Team,
I know everyone says this every year, but, seriously, how is it already December?!?! It seems like yesterday we were welcoming all the summer new grads, and there’s no way it’s been a whole year since our Magnet designation. Believe it or not, 2025 will be over in just 26 days!
Last January, I shared my goal for 2025 and declared we would “Thrive in ’25.” My hope for the year was more opportunities to be proactive, intentional, strategic, and goal-oriented. Instead of spending so much time putting out fires, I hoped we could prevent them from starting in the first place.
I wanted us to “thrive” rather than just “survive.” How do you think we did? I can’t speak for everyone, but my first thought is that I had more “survive” days than “thrive” ones in 2025. But some days were a good kind of surviving, if you know what I mean. Think back to the peak of the COVID pandemic and how we were often struggling to literally survive. On this year’s worst days, I feel like the struggles were because we are focused on growing and improving, not because we were about to collapse.
I’m not a runner, so I won’t even pretend to use a sprint vs. marathon analogy, but I think I can use a parenting one. I feel extremely grateful and blessed that my husband and I have reached what may possibly be a “thriving” stage of parenthood. Our kids are both enjoying life, and it’s nice to be able to watch them as young adults, setting goals, making life choices, and becoming good members of society.
For UAMS nursing, we are in the days of lots of teachable moments, too many activities to count, long days, and a never-boring, but often rewarding, phase of the journey. But not yet “in the groove” we all dream of. The reality is in our profession — I don’t think there is a “we have arrived” stage for nursing. The nature of health care is so ever-changing that we are in a constant state of evolving. That’s ok. Maybe that’s why we love it so much. We like the challenge, the “always something new” nature of our jobs, and the opportunity to have an impact on other people’s lives.
As I think back on the past year, I’m incredibly grateful for our leadership teams. With all the initiatives, many new nurses and team members, more hospital beds, expanded operations, and all the other changes this year, they have taken it all in stride and helped ensure our front-line teams have the support needed to care for our patients. They feel significant pressure and responsibility to advocate for their teams while remaining focused on our institutional goals and everything else before them. This is not easy, and I appreciate their commitment to stay the course even when things are hard.
So what do you think? Did we thrive in 2025? Looking at the big picture and all we’ve accomplished, I think we did. And, there are thousands of patients who agree. Katie McClanahan is one who definitely does. If you haven’t heard her story and how UAMS team members went above and beyond to save her life, please click here and take a minute to read about her incredible journey. We really do phenomenal things here at UAMS. (If you’re able, please donate blood!)
Over the past several months, Dr. Barnes has been sending emails with information about our accomplishments and how your efforts have helped increase clinical revenues. Your hard work and challenging days are paying off and helping our institution move toward a “thriving” stage. These messages help show the big picture and how all our efforts combine to create amazing things that are sometimes hard to see when we’re focused on caring for our patients or day-to-day staff management.
All in all, I’ve got to say 2025 has been a good year. Let’s keep the momentum going in 2026.
Please take a minute and think about where you’d like to see UAMS Nursing a year from now. What should our mantra be in 2026? How do we push to the next level in our unwavering, uncompromising commitment to excellent patient care? Feel free to share your ideas. I’d love to know your thoughts.
If I don’t see you in person in the coming weeks, please know that I’m wishing you all a very happy and healthy holiday season!
Tammy Jones, PHD, RN, NE-BC
Chief Nursing Officer
Associate Vice Chancellor for Patient Care Services & Clinical Operations
Perioperative, Interventional & Imaging Services Division