M
onthly one-on-one talks
with each of my staff mem-
bers gives them the chance
to speak about any issues they have
and talk openly about whatever sub-
ject they choose to discuss. The meet-
ings are brief check-ins and some-
times spur of the moment if I see a
gap in a staff member's schedule.
These individual meetings let me
get to know my team personally and
professionally. I hear about their rea-
sons for doing what they do, their
goals, what they excel at and what
they need help with. Staff know that
my door is always open, which has made them
more open and involved. I've also found it's some-
times easier for team members to share their true
thoughts and feelings during individual meetings
instead of in front of their colleagues during group
meetings. There have been several positive changes
made within our department as a result of sugges-
tions made during the one-on-one meetings.
Discussions about strengths and weaknesses in
each meeting have led to personal self-growth for
team members, and I always mention something
positive they have been doing. It's clear the individ-
ual meetings have helped team members become
the best versions of themselves.
Shawna Johnston, RN, BSN
Texas Health Huguley Hospital
Fort Worth, Texas
shawna.johnston@adventhealth.com
1 2 • O
U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
Ideas Work
That
OPEN FORUM
Individual Meetings Spark Meaningful Discussions
LIVE CHAT Establishing open channels of communication with your staff fosters a healthier and happier workplace.
Shawna
Johnston
T
o help our surgeons find their patients quickly and easily
in recovery, we hung a series of color-coded flags on the
wall outside each bay. The series of flags are screwed
into the wall, allowing us to flip one out as needed. Each physi-
cian is assigned a color, and looks for their flag outside of the
bay where they'll find their patient. It's a simple system, and the
physicians love it. The flags match color-coded expandable file
folders where we store each physician's reports. The flags and
folders streamline a physician's workflow, so they stress less.
Lora Crum, RN
Gulf Coast Endoscopy and Surgery Center of Venice
Venice, Fla.
lcrum@gulfcoastendocenter.com
PACU PERK
Flag Recovering Patients for Surgeons
VISUAL AID Color-coded flags direct physicians to the
bays where their patients are recovering.
Lora
Crum
