Chief Nurse Executive applauds team for adaptability, commitment
The many changes Queen Elizabeth witnessed during her reign – from the launch of the first commercial jet service to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic – became a timely metaphor in UT Southwestern’s annual State of Nursing Address.
“There’s something great about hanging on to the good pieces that we’ve had in our past, but also moving toward the future and being excited about doing the work in a different way, which is now on King Charles’ plate, to make sure that continues to go forward,” said Associate Vice President and Health System Chief Nurse Executive Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN.
UT Southwestern also has faced many changes over the decades, Dr. Hernandez said, emphasizing that “we really need to think about where we’ve been and where we are going.”
Her May 11 address at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital took place during National Nurses Week, the American Nurses Association’s annual celebration of nurses’ contributions. Dr. Hernandez spoke before a standing room-only audience, with additional viewing locations set up across campus. The presentation of the annual Nurse Excellence Awards followed.
To illustrate how much the profession has changed, Dr. Hernandez asked all the nurses in the room to stand. Then she asked those who started working after COVID-19 to sit down. Also asked to take a seat: those who worked before pagers, then electronic records, scrubs, and other advances. By the time she got to those who had received caps at their graduation ceremonies, only a few people were left standing, making Dr. Hernandez’s point clear.
Turning her attention to what nursing could look like in the future, Dr. Hernandez focused on Generation Z, sometimes called the “iGeneration” because of all the technology members have at their disposal. This generation was the first to reach adolescence after smartphones became widespread, she said.
Dr. Hernandez presented this challenge to nurses: How do we see ourselves in the future? The answers, she said, can be found in four key areas: impact, innovation, influence, and inspiration.
The impact nurses have on patients can be seen in improved outcomes, she said, including a reduction in falls resulting in injuries.
She noted that UT Southwestern’s Clements University Hospital (CUH) ranks higher than 98th percentile nationally in the Press Ganey Overall Rating and Likelihood to Recommend. Press Ganey is a health company that develops and distributes patient satisfaction surveys.
“You’re doing the right thing, at the right time, with kindness in your voice,” Dr. Hernandez said.
Innovation can be seen throughout UT Southwestern, including with the Moxi robots that roam the halls of CUH. Two Moxi units handle routine, noncritical tasks, Dr. Hernandez said, which leaves more time for nurses and patient care technicians to spend with patients. In an average week, Moxi robots make about 500 deliveries.
Influence is reflected in growth, Dr. Hernandez said. “We had more than 380 nurse residents or nurse fellows come through our programs last year,” she said. “That’s a lot of nurses to bring into the organization.”
Succession planning is another element of influence, providing bedside nurses the support they need to move into other areas, such as education, nursing research, or clinical leadership. For example, 370 nurses currently serve in leadership positions in hospitals, clinics, education, research, and other areas, where they are making their voices heard, she said.
Additionally, nurses influence by showcasing their expertise through posters, presentations, and articles sharing best practices. Through influence, UTSW is keeping nurses here, Dr. Hernandez said.
And inspiration is easy to spot every day, she added – whether it’s co-workers engaging with each other, or a nurse helping a patient.
“We do very well in this area,” Dr. Hernandez said. “It’s about each of you being your best and being together as a team.”
Dr. Hernandez concluded her presentation by expressing her gratitude to UTSW’s nurses with a line from Shakespeare: “I can no other answer make, but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks.”