Tag: All One Nurse

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Nursing with Heart: My LVAD Experience with Tiffany Cannon, RN

A Thriving Nurse and Patient

There are countless stories of inspiration, and this one has to be in the top 10 for sure! Tiffany Cannon is a Registered Nurse who also wears a Left Ventricular Assistive Device (LVAD). The LVAD is surgically implanted on the left side of her heart through her abdominal wall. It operates on a continuous power source: battery packs. How electrifying is that?!  

“Nursing With Heart: My LVAD Experience with Tiffany Cannon, RN”

Tiffany and her spouse, Xavier, with baby girl Cannon

Tiffany engages in a heartfelt conversation with All One Nurse podcast host, Shenell Thompkins. She shares her journey through heart failure during pregnancy and her experiences in nursing. This episode is a powerful reminder of the importance of heart health awareness, particularly among Black women. Exemplifying the impact of personal experiences on nursing practice and also, understanding that maternal mortality is 3 to 4 times higher in women of color than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Tiffany’s Journey Through Heart Failure

Tiffany’s story is one of resilience and faith. She faced the daunting challenge of heart failure during pregnancy, a condition that is often difficult to diagnose. During labor, Tiffany was found to have an Ejection Fraction of only 5%, whereas a normal EF is >60%. Her journey with peripartum cardiomyopathy is one of both spiritual and practical challenges. 

Peripartum cardiomyopathy, also known as postpartum peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), is an uncommon condition of heart failure with no other causes. It can happen during the last month of pregnancy, following delivery, or up to five months postpartum. For more in-depth information, including signs and symptoms, go to Peripartum Cardiomyopathy | American Heart Association. 

Tiffany’s experience with the LVAD highlights the importance of comprehensive heart health testing, including echocardiograms and stress tests. Tiffany emphasizes the need for awareness around heart health, especially for women, and encourages others to advocate for their health.

Tiffany and baby girl Cannon

The Power of Compassionate Care

Speaking of advocacy, Tiffany and Shenell discuss the significance of compassion, patient advocacy, and effective communication in healthcare. Tiffany’s experiences in nursing school, her transition to nephrology nursing, personal experience, and her patient interactions have shaped her approach to nursing. She believes compassionate care can significantly impact patient recovery and that understanding patient experiences enhances nursing care. Where Tiffany could have taken the road of disability, she returned to the nursing field to empower other nurses and patients. 

Key Takeaways of Tiffany’s Interview on the All One Nurse podcast include,

  • Black women face higher risks of cardiovascular complications.
  • Heart disease is a leading cause of death among women.
  • Living with an LVAD requires adjustments, but it does not mean the end of life as one knows it.
  • Nursing school can be challenging and requires dedication.
  • Personal experiences can shape nursing practices.
  • Patient advocacy is crucial in healthcare.
  • Compassionate care can significantly impact patient recovery.
  • Effective communication is essential for patient trust.
  • Understanding patient experiences enhances nursing care.
  • Comprehensive testing, including echocardiograms and stress tests, is crucial for heart health.
  • Ejection fraction is a key indicator of heart health, with normal levels above 60%.

In Conclusion 

Tiffany Cannon’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and compassionate care. Her story serves as an inspiration to nurses, healthcare professionals, and patients, reminding us of the importance of heart health awareness, patient advocacy, and so much more. As we continue to navigate the complexities of healthcare, let us remember the impact of personal stories in inspiring hope and resilience in the face of adversity. Tiffany’s desire to share her story to inspire and help both nurses and patients thrive and not just exist for the status quo is a grand gesture. 

Tiffany shares her more in-depth experience in her book A Journey through the Supernatural Healing, available on Amazon. To date, Tiffany has collaborated with Nurse.org on the Nurse Converse podcast (Listen here on Apple podcast) and the Rapid Response RN podcast (Listen here on Apple podcast) to provide inspiration and education to their huge audience of healthcare professionals. Each interview brings a new perspective and awareness.

Would you like to connect with Tiffany Cannon? 

~Kindly email Tiffany @ Tiffany.Cannonjourney@gmail.com 
~Follow Tiffany’s journey on Instagram @ Tiffany.cannon_journey

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Check out the All One Nurse podcast for more interviews and inspiration!

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You Better Get One! A Nursing Philosophy.

Do you have a nursing philosophy? 

“A nursing philosophy is a mission statement that outlines a nurse’s values, beliefs, personal and professional ethics as they relate to the nursing profession and their motivation for being a nurse”. -Indeed.com 

As a nurse educator, I developed a teaching philosophy. Check it out below and I encourage you to develop your own nursing philosophy to help motivate you on your nursing journey. Enjoy! 

My Nursing Philosophy

I am very passionate about the nursing profession and my role as a nurse. I desire to teach future nurses the same values, beliefs, and dedication I have toward the nursing profession. What I believe makes a great nurse educator is their qualities, teaching strategies, and recognition of challenges.

I believe a nurse educator’s character should possess an attitude of integrity, accountability, respect, commitment, caring, managing impulsivity, and listening with understanding and empathy. Doing so, demonstrates the respect for thyself, the profession of nursing, and the public.

I believe a nurse educator’s skills and competency are important, adding the ability to combine clinical expertise with a formal background in teaching for students to be successful. Nurse educators should aim to become certified to rid the question of competency, but display competency in their area of practice.

I believe that successful teaching consists of the ability to use a variety of teaching strategies that promote a learner-centered environment. I believe that students should understand that they are accountable for their learning which will affect the lives of others. I want to do so in a manner that is motivating and facilitates learning.  I believe that nurse educators must assess how students learn best and be adaptable, approachable, and responsive to students.

I believe that successful teaching consists of recognition of challenges. There are constant changes within the nursing profession and health care system. We must be aware of external issues like health care reform, changing demographics, technology, and the environment in which nurses’ practice. We must develop a curriculum that remains challenging while also providing opportunities for diverse students to participate in. 

References

What Is a Nursing Philosophy? (With Tips and Examples) | Indeed.com

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Isolated Patients and PPE! Do you really have time?

The answer is No. 

How many times do you just need to silence the beeping pump, or quickly get a blood pressure? Not including all the other “right quick” tasks that may be needed in that patient’s room throughout the day.  However, wearing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not a suggestion. It is essential for healthcare workers to protect themselves, their colleagues, and other patients from exposure to transmittable diseases.

What is PPE?

There are many different types, including gloves, gowns, masks, face shields, eye wear, and other protective materials. The type of PPE that is required will vary depending on the type of procedure being performed and the risk of exposure to infectious pathogens, bodily fluids, and other potentially infectious materials. 

It is important to use PPE correctly (donning) and to dispose of it properly after use (doffing). Healthcare workers should also be trained on how to use PPE safely and effectively. Do not walk in the halls with PPE on. Even if it is clean, it gives off the perception that it might not be. My most experienced nurses know to “cluster” their care in isolated rooms, but it’s the getting stuck in our ways that is not always the best way and can cause the most harm.

Here’s the bottom line, PPE:

  • Protects you from exposure to blood-borne pathogens, bodily fluids, and other potentially infectious materials.
  • Protects patients from becoming infected by healthcare workers (Immunosuppressed Patients).
  • Helps to prevent the spread of infection, reducing healthcare cost, and improving patient safety.

It is important to note that just like birth control, PPE is not 100% effective in preventing exposure to infectious diseases. However, it is an important part of infection control and can help to reduce the risk of exposure and transmission of diseases.

For more information on PPE, please visit the cdc.gov website.  

Transmission-Based Precautions | Basics | Infection Control | CDC”

Isolation Precautions | Guidelines Library | Infection Control | CDC