collaboration and coordination acros the continuum

I believe that nurses need to embrace the knowledge that care of patients go beyond the hospital bed providing health care "across the continuum".

In order to do this, as professionals we need to know what we are doing.
Following MD orders and Scope of Practices are essential. Keeping up with ever-evolving researched best practices brings competencey to "what we do" for the patients and each other. Collaboration and communication can not be under rated.

While some parts of nursing have not changed-there is a real cost. As nurses I believe we have a responsibility to people, resources, and quality. Furthermore there is an accountability to patients, families, physicians, peers, insurance, and facility that employs us by plannning our care through measurable goals and positive outcomes. We can not be stagnent. As always patients' expectations may differ from those expectations from medical staff.

We are only "invited" into a part of the patient's life.

And we need to celebrate the successes of our patients, our colleagues, and ourselves.