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When a Pregnancy Medical Clinic (PMC) finds an RDMS that wants to join the organization as a volunteer or staff member, it is an exciting time! The addition of an RDMS brings a credential that adds to the credibility of the care provided. One thing that is typically missing from her résumé is experience in this unique clinical setting. Her understanding and awareness of the scope of practice for the PMC differs in some ways from other OB clinics. How…

          Laundry? How could laundry be a concern for OSHA or the CDC? How could the clinic’s laundry be any different from my home laundry? If you bring your PMC’s laundry home—keep reading!  “All healthcare settings, regardless of the level of care provided, must make infection prevention a priority…”[1]  Infection control means not only keeping the patient in mind but your family at home as well.  Bringing the microbial population found at work into your home…

When one looks up the word influence, a list of synonyms can be found. Control, domination, and force are near the top of the list. Impact, repercussion, and pressure are also listed. When it comes to serving patients in a PMC/OB clinical setting where we engage in patient decision-making, we need to be mindful of the influence we have on the young women we serve. Could a patient perceive an advocate as controlling or forceful? Do we have a good understanding…

(Erin Jeffress Left, Sylvia Williams Right) When medical professionals begin working at a Pregnancy Medical Clinic, often their backgrounds are not in OB, nor is it very common for them to be coming from another PMC. As Sparrow Solutions Group travels around the country training nurses, we find nurses from all walks of life. Recently Sparrow had the opportunity to train two nurses at a recent training in Las Vegas, NV. They were attending the same course, and it was…

  “Always make the audience suffer as much as possible.” ― Alfred Hitchcock Yikes! That’s a scary thought for Executive Directors and board members, as they choose a guest speaker for their upcoming banquet. While many of us grew up watching Alfred Hitchcock movies and his weekly series, little did we know he may have been trying to make us suffer. I know there are many people who are fearful of birds to this day. Did his movie The Birds…

Purchasing equipment is quite an investment. In some clinics, it is a task that is taken on by the Executive Director, in other clinics it is turned over to the Medical Director, and in others it is given to the nurse manager to decide. I’d like to take a minute to outline who we have seen to be the best equipment decision makers—to list for you the ideal equipment decision-making team. We want to use our experience to guide you…

Would you consider sitting in a room of nurses to listen and discuss the topic, Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice when the majority of viewpoints most likely opposed your own?  This is exactly where I found myself when I attended the 2017 AWHONN Conference last month in New Orleans representing Sparrow Solutions Group. While finding my seat and reviewing the power point slides, I prayed that God would show me if I should speak, if so, when and what I…

My favorite opening comedic line is, “Hi.  My name is Jack.  How do you like my act so far?” When I think of “knowing your audience” I immediately think of performers and especially stand-up comics.  Their success and popularity depends on how plugged in they are to their audience.  Those that fail to make a connection fall flat and scurry off the stage in defeat. Success in fundraising also relies on knowing the people you plan to ask for donations. …

Everyone has a favorite when it comes to the four seasons. Even vacations are scheduled around favorite seasons. Who goes to the beach in the summer, when their favorite activity is snow skiing in the winter? I personally love summertime. I grew up with fireflies and kick the can, combined with later bedtimes and days filled with hours of playtime. The sky seemed to be the limit when it came to a “no pressure” life. I knew then, I loved…

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.”  Proverbs 31:30-31 For twelve years Joanne Benda-Chew worked as a nurse in medical aesthetics—medical spas where women get botox and facelifts. She understood this passage better than most. “I went from working with those who were sick to those who were not sick, but only wanting to make themselves more beautiful.…

Nearly all ultrasound manufacturers have a planned life cycle of their ultrasound systems of about 7 years.  If you have an ultrasound system that is less than 3 years old, your system is in the spring of life and has been covered by an equipment manufacturers warranty and either you or your staff has had training and everything is working. If your system is 4-5 years old, you’ve hit summer, and even though your system is probably working fine, you…

  On the average street corner in downtown urban America, we expect there to be business people making their way to work, students getting to class, homeless resting with their shopping carts of valuables, joggers, walkers, and tourists mixed in. We expect to hear sirens of various types as well as street chatter. We follow the instructions of the traffic light and accompanying hand signals, staying within the crosswalk for safety. Every corner predictably busy as the day begins. A…

Opinions ** Suggestions ** Options ** Knowledge ** Information ** Learning ** Education ** Networking ** New friends ** New partners ** Stay the same ** Change directions So many words—so many ways to go. That is what a conference conjures up in me whenever I am made aware of one. I have been involved with pregnancy care ministry for 20 years now.  When I first started, I could not get enough information and knowledge and always wanted to attend more and more conferences. Today, 20 years later, not so much. I…