Jennifer Green

I didn't always have it very easy - I wouldn't say I had phenomenal parents, and both are deceased now. But I think I just didn't settle. I didn't settle for not having things. I worked hard and set goals for myself, and even when it wasn't easy, I just kept plugging away. You have to work for what you want. I proudly paid for my own college, and I had a ton of debt when I finished, but I did it. I raised my kids the same way - you know, if you want something, you have to work for it. You have to put in the effort. My daughter was able to go to college and had no debt, which was nice, and we helped her out a bit. But the main thing is not settling and continuing to work toward your goals even when things are difficult.

Take the leap. I forever was not one that wanted to take a leap, but the best advice I got was to continually advance yourself and take the leap. I really wish that maybe even when my kids were younger, I might have gone to college a little longer and gotten an even higher degree. But I also tell the younger nurses - because I call them the kids half the time since I'm older than most of their moms - you also have to take the vacation, take the time off, and disconnect from this life. Because it's a component of you, it's not only what you are. When I was in charge, I would try to cover now and again if somebody needed a weekend off or had a surprise come up or a good date or something. I just tell them, you'll love your job even more if you're not there every single day. So take the leap in your career, but also make sure you take time for yourself.

We need to speak up for ourselves. We need to not be shy about taking leadership roles, because I think that women supporting women is a huge catalyst for change and improvement of processes. You can always walk into a hospital and know if a nurse or a woman helped with the planning, because things are in the right spots - even the placement of a sharps container in a room, you know if a nurse had input because it's in a spot that makes sense. I think nursing is a great career, and women are huge catalysts for change and improvement and leaders. I've been lucky to have had some phenomenal women leaders that I've worked with and learned from, and I feel that probably helped my foundation as a nurse. I think women still have a little bit harder time sometimes getting into those leadership roles, but I work with some great women leaders, and at our hospital there are women in many senior leadership roles and management roles. You have to make an effort and support each other. You can be successful as a nurse and as a mom - I was a single mom for many, many years, and sometimes it's just figuring it out with them and being a little flexible. Don't let divorce or not having a ton of money keep you from your dreams. Keep educating yourself and keep going further and further, because we don't want to miss even better opportunities by not having taken the time to get yourself a higher degree.

Nurse shortages are a huge challenge. In forensic nursing specifically, we tend to lose a lot of nurses to marriages and starting families because they just don't have the time. I try to be super flexible, and it's helped to retain some nurses, but nurse retention for such a specialty nursing area is difficult. It's also hard on the emotions. We try to give recognition, make sure they get goodies for Forensic Nurses Week, provide networking opportunities, and the hospital pays for dinner occasionally. I try to offer as many opportunities for learning as we can, and learning that's not going to cost them anything. I look for grant opportunities too - there are different places that get awarded grants, and if we're anywhere near them, they'll usually let us hop in and enjoy some of the education too. I try to provide opportunities that might require travel, and we'll pay for a flight or something, and I always make sure I book them in decent hotels. I don't want them to be in a crampy motel. I think it makes a difference.

It doesn't bother me to do things for other people, and I don't expect anything in return. Even from when my kids were younger, I volunteered them - voluntold them sometimes - we're going to go help somebody do something, because that's how people help each other. You should show up and help people without expecting something in return. To this day, they still do stuff like that for others - they show up, they help people put fences up, and it's not a problem. I think it just makes you a better person. It's not to the point where you're a doormat, but I just think that if you make it a point to at least help somebody every day, then that just makes it better for everyone. Honesty and integrity are also crucial. If you say you're going to show up and do something, show up and do it. It's pretty simple. I have two phenomenal adult children who have successful careers now, and nobody has to be the best athlete or the best at whatever they do, but I think if you just try to be a nice person and help others out in their time of need, you will be that much better for it.