Professional Accomplishments
Throughout my nursing career, I have had the opportunity to grow as a leader in many ways, including precepting new nurses, overseeing practicums for nursing students, and working in the charge nurse role on 18 and 28 bed units. As part of one organization, I oversaw the opening of a new unit, working closely with leaders to ensure a smooth transition for both staff and patients. Additionally, as a float nurse for nearly five years, I expanded my clinical knowledge and ability to help others learn and grow as professionals. I recognized the importance of relationships among staff and providers, and why it is necessary to value and nurture those relationships, as it allowed me to grow as person, develop my clinical knowledge further, and help others develop in their roles providing education and guidance to them. I earned ACLS and NIHSS certifications within my first two years of becoming a nurse. I am currently working towards becoming certified in medical-surgical nursing and have attended the review course for the certification.
In the spring of 2019, I was employed as an adjunct instructor for North Dakota State School of Science, overseeing LPN student clinical rotations on a medical-surgical inpatient unit. In that role, I experienced situations that allowed me to grow as a leader, educator, and mentor to 18 LPN students. A summary of student evaluations may be viewed here.
Currently, as an RN Clinical Nurse Educator, I have continued to develop my leadership abilities, collaborating with a number of leaders across a large organization. I also represent my department on multiple committees across the enterprise. This has allowed me to contribute to creating educational experiences for nurses and enhancing their professional development.
A personal commitment I have to the community is volunteer work. I have contributed over the years by participating in sandbagging efforts and donating during food drives and to the Dakota Boy's Ranch. I also volunteer at Cat's Cradle Shelter in Fargo, ND Sunday mornings, which I have been doing since March 2018.
DAISY Award® Nominations
Throughout my nursing career, it has been an honor to receive numerous nominations for the DAISY Award® from patients and colleagues. A select few of these nominations are listed.
Nominations from Patients
Crystal is an intelligent, competent nurse who also is very, very kind and respectful. Crystal made my stay at Essentia, a stay where I felt safe and cared about. I appreciate her very much. I was blessed to have her as my nurse. Thank you!
This above named nurse, Mrs. Crystal Graening, is a caring person. She demonstrates/exercises her profession with dedication and love for patients. When I got to know Crystal I felt relief in my soul and my hope for recovering was once again built. She showed me extreme care, spoke very calmly, restored my hope, and revived my soul. Mrs. Crystal Graening is a professional nurse. I thank her so much and I wish her all the best in her career.
Nominations from Colleagues
On Saturday, I was a nurse on the floor and had a patient with dementia who really needed a scan, both CT and MRI, and per nursing reports from the day prior, the patient refused everything and was verbally aggressive with staff. I woke the patient up that morning and anesthesia spoke with him because this patient was going to be sedated for these procedures. We all know how well sedation fits with dementia and elderly patients. I really didn't want this to happen. However, we didn't have much choice. I called Crystal who was SWAT to get some help. Crystal sat with the patient on his bed making small talk and gain his trust. He got a promise from her that if he sat really still for his scans she would get him a big glass of ice water and his face lit up and he smiled ear to ear. I could see them laughing and talking all the way to the elevator. They came back a while later after the scans were done - WITHOUT SEDATION!!! The patient had an amazing day the rest of the day and I have to give many thanks to Crystal for this. Had she not taken the time to get to know this patient and build trust, I know it would have not ended the same way. In the end it was good he got them as we found he has metastatic colon cancer and less than six months to live. After I told Crystal this you could see the hurt in her eyes. She truly cares for people and is an amazing resource to have as a SWAT nurse. I feel they get overlooked for all of their hard work, but she is very deserving of this award.
April Roher, RN, House Supervisor
Crystal has become a fine tooth comb when it comes to our new unit. Always ensuring the best working environment for the staff as well (as) the patients. She has made a world of difference for us. Whenever Crystal is working, there is no doubt that the unit will be running smoothly and patients are being taken care of. Crystal also has an astounding bedside manner. You NEVER get patient complaints on anything if Crystal is there to care for them. It is often that you can be cruising the hallways of the unit and hear Crystal's laughter, which patients fall in love with, booming from their room. Assuring us all that the patient is being well cared for as well as falling in love with our staff. Enough thanks are unable to be extended to this nurse for the care she gives to our patients! Thank you, Crystal, for the great work that you do!
Joshua Busko, RN, Supervisor, CEU
Thank you for being the exceptional SWAT nurse you are! This past Saturday there was a cerebral angiogram placed on med-surg and shouldn't have been. Med-surg went out of their way to say you did an awesome job in staying with the patient until they could be moved to critical care. They said you were extremely helpful. Thank you for representing teamwork so well! And many thanks for the jobs you do so well!
Samantha Beck, RN, Manager, Float/SWAT