A Letter From the Chief Nurse
Dear Colleagues,
As I take a moment to reflect on my first year here at BWH, I would like to thank you for all that you do in service to our patients and their families.
Soon after I arrived at BWH, I received a beautiful “Wizard of Oz” print for my office from one of our finest nurses who told me that to be a BWH nurse takes “courage, heart and brains.” I couldn’t agree more!
During the year, I have had the privilege of witnessing first-hand amazing acts of kindness by BWH nurses exemplifying the “heart” of nursing practice. I have seen the application of the latest evidence and nursing skill demonstrating the “brains” and mindfulness that BWH nurses must bring to patients as individuals and as a community of professionals. I have heard about the “courage” you demonstrate to do the right thing, even when the path is not clear or easy. This combination of knowledge, skill, character and caring practices is, as I have learned, the essence of BWH nursing.
Over the next year, each one of us will be called upon to demonstrate “courage, heart and brains” as we take the next steps to advance our Department of Nursing’s four pillars, or strategic goals. These pillars—patient-family centered care, patient affordability, inclusivity, and recruiting, developing and retaining the best nurses—will focus our efforts so that each patient and family knows that we are all “nurses first, leaders second and learners always.”
As we approach the centennial of the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital, I and all of our nurse leaders re-commit to leading the practice guided by the voice of the nurse and the voice of our patients and families, who are our best teachers. We stand on the shoulders of all the great BWH nurses who have gone before us. I call upon each one of us to make them proud. Let us go forward guided by the platinum (not the golden) rule, which is to treat others as they would want to be treated, not as we would want to be treated. Let us believe the best in others and seek out multiple divergent perspectives to broaden understanding as we move from tolerance to true collaboration. To do this well will truly require courage, heart and brains from each one of us.
I wish the very best to you in 2012 and hope that you enjoy a wonderful holiday season with friends and family. I continue to believe that I have the best job in the world!
Happy New Year!