The Oklahoma Nurse - May 2020

THE
OKLAHOMA
NURSE
The Official Publication of the Oklahoma Nurses Association
Quarterly publication delivered to approximately 64,000 Registered Nurses and LPNs in Oklahoma
Volume 65 • Number 2
May 2020
CELEBRATING OKLAHOMA NURSES
2020 ONA Annual Convention
The Oklahoma Nurses Association is pleased to
announce the 2020 ONA Annual Convention, Year
of the Nurse: Celebrating Oklahoma Nurses.
We genuinely want to focus on celebrating
nurses, including your dedication and your
accomplishments, as it has already been an
extraordinary year. Please share how you and your
colleagues have dealt with adversity, innovative
ways you've ensured patient care, and how you've
advanced nursing. Other professional development
ideas include leadership, individual well-being,
emergency response, patient care, and advancing
the discipline.
Call for Proposals
We invite you to submit a presentation or
poster related to the topics listed below. The
strength of the ONA Convention is in its outstanding
array of educational activities, which directly relate
to nurses, nursing, and the profession. By reaching
across specialties and practice settings, convention
presentations should strive to enhance the skills of
nurses in all phases of their careers. We want to
continue this tradition through engaging speakers
and presentations. We will have four rounds of
breakout sessions for potentially eight sessions in
total.
Breakout sessions will be held on Thursday,
October 1. These breakout sessions will have two
concurrent 60-minute sessions. The Convention
Committee invites you to submit one or more
proposals for the presentation type most applicable
to you. Convention participants should be able to
clearly identify ideas learned during the presentation
that will directly impact or enhance their professional
practice.
Whether you are a first-time poster presenter
or a seasoned presenter, we encourage you to
submit your work for this year's Convention. Both
primary and secondary research is acceptable. The
current resident or
Presort Standard
US Postage
PAID
Permit #14
Princeton, MN
55371
Convention Committee will review posters based on
the following categories.
• Concurrent Session Presentation
(60 minutes) Deadline June 3rd
• Poster Presentation (written format;
30 minute staffed session) Deadline June 3rd
- Academic
- Clinical Practice & Research
- Theory, Concept, Teaching Papers &
Research
- Literature Review
Suggested Topics for the Breakout Sessions:
• Advocating for Your Patients
• Altered Standards of Care
• Crisis Response
• Emergency Preparedness
• End of Life Care – Advance Directives
• Historical Perspectives
• Incivility Issues and Resolutions
INSIDE
CEO Report. ....................... 2
President’s Message. ................ 3
Emerging Nurses. ................... 4
RN2Leader ........................ 6
Nurses Climate Challenge. ............ 7
Call for Nominations. ................ 8
Recognizing Nursing Excellence. ....... 9
• Interprofessional Practice and What That
Means for Nurses
• Just Culture and Beyond
• Nursing Ethics
• Nursing Leadership
• Nurses Voices – Remaining United and
Moving Forward
• Nurses on Boards – The Importance of
Nurses Representation in Communities
• Nurse Innovators – Innovation and
Entrepreneurship
• Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Care
• Political Advocacy in Nursing
• Practice Innovation
• Strength-Based Nursing
• Uncomfortable Conversations: Dealing
with Death, Dying and Organ Donation and
Transplants
• Work-life Balance/Self-care/Mindfulness/
Burnout Prevention
Educators Corner .................. 10
Responsible Use of Social Media ...... 11
Nurses Day at the Capitol. ........... 12
State of the World’s Nursing 2020. .... 14
Why, More Than Ever, We Need
Nurses as Spiritual Comforters. ..... 15
Ways to Celebrate Year of the Nurse. .. 19

2
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
Oklahoma Nurses Association Regions and Regional Presidents
Oklahoma Nurses Association
Region 1:
President: Lucas Richardson-
Walker
Region 2:
President: Donna Fesler
Region 3:
President: Julie Nevins
Region 4:
Vacant
Region 5:
President: Nakeda Hall
Region 6:
President: Viki Saidleman
Contact information available at www.oklahomanurses.org
Editor: ona@oklahomanurses.org
ONA 2018-2019 BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President – Karen Ann Taylor, DNP, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC
President-Elect – Shelly Wells, PhD, MBA, APRN-CNS, ANEF
Vice President – Angela Martindale, PhD, RN
Secretary/Treasurer – Julia Profit-Johnson, RN-BSN
Membership Development Director – Brandi M. Payton,
MSHCA, BSN, RN
Education Director – Vanessa Wright, PhD, MSN, RN
Practice Director – Michele Bradshaw, BSN, RN
Political Activities Director – Megan Jester, MS, RN
Emerging Nurse Director – Tina Stewart, MSN, BSN, RN
Region 1 President – Lucas Richardson-Walker, BSN, RN
Region 2 President – Donna Fesler
Region 3 President – Julie Nevins
Region 4 President – VACANT
Region 5 President – Nakeda Hall, DNP, APRN-CNP
Region 6 President – Viki Saidleman, RN
ONSA Consultant – Dr. Dean Prentice, Colonel (Retired),
USAF, NC, DHA, MA, BSN, NE-BC
ONA STAFF:
Jane Nelson, CAE — CEO
Andrea Starmer — Event Planner
Sarah Sopcak — Communications Specialist
CEO REPORT
Standing Tall During the Year of the Nurse
Jane Nelson, CAE
Never in a million years
could we anticipate the 2020
we're experiencing. On the
frontlines of the COVID-19
pandemic, nurses are
standing tall. This is truly
the Year of the Nurse!
ONA has always worked
to advocate for nurses,
nursing, and the profession
Jane Nelson
as a whole; during this crisis, that adage remains.
Announcing Career Opportunities
You’ve Been Waiting For!
Cimarron Correctional Facility
Cushing, Oklahoma
Now Hiring:
LPN, RN & Mental Health Coordinator
New Licensed Graduates Welcome!
New Starting Pay: Tiered compensation based on
years of experience and shift differential paid!
To learn more, please contact:
Valerie Moreland - Medical Recruiter, 615-263-6616
valerie.moreland@corecivic.com
Apply online at jobs.corecivic.com
CoreCivic is a Drug Free Workplace & EOE - M/F/Vets/Disabled.
We are working to ensure nurses have a seat at
the table; ONA has been invited to participate with
other health care providers in discussions with the
Governor's cabinet. These meetings have been
focused on Oklahoma's emergency response to
COVID-19 – accessibility of PPE, availability of
testing, and the overall workforce. Additionally,
ONA has signed on or authored several letters to
the Governor regarding Stay-at-Home orders, PPE,
testing, and workforce.
Besides these advocacy efforts, we've worked
to develop a place on our website for our nurses
to find resources and tools to help navigate
COVID-19 - we hope you've found these helpful. It's
imperative that you not only have access to these
resources, but that you also have a safe space to
share and network with fellow nurses. We created
our Networks of Support: Connecting Oklahoma
Nurses for just that reason. We'll continue to put on
Networks of Support for the foreseeable future, as
this has also assisted us in advocating for you.
It is our hope that this crisis will be over in time
for the ONA Convention in September. There, we
will celebrate together and reflect on the year's
triumphs & accomplishments. We want to hear your
stories, learn how you’ve innovated, and how you’re
advancing the nursing practice.
Listed in this newsletter are opportunities to
submit an abstract for presentation or a poster at
convention. Let us know if you want to serve on the
ONA Board or if you'd like to nominate a colleague
for an award. All of this is listed through these
pages. We’re also developing a way for you to share
your stories, your pictures, and your experiences.
We will use this to tell "our story" about the work
nurses do every day, rain or shine, pandemic or
not. This will be the focus at the ONA Convention,
on social media, and found in the very pages of this
publication.
We want to continue seeing our Nurses
Standing Tall!
MAILING ADDRESS:
Oklahoma Nurses Association
6608 N Western, #627, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
405/840-3476
Subscriptions:
The subscription rate is $20 per year.
THE OKLAHOMA NURSE (0030-1787), is published
quarterly every March, June, September and December by
the Oklahoma Nurses Association (a constituent member
of the American Nurses Association) and Arthur L. Davis
Publishing Agency, Inc. All rights reserved by copyright.
Views expressed herein are not necessarily those of
Oklahoma Nurses Association.
INDEXED BY
International Nursing Index and Cumulative Index to Nursing
and Allied Health Literature.
Copies of articles from this publication are available from the UMI
Article Clearinghouse. Mail requests to: University Microfilms
International, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106.
ADVERTISING
For advertising rates and information, please contact Arthur L.
Davis Publishing Agency, Inc., 517 Washington Street, PO Box
216, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, (800) 626-4081, sales@aldpub.
com. ONA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc.
reserve the right to reject any advertisement. Responsibility for
errors in advertising is limited to corrections in the next issue
or refund of price of advertisement.
Acceptance of advertising does not imply endorsement or
approval by the Oklahoma Nurses Association of products
advertised, the advertisers, or the claims made. Rejection
of an advertisement does not imply a product offered for
advertising is without merit, or that the manufacturer lacks
integrity, or that this association disapproves of the product
or its use. ONA and the Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency,
Inc. shall not be held liable for any consequences resulting
from purchase or use of an advertiser’s product. Articles
appearing in this publication express the opinions of the
authors; they do not necessarily reflect views of the staff,
board, or membership of ONA or those of the national or
local associations.
CONTACT THE ONA
Phone: 405.840.3476
E-mail: ona@oklahomanurses.org
Web site: www.oklahomanurses.org
Mail: 6608 N Western, #627, Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Questions about your nursing license?
Contact the Oklahoma Board of Nursing at 405.962.1800.
Want to advertise in The Oklahoma Nurse?
Contact Arthur L. Davis Publishing Agency, Inc.
at 800.626.4081 or email at sales@aldpub.com.
ONA CORE VALUES
ONA believes that organizations are value driven
and therefore has adopted the following core values:
• Diversity
• Safe Quality Care
• Ethical Care
• Health Parity
• Integrity and Accountability
• Practice Competence
• Professional Development
• Educational Advancement
ONA MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of the Oklahoma Nurses Association is to empower
nurses to improve health care in all specialties and practice
settings by working as a community of professional nurses.
VISION
Creating opportunities through advocacy, education and
collaboration to become the leading voice for the nursing
profession in the State of Oklahoma.
BRAND PROMISE
Engaging Nurses to make a difference!

May, June, July 2020 The Oklahoma Nurse 3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Karen Taylor, DNP, APRN-CNP, PMHNP-BC
Greetings,
Initially, I was preparing this message to write about
the WHO designating 2020 as the Year of the Nurse
and Midwife. This year was selected to commemorate
the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.
However, the landscape of health care has changed.
Nurses are facing the challenge of practicing in the time
of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not unlike our esteemed
predecessor, we are being asked to provide care in the
time of an unprecedented health care emergency with
limited resources.
This is a saddening, stressful, and frustrating
time in healthcare and nursing. It is sad we have to Karen Taylor
deny families presence with their ill and dying family
members. It is stressful to make decisions not based on recognized standards
of care, and it is frustrating not to have the supplies or resources needed to
provide safe, effective care to patients.
Nurse educators have to adapt their teaching methods, and students are
not able to get the clinical experience they need to learn the skills only you can
teach them. Many of us are not able to feel safe going home to our families due
to fear of bringing the virus home.
Initially, our government thought they could control the spread of the virus;
however, it has become apparent that we are now in a healthcare crisis. I hear
nurses speak out daily about the emotional toll this is taking on them, their
colleagues, and the people in their care. However, as this current situation
evolves, there is one thing that remains constant:
As nurses, you are doing everything you can!
Yes, healthcare is being challenged, but the nursing workforce has
the expertise and adaptability to meet this challenge. We are leaders and
innovators, and despite scarce PPE and resources, we are standing firm on the
front lines in all healthcare settings and adapting to meet the needs of all those
we serve.
ONA continues to meet with our policymakers and leaders in Oklahoma to
advocate for nurses and nursing practice across the state. Although the current
crisis has halted all nursing activities at the Capitol, we can still keep in touch
with our legislators. The ONA encourages you to keep yourself up to date on
current political events as nursing practice policies are evolving during this
crisis.
When you can, I encourage you to review the ONA website. We are adding
resources daily to keep you informed of current COVID-19 related events
and practices along with resources to help you stay safe, healthy, and well.
The ANA website contains a link to the Nurses Code of Ethics, which is a
valuable resource to review as it relates to this time of pandemic: https://www.
nursingworld.org/~495c6c/globalassets/practiceandpolicy/work-environment/
health--safety/coronavirus/nurses-ethics-and-the-response-to-the-covid-19-
pandemic.pdf
Thank you for all you do every day to meet the health care needs of our
fellow Oklahomans and educate future nurses. You are truly the healthcare
heroes!
To access electronic copies of the
Oklahoma Nurse, please visit
http://www.nursingald.com/publications

4
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
EMERGING NURSES
Resiliency
Tina Stewart, MSN, RN
ONA Emerging Nurse Director
During these unparalleled times, I'm sure it feels
like everything you have read or watched has to
do with the COVID-19 virus. In nursing school,
I remember remarking that it felt like joining the
military, saying "They tear you down to build
you up." The “tear you down” part of that quote
correlates to the amount of hectic work, believing
you aren't good enough, passing exams by the skin
of your teeth, and having to socially isolate yourself
from friends and family in order to study. I also heard
remarks from most of my teachers, "Nurses should
always adapt to their environment."
As I look at those two statements together, it
truly puts today's world into perspective. Medical
professionals everywhere are in a warzone, fighting
"Nurses should always adapt
to their environment."
a battle that no one has ever seen before, struggling
with limited ammo (PPE), and not knowing what is
happening now nor the next day. How in the world
are we able to adapt to that environment? How do
we, as nurses, advocate for those patients when we
are unable to advocate for ourselves?
I have heard of numerous methods to safeguard
yourself from this monstrous virus, but I haven't
heard much about "psychological safety." A Harvard
Business School professor, Amy Edmonson, created
this term as part of her research development on
behaviors in teamwork. Treating and eliminating this
virus will take effort from everyone; this includes not
just frontline workers, but society as a whole.
The term, “psychological safety,” denotes one
of the most important characteristics that highly
successful teams have in common. Efficient teams
are comfortable with admitting mistakes and
learning from those mistakes. These teams also
show innovative measures and model curiosity. If
everyone models and fosters psychological safety,
we can build an even bigger army of medical
professionals to reduce deaths and create better
patient outcomes.
As this virus reaches its peak, I encourage every
one of you to be mentally prepared and adapt to
that environment. Stay safe, pray, keep your mind,
body, and soul healthy, and lean on each other in
these unprecedented times.
Nurses make a difference in this world. Speak
up and get other nurses involved in ONA. We work
diligently to make sure your voices are heard.
Individually we are small, but together we are a team
— a team that represents psychological safety.

6
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
RN2LEADER
Dr. Dean L. Prentice, Colonel (Ret), USAF, NC,
DHA, MA, BSN, NE-BC
The world we live in has
changed. The introduction
into our lexicon of the term
“Coronavirus” has changed
our lives and how we live.
As leaders, our strength,
resolve, and dedication to
our people and mission
must be very visible,
steadfast, and determined in
times like these.
Dr. Dean Prentice
Crisis Leadership
Through my experiences leading through
disasters, I have observed several behaviors from
leaders which we should avoid during this time. As
a leader, your professionalism will be tested during a
crisis. Many will look to you to set a course forward
through a very inconsistent and confusing time.
Leaders don’t have a day off, so as you continue
through this season of Coronavirus, avoid these
pitfalls of crisis leadership.
The first issue: leaders under pressure
decompensate to low-level professional behavior
and actions. It’s almost a natural evolution. When
stressed, you disengage your critical thinking and
resort to emotional and many times, unprofessional
behaviors. These are exhibited in flip-flopping
in direction, lack of clarity and transparency in
responses, emotional outbursts at inappropriate
times, and alienation of staff, peers, and
supervisors.
Next is a leader who becomes paralyzed or
immovable in their thinking. They fall back into one
way of thinking, unable to adapt to the changing
environment or instructions. They keep trying
to put everything back into their view of normal
without consideration for the evolving direction. This
replicates itself in poor decision making, pushing
conflicting agendas, and adding confusion to the
crisis.
Third is the behavior to stop collaboration. This
leader goes into survival mode; “It’s all about
me or my mission.” The ability to cooperate and
collaborate is gone, or they lose focus on the power
of teamwork, believing they will only be successful if
they take care of themselves. This usually manifests
as a leader who spreads discontent, becomes
suspicious of superiors and followers, and they
usually separate themselves from others, becoming
a lone wolf.
In my days of crisis management, I learned
several things leaders need to do to stay engaged,
relevant, and professional. Know your organization
and personal disaster plans. Engage them early
during the crisis. Take detailed notes of things
working well and not working well while you are
experiencing them. When this is done, there will be
many lessons learned so we can improve for our
next response. This is your job as a leader.
Finally, keep yourself informed through reliable
sources. We have seen how the information during
this crisis is constantly evolving. Steer away from
unverified social media sources and focus on
organizations with more reputable information that is
updated and respected. Now is not the time to pass
along “this helpful article,” which may encourage
misinformation at best, and can be harmful by
increasing unnecessary panic.
Your professionalism is under your control. During
a crisis, you need to protect all of you: your body,
your mind, and your spirit. Take breaks, get respite
downtime, and ensure you follow healthy coping
skills. Remember to speak less and listen more.
When you act, do so with an objective mind, filtered
through another trusted leader, and remain flexible
in thought and action. Those who you lead deserve
the best of you in these times. I know you can do it!
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An Equal Opportunity Employer.

May, June, July 2020 The Oklahoma Nurse 7
Nurses Climate Challenge:
Educating 50,000 Health Professionals by 2022
Authors:
Beth Schenk, Ph.D., MHI, RN-BC, FAAN
Providence-WSU Nurse Scientist/Sustainability
Coordinator, Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Assistant Research Professor, Washington State
University College of Nursing
Elizabeth.schenk@wsu.edu
Cara Cook, MS, RN, AHN-BC
Climate Change Program Coordinator, Alliance
of Nurses for Healthy Environments
cara@envirn.org
Shanda L. Demorest, DNP, RN-BC, PHN
Member Engagement Manager, Practice
Greenhealth
sdemorest@practicegreenhealth.org
There is increasing interest and engagement
among those in the nursing community around
environmental matters that influence human health,
such as climate change. Nurses are trusted health
professionals and make up nearly 40% of the
healthcare workforce, serving as catalysts of change
in their institutions and practice settings.
To inspire nurses to act, the Alliance of Nurses
for Healthy Environments (ANHE) and Health
Care Without Harm (HCWH), launched the Nurses
Climate Challenge (the Challenge) in May 2018. The
Nurses Climate Challenge is a national campaign to
educate health professionals on climate and health,
with nurses leading the education. The Challenge
started with the original goal to educate 5,000 health
professionals. That goal was quickly surpassed
in less than a year due to the combined efforts of
Nurse Climate Champions around the world.
The response to the Nurses Climate Challenge
has been robust. There are over 1,000 Nurse
Climate Champions from nearly all 50 states, with
over 13,000 health professionals educated since
the launch. In addition, nurses from 19 countries
outside the United States have registered as Nurse
Climate Champions. However, there are nearly
four million nurses and 18 million workers in the
healthcare sector in the US alone; therefore, there is
an opportunity to scale the impact of the Challenge
exponentially. To do this, we are aiming to educate
50,000 health professionals by 2022.
The Nurses Climate Challenge offers a
comprehensive toolkit with all the resources nurses
need to educate colleagues on climate and health
and engage in climate-smart practices in health
settings and at home. Nurses using the Challenge
resources are highlighted through profiles (https://
nursesclimatechallenge.org/champion-profiles)
published on the Challenge website, shared
in newsletters, and posted on social media to
showcase the work they're doing and to inspire
others to join.
The Challenge also calls on nurses to be
advocates for climate and health. Leading within a
nursing organization, health institution, or academic
center to spearhead initiatives addressing climate
change is an example of how nurses can move
health professionals from education to action. The
Challenge resources include a guide to taking action
within the workplace and home settings and provide
other points to get started.
As a nurse, you can also educate policymakers
and the public about the connection between
climate and health and how to take action by writing
a letter to the editor in a local newspaper, meeting
with elected officials, or talking with patients,
friends, family members, and/or your community
about the health impacts of climate change. The
Challenge website includes sample talking points
and a "letter to the editor" template in the resources
section.
Furthermore, the Climate, Health, and Nursing
Tool (CHANT) 2020 is now available. CHANT is a
10-minute voluntary survey asking respondents
about awareness, motivation, and behaviors related
to climate and health. Nurses and other health
professions are encouraged to take the survey every
year. Access CHANT here: http://bit.ly/30riTR9.
Learn more and join the Nurses Climate
Challenge by visiting nursesclimatechallenge.org.
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For more information and to apply contact Human Resources:
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1305 W. Cherokee, Lindsay, Oklahoma
405-756-1404 phone • 405-756-1802 fax
lindsayhospital.com
EOE

8
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
Not a Member?
Consider Joining ONA and ANA Now!
Consider Serving on
the ONA Board of
Directors
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
ONA Board of Directors - 2020
ELECTIONS
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: July 10, 2020
In October, ONA addressed the cost concerns of
non-members by implementing a NEW membership
option. As of March 1, YOU can join ONA and ANA
for $15/month!
This new membership option will provide you
with all the advantages of membership in both
organizations. You’ll have access to a multitude of
opportunities and resources listed below, including
ONA’s Career Center, SoFi, and Premier ANA
member benefits.
Both nationally and internationally, 2020 has been
declared the Year of the Nurse. During the current
legislative session, ONA is working to advance the
nursing profession and improve access to care for
all Oklahomans; to do that, we need your support.
There’s no better time than now – the Year of
the Nurse – to join the professional organization
for nurses in Oklahoma. There’s strength in our
numbers, and together we make an impact by
tackling the issues nurses face every day.
Grand Lake Mental Health Center is a not for profit community
behavioral health center serving adults, children, and families in
Northeast Oklahoma since 1979. We offer an array of recoveryfocused
services for persons with mental illness and persons with
co-occurring substance related disorders.
Join today by visiting:
https://ona.nursingnetwork.com/page/72061-
membership-join-today
Benefits ONA/ANA Members Enjoy:
• Advance your career with free development
resources and webinars
• Stay current with the most up-to-date nursing
news
• Save money with significant discounts on CE,
certification, publications and more
• Network and connect with Registered Nurses
for support and advice
• Make your voice heard with opportunities to
tell policymakers what you think
• Receive ONA member benefits, including a
copy of the Oklahoma Nurse
ONA Members, it’s time to submit your Consent
to Serve form and any nominations for the 2020
ONA elections. We hope that you will consider
running for the ONA Board of Directors, Nominating
Committee, and ANA Membership Assembly
Representatives. Specific open positions are listed
below, and information on each of these roles,
including responsibilities, is available on the ONA
website.
If you are interested in serving as an ONA Board
Member, Nominating Committee Member or
Representative to the ANA Membership Assembly,
please complete the Consent to Serve form,
available online at www.oklahomanurses.org.
You may also nominate a colleague by
completing the nomination form available at www.
oklahomanurses.org. Once you complete the
nomination form, a member of the Nominating
Committee will contact the individual and ask
them to complete the Consent to Serve form. Their
Consent to Serve must be submitted before their
name can be placed on the ballot.
2020 OPEN POSITIONS
Officers:
President-Elect (2 yrs as PE and 2 yrs as
President)
Secretary/Treasurer (2 yrs)
Directors:
Education Director (2 yrs)
Membership Development Director (2 yrs)
Nominations Committee
3 Members (2 yrs)
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benefits package (includes a generous benefits
allowance) g paid time off g retirement g M-F,
8-5, off nights g weekends and holidays, etc.
Questions? Call: 405-271-4171
HumanResources@health.ok.gov

May, June, July 2020 The Oklahoma Nurse 9
Recognizing Nursing Excellence
The Oklahoma Nurses Association has many members whose outstanding
contributions should be recognized. The following award categories have been
established to recognize excellence in Oklahoma Nursing:
EXCELLENCE IN NURSING
NURSING RESEARCH AWARD
NURSING IMPACT ON PUBLIC POLICY AWARD
NIGHTINGALE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
FRIEND OF NURSING AWARD
EXCELLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT
ELIGIBILITY
Nominees for ONA awards must meet specific criteria:
Nominees must be an ONA member, with an exception for the Friend of
Nursing Award (awarded to a non-nurse), or for the WPA Excellence in the
Workplace Award (presented to an organization). Members of the ONA Board
of Directors and the Awards Selection Committee are not eligible for ONA
awards during the period in which they serve in these capacities.
PROCEDURE AND GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Nominations may be submitted by an individual, association, committees,
regional nurses’ associations, nursing education programs, organized
nursing services or the Oklahoma Board of Nursing.
2. Nominees’ practice area may be in any service setting: administration,
education, direct patient care, legal, consulting, nurse entrepreneur,
public policy, or any area in which professional nurses’ practice.
3. Materials required for nominations include the following:
a. completed nomination form (online form)
b. nominator’s narrative statement (described below)
c. brief curriculum vitae and any additional pertinent information (not
required for the Friend of Nursing award nominations)
d. two letters supporting the nomination, such as acknowledgments
from a supervisor or colleague
4. The narrative statement should detail the accomplishments of the
nominee and be presented concisely.
1. It is this narrative statement that is weighted most heavily in the
selection process.
5. Nominations and attached materials will be treated confidentially.
6. Awards will be presented at the ONA convention on Thursday. Recipients
will be invited to attend the presentation of the award. If, because
of extenuating circumstances, a recipient cannot be present, the
presentation will be made in absentia.
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION
The deadline for submission of nominations is August 1. Submit materials
electronically using the ONA website and submitting supporting materials via email.
EXCELLENCE IN NURSING
The Excellence in Nursing Award is conferred on a member who has
developed an innovative, unique, and creative approach that utilizes nursing
theory and knowledge/skills in any practice setting: Administration, Education,
and/or Direct Patient Care. The recipient should be recognized by peers as
a role model of consistently high-quality nursing practice and as one who
enhances the image of professional nursing by creating an environment
promoting professional autonomy and control over nursing practice.
NURSING RESEARCH AWARD
The Nursing Research Award recipient is a nurse who has made a significant
impact on nursing research as a basis for innovation as it relates to one of the
following areas: management, clinical practice, and/or education. Significant
impact means that the nurse has contributed to the creation of new nursing
knowledge through research findings. Additionally, the research has improved
or created a plan for improving nursing management, nursing education, clinical
nursing practice, and/or patient outcomes in response to the findings.
NURSING IMPACT ON PUBLIC POLICY
Nursing Impact on Public Policy Award honors the nurse whose activities
are above and beyond those of the general nursing community to further the
political presence of nursing and/or to accomplish positive public policy for the
nursing profession.
NIGHTINGALE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
The Nightingale Award of Excellence is conferred on an ONA member who
during their career has:
• Demonstrated innovative strategies to fulfill job responsibilities and/or role
responsibilities in their professional role, and within the community they
work and live.
• Consistently surpass expectations of a professional nurse, thus
enhancing the image of nursing as a profession.
• Demonstrates sustained and substantial contribution to the Oklahoma
Nurses Association.
• Served as a role model of consistent excellence in their area of practice.
Other professional behaviors, such as mentoring, advocacy, research
conduction or utilization, publications, and presentations, should also be
demonstrated throughout his/her career.
FRIEND OF NURSING
The Friend of Nursing Award is conferred on non-nurses who have rendered
valuable assistance to the nursing profession.
Their contributions and assistance are of statewide significance to nursing.
Excellence in the Workplace Environment
The Excellence in the Workplace Environment Award is presented to
organizations that have developed positive work environments. These
organizations must have developed an innovative and effective program,
approach, or overall environment that promotes excellent nursing care, creating
a positive environment for nurses to work, and supporting nurses in their practice.
Please visit the ONA Website for more information on the nominating process
and required documents. www.OklahomaNurses.org
Deadline is August 1.
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10
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
EDUCATORS
CORNER
Nursing Education
Viki Saidleman MS, RN
Region 6 Leader
ONA Board Member
Nursing Instructor
East Central University
This seasoned teacher
Is now a perplexed creature
As I encounter formats unknown
And travel to the virtual zone.
Sending invites to my room,
Conducting classes by zoom,
Virtual beverage toasts and emoji waves,
Checking out students on the participant page,
Getting class NCLEX questions answered by chat,
Are all the new normal. Just think about that.
Playing remote classroom Kahoot games,
Giving tests in a different way,
Viewing YouTube submissions
Of student skills demonstrations,
Counseling and advising by zoom, email or phone
Get us working together, although really alone.
Spotty audio and unstable connections,
Cause this instructor major heart palpitations.
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uncertainty,
One hope remains clear — this is temporary.
We continue to make personal connections
While we are moving in this distancing direction.
LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
• RN Administrative Director of Nursing – All campuses
• RN System Director – Utilization Review / Case Management – All campuses
• RN Director of Nursing – Northwest Surgical Hospital
• RN Director of Education – All Campuses
NURSING OPPORTUNITIES
Community Hospital South:
RN Pain Management
RN Medical Surgical*
RN Circulator*
RN Circulator, Midshift Prime*
RN Emergency Room PRN
Community Hospital North:
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Patient Care Tech
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Bonus
Community Hospital/Northwest Surgical Hospital complies with Federal Civil Rights laws and doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, color,
age, disability or nationality. Community Hospital and Northwest Surgical Hospital are facilities in which physicians have an ownership or
investment interest. The list of physician owners is available upon request.
To apply, please visit www.communityhospitalokc.com or www.nwsurgicalokc.com.
David Ward, Recruiter, dward@chcares.com, 405-606-2631
We can adapt, and we can cope, for we are flexible.
We can adjust, and we can learn, for we are
unstoppable.
We are focused on the precious prize — your goal.
You will get that bachelor’s degree and RN.
This, we know.
If you are interested in contributing to the
“Educators Corner,” please send your thoughts,
experiences, strategies, and links to your research
discoveries to: marlasmith@
rsu.edu.
Marla Peixotto-Smith,
MSN, Ph.D., RN, is an
Associate Professor in the
RN to BSN program at
Rogers State University.

May, June, July 2020 The Oklahoma Nurse 11
Responsible Use of Social Media
Shonda Phelon, DNP, FNP-BC, PMHNP-BC,
GNP-BC, Director, Council on Advanced Practice
Reprinted with permission from Mississippi RN
December 2019
Social media continues to be a very popular way
for people to connect with the world, communicate
with others, learn new information, and entertain
themselves. Approximately 70% of Americans use
social media daily. Many nurses use social media to
professionally network and are members of blogs,
forums, and social networking sites. At the recent
MNA Convention, the House of Delegates adopted
a resolution to support increasing awareness of
nurses’ responsibility in the use of social media.
Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice
Registered Nurses are active on Facebook,
Instagram, LinkedIn, Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter,
and Pinterest, among others. Social media is a great
way to stay “connected” to family and friends, to
reconnect with old friends, and to plan events such
as family gatherings and reunions. Use of social
media has become so common that we often forget
the risk it poses due to the ease of instantaneous
posting opportunities. At times we may find
ourselves not reflective enough and may post things
that may come back to haunt us and possibly cause
professional or legal consequences.
There are many blogs and forums for nurses
and nurse practitioners that may tempt the nurse
to post an interesting or unique patient case. Some
may even be compelled to share photographs
to educate and inform colleagues and potential
students. Although the intent is usually innocent and
meant to share clinical pearls, results can often lead
to professional and legal problems. Even in closed
groups, many nurses find themselves in spirited
conversations about practice, policy, and education.
However, social media can have some very
positive outcomes when used appropriately.
It provides a platform for keeping up with the
latest evidence-based research. Networking and
connecting with like-minded professionals is also
another positive aspect of social media. MNA has a
FB account that keeps us up to date on the latest
happenings around the state. LinkedIn and other
social sites often are great places to explore new
career opportunities. When used correctly, social
media can enhance practice and help one connect
professionally to other healthcare professionals.
Here are some tips to remember before you click
the post button or share that latest information.
1. Keep patient privacy and confidentiality to
the highest standards. I see many nurse
practitioners, nurses, and students of nursing
posting clinical situations and even pictures
about patients. Social media is not the place
to do this or explore complex cases. Never
post photos of a patient or identify them by
name. Never refer to patients in a demeaning,
or negative manner. Instead of posting
questions about clinical issues, find a mentor,
or consult with a colleague. You can also
reach out to former professors, preceptors or
colleagues to discuss any patient issues. Our
detractors use these postings as fodder to
make us look less educated or skilled.
2. Try to avoid connecting with patients or
former patients on social media. This is
difficult in small communities where you may
know many people. It is very important not to
give professional medical advice or discuss
work-related issues with patients on social
media. Make sure your patients and staff
know this, especially the ones with whom
you have a personal relationship prior to the
nurse-patient relationship.
3. Don’t complain about your workplace on
social media. Facebook or Twitter is not
the place to make negative comments or
post negative pictures about a place of
employment, coworkers, or administration.
This type of behavior not only jeopardizes
your job security but your reputation as
well. If you have work-related issues, meet
with your employer, supervisors or human
resources department to discuss the issues
professionally. Make sure you review your
employer’s social media policy and follow the
rules. It is also a good policy to never use a
workplace email to affiliate you with a social
media site, and to not access a social media
website or post personal pictures, events, etc.
while at work.
4. Keep all activity on social media professional.
There are many posts that may be considered
unprofessional and reflect negatively on the
profession of nursing. Profanity, sexually
explicit or racially derogatory comments,
as well as posts about drug and alcohol use
are unprofessional, question one’s moral
character and reflect negatively on the nursing
profession. I personally wish the “sexy nurse”
costume could be banned, but I routinely
see nurses wearing it to costume parties
and posting pictures on social media. In the
worst-case scenario posting unprofessional
comments or pictures could lead to a charge
of unprofessional behavior by an employer or
the Mississippi Board of Nursing.
When using social media, always think before
you post. Will your post benefit someone or is it a
negative statement about you or the profession of
nursing? Make sure your post adheres to relevant
federal and state laws, state regulations, employer
policies, and the American Nurses Association
Code of Ethics with Interpretive Statements. If you
think something you are about to post may not be
appropriate, most likely it is, and you should delete
the post.
ONLINE RN TO BSN
APPLY NOW!
Social media is a great resource in our world
today, but remember what you post will become
permanent and may follow you for years. Always
remain professional, confidential, and mindful of the
posts you make. Let’s make our social media posts
positive, educational, and something we will never
regret!
References
American Nurses Association (2011), ANA’s Principles
for Social Networking and the Nurse, Guidance
for Registered Nurses, Silver Springs, MD:
Nursesbooks.org.
Balestra, M.L., (2018), Social Media Missteps Could
Put Your Nursing License At Risk, American
Nurse Today, 13, No. 3, 20-21, 63. https://www.
americannursetoday.com/social-media-nursinglicense-risk/
Brous, E., (May 11, 2013) How To Avoid the Pitfalls of
Social Media, American Nurse Today, https://
www.americannursetoday.com/how-to-avoidthe-pitfalls-of-social-media/.
Gardenier, D., Moss, L., & Haney, B. (2019). Can Social
Media Help Us in Advancing Our Agenda?. The
Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 15(1), 10-11
National Council State Boards of Nursing (August 2011)
A Nurse’s Guide to the Use of Social Media,
retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/Social_
Media.pdf.
National Council State Boards of Nursing. (2018) A Nurses
Guide to the Use of Social Media, Chicago,
IL: n.p. retrieved from https://www.ncsbn.org/
NCSBN_SocialMedia.pdf.
Reinbeck, D., & Antonacci, J. (2019). How nurses can use
social media to their advantage. Nursing 2019,
49(5), 61-63.
Advance your nursing career with our RN to BSN completion
program. Now accepting applications.
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nursing.okstate.edu

12
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
Nurses Day at the Capitol!!
ONA had one of its best Nurses Day at the Capitol on March 3
with over 400 nurses and nursing students! A big thank you to our
legislative panel of Senators Darrell Weaver and Rob Standridge, along
with Representatives Harold Wright and Cynthia Roe. We are very
fortunate to have each of them in legislature advocating for nurses and
our patients. They shared their passion for the issues they are focused
on that affect Oklahoma’s Health Care Future – from clean indoor air,
the importance of immunizations and vaccines, funding, and creating
a safer workplace for nurses and other providers. A highlight of the
day was the session, So How Do They Do This?, where attendees had
the opportunity to demonstrate the legislative process through roleplaying.
Hopefully, everyone got to see how connected ONA’s Lobbyist,
Vickie White Rankin is to our legislators and nurses! It is our hope that
know that you’ve been to the Capitol that we can expect to see you
again, helping ONA make a difference. We need your Voice so that we
can make a difference together.

May, June, July 2020 The Oklahoma Nurse 13

14
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
State of the World’s Nursing 2020
Investing in education, jobs and leadership
April 2020
On April 7th, the World Health Organization
(WHO), in conjunction with the International Council
of Nurses (ICN) and Nursing Now, issued The
State of the World’s Nursing 2020. This seminal
report, released as part of the Year of the Nurse
and Midwife, reflects data submitted by over
191 countries on the nursing workforce. Data
on the U.S. nursing workforce was submitted by
the Department of Health and Human Services.
ANA, as the ICN member from the United States,
partnered with our federal colleagues to support this
report.
Facts from the Report
• Nursing accounts for 59% of the worldwide
health professions workforce.
• There are 27.9 million nursing personnel: 19.3
million (69%) are professional nurses, 6 million
(22%) are associate professional nurses and
2.6 million (9%) are not classified.
• Over 80% of the world’s nurses are found in
countries that account for half of the world’s
population.
• The global shortage of nurses was 5.9 million
nurses in 2018. With 5.3 million (89%) of this
shortage concentrated in low- and middleincome
countries.
• Globally, the nursing workforce is relatively
young, with substantially older age nurses in
the American and European regions.
• The majority (97%) of countries reported that
the minimum duration of nurse education is a
three-year program.
• Seventy-eight countries (53%) reported having
advanced practice roles for nurses.
• One nurse out of every eight practices in a
country other than the one where they were
born or educated.
• Most countries (86%) report having a
designated body responsible for the
regulation of nursing.
• Approximately 90% of the nursing workforce
is female.
• Seventy-one percent of countries (82 out
of 115) reported having a national nursing
leadership position with responsibility for
providing input into nursing and health policy.
The report authors urge governments and
relevant stakeholders to:
• Invest in the massive acceleration of nursing
education – faculty, infrastructure and
students – to address global needs, meet
domestic demand, and respond to changing
technologies and advancing model of
integrated health and social care.
o Countries affected by shortages will
need to increase funding to educate and
employee at least 5.9 million additional
nurses.
o To address the shortage of nurses by
2030 in countries, the total number of
nurse graduates would need to increase
by 8% per year on average, alongside an
improved capacity to employ and retain
these graduates.
o Nurse education and training programs
must graduate nurses who drive progress
into primary health care and universal
health coverage.
• Create at least six million new nursing jobs
by 2030, primarily in low- and middle-income
countries, to offset the projected shortages
and redress the inequitable distribution of
nurses across the world.
o Nurse mobility and migration must be
effectively monitored and responsibly and
ethically managed.
o Policymakers, employers and regulators
should coordinate actions in support of
decent work.
o Countries should deliberately plan for
gender-sensitive nursing workforce policies.
• Strengthen nurse leadership- both current and
future leaders – to ensure that nurses have
an influential role in health policy formulation
and decision-making and contribute to
the effectiveness of health and social care
systems.
o
Nursing leadership and governance is
critical to nursing workforce strengthening.
o Planners and regulators should optimize
the contributions of nursing practice.
o Professional nursing regulation must be
modernized.
o
Collaboration is key to strengthen capacity
for effective public policy stewardship
so that private sector investments,
educational capacity and nurses’ roles in
health service provision can be optimized
and aligned to public policy goals.
RN’s............ $46.00/hr
LPN’s........... $33.00/hr
• Pay Cards
CNA’s...........$20.00/hr
CHHA’s......... $15.50/hr
Conclusion
The report calls on national governments, with
support from domestic and international partners,
to be a catalyst and leader to accelerate efforts to
achieving these goals by:
• Building leadership, stewardship and
management capacity for the nursing
workforce.
• Optimizing the return of current investments
in nursing through adoption of policy options
that include decent work, fair remuneration,
and retention of the nursing workforce.
• Accelerate and sustain additional investment
in nursing education, skills, and jobs.
The WHO report, The State of the World's
Nursing 2020, is officially released. The report can
be found here: www.who.int/publications-detail/
nursing-report-2020.
For more information call today:
Tulsa, OK: (918) 665-1011 • Oklahoma City, OK: (405) 842-7775
Springfield, MO (417) 886-1001 • Dallas, TX (214) 631-9200

May, June, July 2020 The Oklahoma Nurse 15
Why, More Than Ever, We Need Nurses as Spiritual Comforters
Dawn Day, Ed.D, MSN, RN, CNE, COE
Spring Arbor University - Michigan
Chair of Graduate Nursing Programs
Associate Professor of Nursing
School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Whether they are easing pain during an acute
illness, helping patients cope with a new diagnosis,
welcoming a new life into the world, or witnessing
someone’s final breaths, nurses are granted a
unique privilege to be present during the most
intimate moments in the lives of others.
Nurses often witness times of heightened
emotions: stress, joy, fear, or physical and emotional
pain. They are called on to not only care for the
bodies of the most vulnerable but their souls as well.
Regardless of religious affiliation or views, providing
well-rounded care as a nurse can be viewed as a
spiritual calling; compassionate, holistic care that
focuses on the body, mind, and soul has the ability
to take fear, pain, or despair and turn it into hope,
comfort, and peace.
So often, the way patients view their experiences
in healthcare has little to do with the actual outcomes
of their health, but rather how respected, cared for,
valued, and comforted they felt in the process.
During particularly unprecedented times of fear
and uncertainty as the novel coronavirus shakes
the world to its foundations, nurses are on the front
lines of healthcare, providing not only bodily healing,
but care and keeping of the soul as they encounter
patients at their peak of fear, pain, and anxiety. The
aftermath of this pandemic will reach far beyond the
count of lives lost, and the responsibility of nurses
to provide spiritual comfort and healing to all those
affected is one that must be taken on fully and
passionately.
Though it is widely recognized that assessing
and tending to spiritual wellbeing has an important
impact on a person’s overall health, it is often easy
for this vital role of nursing to be lost or forgotten
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in the demands of caring for numerous patients,
managing the mental and physical complexity of
tasks required and integrating technology and
documentation into busy schedules.
However, nurses must be challenged to
remember and respect the core value of caring for
patients at all levels, from physical to spiritual, in
order to deliver the most comfort and healing to
those they serve, particularly during times of crisis.
So how can nurses assess a patient’s spiritual
needs and provide care that is sensitive to the
soul? The main way is by simply being present and
recognizing them as a unique individual.
Patients may feel lost and overwhelmed in a sea
of machines, medical terminology, and unfamiliar
routines. Taking a moment to stop and talk with
them, assess how they are feeling, address what
fears they have, and understand what can be
done to make them more comfortable, can be very
nourishing and comforting to the soul.
Of all the members of the healthcare team, nurses
arguably spend the most time with patients and can
get to know them well. Simply offering a listening
ear and letting patients know they are cared for can
serve as a huge source of comfort and healing. This
human connection should be extended not only to
patients themselves, but family members and loved
ones who may also be experiencing a range of
emotions.
It should also not be assumed that patients will
speak up for themselves; nurses should encourage
open communication and ask patients and their
families about any spiritual or religious needs
they may have. Creativity and resourcefulness in
accommodating simple comforts or requests can
make all the difference in humanizing the patient
experience. Being present, even if quietly, for prayer,
is also often very comforting to patients. Nurses
should remember that while medical interventions
and care are routine and normal to them, they are
witnessing major life events for others and have a
unique ability to shape those experiences for the
better.
It is important to recognize that the ultimate goal
is not always to preserve life, but to maximize the
quality of remaining life for patients and their loved
ones. Many times, a peaceful death is the best care
a nurse can provide and will profoundly impact the
grieving process for loved ones in the months and
years following a death.
Tending to the physical and spiritual needs
of others can obviously be very draining, so it is
important for nurses to remember to care for their
peers and for themselves in order to avoid emotional
exhaustion or burnout. It is helpful and spiritually
cleansing to talk with peers and share in grief,
triumphs, struggles, and fears, creating a sense of
community and a place to grow and heal together.
Taking time to step away, compartmentalize, walk
outdoors, and enjoy family is necessary to recharge
spiritually and emotionally so nurses can continue to
provide unwavering stability to their patients.
During this difficult and uncertain time, while
nurses are among the frontlines of fighting a
pandemic, it is crucial to remember that the role
extends far beyond physical care and preserving
life and is one of the most impactful professions
for shaping the human experience. More so than
intellect or productivity, the compassion and
dedication to humanity that drove most nurses to
become healthcare professionals in the first place
will be the driving force that helps them rise to the
challenge.
Dr. Dawn Day is Chair of Graduate Nursing
Programs and Associate Professor in the School
of Nursing and Health Sciences at Spring Arbor
University, which offers an online Masters of
Science in Nursing.
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16
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
Mindfulness - A Self-Care Strategy
Reprinted with permission from DNA Reporter
February 2020 issue
Karen Avino, EdD, RN, MSN, AHN-BC, HWNC-BC
Karen Avino earned her
BSN, MSN, and EdD at
the University of Delaware.
She is a board-certified
Advanced Holistic Nurse
and a Health & Wellness
Nurse Coach. Karen is
an experienced educator
and clinician with over 20
years’ experience teaching
Holistic Nursing and
Integrative Health at the Karen Avino
University of Delaware.
She is a founding leader of the Delaware Chapter
and is a Director-At-Large of the American Holistic
Nurse Association. Karen is an author and editor
of Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice (2016,
2020). She is a partner and Director of Education
of the Integrative Nurse Coach Academy providing
onsite and online continuing education courses
and the International Nurse Coach Association as
a consultant to organizations. She has a private
Integrative Nurse Coach practice at the Birth Center:
Holistic Women’s Healthcare providing Coaching,
HeartMath Stress Management, Reiki and The
Institute for Functional Medicine Food Plans such as
Elimination, Detox and Cardiometabolic.
Karen can be reached at kavino@inursecoach.
com
Mindfulness is no longer an uncommon term. It is
often heard in daily language as well as in research
reports identifying the benefits of mindfulness.
Mindfulness is suggested as a self-care practice
as well as a treatment method for conditions. The
overarching benefit of mindfulness is the ability
to learn to live in the present moment without
continued worry about the past or the future which
can help to decrease symptoms of depression and
anxiety. While Mindfulness practices originated from
Buddhist traditions, Jon Kabat-Zinn was influential
in creating awareness of the use in healthcare
by researching the benefits of mindfulness in
patients with pain and demonstrated significant
improvements in pain levels, mood, and psychiatric
symptoms (Kabat-Zinn, Lipworth, & Burney, 1985;
Kabat-Zinn, 1994). This prompted other studies
to examine the effect on a variety of diseases, the
effect on stress levels, and the immune function
(Goyal et al., 2014; Kabat-Zinn et al., 1985). The
National Center for Complementary and Integrative
Health webpage discusses the positive effects that
meditation can have in many other conditions, such
as hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative
colitis, and anxiety (see https://nccih.nih.gov/health/
meditation/overview.htm#hed3).
Mindfulness has also been found useful as a
complementary treatment for people with opioid
use disorder and chronic pain in methadone
maintenance therapy (Robinson, Mathews, &
Witek-Janusek, 2003). In fact, the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs has implemented a Whole
Health for Life person-centered approach to
care and advocates for the use of mindfulness
for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (Garland et
al., 2019; Hempe, 2014) (See https://www.va.gov/
PATIENTCENTEREDCARE/Veteran-handouts/
Introduction_to_Mindful_Awareness.asp).
Currently, mindfulness is a recommended
practice for everyone including older adults (King
et al., 2013). Today’s busy world with technology
overload does not allow for downtime or body
homeostasis adjustments to rebalance. Nurses live
in a state of heightened chronic stress levels. It is
well known that the nursing profession is a stressful
career.
Implementing mindful self-care strategies by
organizations employing nurses will benefit by
reduced attrition of nurses and improved quality of
care. The American Nurses Foundation suggested
Five Simple Ways to Feel and be Better; 1) Stop,
take a Breath and Observe, 2) Do a Body Scan, 3)
Breathe, 4) Stretch, and 5) Eat and Drink Often
(Geiger et al., 2016). These are all the tenets of
Mindfulness. Mindfulness enhances areas of
the brain that are responsible for attention and
executive function and modulates the amygdala
or emotional brain, which improves focused
attention, develops intention skills for actions
taken, and decreases reactivity without reflection
that leads to decreased judgement and improved
acceptance of differences. Therefore, mindfulness
improves communication abilities that lead to
improved patient outcomes, patient satisfaction,
and nurse satisfaction. Increasing around the
country, Healing Circle programs are being offered
by holistic nurses to nurses in healthcare settings.
The program develops a community of peer to peer
support and an opportunity to practice mindful
skills in a safe environment. The American Holistic
Nurse Association provides mindfulness tools and
information entitled Holistic Stress Management
Is Based on Self-Reflection and Self-Care (see
https://www.ahna.org/Home/Resources/Stress-
Management).
Mindful Practices
Mindfulness practices are about increasing
awareness of bodily sensations, especially the
breath, and using mindful movement practices to
increase the awareness of connection. There are
many types of meditations, each with a different
twist on the technique; these include Buddhist,
Hindu, Chinese, Christian, Sufi, and the common
practice of guided mediations. Some techniques are
relaxing, some create awareness, and some claim
deeper transformation and/or spiritual development.
Experimenting with a variety to find the one that
works best for your unique needs and personality
is best. The idea is to practice on a daily basis so
you can call on it in times of need. Once you have
become comfortable with this daily practice, the
techniques can then be applied to patient care.
In Integrative Nurse Coaching, using awareness
practice techniques in practice provides a time for
reflection and help for patients to reach their inner
wisdom to come up with solutions or answers on
their own. This awareness creates an openness to
new possibilities and motivation or engagement to
aspects of the experience, without judgement or
attachment. There are a variety of guided awareness
scenarios that can be used for particular situations
in patient care based on the need. These are learned
through the self-development process and practice
of Integrative Nurse Coaching.
With four sites available in Alva, Enid, Woodward, and Ponca City, plus online courses,
learning close to home is easy.
The online RN-to-BSN is a 12-month online program with no traditional clinical hours
requirement and no campus visit requirements.
The BSN-to-DNP Family Nurse Practitioner program is a hybrid model offering online classes,
limited campus visits, and local clinical practicums.
The Basic Technique
• The goal is that awareness of thoughts,
feelings, emotions, sounds, and smells
are acknowledged but then let go as your
awareness is returned to the breath in the
center of the chest. These techniques require
continued practice in letting go.
• Most techniques suggest starting in a seated,
comfortable position to maintain awareness.
The point is not to fall asleep during the
experience. Your eyes can be closed or have
a downward gaze.
• As you move your awareness to the center
of your chest, experience the centering as
the breath enters and exits. As thoughts
or sounds enter your mind or awareness,

May, June, July 2020 The Oklahoma Nurse 17
acknowledge without judging, let go, and
return your awareness to the breath in the
center of your chest. Continue this centering,
acknowledging, let go, and return as many
times as needed in the timeframe you are
practicing.
• It is not uncommon to hear “this doesn’t work
for me.” Awareness practices are a learned
experience, the more you practice, the easier
is the return, and the outcome of living life
with awareness of the present moment,
feeling balanced with increased clarity is
gratifying. Find what time of day, or length of
time works for you. Most use a 10-15 minute
timeframe daily for practice. The following are
quality websites that provide free access to
guided meditations for self-care and patient
use.
CARING FOR YOUR FAMILY, LIKE OUR FAMILY.
Quality Free Mindful Practice Websites
• Mindful.org
• https://www.mindful.org/audio-resources-formindfulness-meditation/
• UCLA Mindful Awareness Research Center
https://www.uclahealth.org/marc/body.
cfm?id=22&iirf_redirect=1
• The Center for Contemplative Mind in Society
http://www.contemplativemind.org/practices/
recordings
• Insight Meditation Society, Inc. https://www.
dharma.org/resources/audio/#guided
We pride ourselves on the level of experience team members
bring together to provide INDIVIDUALIZED CARE for each
resident, including an array of LONG-TERM SERVICES.
References
Garland, E.L., Hanley, A.W., Kline, A., Cooperman, N.A. (August
5, 2019, Epub). Mindfulness-oriented recovery enhancement
reduces opioid craving among individuals with opioid use
disorder and chronic pain in medication assisted treatment:
Ecological momentary assessments from a stage 1
randomized controlled trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Retrieved from https://nccih.nih.gov/research/results/
• UC San Diego Center for Mindfulness
https://medschool.ucsd.edu/som/fmph/
research/mindfulness/programs/mindfulnessprograms/MBSR-programs/Pages/audio.aspx
spotlight/more-may-reduce-opioid-cravings-and-chronicpain
Geiger, P.J., Boggero, I.A., Brake, C.A., Caldera, C.A., Combs,
H. L., Peters, J. R., Baer, R. A. (2016). Mindfulness-based
interventions for older adults: A review of the effects on
physical and emotional well-being. Mindfulness,7(2):296-307.
doi:10.1007/s12671-015-0444-1.
Goyal, M., Singh, S., Sibinga, E.M.S., Gould, N.F., Rowland-
Seymour, A., Sharma, R. … Haythorn, J. (2014). Meditation
programs for psychological stress and well-being: A
systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Intern Med,
174(3), 357-368. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.13018
Hempe,l S., Taylor, S.L., Marshall, N.J., Miake-Lye, I. M.,
Beroes, J.M., Shanman, R., … Shekelle, P. G. (2014).
Evidence map of mindfulness. VA evidence-based synthesis
program reports. Washington (DC): Department of Veterans
Affairs (US). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/25577939
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1994). Wherever you go, there you are:
Mindfulness meditation in everyday life. New York: Hyperion.
Kabat-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L. & Burney, R. (1985). The clinical use
of mindfulness meditation for the self-regulation of chronic
pain. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 8, 163-190.
King, A.P., Erickson, T.M., Giardino, N.D., Favorite, T., Rauch,
S.A., Robinson, E. … Liberzon, I. (2013). A pilot study of
group mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) for
combat veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Depress Anxiety, 30(7), 638-645. doi: 10.1002/da.22104.
Epub 2013/04/19.
Meditation: In Depth (2016, April). National Center for
Complementary and Integrative Health. Retrieved from
https://nccih.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm#hed3
Robinson, F. P., Mathews, H. L., & Witek-Janusek, L. (2003).
Psycho-endocrine-immune response to mindfulnessbased
stress reduction in individuals infected with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus: A quasi-experimental study. The
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 9, 683–
694.
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18
The Oklahoma Nurse May, June, July 2020
Trust Your Practice
Reprinted with permission from Tennessee Nurse March 2020
Kate Payne, JD, RN, NC-BC
There should be no surprise that once again, 18 th
year in a row, nurses were rated the highest among
a list of professions for honesty and ethics. (1) 85%
of Americans rated nurses as “very high” or “high.”
I know what the public sees in nurses to repeatedly
give such high ratings; they know they will get an
honest answer, that their nurse will help them and
advocate for them. The nature of nursing requires
that ethical decisions are made and enacted daily if
not moment-to-moment for the benefit of the patient,
their practice, and the broader society. This is also Kate Payne
consistent with the Nursing Code of Ethics. (2)
I am blessed to meet regularly with nurses in my work as an ethics
consultant. I also help facilitate support groups, case debriefs, and unitbased
meetings and huddles. Some of these are regular forums for
conversation, support, information, or problem-solving. Some of these
forums are called for specific and difficult patient care situations as well
as thinking together on next steps. Meetings are usually open to other
team members, including physicians, administrators, pastoral care, childlife
in the pediatric hospital, anyone involved in the care of patients. These
gatherings can be of any size, at any time of the day or night. They are
usually small, and sometimes even just one or two people over coffee or a
meal. These conversations show what is not so visible to the public but what
undergirds their repeated high ratings of nurses in the Gallup poll each year.
Nursing stories are all about comfort, care, and concern for patients,
their families, and other loved ones. They are also about how nurses care
for each other, have each other’s backs, and care for others on the team.
Health care is hard work, and it is not getting easier. Nursing stories are
about perseverance in the face of what often seems impossible. Nurses are
hope mongers, and hope is a morally important quality to nursing practice
(3) and to life. It enables perseverance as well as courage, and it is futureoriented,
the idea that we will continue and that adversity can be overcome.
This is what helps build resilience and teamwork and part of what keeps
nurses coming back every day. Nursing conversations also exemplify other
virtues, including creativity, compassion, trust, charity, affection, openness,
and competence, to name a few. The ethics of nurses are seen in how they
treat people, how they care for each other as well as commit to improving
the larger society. It is also seen in how they educate and mentor the next
generation of nurses (4) and others in the intraprofessional relationships, of
which all nurses are a part.
Nursing is a virtuous profession, and we see this reflected back to us
each year in the Gallup poll (one of many ways). It is a reminder that nursing
work is visible and important to the broader public. It should also be a
reminder to trust your practice. Total strangers trust nurses to take care of
them, to help them heal, to have a good death, to speak the truth, to just
care. Nurses have a unique vantage point because of their proximity to the
patient. They see things other members of the team do not. Sometimes a
blessing and a curse, being with a patient for hours teaches us who they are
and what they need, what works and what doesn’t. Trusting your practice
means taking what you learn from the patient and shaping the environment
of care for the patient, in your unit or department, and organization.
Nurses often find themselves in situations that conflict with their personal
and professional ethics, that go against what is best for the patient.
Sometimes, advocating for a better way requires moral courage. (5) Moral
courage is part of nursing practice. It is defined as the willingness to stand
up for and act according to one’s ethical beliefs, regardless of the perceived
or actual risks. Moral distress occurs when nurses feel powerless to act
after witnessing improper behavior or organizational constraints that make
doing the right thing difficult or impossible. Trust your practice to know
that moral courage is another virtue you can develop and use. Health care
is increasingly complex, as are the ethical dilemmas nurses are faced
with. Addressing such dilemmas is never easy, but is required for nurses
to provide the best possible patient care. Advocating for a patient’s best
interest can pose challenges and risks, but nurses must resolve to uphold
their ethical obligations and trust in your practice, you will find the way, there
will be help.
References
1. Reinhart RJ, Nurses continue to rate highest in honesty, ethics. Gallup.
Available at https://news.gallup.com/poll/274673/nurses-continue-rate-highesthonesty-ethics.aspx
2. American Nurses Association (ANA). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive
Statements. Silver Springs, MD: Author, 2015.
3. Churchill L. Ethics for Everyone. A Skills-Based Approach. New York: Oxford
University Press, 2020.
4. Curtin L. Mentorship and collegiality. The ethics of professional relationships.
American Nurse Journal. 2020;15(1):60.
5. Lachman V. Doing the right thing: pathways to moral courage. American Nurse
Today. 2012; May 11: available at https://www.myamericannurse.com/doingthe-right-thing-pathways-to-moral-courage/

May, June, July 2020 The Oklahoma Nurse 19
Bridget.Bridger
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