The Voice of Humana Nurses

As we navigate the evolution of our existing healthcare system – significantly prompted by the Covid 19 Pandemic – we have a tremendous opportunity to reimagine nursing and how we prepare nurses to practice in increasingly complex and varying practice settings. Tune in for a deep dive into this topic and to hear how CenterWell Home Health (a part of Humana Inc) and Emory University School of Nursing are partnering to advance the nursing profession and open doors to nursing possibilities. My guests on this episode are Dr. Beth Ann Swan, Associate Dean at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University, and Emory Kent, Director of Clinical Strategy and Engagement at Humana.

On The Voice of Humana Nurses Podcast, we host incredible nurses and advocates committed to advancing the nursing profession and creating a better environment and future for nurses. In this episode, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, and the Dean of Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Sarah Szanton, talk about how nursing influence will reimagine the future of health and healthcare. Tune in for this engaging and insightful conversation that will inspire you to find your voice in influencing and shaping the future of the incredible nursing profession.

Home Health is a foundational part of the care continuum and the evolving healthcare needs of patients. This growing practice setting is an attractive career choice for nurses, offering a unique opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients and families in their homes. But what are some specific advantages of this practice setting for nurses and the people they serve? And what are the must-do's to ensure nurses feel listened to and supported in the workplace - from wellbeing, development, the opportunity for input in the care they provide, and more? Tune in for this insightful conversation to learn about home health nursing and the unique benefits of this practice setting for nurses and the patients they care for.

Nurses work in every corner of every community. But, their true impact on healthcare outside of the acute care setting is not well known or recognized. As healthcare evolves, we must advocate for and recognize the critical role of nurses across the healthcare continuum and the communities where they live and work. Nurses, nursing advocates, and organizations that employ them must take definitive and intentional steps to re-evaluate the foundational structures to support nurses, reshape the nursing narrative, and show their real impact on moving the healthcare system forward. Tune in for this engaging conversation that will leave you inspired and equipped with practical steps to support creating intentional visibility for nurses, advance the profession, and drive healthcare forward.

Nurses are the most significant healthcare workforce, and the public continuously entrusts them with healthcare decisions. Yet, nurses are not nearly as well represented in leadership and decision-making roles regarding the care they provide, the decisions about nursing practice, or considered by the media for expert opinion on healthcare matters. The time is now for nurses to step forward and seize this opportunity to transform the profession and take nursing to new heights. Nurses must ensure that their voice is represented in all facets of our society. Nurses need to be truly seen, valued, and recognized for their relentless commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of the people they serve. Tune in to hear an engaging conversation on this topic and take away some inspiring advice on what nurses can do to advance their presence and lead in our times.

Leading through ambiguity and complexity – such as the global outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic – has been a significant leadership challenge across all industries. But, the times of change and uncertainty are when great leaders are needed the most and where great leaders are often born. So, what are some key leadership imperatives and essential leadership skills – particularly in healthcare – that leaders need to hone in and tune-up during challenging times? Tune in to hear about the leadership journeys of our guests and get their perspectives on essential leadership traits and strategies for supporting and engaging their teams and leading in our times.

“Self-care is not selfish care,” so why is it so challenging to make time for ourselves? How do we build resilience, find inner peace, and stay balanced in such a fast-paced, ever-changing world? How do we help create a caring and supportive environment, particularly at work, for those in caring professions such as nurses? Tune in to be inspired by quotes and analogies, touched by heart-warming personal stories of resilience, and gain insightful tips to help you build your resilience and take care of your holistic well-being. *Note: This episode is a few minutes longer than our average episode, but you will find it well worth your time.

In this episode, we host three Humana nurses to talk about the benefits of mentoring and the importance of this special relationship in discovering new career pathways and building a strong network. Tune in to hear from Heather Thornton, Brooke Doherty, and Gretchen Ales as they share their personal experiences and the impact that mentoring has had on their own career journeys, and how they are giving back and helping to mentor and guide other nurses.

In this very special episode, we host Dr. Bea Harris, also known as our “honorary nurse” and a member of our nursing community. Over the years, Bea has been instrumental in listening to, empowering, and supporting Humana's nursing community to grow our nursing influence and impact within Humana and the broader Healthcare industry. Tune in to hear Bea and Kathy share personal experiences, reflect on the learnings from the year of Covid, and discuss the importance and impact of self-reflection and a sense of shared purpose on our human need to feel connected and to belong.

In the previous episode of The Voice of Humana Nurses, we hosted Rebecca Love, RN, MSN, FIEL, a nurse executive and a thought leader on nurse-led innovation, for a conversation on why we should support nurses as leaders in healthcare and healthcare innovation and how nurses are contributing in innovative ways to solving healthcare problems. In this episode, we continue this very important conversation with three Humana nurses: Jenica Casanova, RN; Joshua Littlejohn, MPH, MSN, RN, CSPO; and Denise Streible RN, BSN, CSSGB.

Witnessing history over the last year of the most unprecedented healthcare crisis, we have all seen the critical role of nurses in navigating the Covid-19 pandemic. Nurses are essential in driving healthcare improvements to deliver quality, holistic, and equitable care. But what role do nurses play as innovators, and why should we support nurses as leaders in healthcare and healthcare innovation? Tune in to be inspired, energized, and encouraged as our Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, hosts Rebecca Love, a nurse executive and a thought leader on nurse innovation, as they talk about the critical importance, the value, and role of nurses as innovators in advancing holistic and equitable care in our society. You will also learn about the history and purpose of Nurse Hackathons started by Rebecca.

We continue the conversation about the role nurses play in healthcare evolution, and the critical importance of preparing the future leaders of healthcare to meet the unique needs of patients in coordinated and holistic ways. In this episode, Humana's nurse care managers, the University of Houston School of Nursing professor, and a nursing student share their stories and experiences in the Virtual Telehealth Care Management Experience– part of Humana's innovative partnership with the Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute at the University of Houston. You will hear from Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Lee Anne Lightfoot, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Houston College of Nursing, Agnes Ibeneme and Rhonda Colletta – both nurse Care Managers at Humana, and Emilyanne Watts, a nursing students at the University of Houston College of Nursing.

Being a caregiver is an incredibly important and personally rewarding experience that can also be extremely taxing on the caregiver. In recognition of November as National Family Caregivers Month, tune in to this episode for a touching conversation about caregiving as two caregivers – who are also nurses - share their caregiving stories and discuss the rewards and challenges of caregiving, and highlight the importance of supporting caregivers as they pour their hearts into caring for others. You will hear from Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Sue Wilk, Quality Improvement Nurse, and Julie Groneworld, Telephonic Care Manager.

What role do nurses play in healthcare evolution, and how do we most effectively prepare the future leaders of healthcare to meet the unique needs of patients in coordinated and holistic ways? Tune into this episode for an energizing conversation about healthcare innovation and Humana's most recent partnership with the Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute at the University of Houston and the University of Houston College of Nursing to get around COVID-19 challenges to help nursing students graduate on time. You will hear from Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Dr. Lechauncy Woodard, Director of the Humana Integrated Health System Sciences Institute at the University of Houston, and a University of Houston College of Medicine professor; Dr. Kathryn Tart, Humana Endowed Dean's Chair in Nursing; and Professor Lee Anne Lightfoot, Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Houston College of Nursing.

Advancing clinical practice at Humana is at the heart of the Nursing Collaborative. Tune into this episode to take a walk down memory lane with Humana's Nursing Collaborative Founding Nurse Leaders – Kathy Driscoll, Laura Hatfield, Shari Dillon, Sandy Spitale – as they reflect on four years of the collaborative, call upon their most memorable moments, share accomplishments and visions for the future of this vibrant clinical community.

In this episode, Kathy hosts Dr. Joyce Fitzpatrick, Inaugural Director of the Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy and the Elizabeth Brooks Ford Professor of Nursing at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Fitzpatrick describes evidence based practice and research process, the difference between evidence-based practice, research, and quality and improvement studies, and further shares resources to support nurses is conducting research and becoming published authors.

As part of our nurse stories series, in this episode, we are highlighting the influence and the impact of our nurses. Featured in this episode are the following nurse stories: Lydia Harris, Joy Popoola, Lisa Ramsey, Sara Smith, Shannon Tew, Patricia Mazzeo, and Kathie Bacque. We look forward to featuring more nurse stories in future episodes. If you'd like to share your story in future episodes, email us at chiefnursingofficer@humana.com

In response to overwhelming interest from Humana's Nursing Community, and in the spirit of The Year of the Nurse and May as the Nurses Month, Kathy Driscoll sat down with Humana's CEO, Bruce Broussard, for a conversation on the vital role of nurses in future of healthcare and particularly in Humana's transformation from an insurance organization to health services organization.

In the spirit of recognizing 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and celebrating May as Nurses Month, we are highlighting the influence and the impact of nurses through stories. Featured in this episode are the following nurse stories: Beth Norris, Kimberly Burke, Libby Chapman, Elva Rodriguez, Diane Carlton, and Elizabeth Svilar.

At Humana, we are surrounded by an amazing community of people who in the true nurse fashion are dedicated to helping others achieve better health. Approximately 80% of nurses at Humana work at home or in the field – how do we facilitate the feeling of connectedness and support well-being in our nursing community? What does it take to create a healthy and supportive work culture with such a distributed population? Join the conversation as Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer together with Stacy Wheldon, Director of Telephonic Care Management, and two Humana nurses, Ruben Arias, Manager of Telephonic Care Management, and Sharon Wagner, Telephonic Care Manager, discusses the opportunities and creative ways to support nurse well-being even in the most distributed and virtual work environment.

Join the conversation as Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, and Dr. Bea Harris, Director with Humana's Associate Well-Being Experience, discuss understanding and owning the value that you bring as a nurse to every interaction. They also share practical advice, tips, and strategies for learning to advocate for yourself and effectively communicate your value.

In a conversation with Dr. Bea Harris, Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer shares the path that led her from direct patient care to leadership, her passion for advocating for nurses and the value that they bring, and discusses the power and influence of a community, and her commitment to advancing Humana's nursing community.

Nurses comprise the largest part of America's healthcare landscape and continue to rank as the most trusted profession. But how does the industry rank on gender diversity, and what can be done to increase men in nursing? Join the conversation as Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, RN, CCM, discusses gender representation and opportunities to balance the nursing gender gap with Dr. Ernest Grant, President of the American Nurses Association, and two Humana nurse leaders, Gregg Billeter, RN, BSN, CCM, Director of Humana At Home In-Home Care Management, and Travis Marron, RN, BSN, CCM, Manager, Care Management.

Join the conversation as Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer and Tim Huval, Humana's Chief Administrative Officer, engage in a heartwarming conversation on the subject of caring and the importance of caring as a foundational value for how we show up with our members, as well as each other, and the way we work.

Join the conversation as Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, hosts Dr. Will Shrank, Humana's Chief Medical Officer, to talk about Integrated Care, what it takes to deliver it, and the importance of an inter-professional care team collaboration and broad clinical expertise working in optimizing member's health.

What were the top moments of 2019? Who is an avid mountain climber? And who is becoming a grandma in 2020? Join the conversation with nurse leaders at Humana as they share their best moments of 2019, give invaluable career advice, and tell stories so we can get to know them more personally

Join Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, in a conversation with two clinicians and founding members of Humana's Social Services Advisory Council, as they discuss the importance of self-care and share tips for identifying signs that help us recognize when we're reaching “glass full.” In this episode, the guests also highlight the successes of the Social Services Advisory Council in 2019.

What is the future of homecare and how do we influence the landscape of home health and healthcare in general? Join Kathy Driscoll, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, leaders of Humana's Home Health Strategy, along with a special guest from Kindred At Home as they discuss the future of home and home health and how nurses fit into this strategy.

How do you join a board of directors, and what do you get in return from serving? Tune in to this episode to find out as Humana nurses and our special guest from the American Nurses Association, share their experience and insights about board service. You will hear from Kaitlin Goedeke – Manager with Senior Products Organization, Joanie Howard – Clinical Strategy and Practice Lead with our Chief Nursing Office, Sarah Gumm – Utilization Management Nurse with Clinical Claims Review, and Kate Judge – Executive Director of the American Nurses Foundation, hosted by Kathy Driscoll, RN – Humana's Chief Nursing Officer.

In this episode, Susan Diamond, President of Home Solutions, talks about her commitment to support nurses across all of Humana, as well as her leadership style and the future strategy of Home Solutions. She also shares advice on career development and why it's important to be a continuous, curious learner and expand your perspective and influence.

Get up, get out, and get involved! In this episode, we talk about the importance of giving back through volunteerism, and the benefits of volunteering not only to the organizations we're giving our time and talents to, but also the value that we gain from the experiences. You will hear from Lisa Wells, BSN, RN, Senior Technology Implementation Professional with Humana's Business Improvement, and Ali Greenwell, Senior Associate Well-being Experience Professional, interviewed by Kathy Driscoll, RN, Humana's Chief Nursing Officer and the host of The Voice of Humana Nurses Podcast.

In this episode, we talk about professional development and the importance of continuous growth to career satisfaction and quality patient care. We particularly focus on advanced degrees and the role that a supportive work culture plays in ensuring that nurses' development is encouraged and supported.

Have you recognized or been recognized by someone lately? We all have a human need to be noticed and appreciated for our efforts. Recognition moves us, and we instantly feel re-energized. Join the conversation as our guests discuss the importance of recognition – particularly peer recognition – and how creating a culture of gratitude supports belonging at work.

What is clinical quality, and what does it take to deliver it? Tune in to the conversation as Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll RN, CCM hosts Misty Roberts, Associate Vice President of Clinical Quality and Faith Green, Director of Clinical Quality with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer at Humana, to discuss the importance of building a mindset of continuous clinical quality to impact the patient (member) health outcomes.

What is cultural fluency, and why is understanding culture so essential for nurses, and healthcare in general? Join the conversation as we discuss the importance of recognizing the power and influence of culture on building trusted relationships with patients, who are often from diverse cultures, and learn how we can best support their needs and preferences to help them on their health journey. You will hear from Claritza Maldonado, RN, Care Manager; Leah Hamby, RN, Care Manager; and Tony Suarez, Director of Experience, Strategy, and Transformation in Humana's Consumer Group hosted by Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll RN, CCM.

Preceptorships can be time-intensive and require specialized training. Are they worth the effort? Join the conversation as we explore the power of nurse preceptorship in improving the new hire onboarding experience and how preceptorship fosters a culture of continuous learning, teaching, interpersonal, and leadership skills. You will hear from three Humana nurses, Tonya Harris, RN; Megan Heubrock, RN; and Alysha Linder, RN hosted by Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll RN, CCM.

Effective, contemporary leaders are constantly learning and not just in their own areas of expertise. Humana's clinical rotation programs build enterprise knowledge and leadership acumen, exposing clinicians to learning experiences and leadership opportunities beyond their traditional roles. Join the conversation as Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll RN, CCM, talks with Heather Mattingly, BSN, RN, Clinical Strategy and Practice Lead; Sue Wilk, BSN, Telephonic Care Manager at Humana at Home; and Dior Cotten, Stars Improvement Lead, about the nurse rotation program, aka Nurse Career Enrichment Program, and our opportunities to learn and grow while bringing clinical exposure and expertise to business areas across the enterprise.

An estimated 1 in 8 Americans is food insecure and, in some communities, this number is even higher. Join the conversation as Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll RN, CCM, talks with Angie Wolff RN, BSN, Director of Business Integration and Engagement, and Lesley Newton RN, BSN, Market Development Professional – both with a focus on Humana's Bold Goal – about the impact that social determinants of health (e.g., social isolation, food insecurity, transportation) have on a person's physical and mental well-being. Also learn about steps Humana is taking to help people have more “Healthy Days,” as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Communities are as strong as everyone who gets involved in them. Tune in as Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, RN talks with three Humana nurses – Travis Maronn, RN; Phyllis Cobb, RN; and Kristy Byrd, RN – about Nurse Ambassadors at Humana and the role they play in creating connectedness and promoting a sense of belonging in Humana's nursing community.

The nurse-member relationship is a special kind of relationship fostered on trust. After all, nurses have been voted the most trusted profession for the last 17 years. Join Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, RN, as she talks with Lisa Abbott, APRN, Gregg Billeter, RN, and Brandie Gillispie, RN about the power of building strong relationships to support member needs and preferences, and help them on their way to better health.

At 4 million strong, nurses comprise the largest part of America's healthcare workforce. Now, they're being asked to serve in increasingly greater leadership roles to meet the evolving needs of our healthcare delivery system. Join Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, RN, as she talks with Dr. Kathryn Tart, Humana's endowed Dean and Chair in Nursing at the University of Houston about how and why the field of nursing has changed over the past 50 years, and how nurses can build their contemporary leadership competencies. Also, hear about the growing and exciting opportunities for nurse leaders today.

Military members make extraordinary commitments to our nation, so serving and supporting them in their health is a privilege and an honor. Join Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, RN, and two clinicians who care for Humana's service members – Donna Rose, RN, and Trisha Mickey, RN – as they share the many ways Humana nurses are serving the military and their families. Also learn about the work of Humana's SALUTE Network Resource Group, an associate-led affinity group that supports veterans in our communities.

Continuous learning and skill development are great ways to enhance your knowledge AND are often essential to opening new doors for job growth. Join Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, RN, Carole Gescheidle RN, Jayne Butcher, RN, and Deanna Simpson, RN, as they discuss advancing yourself through specialty certifications, as well as the positive impact additional certifications (such as the Case Management Certification) may have on your career, particularly within the nursing practice.

Nurses are routinely voted the most trusted profession, and with 4 million nurses in the United States, we have a tremendous opportunity as well as a responsibility to impact not only their health but the health of the nation. Join Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll, RN., Joanie Howard, RN., and Jaime Dawson, a special guest from American Nurses Association as they discuss the importance of nurse well-being in ensuring high-quality care for patients they serve as well as the communities they live in.

The United States is facing a serious challenge in the nursing workforce – older nurses are retiring, people are living longer – often with complex health challenges – and training in nursing schools is not happening fast enough to keep up with the demand. It is important we address this gap. Tune in for a conversation between Humana's Chief Nursing Officer, Kathy Driscoll R.N., Dorothy Burns, RN., and Rhonda Hartman RN., as they discuss what the Chief Nursing Office is doing to support nurse growth and development and advance the Clinical Culture at Humana.