Rachel Domanowski, Regional Medical Director – Colorado at Innovive Well being, has been named to the Frontline Honors Awards Class of 2025 by Residence Well being Care Information.

To change into a Frontline Honoree, a person is nominated by their friends. The candidate should:

• A devoted, high-performing frontline employee who delivers distinctive experiences and outcomes
• A passionate employee who is aware of find out how to use his imaginative and prescient for the well-being of his/her sector, the sufferers and residents they serve, and their households
• An advocate for his or her trade and their colleagues

Residence Well being Care Information lately spoke with Domanowski to debate her time within the house well being and residential care trade.

HHCN: What drew you to this trade?

Domanowski: I’ve all the time been keen about nursing and behavioral well being. I knew from a really younger age that I wished to change into a nurse. Early in my profession in inpatient medical settings, I constantly volunteered to work with sufferers experiencing behavioral well being crises. These people wanted somebody who would actually hear, deal with them with dignity and respect, and supply significant help.

Transferring from inpatient care to assembly sufferers in their very own houses has been an extremely rewarding change in my profession. In my position as Regional Medical Director for Innovive Well being in Colorado, I’ve been capable of additional develop this work by supporting the company’s important work of serving the state’s behavioral well being sufferers, who’ve historically been underserved. With the ability to help these susceptible sufferers and people in their very own surroundings has deepened each the impression and achievement of my work.

HHCN: What false impression did you have got about this work earlier than you began – and the way is the fact completely different?

Domanowski: Early in my profession, I believed I might assist anybody. Over time, I’ve discovered that whereas we as nurses can not attain everybody, we will make a significant distinction for a lot of. Crucial factor is to point out up, hear, be caring, and take the time to know the larger image of 1’s circumstances.

HHCN: Was there a second in your profession while you realized, “This work actually issues”? What occurred?

Domanowski: One defining second occurred early in my profession. I sat on the hospital flooring subsequent to a affected person in disaster, giving her area to cry and validate her emotions. I reassured her that it was okay to be indignant and that she was not alone. I watched her go from feeling remoted and hopeless to believing she might transfer ahead. She later despatched me a thanks card explaining that she was near giving up her life, however the easy act of sitting along with her and permitting her to course of her feelings modified her resolution. That have bolstered how deeply this work issues.

HHCN: What’s the Most worthy ability you’ve got developed on the entrance strains that individuals usually overlook?

Domanowski: Some of the worthwhile abilities I’ve developed is communication. How we are saying one thing might be simply as essential as what we are saying. For instance, the message ‘I am unable to try this proper now’ might be conveyed in very other ways. A dismissive tone can escalate frustration, whereas a response akin to, “I am going to completely provide help to with that. Please give me ten minutes and I am going to come discover you,” maintains respect and cooperation. Efficient communication determines the outcomes.

HHCN: What resolution are leaders making that has a much bigger impression on frontline staff than they might understand?

Domanowski: The way in which leaders reply to errors has a major impression. Creating studying alternatives as an alternative of punitive measures promotes progress and confidence. It is usually essential to judge procedures, insurance policies, and protocols by way of a broader lens, analyzing not solely what occurred, however why it occurred. This strategy strengthens each the groups and affected person care.

HHCN: What’s one easy change – coverage, software or mindset – that may make frontline work more practical?

Domanowski: A change in mentality could make a considerable distinction. Leaders who actively hearken to frontline workers, create secure areas for open dialogue, and promote inclusivity construct stronger groups. Nurses carry completely different backgrounds, experiences and concepts. When organizations create an surroundings the place these views are valued and inspired, affected person care improves, security will increase, and workers retention is strengthened.

HHCN: What provides you optimism about the way forward for this sector, regardless of the challenges?

Domanowski: What provides me optimism about the way forward for nursing is the subsequent technology of nurses that we will mentor. We will mannequin what it means to be compassionate, considerate, and thoughtful caregivers – to hear deeply, care sincerely, and consider every affected person holistically. By investing in future nurses, we assist make sure the continued power and humanity of our occupation.