Have you ever felt like every single day was a crisis? I mean, really—like you’re just hopping from one fire to the next, wondering if you’re ever going to catch a break.
A few years ago, it was like we didn’t know whether we were coming or going. But even now, when things are supposed to be "back to normal," it can still feel like crisis after crisis is waiting just around the corner.
Let me share a story with you.
It was a Saturday, and as the Director of Nursing, I did what I probably shouldn’t have done—I took my nosey self to work.
It’s just something we do, right?
I’m convinced it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Here’s why.
The minute I walked into the building, I could tell something was off. My MOD was trying to handle a resident who was threatening staff—a situation that’s intense enough on its own. But that wasn’t all. My housekeeping manager was down in the basement, and when I got there…
I noticed it was filled with smoke.
They had fans running, but the situation wasn’t under control. I had an officer with me because of the resident issue, and I had them call 911 for the fire department.
Turns out, the dryer was on fire. In that moment, my only focus was keeping everyone safe. I ran up the stairs, my heart pounding, to start evacuating residents.
I’ll be honest with you—I’ve never experienced anything like that.
As I was helping one of the residents out of their room, I broke down. Tears streamed down my face, and I felt overwhelmed, like I couldn’t do this.
But then, one of my amazing CNAs came up to me and said, “Come on, boss, we got this.” Those words pulled me back. I had to get it together because there was no other option. We had to get everyone out, and fast. That was a real crisis.
I’m thankful to say that no one was injured that day, but it could have been so much worse.
Managing a crisis like that doesn’t come naturally—it comes from experience. And because of that experience, it became my duty to learn from it and put steps into place in case it ever happened again.
You know that phrase, “Hope for the best, prepare for the worst”?
I live by a different one:
"Planning and preparation produce positive outcomes."
Not only does planning produce positive outcomes, but it also prevents negative ones.
But crises come in many forms.
A crisis can also be a water outage that lasts for hours. Do you have wet wipes and bottled water on hand? What about an electrical outage? Do you have extension cords, walkie-talkies, backup EMARs, or other emergency supplies?
As the Director of Nursing, it’s your responsibility to plan and prepare for these events. Your goal is to manage them effectively to decrease any negative outcomes.
You’re not just managing a team—you’re managing lives.
In crisis management, every second counts, and every decision you make could mean the difference between safety and catastrophe. The more you prepare, the better equipped you are to handle whatever comes your way, even if that means dealing with fires—both literal and figurative.
So the next time you feel like you’re in crisis mode, remember: it’s not just about putting out fires; it’s about preventing them in the first place.
And when you can’t prevent them, your preparation will help you manage them, keeping everyone safe in the process.
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