Cultivating What Matters Most | | |
As spring arrives, we find ourselves drawn to the quiet transformation around us, the brown hue of the grass is showing greener, tulips and daffodils gently pushing through the soil, small soft reminders that new life is always waiting to emerge. In these moments, we are reminded that what we nurture, grows.
Like the folklore of leprechauns guarding hidden gold, we, too, find ourselves searching— drawn to the promise of something just beneath the surface, waiting patiently after the stillness of winter. And perhaps the “gold” we are seeking is not something to be found, but something to be cultivated.
What if the true richness of our work lives within our relationships?
This month, we invite you to pause and reflect on the four key relationships of the Interprofessional Relational Model™. When held in a healthy and intentional balance, these relationships become the foundation from which meaning deepens, resilience is strengthened, and the impact of our work quietly, yet powerfully, grows.
In this newsletter, we will consider the four relationships of an Interprofessional Model and offer a self-reflection at conclusion of each relationship.
Kathleen Van Wagoner, MSN, RN, MSA
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The Four Relationships of the Interprofessional Relational Model™ | |
Every moment in health care is shaped by relationships. The Interprofessional Relational Model™ centers four essential connections— with self, colleagues, patients and families, and community— as the foundation for meaningful, sustainable care.
Paying attention to our own well-being isn’t a luxury or an “extra”— it is essential. Our well-being directly shapes how we show up, how we connect, and how long we can sustain the work we care about. A healthy relationship with self is not separate from caring for others— it is what sustains it. Our relationships with colleagues shape the environment we work in every day, creating the conditions for trust, support, and psychological safety.
The Interprofessional Relational Model™ intentionally places our relationship with patients and families after first considering our relationships with self and colleagues. This design reflects a simple truth: human connection is at the heart of all we do. Health care exists within communities, and within the Interprofessional Relational Model™, community is recognized as an integral relationship to intentionally nurture— one that is always present and shapes how care is experienced and delivered.
When we strengthen how we relate, we enhance how we listen, lead, and respond—creating space for deeper connection and better outcomes. See how these four relationships come together to redefine connection—and transform the way care is experienced and delivered. Read the full blog by clicking the button below.
| Take It Forward This Week: |
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Pause for two minutes at the end of your day: Which relationship needed the most from me today?
- Choose one interaction to be fully present and just listening
- Notice when you are emotionally stretched, and name it
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The Human Side of Culture: Personality, Perspective, and Performance
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(April 10th, 2026)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT
In this free session with Ruth Kitzmiller, attendees will explore how different generations experience workplace culture, how personality preferences influence collaboration and decision-making, and practical strategies to bridge perspectives.
Walk away with ideas to strengthen communication, engagement, and trust across your team.
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Exploring the Interprofessional Relational Model™: The 4 Key Relationships and the 4 Therapeutic Practices
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(April 24th, 2026)
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM CT
In this free webinar with IRM Consultant Kathleen Van Wagoner, attendees will learn how to strengthen relationships with self, colleagues, patients/families, and the community, while gaining practical tools to foster presence, empathy, respect, and collaboration in everyday practice.
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Introducing a BRAND NEW Donna Wright Virtual Workshop Series!
"Everything You Need to Know About Competency Assessment..."
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We’re pleased to announce a brand-new virtual workshop series led by Donna Wright focused entirely on competency assessment.
This series includes five virtual workshops across three key topics:
- "Everything You Need to Know About Competency Assessment"
- "Everything You Need to Know About Competency Verification"
- "Everything You Need to Know About High-Risk Low-Volume Competency Issues"
Schedule:
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May 26th (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM CT): "Everything You Need to Know About Competency Assessment"
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May 26th (12:00PM - 1:30 PM CT): "Everything You Need to Know About Competency Verification"
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July 17th (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM CT): "Everything You Need to Know About Competency Assessment"
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July 17th (12:00PM - 1:30 PM CT): "Everything You Need to Know About Competency Verification"
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September 25th (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM CT): "Everything You Need to Know About High-Risk Low-Volume Competency Issues"
Registration Options:
- $39 per person for one workshop
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$50 per person for two workshops (please contact us at chcm.com if you would like to register for 2 or more events so we can get you the discount!)
These are a practical, focused opportunity to strengthen your approach to competency assessment and verification with THE competency expert leading the way!
1.5 contact hours will be provided for individuals who attend the full activity and complete an evaluation.
Creative Health Care Management is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
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"Essentials of a Caring Culture: The Interprofessional Relational Model™"
Essentials of a Caring Culture: The Interprofessional Relational Model™ introduces the groundbreaking evolution of Creative Health Care Management’s classic Relationship-Based Care® framework.
Edited by Kathleen Van Wagoner and Christina Martin, this book honors the legacy of RBC while addressing the realities of today’s health care—where integrated teams, equity, and clinician well-being are more essential than ever.
The Interprofessional Relational Model™ (IRM) expands the focus of relational practice beyond nursing to include every discipline and community partner contributing to health and healing. With practical tools, inspiring stories, and six core essentials for building healthy, collaborative cultures, this book offers a clear roadmap for organizations seeking to improve outcomes, strengthen teams, and create meaningful connections across all levels of care. More than a model, IRM is a call to reclaim dignity, purpose, and humanity in health care systems.
| | This spring, rather than searching for the “gold” of perfect outcomes, perhaps we focus on what we are cultivating each day. Because in the end, it is the quality of our relationships, with ourselves, with each other, with those we serve, and with our communities, that becomes the true measure of our impact. | | MAGNET®, Magnet Recognition Program®, ANCC Magnet Recognition®, Journey to Magnet Excellence®, Pathway to Excellence® Program, Pathway to Excellence in Long Term Care®, Demographic Data Collection Tool®, and DDCT® are registered trademarks of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Practice Transition Accreditation Program® and PTAP are trademarks of the ANCC. The products and services of Creative Health Care Management are neither sponsored nor endorsed by ANCC. All Rights Reserved. | | | | |
