North Sunflower nurses learn to think outside the box

A core group of the nursing management staff at North Sunflower Medical Center participated in a leadership training workshop Friday at the 1933 restaurant in Ruleville.

Daniel Vassel and Irving Bullet with the Solutions Group Four Company facilitated the interactive sessions.

The day’s components included sessions on strategic thinking, interpersonal relationships, team synergy & team spirit, the power of synergy, team roles and responsibilities and thriving in change.

Sam Miller, chief operations officer for North Sunflower Medical Center, said, “Our goal is to increase leadership training for all staff. This training is part of a series of trainings, which are funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“Today, we are just working with a core group and at the end of the month we will open it to all nursing staff. We are also working with the Mississippi Nurses Association to provide this training.”

Miller said continued education hours would be offered for these trainings.

He said this leadership training is part of the medical center’s strategic plan to offer the training to all staff.

Vassel told the participants to think outside the box and to set goals.

“The only person who can stop you from achieving those goals is you,” he said.

Vassel then gave out index cards to the three groups and challenged them to make a tower.

After a few minutes, he said, “You can fold the cards. No one said you could not fold the cards.”

The task became easier and two teams tied for the tallest structure. The activity reinforced his challenge to think outside the box.

The teams were then charged to create a commercial that they would perform at the end of the day for Billy Marlow, executive director at North Sunflower Medical Center, and Miller.

“Each member has to plan and perform. You can use props. Be energetic.  The goal is that people see your commercial and say, ‘Wow, we want to go to this hospital,” said Vassel.

Participant Blondine Brown said, “I love this training. It is interactive and we are getting a chance to see what it is like to work as a team and to be on the same page to accomplish a goal.”

She said that all of the nurses had the same goal-what was best for North Sunflower.

Another participant Mars Capangpangan said, “This has been a good learning experience and we can carry what we learn today to our daily jobs.”

Bullet said he thought the training had gone well.

“The commitment from North Sunflower to enhance leadership in the front line people will enhance customer service and outcome driven employees. It will make people more effective,” Bullet said.

“Because of people like Robyn Marlow, Stacy Davis, Billy Marlow, and Sam Miller, North Sunflower will go from great to even better with their proactive approach to achieving greater heights,” said Bullet.

Robyn Marlow, director of employee & community relations, said, “Happy employees make happy patients. We have to change and grow and keep up with the times which is what we are doing with this training.”