We sat down with Harmony's Chief Nursing Officer, Adrienne Shelton to ask some questions about her favorite parts of working closely with our nurses and care team!
How does the Family Serving Families mission statement influence your role as the Chief Nursing Officer?
As the Chief Nursing Officer, the Family Serving Families mission has evolved for me over the years. Although serving our residents and families will always be a priority, my passion for serving in this industry is fueled by serving our associates and community teams. As you all work so hard to serve our residents and families every day, I feel the need to identify, diagnose, and remove obstacles and bring you the resources you need to do your job to the best of your ability.
Iron sharpens iron - describe someone in your career that has inspired and challenged you.
I have always believed in the concept that we are the average of the 4-5 people we spend time with the most. So, I intentionally try to put myself around people and learn from those that challenge me and are doing things better and differently. With that being said, I can confidently say that one of our current Operations Specialists, Donna Hopkins, has been an excellent coach, mentor, and partner. One thing she has always modeled is action- when there are things to do, she gets them done. She also models trust and integrity- if she says she is going to do something, she does it. If she says she will call you back, she will. Additionally, she has accomplished some remarkable things beyond work- getting her pilot’s license, cycling across the country, and going to other countries rehabbing ortho surgical patients, to name a few.
When you're off the clock, what hobbies do you have?
When I am off the clock I love to be active- working out, running, spending time outdoors. I spend time with my 2 boys, Jacob and Ian- watching movies, shopping, playing sports, and traveling.
How do you practice self-care/Why is wellness so important, especially for nurses?
Love this question- I practice self-care by not breaking promises to myself. I commit to myself- spending the first part of my day outside, gym and walking/running every day, eating healthy 80% of the time, prioritizing sleep (7-8 hr/night) and sleep routine for optimal circadian rhythm cycle, hydration, electrolytes, and other supplements. Wellness is very important to me for several reasons- but longevity, aging well, and being the best version of myself is at the top. Nurses truly need to prioritize themselves, self-care, and wellness to optimize their quality of life. We give of ourselves to serve others all day long- finding a way to refill our cup, re-energize, and feel our very best daily is non-negotiable.
When you travel to a Harmony community, what is your favorite road trip snack?
I love Slim Jims, Cheez-Its, and any kind of trail mix. I always have water and Liquid IV too.
If you could give one piece of advice to our Harmony nurses, what would it be?
Protect your time. Time block and schedule your entire day. Take action all day. If there is something that needs to be done- do it as soon as possible. Prioritize recruiting. Always have a contingency plan for staffing. That was 4-5 things, but doing these 4 things will make your life easier and allow you to stay in your role long enough to grow in the position and the company.