Country Selector: North America
I’m Julia Greer, RN, NEBC; VP of Clinical Strategy and Consulting, and I’ve been a nurse for 37 years. My experience covers various areas with in the hospital – Pediatrics, Pediatrics Oncology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Labor and Delivery, and of course like most all nurses, a bit of Medical/Surgical. During the time I spent in front line care I was interested in leadership, which led me to roles as Department Directors, Service Line Directors and hospital executive leadership roles. I moved into the industry side of health care and have worked for major medical device companies and EHR vendors before Ascom.
I’m Julia Greer, RN, NEBC; VP of Clinical Strategy and Consulting, and I’ve been a nurse for 37 years. My experience covers various areas within the hospital – Pediatrics, Pediatrics Oncology, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Labor and Delivery, and of course like most all nurses, a bit of Medical/Surgical. During the time I spent in front line care I was interested in leadership, which led me to roles as Department Directors, Service Line Directors and hospital executive leadership roles. I moved into the industry side of health care and have worked for major medical device companies and EHR vendors before Ascom. I started my career at Ascom as a clinical application specialist in 2014.
“When you’re a nurse, you know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours.” —Unknown author
I find this quote has great meaning for me, from the time I was nursing at the bedside, to hospital management to working at Ascom. It even applies in my personal life. When we’re open, listening and being compassionate, I guarantee you will have the opportunity to touch or be touched, regardless of your nursing status.
What’s most satisfying about your job on the clinical team?
Several things - Seeing new clinicians join the team and grow and blossom might be my favorite part of the job. I also enjoy working with customers to create solutions to real problems through consulting. Helping health care organizations identify and understand their needs and goals to improve patient care and outcomes is exciting and fulfills my base need as a nurse to help patients and fellow nurses.
Describe your most successful project. What were the challenges in achieving it and how did you overcome them?
While I’m not on the front line working with customers on a daily basis in my current role, I was recently involved and assisted a colleague with a multi-hospital software upgrade that went very smoothly. Why did it go smoothly? We did extensive prep work, delivered effective training and customized our leave behind training materials for them. The best part for me was watching my co-worker and new member of the team “kill it” – a new team member figuratively blossoming before my eyes. I felt incredibly proud of my team in this moment.
What three things do you think will be important in changing the way nurses work/healthcare operates in the future?
The future holds an incredible promise to make the way nurses work much different and more effective. As simple as it sounds, increasing access to today’s technology for some hospitals that aren’t as fully digitized as others will make a big difference. New models that bring hospitalization and home health care closer together with “hospital at home” will help support the shift to continual wellness over care that’s provided only in hospital and for acute conditions. And this opportunity leads to creating a pipeline for new positions, like virtual nurses, sitters and consultants.
Share a fun fact about yourself with us as a nurse.
I have assisted with the birth of more than 2,000 babies. I have volunteered and provided pallative and hospice care to many patients and families too. Both experiences have provided me with some of the greatest joys and some of my saddest moments of my nursing career. I treasure some of the art work and crafts from some of my pediatric oncology patients for whom I provided care. I feel privileged and have felt no greater honor than to assist these dying children and families. This quote resonates with me.
Quote: “A nurse is one who opens the eyes of a newborn and gently closes the eyes of a dying man. It is indeed a high blessing to be the first and last to witness the beginning and end of life.” — Unknown
How has your clinical background helped you in your role today?
My clinical background has given me compassion and understanding. Having not just the knowledge of life as a staff nurse but also that of a manager and hospital administrator gives me a unique perspective to consult across the key customer groups purchasing and using Ascom solutions.
What do you wish you knew in your earlier career that you know now?
Patience is key! I still struggle with it at times. It takes patience in meeting a patient or coworker where they are, and not getting frustrated with them as they evolve into understanding of whatever the situation is - their diagnosis, accepting their mortality of themselves or a loved one or in learning a new skill.