Kelly Flattum, MAOL, BSN, RN, PHN, CEN
Patient Care Director
Mercy Hospital - Part of Allina Health
How long have you been with MOLN?
I have been a member of MOLN for 9 years. Sue Irle was my mentor early in my career and asked me to attend a conference with her. The conference was so inspiring that I joined.
Do you have a favorite MOLN memory so far?
At one of the MOLN conferences, the speakers were the stars from MTVs The Buried Life, who talked about their “100 things to do before you die”. The group of friends were driving across North America and completing things off the bucket list they created. For every list item they did, they also then reciprocated and helped others achieve a dream. It was such an inspiring experience, and they clearly demonstrated leadership qualities in their bucket list journey, such as vision and goal setting, empathy, resilience, inspiration and teamwork.
How do you cope with the demanding aspects of your career?
The demands of my role are not unique; however, I have learned that setting boundaries for my work time, staying organized (I am a list person), ensuring self-care such as going for a walk or practicing yoga, and seeking support when needed in a friend or colleague help to keep my life/work balance. It’s important to also choose to work in a healthy environment; for me that means a team where there is respect and transparency, inclusivity, professional growth and psychological safety. And we have fun!
Who inspires you?
Both of my daughters, Ariel and Taylor, have also chosen the nursing profession. As a mom, you always hope that your children will carry forward the morals and values that you have instilled in them. They are both incredible nurses, who never stop learning, growing and are dedicated to the work that they do. Watching them grow in their careers reminds me of why I chose this profession and inspires me every day to lead by example.
What is something that not many people know about you?
I am passionate about volunteering. A few years ago, for my birthday, I decided to memorialize that year by doing a different volunteer opportunity each month (I am sure The Buried Life was part of this idea!) One of the opportunities that I signed up for is being a wish granter for Make A Wish. I have continued to volunteer with this organization for the last 7 years and truly enjoy getting to know the kids and their families.
