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AACN Excellent Nurse Manager Award
Robyn L. Bushinski, RN, BA, PHN, MA
University of Minnesota Medical Center-Fairview, Saint Paul, MN
I am surrounded by extraordinary individuals who are as committed and passionate about providing the very best care to patients and their families as I am … we share this vision of excellence. This commitment and passion ties us together with challenges and dynamic change in a complex environment.
My role in providing support and leadership in this MICU was recently quoted by my longtime friend and mentor, Ann Gengler, as: “She has the innate ability to inspire, challenge and provide the support needed to allow individuals to do their best.” Additionally, “she is dedicated to helping her staff and unit develop by encouraging focus on individuals’ strengths and how they complement others’ strengths.”
I believe nurse managers must help people recognize their own talents. We are not as aware of our abilities as we should be. To do what we are capable of, we must be aware of our abilities. Only then will we be able to do what we are truly capable of … and that can be incredibly empowering!
Understanding the MICU and making time to strategize is one of the challenges that I have become capable of. Determining what has been important to staff – historically, today and in the future – continues to inform my decisions. I have involved staff in more decisions over time … they have become capable in this regard as well. Eliciting their ideas and sharing the links that I see have enabled staff to build upon their perspectives and engage each other in that same dialogue toward informed decision making. The team building and support for thoughtful decisions has engaged staff to a significant level. This engagement can be seen in the true dedication to serving our patient population that I see from staff day-after-day. They are the true inspiration!
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