The last few months have been very busy and very exciting! People always ask me "why and HOW do you do all the things you do?"   I do what I do because I follow my passion and I try to make a difference in what I do.  So what have I been up to so far in 2017?

On a  local level, it is where I work, my departments and my health system.  We have formed a County Breastfeeding Coalition this year.  Working with our local Health Department with a team looking at the Infant Mortality in our area with various other community members.  We are very busy working on becoming 3 Baby Friendly hospitals!

On the state level, I have been busy with my regular AWHONN activities as a Chapter Leader, State Conference committee member, AIM State Nurse Leader. http://safehealthcareforeverywoman.org/aim-program/about-aim/   I have been busy with my activities with Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative (FPQC) as a Steering Committee member, Hypertension in Pregnancy workgroup member, Primary Cesarean Reduction Initiative workgroup member and Data Use workgroup member.  http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/chiles/fpqc  I also joined the board of the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition in January!  http://www.flbreastfeeding.org 

Oh and for fun.... I have worked with my Salty Dawgs.... working with our local University of Georgia Alumni on various activities in SW Florida!

I have been busy with my speaking activities!  In my last blog post I talked about speaking at the Eye Bank Technician conference about my cornea transplants.  I also spoke at the Florida Breastfeeding Coalition conference with my friend Carol Lawrence.  Our topic was "Shining Bright-Using the Golden Hour to Support Breastfeeding Friendly Birthing Facilities".   Just this week speaking to nursing director group at our Health System on "Employee Rounding".  Now I am getting ready to go speak at the AWHONN National Convention in New Orleans on "Nurses Implementing Change & Innovative Labor Support Practices" with my friends Paris Maloof-Bury and Catherine Ruhl.  Right now, I am busy working on a webinar that will be presented later this year for one of my organizations. 

I also like to refill my cup and learn new things.  This involves going to conferences and listening to webinars.   Some are even FREE to attend!  When you work on a committee or volunteer with some groups, they actually give you a discount to attend the conference.  This makes it more affordable and it allows you to travel to other places!  This year, I will have traveled near and far to St. Pete/Tampa area, to New Orleans, to Atlanta, to Washington DC!!   Always get as much as you can out of the conferences!  Be open to new ideas that you can bring back to your own place of employment.  Go to the poster sessions!  Meet other people and ask them what they do.  

I also know that I can not do everything I want to do and I definitely can't do anything without a terrific team!   When I have an idea for a project I pass that idea on to my team who can volunteer to work on the idea and make it happen.  It takes a village!   This year two of my staff nurses, Kathy Moses and Roseann Civil went to Washington DC and participated on a project with AWHONN!  Now Roseann is speaking at AWHONN National Convention in New Orleans!!  

So, the answer to how do you do it?  For me, it is follow your passion!  Volunteer.  Make a difference not only in your own small community, but in your state and on a national level!  For me, it is making a difference for a single woman and her baby and thus, many women and many babies.   Have fun.  Enjoy the ride!!  Don't GIVE UP!