As we approach the holidays, we try to take an introspective look at who we are and what we do, especially what we do for a living. We care about our loved ones who care about us, and we care about our residents who (hopefully) feel the same way about us. We give thanks for our blessings and join the people around us for good cheer. For many of us, we try to better ourselves by being better people and by doing a better job with our lives and our jobs. Sometimes, having someone whom we can emulate can inspire us to be a better person. Maybe it’s someone who is a hero to you.
       The television show “Heroes” shows everyday people with extraordinary powers. Each individual could be you or I. In real life, although we don’t have extraordinary powers, we do have a chance to make a difference. We are knowledgeable in our skills and experts in our department. We can complete a Minimum Data Set (MDS) and do our Resident Assessment Protocols (RAPs) and then complete a care plan better than our co-workers. We can explain the care we provide in layman’s terms, showing the public that we are indeed skilled in the nursing process. We understand documentation and know what needs to be in the chart.
       Do you have any heroes? Wouldn’t it be nice to hear, "You’re my hero!" once in awhile? Maybe a resident would say that to you, or a child, or loved one. Heroes are the persons we look up to, to save us from adversity and helplessness. I’m here to tell you that heroes exist in our everyday lives.
       Many administrators and directors of nursing (DONs) have worked in long-term care a long time and not only have expertise on how to run a smooth facility but also have people skills. They know the regulations. They hold others accountable for their actions. They pride themselves in having the best people in their facility. To many, they are heroes.
       Other people are also heroes. Clergymen, counselors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, doctors, rehabilitation therapists, and other professionals can be heroes. There’s nothing like having your life deteriorate in a moment’s time and then have someone take the time to help you through difficult times and allow you to restore your life or live it out to the fullest.
       I have many heroes. My parents, who have passed on, were my heroes. They worked hard to make sure I had a roof over my head and a good education, and they said that I could accomplish anything in life. My editor at ECPN has been another hero, who uses praise for a job well done and makes sure that journal has the highest quality of information for every issue. And lastly, there are all my clergymen, who make sure that I receive spiritual guidance in my life.
       When I asked around to my co-workers, the dietary technician mentioned her company president, an entrepreneur, who came into a new city, marketed herself and her company, and built a big business of consulting dietitians and diet technicians. She knows dietary regulations inside and out. She manages the day-to-day operations. Furthermore, she is a wonderful person to work with.
       Those of us in the MDS department need heroes, too. We usually work isolated in our offices, working by ourselves. Nurses on the unit work together. My new assistant, who is just re-learning how to do an MDS after years of not having to do them, mentioned me. What a nice compliment. (And I didn’t even know that was coming.) So, for many of us who do work isolated in offices for most of the day, there are "Master Teachers" from the American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordinators (AANAC) who know the rules inside and out and follow the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for up-to-date interpretations.
       When I was a young nursing assistant going to nursing school, I worked with a stern registered nurse on the night shift in a hospital on a medical unit that would be considered a sub-acute and long-term care unit. She showed me the best way to care for my patients, how to do wound care, and her general philosophy of nursing. She answered lights and wrote on care plans. In other words, she did her job and beyond. She was my first nursing hero.
       Since then, I have met many spectacular nurses. Some nurses were my peers who could complete tasks easily, and some were the best listeners a patient could have. I still look up to my friends from nursing school who have had remarkable nursing careers.
       Have a wonderful holiday season. Please feel free to send me your comments and questions; it’s always great to share a dialogue with fellow team members.

Q&A