Letters from Le-Ann Harris: Lessons we carry

Le-Ann Harris, DNP, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, is the Regional Chief Nursing Officer for Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic and Holy Cross Health in Maryland, and Interim President for Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital and Saint Francis Hospital.

There is something special about the beginning of a new school year.

We see children carrying freshly packed backpacks, school buses returning to familiar routes, college campuses welcoming new and returning students, and families adjusting to new schedules and routines. It is a season filled with excitement, anticipation and, for many, a mix of emotions.

For some of our colleagues, back-to-school season means earlier mornings, school drop-offs, transportation arrangements, homework, practices and activities. It means balancing the responsibilities of caring for patients with the responsibilities of caring for children and families at home.

For others, this season brings an entirely different transition. Parents and caregivers of college-age children may be helping their sons and daughters move into residence halls, apartments, or even communities far from home. They may be experiencing the pride of watching their children take another step toward independence while also adjusting to an emptier and quieter home. Whether it is the first day of kindergarten, the first year of high school, or the first semester away at college, every new chapter can bring both joy and uncertainty.

To the parents, grandparents, guardians and caregivers throughout our hospitals who are navigating these transitions: I see you. Thank you for continuing to bring your compassion, focus and commitment to our patients while also managing the many responsibilities and emotions that accompany this season. I hope we will extend a little extra patience and grace to one another as families settle into their new rhythms.

Back-to-school season also reminds us that learning is not limited to classrooms or campuses. In healthcare, we are always both students and teachers.

Every day, we teach patients how to care for themselves, guide families through unfamiliar and sometimes frightening experiences, and help new colleagues, students and residents develop their knowledge and confidence. We share lessons gained through years of experience, offer encouragement when someone is learning something new, and help one another grow.

At the same time, we must remain willing to learn. Our patients teach us. Our colleagues teach us. New research and technology challenge us to evolve. Difficult situations reveal opportunities to improve. Even our mistakes, when approached with honesty and humility, can become some of our most important lessons.

The strongest healthcare professionals and leaders never assume they have learned all there is to know. They remain curious. They ask questions. They listen to perspectives different from their own. They understand that experience is valuable, but so is the humility to say, “Help me understand,” or “Teach me something I may not know.”

As we enter this season of new beginnings, I encourage each of us to consider the lessons we carry and the lessons we are still being invited to learn. Let us generously share our knowledge, remain open to the wisdom of others, and create an environment where people feel safe asking questions, offering ideas and continuing to grow.

Whether your household is becoming busier with school-day routines or quieter because someone you love has left for college, please know that you and your family are in my thoughts. May this new school year bring growth, meaningful experiences and wonderful new possibilities.

And may all of us, inside and outside our hospitals, never become too experienced to learn something new or too busy to teach someone along the way.

With gratitude,
Le-Ann