to a job where values are known, and people are respected.

Values-based daily management

New hires learn the nuances of the workplace very quickly and the orientation process is your opportunity to show that your team lives the values that were discussed during the interview.  Assign the new hire to a team member who role models the values that you desire within your team.

Review your policies and procedures to ensure that they are in alignment with the core values of your team. Where possible, incorporate key words that reflect your values into your written material.

The annual performance review is an opportunity to review the core values with the individual.  Ask the person for examples of how he/she aligned with the core values over the past year and discuss behavior that will reflect core values in the upcoming year.  Occasionally, negative feedback or even discipline is needed to correct bad behavior.  Rather than resorting to accusations or finger pointing, review the core values, point out where the person was out of alignment, and have her/him discuss their plan to re-align with the values.  End a disciplinary session with the statement, “if these values are not who you are, this is not your job.”

Be a values-based leader

Values that are shared by the leader, team and organization provide a sturdy foundation that will withstand the tremors and earthquakes that occur frequently in the workplace.  Dignity, respect, enhanced collaboration and improved productivity all thrive when values are shared and people work toward a common goal.  Increase your value by being a values-based leader.

Tom is an experienced leader, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.



The Doctorate degree: Do I need it?

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

In 2004, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) announced a bold recommendation that the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) be established as the gateway for entry to practice degree for all advanced practice nurses.  Several years later in 2007 the Board of Directors for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists affirmed the AACN proposal by recommending that all nurse anesthesia programs be at the Doctorate level by 2025. 

Why a doctorate degree and why now?

In response to the initiatives by both the AACN and the AANA board of directors, the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia programs established a mandate that all nurse anesthesia education programs offer a doctorate degree to every person graduating in 2025 or later.  Over the past decade, most nurse anesthesia education programs have upgraded to the doctorate level with the remaining programs in the final stages for conversion to the new degree.  Because nearly all programs require 36 months for completion, new students starting their education in 2023 must be enrolled in a program that offers a doctorate degree upon completion in 2025.  Clearly the clock is ticking as the final programs scramble to meet doctorate level accreditation standards.

Currently certified and actively practicing CRNAs will be able to continue to deliver anesthesia care using their existing credentials.  However, many experienced anesthesia providers desire an education level comparable to new graduates entering the profession.  Therefore, a push is underway among veteran providers to upgrade their credentials by participating in a degree completion program to earn a doctorate degree.

Be a student as long as you still have something to learn, and that means all of your life.  ~Henry Doherty

Does the Doctorate degree make me a better anesthesia provider?

Clinical competence remains the foundation for the safe and effective of anesthesia care regardless of the type of practice.  Student nurse anesthetists must learn the sciences of physiology and pharmacology related to anesthesia practice, and in addition, the neophyte must spend countless hours gaining the hands-on skills necessary to acquire clinical competence.  History has proven that master’s level programs have done an exceptional job preparing students to assume a role as an independent anesthesia provider.

The doctorate degree does not necessarily make the new graduate more skilled at delivering clinical anesthesia, however, the degree does make the person a more knowledgeable and versatile healthcare worker.  The doctorate degree expands the curriculum to include an understanding of leadership, healthcare policy, systems management, and the application of evidence-based healthcare.  Writing in the AANA Journal, Hawkins and Nezat list the following as subjects learned while earning a doctorate degree.

  •  Scientific foundation for practice
  • Organizational leadership and systems management
  • Clinical scholarship for evidence-based practice
  • Information systems and technology
  • Healthcare policy
  • Interprofessional collaboration and networking
  • Healthcare policy
  • Advancing nursing practice

Which doctorate degree is best for me?

The type of terminal degree that is best for you depends upon where you are currently working and your professional goals.  Advanced practice nurses, including CRNAs, have a variety of options when earning a doctorate degree.  Although completion of any of the terminal degrees will put Dr. on your nametag, they are not master keys that open every door.  For example, the DNP is the preferred degree for those who want to teach in a school of nursing, the PhD is more appropriate for those with an interest in scientific research.  Writing in nurse.org, author Mariam Yazdi recommends considering the following when deciding upon which is the best degree for you.

  • Where do I want to work?
  • What are the credentials of others applying for the position that I want?
  • Will a PhD make me more competitive than a clinical doctorate degree?

Earning a doctorate degree builds upon clinical excellence and positions the learner to be an expert in evidence-based medicine and healthcare policy development.  Consider the following when applying for admission to the program.

  • PhD, Doctor of Philosophy   The PhD is the most common type of doctorate degree and is awarded by the majority of academic fields.  The degree is earned by producing sophisticated work that significantly adds to the body of knowledge for the profession.  In healthcare, the PhD commonly requires completing, presenting, and defending original research.
  • EdD Doctor of education    An EdD is an advanced degree designed specifically to prepare the candidate to assume a role in educational leadership.   In contrast, a PhD in education prepares the candidate to conduct research related to the education process.  The EdD is most applicable for University teaching outside the schools of medicine and nursing.
  • DNP Doctor of nurse practice     The DNP is designed to produce leaders in clinical nursing and nursing education.  Graduates with this degree learn to influence healthcare outcomes through effective leadership and organizational policy implementation.  The DNP was identified by the AACN as the preferred degree for nursing school faculty.
  • DNAP Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia practice     The DNAP is a doctorate degree specifically designed for practicing nurse anesthetists.  The degree has a focus on utilization of research to develop evidence-based practice, leadership for the implementation of change, and business management related to nurse anesthesia.
  • DMPNA Doctor of management practice for Nurse anesthesia     This very specialized degree builds upon a master’s degree in healthcare management and expands it to a doctorate level practice management degree with a focus on the business of nurse anesthesia and healthcare administration.

What is my next step?

For those who are content with the status quo, fear not, you will continue to recertify for practice based on your current credentials.  For those who seek to complete a terminal degree, the process starts with self-assessment and a critical look at personal goals and capabilities.  Once done, the second step is to select the type of degree that best positions you to achieve your career goals.  Finally, find and apply to a University that offers the degree you desire.   To help you with your search, the AANA Council on Accreditation offers a list of accredited programs.  The key to finding a program that welcomes practicing CRNAs is to look through the list and search for the word “completion”.  Online doctorate programs are common and allow the working CRNA to remain on the job and pursue the degree during personal time.

Whether your goal is to keep up with the newbies, expand your knowledge, or position yourself for a leadership position, the doctorate degree is readily available to those willing to put forth the effort to earn it.  Are you smart enough?  If you can pass your certification exam and safely practice anesthesia, you have the intelligence to earn a doctorate degree.  All that is required is time, money, intellectual curiosity, and the tenacity to see the endeavor through to completion.  Go for it.

Tom is an experienced leader, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Halloween Leadership Lessons

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

“Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it’s about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves.”

— Elvis Duran

Halloween is exciting and full of surprises; however, it is no surprise that the festive event also contains several lessons which will enhance team collaboration, staff engagement and the overall effectiveness of the designated leader.  Look beyond gawdy makeup and treats in the lounge and heed the wisdom arising from Halloween leadership lessons.

Identity matters.  At a costume party it is challenging to guess who the person is concealed by the costume and not knowing the identity until the masks are removed.   In contrast, at the workplace, a team must always know who the leader is in terms of the personal values and leadership style.  Honesty, integrity, and consistency must be your hallmark characteristics and they must be apparent regardless of the color of your hair or the funny glasses that you wear.  If you want to scare and demoralize your team, show up as a different person every day.

Creativity generates empowerment.  Policies, procedures, and protocols; they are essential but can leave workers feeling like robots.  Give team members the latitude to decorate the workplace and wear work-appropriate costumes on Halloween.  Reward creativity and then let the spirit of the holiday be a catalyst for the team to apply inventiveness to problem solving.  Not only will the mood of the team be elevated, but the team will also feel empowered to resolve outstanding issues.

You can be whoever you want to be.  Once you decide the character you want to be for Halloween, it is not difficult to find a costume and props to transform yourself into the new person.  Likewise, once you decide who you want to be as a professional, a little time, effort and planning will enable you to acquire the new role.  Halloween is a great opportunity for a leader to learn about the desires of workers and then arrange professional development to take each person to a new level of performance.

Ghosts can only scare you when you let them in.  Do not let your workplace become a haunted house by allowing evil spirits to mingle with your team.  Fear and paranoia are paralyzing and kill staff morale. Behaviors such as gossip, blaming, and passive/aggressive activity are the evil spirits that make everybody leery about scary things that could jump out at them.  Ban gossip, outlaw blaming, and diffuse fear by openly discussing problems; never ignore the elephant in the room.

Collaboration fosters courage.  In the famous scary movie, Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy Kruger only had power when people feared him, and he always selected a person separated from the group to be his next victim.  In the workplace, collaboration produces a sense of community and knowing that others have their back inspires individuals to address challenges that they otherwise may have avoided.  Team members who work together to plan and pull off a workplace social event will stand united to solve other workplace challenges. Say yes to reasonable Halloween activities, then turn it into a teambuilding event.

Teambuilding is enjoyable.   The purpose of teambuilding is to enhance personal relationships and foster collaboration among team members.   Halloween is an occasion that begs for workers to collaborate by decorating the workplace, donning an altered ego, and planning a festive day.  The best workplaces reward strong performance by planning special days to recognize the effort that the team puts forth daily. 

Halloween is a holiday that can be spooky but do not let it spook you.  The gremlins and goblins who lurk in the shadows are no match for a united group so focus on teambuilding reward your team with a festive day.  While you are at it, plan for celebrations and teambuilding activities for the upcoming Thanksgiving and New Year holidays. 

Tom is an experienced leader, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.

Bucket list leadership lessons

By Thomas Davis, DNAP, MAE, CRNA

Follow @procrnatom on twitter

I am an avid cyclist to the point of being suspected of having a personal relationship with my bicycle; after all, we have spent over 40K miles together on the road.  In addition, I have a deep interest in healthcare leadership development and last weekend my two major interests collided while doing a bucket list bike ride on the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage bicycle trail from Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD. 

As our group of 10 loaded the shuttle van to transport us from Cumberland to Pittsburgh, it was evident that Greg, owner of 2wheel escapes and coordinator for the trip had his act together.  Assisted by his wife Rhona and paid helper Lynn, each new person arriving for the trip received a warm welcome and, with efficiency, luggage, bicycles and passengers were loaded onto the trailer and van, respectively.  In short order, anxiety of the unknown challenge ahead turned into lively conversation among the new group of friends. 

As we traveled toward Pittsburgh, Greg openly shared his vision with our group explaining that the trail is beautiful, but it is the support provided for the riders that converts the ride into a memorable experience worth repeating.  He explained that his goal is to be the number one GAP trail tour organizer and create an experience that people would want to repeat and that they would recommend to friends.  Everything from that point forward was designed to bring his vision to life.   We were told up front that his services were intended to be second to none and that it was up to us to make him even better…please offer suggestions.

Greg put words to action and delivered on the pledge that he made to the group.  Every aspect of the trip was on time and as promised, often exceeding expectation.   The format for our journey included camping overnight; Greg set a high standard and only stayed at campgrounds with flush toilets and hot showers.  Because COVID has closed many restaurants, 2wheel escapes provide an exceptional dinner on site every evening followed by an ample hot breakfast in the morning.  Each day started with a briefing and a printed list of landmarks along the way.   The scenery was different every day and particularly magnificent in the Ohiopyle area, however, riding into the campground each day consistently found Greg and Rhona set up and ready with afternoon snacks for the hungry riders.  They aimed to please and hit the bull’s eye.

As I pedaled toward the Eastern Continental divide, I could not help thinking about the importance of creating a positive and memorable experience and then extrapolated the concept to healthcare.  The outcome of my amazing weekend was much more than rolling along a wooded trail, it was having an experience that I am eager to repeat.  Likewise, a positive healthcare encounter requires more than a nice facility and creates a responsibility on healthcare workers to deliver a positive and memorable experience for each patient. 

Having a positive experience is important in healthcare and this is why

Builds trust   Creating a positive experience requires healthcare workers to connect one on one with each patient and learn about what is important to them.  Taking Greg’s attitude of “make us better” sends the message that what is important to the patient is also important to the provider.  The experience of feeling valued creates trust that the other person has your back.

Enhances confidence   Most patients do not have a medical background and do not fully understand best practice guidelines; they are at the mercy of the healthcare provider.  Those who have a positive experience and trust the provider are more likely be compliant with treatment protocols and achieve a better overall outcome.

Improves patient safety   A solid, trusting relationship between patient and provider creates a bond where both are more vigilant, communicate more frequently and ward off problems before they arise.  Writing in BMJ, Authors Doyle et. al. affirm the connection between the patient’s experience, safety and ultimate outcome.

Job security    Greg knows that to earn a profit in a competitive market, he must deliver the goods reliably and in a manner that generates repeat business.   Similarly, in the past, patients were tied to their local community for healthcare, however, our digital world has broken geographical barriers and opened the door to shop anywhere for medical services.  Healthcare is a competitive market and by creating a positive experience, a loyal customer base is developed.  Patients share their experiences, both good and bad, on social media so the environment that we create will be revealed to the world.  Ultimately, those who create the positive experience for the patient will thrive and those who do not, will not survive.

My weekend ride did a lot more than check off an item on my bucket list, it opened my eyes to the importance of creating a dynamic and memorable experience.  Taking an interest in a patient and placing value on the feedback that you receive is the first step in creating a culture that knows the importance of the patient’s overall experience.  Be bold and create a bucket list experience for each of your patients.

Tom is an experienced leader, author, and requested speaker.  Click here for a video introduction to Tom’s talk topics.