Leading academic researchers, supported by the American Nurses Association (ANA) Enterprise Institute for Nursing Research and Quality Management, have unveiled a groundbreaking paper on the economic value of Nursing.
“The Nursing Human Capital Value Model,” authored by esteemed scholars Dr. Marianne Weiss, Dr. Olga Yakusheva, and Dr. Kathryn A. Lee, introduces a revolutionary framework that delves into nurses’ vital role in healthcare systems. This work is part of the comprehensive Economic Value of Nursing project initiated by the ANA Enterprise, which emphasizes the indispensable value of nursing in healthcare and its profound influence on patient outcomes.
The Nursing Human Capital Value Model demonstrates how a cycle of initial investments in nurses leads to enhanced performance. This improved performance often results in better patient care, which in turn boosts the organization’s success. The financial savings and increased revenues from these improvements can be reinvested into further developing nursing human capital, creating a sustainable cycle of continuous value generation that benefits both the healthcare organization and the patients it serves.
Nurses, through their unwavering commitment, expertise, and empathy, drive exceptional patient care and healthcare organizations’ success. This model, crafted by Dr. Weiss and Dr. Yakusheva, underscores the pivotal role of nursing human capital in generating value for healthcare organizations, making a solid case for strategic investment in nursing.
What is it like to work as a pediatric outpatient hematology/oncology nurse caring for children with blood disorders and cancer?
Anisa Hoie, RN, knows firsthand from working at Children’s Nebraska for 41 years.
We asked Hoie about her work as a pediatric outpatient hematology/oncology nurse. Our interview follows, edited for length and clarity.
Anisa Hoie, RN, works as a pediatric outpatient hematology/oncology nurse at Children’s Nebraska.
When did you start at Children’s Nebraska, and what drew you to a career in pediatrics?
I started at Children’s on July 18, 1983. In the early eighties, nursing was much different than it is today in the sense that there was an abundance of nurses in the Omaha area. When I graduated from nursing school, it was tough to find jobs. I said I just wanted to find a job in Omaha and stay here. I was a small-town, Nebraska girl who had come to the big city to go to nursing school, and I just wanted to stay here in Omaha. There was an opportunity for a job at Children’s on a general Med Surg floor. It was a part-time position with the hope that once you were in the door, you would soon move into a full-time position. I applied and got the job, and I started in July after passing my boards. By the fall, a full-time position came open, and I was able to work into that.
I always loved taking care of kids and did a lot of babysitting growing up. I started working up on the old sixth floor across the street in the Methodist Tower, and the unit I worked on had a lot of oncology patients. At first, I was a little taken aback by that because my oncology experience in nursing school was all with adults, which was a sad place to be in the early eighties. Oncology was not my favorite thing in the world. When I said I wanted to stay in Omaha, I said I’d work at any hospital in Omaha as long as I didn’t get a job in an oncology unit. When I started up on the Med Surg floor, there were a lot of kids on the unit that I was on who were oncology patients. But I found it to be very refreshing and rewarding in the sense that kids were so different than adults. They didn’t sit around feeling sorry for themselves because they got this diagnosis. They still wanted to be kids. They would wake up in the morning and watch Sesame Street to go to the playroom and play. So they were very inspiring to care for, and I loved caring for the oncology kids. I worked on the sixth floor for a little over four years when the chemo nurse position came open; the nurse in that position was getting married and moving away. Then in August of 1987, that position came open; I applied for it and got the job. I started working in the Oncology Clinic as the HemOnc nurse in late August of 87, and I’ve been here ever since.
What’s most fulfilling to you in your role?
One of the most fulfilling things is seeing a child that walks in here scared, but, over time, you build that trust with them, and they learn to trust you. When they first walk in the door, I always tell families that, while they have a very nervous little kid, I tell the parents that one day we’ll all be friends. And it’s amazing. Somewhere along the line, we all become friends, and they learn to trust us as nurses and that we’re here for them. The biggest reward is when you get that hug for the first time.
What are some things you like doing with patients? How do you break down barriers so children aren’t scared in this environment?
We’re fortunate here that we have Child Life in our clinic, and they help to bring that play element to things, and sometimes you have to be goofy when you’re a pediatric provider or team member. You know, you can’t be that serious, stoic person. Sometimes, you have to be a little goofy and silly, get down on the level, and make things games that normally aren’t. We must be willing to do things like that for these kids; they will appreciate you more and realize that you’re just another person, not as scary as it seems when they first walk in the door.
What stands out as you reflect on your last 35 years of working with this patient population?
Oh, there are tons. You know what I found is that kids are very inspiring. I’ve always told people I’ve learned more from the kids I’ve taken care of than any adult has ever taught me: how to enjoy life and make the most of every moment you have—fortunately, the majority of the kids that you take care of become long-term survivors. But there is that little percentage of kids who unfortunately don’t survive. And you’ve had to learn to work through that on your own. My kind of thought on that is any day that I can make better for those kids when they’re going through something so hard makes me feel good, you know, if I can do something special to help them get through the days that they are encountering, make some bad days better. I’ve done my job.
You learn early on that you can’t fix everybody, unfortunately, as much as you would like to. But making the most of their days is essential to me, and working here at the hospital for 41 years has been fun. And in the clinic for 37 years. I’ve gotten to watch a lot of kids grow up. I’ve gone to lots of birthday parties, graduation parties, weddings. I get Christmas cards every year from patients who are now grown up and have their own families and parents, which I still hear from years ago. It’s been a great ride, and I wouldn’t have changed anything about what I’ve done regarding that.
I have four children of my own, and they’ve always been actively involved in going to parties with me. I think that experience gave my kids a much different perspective on life. They learned early on in life that you don’t sweat the small stuff because not playing in a basketball game or those kinds of things. Do they matter in life? You know, after they’ve seen what some of the kids here go through and deal with on a daily basis. I think it’s grounded my kids differently than they wouldn’t have had if I had not been doing what I do.
Can you talk about what it’s been like to see research/tech/treatments evolve throughout your nursing career?
We’ve made great strides in making kids long-term survivors. Now, we’re looking at what we can do to make sure that kids aren’t living with long-term side effects from their treatment. How can we tweak things to have good outcomes still? But see fewer long-term side effects, which is exciting. In the next ten years, there will be so many changes in the oncology world, and looking at targeted therapies has become such a big thing. Looking at, you know, what is the makeup of that child’s cancer and what can we give them to target, what is causing their cancer, and get rid of it that way. It’s exciting to see all of the changes that are coming around, and hopefully, one day, we won’t have to worry about it. That is the hope.
As you help educate and empower younger nurses entering the field or our organization, what advice do you give them?
I like to instill in people that caring and getting involved is okay. To do what we do in the oncology clinic, you must care because those parents need you. We’re like a big family up here; that was always the case through the years. That’s what we want to relay to our patients and their families – that we’re part of their family once they walk through our doors. It’s okay to care and become a part of that family and give a little of yourself because the reward you’ll receive back is gigantic.
Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, EBP-C, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN, is being honored with the prestigious President’s Award by the American Academy of Nursing at the 2024 Health Policy Conference in Washington, DC from October 31 to November 2, 2024. This award is the highest individual achievement recognition given by the Academy, celebrating Dr. Melnyk’s exceptional contributions to enhancing the health of individuals, families, and communities over her career.
Dr. Melnyk, a global figure in the field of nursing, currently holds the esteemed position of Vice President for Health Promotion and Chief Wellness Officer at Ohio State University. She is the Helene Fuld Health Trust Professor of Evidence-based Practice in the College of Nursing and a Professor of Pediatrics and Psychiatry in the College of Medicine. Her leadership, expertise, and innovative work in evidence-based practice, child and adolescent mental health, clinician well-being, entrepreneurship, and intervention research, as well as her pioneering techniques in population health and well-being, have earned her worldwide recognition.
In recognition of her remarkable dedication to advancing health and well-being, Daily Nurse is honored to honor Dr. Melnyk as the Nurse of the Week.
Dr. Melnyk was grateful for being honored with the American Academy of Nursing’s President’s Award. “I am humbled and blessed to receive this wonderful award from the American Academy of Nursing. Coming from a small little rural coal mining town in PA, I have been able to do what I’ve done throughout my career; anyone can have a big positive impact if you do what I did; that is, I always dreamed big and stayed focused on my dreams, discovered (which is all about innovating & risk-taking), and delivered those dreams by persisting through the character-builders that we all confront when pioneering anything. Never let anyone tell you your dream is too big or impossible, and always keep your dreams bigger than your fears. Lastly, fail forward (with every no, you are 1 step closer to a yes) and never quit. You can do it! And if you ever need a Bern boost, reach out to me. I am committed to helping people to accomplish their dreams and soar!”
Nominate a Nurse of the Week! Every Wednesday, DailyNurse.com features a nurse making a difference in the lives of their patients, students, and colleagues. We encourage you to nominate a nurse who has impacted your life as the next Nurse of the Week, and we’ll feature them online and in our weekly newsletter.
Monique King, RN, BSN, and NICU nurse at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans (CHNOLA) says she loves watching babies grow and thrive to the point of discharge
We asked King about her work as a NICU nurse. What follows is our interview, edited for length and clarity.
How did you become interested in working as a NICU nurse? What drew you to it? How long have you been doing it?
From your first school-age years, when you are asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My answer has always been that of a baby nurse. When I made that statement, I did not know what that entailed or what I pictured my life would be. I have always loved babies. I was a nurse tech in the ER here throughout nursing school, and when I was asked if I wanted to be a NICU nurse, it was like a dream come true. I have been a NICU nurse at Children’s Hospital for almost 15 years.
Explain what a NICU nurse does. What types of patients do you serve? What do you provide for them?
I could go on and on about what a NICU nurse does on a day-to-day basis. When a woman becomes pregnant, they usually have a picture-perfect image of how life will be. Unfortunately, it does not always go the way you had planned. As NICU nurses, we get to care for some of the smallest and most vulnerable patients. We are advocates for patients who can’t speak & for parents- at their weakest but also most joyful moments. We provide nursing care, just as any other specialty, but we also show our love for the babies, grow with the babies, and celebrate the good, the bad, the ugly! We provide comfort, promote bonding, administer medications and treatments, assist with surgeries, monitor vital signs, and more.
Did you need to get additional education for this position? Please explain.
We provide an extensive 12-week unit orientation and a 2-week hospital orientation for nurses. Our nurses are NRP and PALS certified and attend educational classes during their orientation.
What do you like most about working as a NICU nurse?
I love watching our babies grow and thrive to the point of discharge. Some of our babies have been with us for months and have become like family. I also love my work family; we go through the most challenging times together and grow with each other through the years.
What are your biggest challenges as a NICU nurse?
The biggest challenge as a NICU nurse is watching the family go through the hardest times, sometimes the unimaginable moments—the moments most never thought they would have to encounter in their lives. Being the strong one in the room when you want to be one of the weakest is a very challenging moment.
Do you have a favorite story about your job you’d like to share?
I have two favorite defining moments in my NICU career so that I will be brief. We had a set of twins who had been with us for many months. We went through happy moments, the death of family, sad moments, scary moments-basically all the moments. The entire family was like our family, but this one particular family member became our “Pawpaw.” He brought us milk and fresh donuts every single Saturday for a year. Even when he was hospitalized, he called a family member to ensure we were brought our Saturday morning treat. When the twin brother was finally discharged home, Pawpaw still brought us donuts for the longest time. When Pawpaw became sick, our NICU family came together and provided gifts, money, and meals to his children. This shows that, as NICU nurses, our love and care do not end at discharge. My other sweet story is one of my primary patients. Many thought he would not leave this hospital, but with our care and medical expertise, he did. We still keep in contact with the family and attend birthday parties, as well as this particular family attends my own children’s birthday parties. This is a perfect example when I say their family becomes our family. These two families and many more throughout my career are my WHY! These are the moments of why, even on the darkest days, I continue to show up!
What are your most significant rewards as one?
As mentioned above, the most significant reward is watching someone’s baby being discharged from the hospital. As parents, they have watched their pride and joy fight hard and encounter hard things. The joy and smiles on their faces as they walk down the NICU halls for the last time are priceless.
Is there anything else that is important for our readers to know?
I would not be the nurse or person I am today without my co-workers and work family. They helped shape who I am and carried me through some of my career’s most challenging and best times. Children’s NICU is my home, my safe place, and the place I love to call “work.” My parents always quoted Mark Twain—and it is totally true: “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never work a day in your life.”
In Springer Publishing’s latest episode of the Conversations About Health Care Delivery in the United States podcast,hosts Jim Knickman and Brian Elbel discuss the importance of health behavior, especially the often-overlooked issue of sleep hygiene, with Dr. Azizi Seixas, the interim chair of health informatics and health data science at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.
Episode 4: The Often-Overlooked Health Behavior
Their discussion covers the essential health behaviors and the risk behaviors affecting individual and population health. They also delve into the factors that drive these behaviors and the role of the health system in educating, communicating, and influencing improved health behavior. Additionally, they highlight potential career opportunities and explore how technology is used to study and measure healthy behavior.
About Conversations About Health Care Delivery in the United States Podcast
The podcast series is hosted by Jim Knickman, the former Robert Derzon Chair at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and Brian Elbel, MPH, Professor of Population Health and Health Policy at NYU Wagner and the NYU Grossman School of Medicine. It features discussions with prominent experts, innovators, and leaders in the health sector and is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
The series examines complex and challenging issues affecting the U.S. health care system, its workforce, and the populations that interact with it, covering topics such as health management, public health, health behavior, population health, healthcare quality, and health economics.
Knickman and Elbel engage with guests who are leaders in the health sector, from aging services to health policy, to learn more about the key drivers shaping the healthcare system, challenges and complexities related to health inequities, and the exciting career opportunities available to future health care professionals and leaders.
The podcast series is a companion to the 13th edition of Jonas and Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States, as each episode has ties to essential concepts, challenges, complexities, and themes in the textbook.
