Mulan and the ANN Conference

Have you seen the newly released live action Disney movie 'Mulan'?  I love Disney movies and I have watched the animated Mulan movie countless times, but this live action picture of the story of Mulan has captivated me. 

To make a long (MUST SEE) story short, Mulan dresses up as a male soldier to take her father's place (he is elderly) and defend the dynasty.  In the process of defending the dynasty she discovers she is not being true to herself and sheds her male facade risking everything in order to be seen and be whole.

Mulan's story represents the heroine's journey.

The heroine's journey is not just the hero's journey for women.  The heroine's journey is about the mythic quest to maintain feminine values and a sense of wholeness in a society that's been defined according to masculine values. 

It's exemplified in the movie as Mulan conceals her femininity in order to fit in to the male world in which she finds herself.

I can totally relate to the struggles of fitting in, can YOU?

Trying to fit into a situation or culture that doesn't fit or align with your true self is part of the heroine's journey.  You have to walk the path, make the missteps and discover WHO YOU TRULY ARE!

This journey takes courage, persistence and passion!

It takes Imperfect Courage with imperfect action

And, that's where the ANN Conference comes in. 

I was privileged to present a live session at the Annual Academy of Neonatal Nurses Virtual Conference this past Friday.  I got to present on my favorite subject  trauma-informed care for infants, families and clinicians to NICU and perinatal professionals.

I have never presented to this group before and I was a bit nervous but wicked excited and wanted to make a big impression.  (This is me trying out my new curlers ? for that 'big impression').

In an effort to calm my nerves and get myself centered I logged onto my computer to do a little guided meditation with this wicked cool chick, Rebecca Campbell (Rise Sister Rise author), and prepare myself for the live session while my hair dried.     

When I finally logged onto the virtual conference site I was greeted by such friendly and supportive folks. As I was getting introduced I could feel my ANS getting jazzed up, as it always does before I speak, and even though I couldn't see the attendees or view their comments in the chat box, I felt this wonderfully welcoming energy.

When I finished up my presentation one attendee asked a very important question.  She asked how to create a more family centered experience in the labor and delivery area.

She was asking how to begin her heroine's journey. 

As I processed her question I so badly wished I could have given her a magic spell that would make it as she wished it to be. But that is not the nature of this work; it's not the nature of the heroine's journey.

My answer to her was: "One persistent and passionate heart can change the world".

It begins by discovering who YOU truly are.

In high risk and intensive care settings soft skills and qualities are often minimized and sometimes even admonished in favor of rationality and objectivity, as if they were mutually exclusive. 

I think this is in part why family-centered, developmental care practices have yet to be recognized as key performance indicators (KPIs) of quality and patient safety by healthcare systems and accrediting agencies.  

Babies and families are the future. These precious individuals need more than just to survive their hospital experience, they need to thrive and flourish.  Trauma-informed, family-centered developmental care is the means for babies and families to flourish.  And as they flourish, so do YOU.

Based on my experience and the questions asked by the participants of my ANN live session, I think it's safe to say that the time to change the status quo in how we care for families, women and babies is NOW!

The passionate, inspired attendees of ANN have inspired me.

My purpose and mission is to serve YOU; to support you in your  journey to create healthcare experiences that reflect your highest intention and your grandest vision for the service you provide to babies and families in crisis. 

I believe we can work together touching lives, impacting lifetimes one baby, one mother, one family at a time.

My team and I have created two unique evidence-based, inspirational and empowering virtual learning experiences aimed to equip you with the science, the soul and the strategies to implement a trauma-informed approach to care:

• The SURGE EXPERIENCE and
• The SURGE MASTERCLASS

The SURGE MASTERCLASS (for individuals) and the SURGE EXPERIENCE (for healthcare teams) combines the essence of caring with the latest evidence-based research in trauma-informed family-centered, developmental care to transform the hearts and minds of the participants and prepare them to fully step into what it means to become trauma-informed.

These programs are designed for ALL PROFESSIONALS AND TEAMS who serve infants and families in crisis.  Whether it's NICU, PICU, CICU, High-Risk Perinatal Services and beyond, these programs will give you what you need to become trauma-informed.

I know you know how important this work is.  I know you are doing your very best.  Remember, it’s during the darkest of times, as we face our most difficult challenges, that we discover our true purpose and our greatest strengths. 

It's time to begin your journey becoming trauma-informed, becoming the highest expression of who you are meant to be.

"We never know how high we are

Till we are called to rise;

And then, if we are true to plan,

Our statures touch the skies".

–  Emily Dickinson

Our September 24th SURGE MASTERCLASS is filling up so please, don’;t hesitate to enroll today! Your tuition includes the 3 hr, interactive virtual session (with continuing education credit) a reflective and practical workbook, along with an autographed copy of my BRAND NEW 2nd Edition of Transformative Nursing in the NICU (when it is released by the publisher, ~ December 2020 - I’ms so wicked excited ??).

If you would like to speak with me directly, please don't hesitate to schedule a get acquainted call with me at your earliest convenience.

Thanks for reading me, today!

Big hugs

Take care and care well, 

Mary  

PS.: I know many of you have been patiently waiting for news about the trauma-informed care certification (TICC).  I am happy to report we are in the home stretch and I will follow-up with a special email to you later this week  ??

P.S.: Here's your quote for the week!