- Employee SpotlightGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMarilyn ‘Nia’ Wright has been running around hospital floors attending to patients since she started her career as a nurse in the ‘70s. Wherever there was a need — whether it was her patient or not — she was on the scene ready to help. Over the years, Marilyn earned the nickname Nia, an abbreviation for ‘nurse in action.’ “I always wanted to be a nurse,” Nia says, adding that when she was younger, she liked play-acting as a nurse and putting bandages on her dolls. “I never saw myself doing anything else than nursing, except for maybe becoming an actor, singer or dancer. But I still get to do all of those things as a nurse because you never know what your patients need. Sometimes you need to tell a joke to help them relax and, sometimes, depending on the patient, we sing together.” Nia’s passion is helping others. Her ethos, which she coined early on in her career, is that she gets to impact the world one person at a time because of her profession. “We [nurses] don’t only impact patients, we also reach their families and beyond. That’s why I’m a nurse.” As senior nursing director at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), Nia does a lot of work behind the scenes taking care of the people who take care of the patients. Another important aspect of her role is the many diversity and inclusion initiatives she spearheads at AAMC, including helping to launch the organization’s first Coming to the Table series, focused on creating a more diverse and inclusive culture by having open, candid conversations about cultural differences and discussing ways to mitigate unconscious bias. Thanks to such efforts, AAMC was recently nominated as the recipient of the 2020 Prism Diversity Award by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). This award recognizes AAMC as a leader for advancing diversity efforts within the nursing profession, community or organization. “Diversity is acknowledging, embracing and valuing each person’s uniqueness, while inclusion is recognizing that each person is unique,” says Nia. “Every individual brings something different to the table and diversity is important in order to be strong, both as a hospital and as a community.” Nia helps to instill in her colleagues that they can do something to make sure they are inclusive just in the way they interact with another person. “The business that we’re in is health care and care promotes health. One of the ways we can all promote care, whether working with patients or not, is by being that person who includes everyone regardless of their preferences or the way they look and/or speak.” Pro tip: “Be respectful of people for being human beings who have value. And be introspective so you are aware of your own biases — we all have them. If you’re not aware of them, you won’t overcome them.” If you know a great individual or a fantastic team going above and beyond to make a difference, make sure to let us know! Looking for a career in health care? We invite you to join a diverse and collaborative team of professionals working together to innovate the future of health care for our entire region. Check out our career opportunities.
- News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogAnne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) is the recipient of the 2020 Prism Award by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). This award recognizes AAMC as a leader for advancing diversity efforts within the nursing profession, community and organization. AONL will honor AAMC with the award in late March. “AAMC champions a culture that fosters diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Sherry Perkins, president of AAMC. “Our employees play a key role in ensuring we nurture diversity in our community and within the workplace, and we are honored to be awarded with the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Prism Diversity Award.” READ MORE: Special Edition Employee Spotlight: Marilyn “Nia” Wright “This recognition is a reflection of our dedication and commitment to celebrating a diverse workforce in health care,” said Barbara Jacobs, chief nursing officer at AAMC. “As a Magnet® designated hospital, we’re proud to deliver the highest quality of care and celebrate the diversity of our patients, employees and community as a whole.” “Receiving this award is another confirmation that our efforts to increase diversity, ensure equity and foster inclusion are headed in the right direction,” said Tamiko Stanley, director of Diversity and Inclusion. “We are committed to reducing health disparities and ensuring a culturally competent workforce that reflects the communities we serve. Embracing diversity and inclusion fosters creativity and innovation, while building a workforce that delivers effective, efficient and impactful care.” AAMC is consistently recognized for its diversity and inclusion efforts. The medical center is the 2019 recipient of the American Hospital Association Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award and is also a designated “LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Top Performer” by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation.
- Cancer Care, Men's Health, Women's HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogColon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women in the United States. It is also one of the leading causes of cancer deaths each year. The colon makes up most of your large intestine and is part of your digestive system. In the colon, salt and water get absorbed from food you eat in one of the final steps of digestion, before the remaining undigestible matter gets excreted from your body. Colon cancer usually begins with growths – called polyps – which form within the colon. These growths may become cancerous and, over time, can spread throughout the colon and into other areas of the body. Although there is no surefire way to prevent colon cancer, there are steps you can take to lower your risk: Get screened regularly. Regular screening for colon cancer is critical in order to find and remove polyps before they become cancerous. In general, it is recommended that all adults get screened annually, beginning at age 45. Speak with your doctor for more details on the type and frequency of screening that is right for you. Stay within a healthy weight. Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for colon cancer, particularly if you carry excess weight around the midsection or belly. If you need to lose weight, keep these quick tips in mind: don’t drink your calories; eat slowly; and pay close attention to hunger cues. Eat only when you are truly hungry and stop when you feel full. Avoid red or processed meats. High intake of beef, pork and lamb is linked with increased rates of colon cancer. The same is true for processed meats, such as deli meat, bacon, sausage, hot dogs, ham and others. Keep these foods as occasional treats and choose poultry, seafood, legumes and nuts for your daily protein needs. Eat more fiber. The bacteria in your gut houses 80 percent of your immune system and, therefore, plays an important role in immune function, inflammation and metabolism. A healthy balance of gut bacteria has been linked with a decreased risk of colon and other cancers. Studies show that not only does eating a high-fiber diet lead to a favorable balance of “good” bacteria in your gut, but it is also associated with a reduced risk of colon cancer. Aim for 25-30 grams of fiber per day by eating vegetables, fruits, oatmeal, legumes, nuts, whole-wheat pasta, brown rice, whole grain bread and other grains. Add color to your plate. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can reduce the risk of colon cancer. Plus, the phytochemicals found in these foods not only give them their vibrant colors, but they also act as cancer-fighting antioxidants in the body. Lycopene—found in tomatoes, watermelon and mangoes—is a great example. Eat a rainbow of different colored fruits and vegetables every day to make sure you’re getting as many different antioxidants as possible. Move your body. Physical inactivity is another risk factor for colon cancer, so be sure to move your body as much as possible every day. Take the stairs, park further from your destination, go for a walk, find a fun fitness class, or throw a dance party with your kids or grandkids. Have fun and make daily movement a habit. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol. Both smoking and high alcohol intake are linked with an increased risk of colon cancer (and other diseases). It’s best to quit smoking altogether and limit your consumption of alcohol to no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men. All of these recommendations can help lower your risk factors for colon cancer. As an extra bonus, nearly all of them can also reduce your risk of other cancers and major diseases. That’s a win-win for your health! Authors Ann Caldwell and Maureen Shackelford are nutritionists and registered dietitians at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach them, call 443-481-5555. Originally published March 4, 2019. Last updated March 2, 2020.
- PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogQ: How can I make sure the time change doesn’t affect my kids’ sleep? Are they getting enough sleep? First, it’s important to keep kids on a schedule with a bedtime routine. For example, kids should bathe, brush their teeth, spend a little time reading, then get to bed at a specific time. It’s important to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to keep on schedule. With daylight saving time, it may take a few days to adjust. But sticking to your overall routine is key. To help kids adjust sooner, move their bedtime routine up by 15 minutes each day for four days leading up to March 8, when the clocks spring forward. Let’s say your child’s bedtime is 8 pm: Begin at 7:45 pm on March 4 Begin at 7:30 pm on March 5 Begin at 7:15 pm on March 6 Begin at 7:00 pm on March 7 How much sleep do kids need? It depends on their age. Enough sleep is essential for kids to learn and stay focused at school. Infants: 12 to 18 hours a day Toddlers: 12 to 14 hours a day Ages 5 to 12: 10 to 12 hours a night Teenagers: 8 to 10 hours a night Find more health tips for your kids. Author Michael Clemmens, MD, is a pediatrician and the medical director of Pediatrics at AAMC. Originally published Feb. 15, 2017. Last updated March 2, 2020.
- Cancer CareGeneral Page Tier 3BlogLife after cancer can be a very exhilarating yet complicated time in someone’s life. From the time you get the diagnosis, you become extremely focused on the fight of your life. Everyone you know rallies around you and it’s an all-out war against this invader. At the end of your journey, God willing, you get the news and results everyone has been working toward and praying for — you’re cancer free. Then, it’s back to everyday life. I call it the “cancer hangover.” My wife compares it to the lead-up and excitement you feel during Christmas time and the feeling you have the day right after. She said the significant other also experiences this culmination of intense emotions, dedication and support. READ MORE about Brian’s story and how he learned that it’s never too early to take care of your health. Throughout my journey with colon cancer, I kept a journal of sorts with notes in my phone. I find it inspiring to go back and read what I thought in that moment. My notes read: Don’t wait until you are faced with your own mortality to be the son, husband, father, friend, neighbor and person you can be. Live life. Allow yourself to love, strive and achieve. Find patience and peace in life’s challenges. Accept your defeats and learn from your mistakes. Appreciate life’s victories, no matter how small, and be your own biggest fan and critic. Be patient and know that others are going through daily challenges as well. Don’t be afraid of self-analysis and to be critical of yourself. But make sure you also appreciate the positives and come up with a plan for improvement. Find what inspires you, absorb its strength and allow it to usher you forward. You can be a hero starting now. Your actions create the costume. Finding inspiration is easy. It’s remaining inspired that is the true test. Only coming from the lion’s mouth can we learn to roar. A day’s challenge is only as challenging as we make it. A worry will drag you down, confronting it will rise you up. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, in an honest first-hand opinion, what you can do to be the person you know you can be. We grow stronger in the face of adversity, wiser in the wake of mistakes and kinder with hearts open. The better ‘you’ is around the corner, the same one you have been around before. I am one of the lucky ones. After a shocking diagnosis, I was able to complete my cancer treatment plan and am happy to say I continue to be a cancer survivor. It took a lot of patience, a lot of faith, a lot of support and a comprehensive plan from the doctors to be where I am today. Listen to your body and seek help if something isn’t right. We all have our own challenges in life, it’s important to work your way through each battle in order to win the war. Take things one step at a time and prepare yourself to succeed. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my story so others may be able to learn from my experiences and know that they can overcome what lies ahead. If you’re 50+ this year, pledge to have your colonoscopy. Learn more at askAAMC.org/Milestone50. Author Brian Page, from Annapolis, is a father of two and a 41-year-old colon cancer survivor. Originally published March 11, 2019. Last updated March 2, 2020.
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