Tasha Flicek, DNP, RN
Nurse Manager
Mayo Clinic
How long have you been with MOLN?
I have been a member of MOLN for 6 years – I joined in Fall 2018 after attending an awesome conference in Duluth!
Do you have a favorite MOLN memory so far?
It is hard to just pick one memory as MOLN has created many memorable moments for me. If I had to choose one, it would be introducing Ryan Jenkins at the Fall 2023 conference last year. Being on the Professional Development Committee, I had had the privilege of interviewing him for our conference. After the interview, I read his book and had woven his content into a presentation that showcased a hot-debrief tool I had recently co-created with peers. The opportunity to introduce him to the stage at conference time was a highlight for me as I had become a great fan of his work and got to meet him in person.
How do you cope with the demanding aspects of your career?
I have found that the best way to cope with the stressful demands of a nurse leader is to surround yourself with great peers and mentors. I often use my peers as sounding boards and this allows me to gain useful insight on when I am being too hard on myself or if I need to adjust my practice. I am so grateful for my colleagues who are willing to give me that real-time feedback that allows me to course correct quickly.
Who inspires you?
I admire many people. I root for the underdogs. Both my parents came from modest backgrounds and both made a name for themselves in their profession and are prominent figures in our local community. Working in physical medicine and rehabilitation, I have witnessed miracles. Recently, I got to witness a patient walk out of the doors of our facility after 222 days of hospitalization when his primary providers told him he would never walk again. I am humbled when my staff tearfully come to me wanting to do what is best for the patients and sharing the weight of the burden they feel as caregivers (both personally and professionally). I admire our leaders in healthcare who are championing for change that supports our staff, patients and our communities. I am also thoroughly impressed with the members of MOLN and the board members who work pro-bono to ensure we all continue to strive to advance our profession. Who inspires me? You – the reader are probably inspiring me and others more than you know.
What is something that not many people know about you?
I love a good pun! Those who work with me know this very well (sometime to their chagrin). However, my sister recently shared a quote that I think is pertinent: “Some people don’t like corny jokes, but me I live my life on the cob.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
