Note from Linda Wells

I can’t believe it is already mid-summer! There is a lot going on at Emerson and within the nursing division. Project SCORE, a $35-million initiative that will enhance the patient experience in three key areas (surgery, obstetrics and interventional radiology), is underway and construction has started on the Wheeler 1 level for the new SDC.  In keeping with our nursing philosophy, in which we “strive to extend our knowledge and skills, and to embrace the many different roles of nursing practice and expertise,” the following nursing initiatives have occurred:

• Our pain resource nurses are continuing their efforts to make our patients more comfortable.
• The nursing leadership coordinating council held its second quarterly meeting. More than 30 people attended, including staff members who have taken leadership roles on their units.
• In our continued efforts to advance “evidence-based practice,” Amy Hildreth, LPN, and the Wheeler 4 unit council researched and recommended practice changes for the LPN role in providing effective pain relief in a more timely manner. 
• Linda Johnson, RN, service excellence coordinator in the PCA department, is working with staff and directors to improve patient perceptions of their care.

There are many other improvement activities that I will continue to share with you as evidence of a committed and active nursing team here at Emerson Hospital. And, finally, I hope you are all taking the time to take a vacation…to get away, enjoy your families and “smell the roses.”

lwells@emersonhosp.org

Congratulations!

Hats off to the following nursing staff for achieving recognition and/or advancing in their nursing practice!

The following staff members have recently graduated from nursing programs:

Maggie Osborne, AD Serena Kuzmitch, BSN Jennifer McIntrye,* AD Lindsay Rauker, BSN Bethany Crim, BSN

Yvonne Bauer, AD Tomoko Rhine,* AD Roman Roman, AD Kristen Wright, BSN Rebecca Kingsley, LPN

Cindy Rainha, RN,* BSN Mary Cicero, LPN Kathleen King, AD Michelle Colton, AD Stefanie Fletcher,* BSN

Sarah Freivald, RN

*Emerson Auxiliary Scholarship recipients

We would like to congratulate Karen Mooers, RN, nursing director, CCU, and Julie McMahon, RN, nursing director, Wheeler 4, for achieving Certification in Nursing Administration (CNA) and adding to our ranks of nurses with specialty certifications.  Congratulations also to Ginny Segalini, RN, who became certified in Operating Room Nursing (CNOR) in March!

Several of our nursing staff were recently honored for excellence in nursing practice this spring. Sarah Freivald, RN, from the ED was nominated for the annual Boston Globe Salute to Nurses. 

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Seymour, RN, director of education, was named a finalist for the annual Nursing Spectrum Nursing Excellence Awards in the category of education. Mary attended the award dinner with many of her colleagues who were also recognized for their excellent work in caring for our patients. They include: Peg Bitter, RN, Wheeler 5; JoAnn Dinardo, RN, nurse director TCU; Maureen Kimball, RN, CCU; and Lynn Manalo, RN, administrative supervisor.

Emerson nurses who attended the Nursing Spectrum dinner for award finalists include, from left to right: Patti Shanteler; Linda Wells, vice president for nursing and patient care services; Mary Seymour, award finalist; Donna Kilcoyne; Maureen Kimball; Lynn Manalo; Michelle Bartlett; Kevin Whitney, director of nursing; JoAnn Dinardo; and Peg Bitter

The third annual Clinical Advancement Recognition Tea

The Emerson nursing department is proud to announce this year’s recipients for the following clinical levels and special awards. All recipients are RNs.   

Clinical level II recipients from left to right: Helen Farrah, Jo Costello, Ellen Harland. Missing from photo: Barbara Dillard, Marie Godoy, Diane O’Brien, Catherine Poisson, Wendy Repucci

Clinical level III recipients from left to right: Front row: Charline Barron, Susan Reardon, Kathryn Harris,  Constance Raynor, Michelle Heron, Maureen Donnelly; Second row, standing alone: Ann Hodgson; Back row: Deborah Musto, Margaret Watro, Jean Kilcher, Maureen Cannava, Martha Souza; Missing from photo: Michelle Bartlett, Cathleen Celli, Joan Delrossi, Barbara Kemp, Elizabeth Nonis

Clinical level IV was introduced for the first time this year. The emphasis for this level of practice is focused on the promotion and cultivation of evidence-based practices and research. Clinical level IV recipients from left to right: Adele Welch, Susan Holman, Lisa Brown, Elizabeth Jewell; Missing from photo: Sandra Hart

The Theresia Emerson Nursing Excellence award was given to Fran Moran, RN. Fran, a staff nurse from North 5, was nominated and selected by her peers for her clinical expertise, preceptorship, mentoring and teaching involvement.

JoAnn Dinardo, RN, nursing director, TCU, was the first recipient of the Excellence in Nursing Leadership award, which was established to recognize nurse leaders who set the standard for supervision and leadership in today’s dynamic and changing health care environment. 

Nancy Serotkin, manager of library services, was recognized as the first Friend of Nursing award recipient for her support of the information needs of nursing students, staff and directors.

Fran Moran, RN, North 5

JoAnn Dinardo, RN, nursing director, TCU

Nancy Serotkin, manager of library services

 

RN Transition Program: Please help us recognize the following RNs who completed this 12-week special orientation for nurses wishing to gain acute care experience:

• Sarah Malatos, RN, and Stefanie Basque, RN, North 6
• Marianne Laughlin, RN, Wheeler 4
• Katie Riddle, RN, Wheeler 5
• Laura Matthews, RN, emergency department

PCT Plus: PCT Plus is a certificate program specifically designed for PCTs who wish to enhance their knowledge and skill in the basic care of hospitalized elderly patients.

PCT Plus certificate recipients who have completed the five-part series include, front row, left to right: Penny Cadogan; Donna Kilcoyne, RN, clinical educator; Janna Breitenwischer; back row, left to right: Isabel Ferreira; Wendy Roy; Colleen Johnson

And finally, we would like to congratulate all the PCTs who have completed PCT Plus:
Deborah McLaughlin, Kathy Long, Roman Roman, Gretchen Kimball, Maria Ramalho, Hans Eckstein, Del Sampson, Gunnar Engstrom, Penny Cadogan, Colleen Johnson, Joseph Wambuga, Wendy Roy, Nash Mbugua, Victoria Humphrey, Roopa Nama, Isabel Ferreira, Elizabeth Amianapong and Caroline Miringu, Taylor Boone, Olayne Wellington, Stephanie Pitts, Kaitlin Wright, Carolyn Rosa, Elizabeth Smith, Laura Kelley, Taylor Kuhl, Emma Lane, Isaac Njoroge, Mary Bell, Janna Breitenwischer

Up and down the halls of Emerson

North 6
Ann Hodgson, RN; Ann Harty, RN; and Peggy Flood, RN, recently attended the oncology conference in Boston.

Judy Aranda, RN; Karen Stone, RN; Ann Hodgson, RN; Trudy Gavin, RN; and Peggy Flood, RN, provide complementary therapy to their patients in need.

Marilyn Converse, RN, developed a shawl program through a local church group to give support and comfort to end-of-life patients.

Susan Baur, left, RN, CACP, speaks with patients (left to right) Mary Klem, Mary Winter and Jackie Buckley at Emerson’s recent open house for Coumadin patients

Anticoagulation clinic
Barbara Sager, RN, organized a successful open house for Coumadin clinic patients to learn more about their medication management. Forty patients attended!

The Coumadin clinic hosted delegates from North Shore Medical Center and Monadnock Community Hospitals, who are interested in developing Coumadin clinics at their hospitals and came to Emerson to learn from the best!

Sandra Hart, RN, presented a program to the public on the prevention of DVT. Marybeth Rogers, RN, created a poster to educate patients about post-thrombotic syndrome. Both activities supported DVT prevention month.

Emerson Hospital has been selected to host the National Anticoagulation Provider Certification Exam in March 2007.

Obstetrics
OB is offering the RNC certification again this year at Emerson. Jeannie Kilcher, RN, and Ronnie Forand, RN, of the OB department will be proctors for the examination. Jeannie and Ronnie volunteered so their colleagues will have the convenience of taking the exam close to home.

Emergency department
Prompted by the suggestion of Vikki McComiskey, unit coordinator, coloring sheets and crayons have been added to the coping kits cabinets. She suggested giving these items to children or siblings who do not necessarily need a coping kit.

 

 

Education
The publication Nursing Spectrum asked to interview one of our nurses for an article on central line catheter infections. Karen Viscariello, RN, agreed to participate and talk about Emerson’s success in preventing the infections. The article was published in the July 31st issue.

Equipment
Hover Mat and Maxi Move in-services have been well-received throughout the nursing department. This equipment is designed to help staff move and lift patients without injury to themselves or the patient. Hover Mat equipment is located on each unit. If you have not yet participated in the in-service, let your manager know.

Watch for Omnicell in-services in August.

Living the Forces: Stories of nursing excellence

Our journey to create and sustain a Magnet environment has begun! As we move forward, we will look for examples of how we meet the 14 Forces of Magnetism. The journey to Magnet status requires that we tell our story of clinical excellence. Below are some examples of how we are “Magnetized.”

FORCE 8: Consultation and resources asks that organizations develop a core group of clinical experts to serve as a resource to direct care nurses.  A recent email from Peg Corr, RN, BSN, CWOCN, to the home care nursing staff demonstrates this collaboration and commitment to patient care. Peg works with home care on complex wound care. In her email, Peg writes that “…the outstanding work and efforts of your staff prevented this patient from having to undergo further surgical attempts to close the wound. The expertise demonstrated in the use of the KCI VAC dressing on this rather complex and difficult wound once again validates the importance and benefits Emerson home care nursing staff provide to our patients.”

FORCE 14: Professionalism challenges organizations to develop and maintain programs to mentor our nursing talent. The emergency department provides an excellent example of Emerson’s commitment to nurturing our nursing staff. A critically ill neonate in need of resuscitation was admitted to the emergency department. Bea Domenichella, RN, forwarded the following analysis of the situation regarding the efforts of Laura Matthews, RN, a recent graduate of our transition program. She writes, “…wasn’t sure if you heard about our recent critical neonate, but wanted to let you know how well Laura Matthews did during the resuscitative efforts. She did a great job in helping both myself and Tracy Donaldson, RN. Laura did not hesitate in doing whatever was asked of her and, in fact, stayed 2 hours late with us as we prepared the transfer...thought you would want to know how well she was doing.” 

Bea Domenichella, RN

Tracy Donaldson, RN

Donna Kilcoyne, RN, from the education department followed up with: “Bea, thank you, we always love to hear about how well our new grads are doing…it is also a great reflection on your efforts, Donna Zimmerman’s, Tim Farley, and the ED staff.”

Mary McCormack, RN

FORCE 11: Nurses as teachers
Obviously, the mentoring of Laura by Bea, Tracy and all the ED nurses assisted her in her knowledge, confidence and nursing practice. This story does not end here! In the process of caring for this critically ill baby, Mary McCormack, RN, from special care nursery assisted the ED staff by sharing her expert knowledge and skill in caring for neonates. The ED staff felt better prepared to provide the best care possible for the baby. What an excellent example of living the Forces!

 

 

 

A second example of FORCE 11 is found in our PRN nurse program. Earlier this year, 13 of our nurses, through the generous donation from Mrs. Bethke, attended the annual ASPMN meeting for pain management nurses. Excited to share new evidence-based practice for pain management, these nurses developed and presented an all-day program for their peers. The following RNs utilized the role of teacher to help educate nurses in effective pain management: Trudy Colburn, radiation oncology; Peg Bitter, Wheeler 5;  JoAnn Dinardo, TCU; Janice Clement, TCU; Linda Daly, Wheeler 5; Marilyn Converse, North 6; Trudy Gavin, North 6; Peggy Flood, TCU; Michelle Bartlett, Wheeler 4; Cheryl Greenwood, Wheeler 4; Barbara Kemp, PACU; Brenda McCurdy, ED; and Donna Kilcoyne, education.

Michelle Bartlett, RN, BSN

FORCE 9: Autonomy looks for evidence of independence and accountability in nursing practice. In other words, nurses should take the lead to do what is needed, within their scope of practice, to care for our patients. This includes making appropriate decisions at the bedside. Michelle Bartlett, RN, BSN, associate nurse manager on Wheeler 4, provided an excellent example of this Force in action. A patient was admitted who was of Polish origin. This patient returns to Poland once a year to visit her primary care physician, and refills a year’s worth of medications.  Upon admission to Wheeler 4, Michelle was completing the medication reconciliation form of the patient’s medications. All medication bottles were in Polish.  Michelle wasted no time and used the Internet to find a resource that could translate the medications into English to facilitate the reconciliation and care planning process for this patient.

FORCE 13: Interdisciplinary relationships challenges us to provide examples of teamwork. No problem! Dr. Deb Greene from the ED provides a perfect example in a recent email to Maureen Mancini, RN, BSN, interim manager of the ED at the time of this incident. In the email she writes, “Laura Loverme, RN, did a great job in recognizing a critically ill child and caring for her (a 9-year-old with a grade 5 splenic laceration). Gina [Savini], RN, was a great charge nurse and was incredibly helpful as well...calling the lab and notifying them of blood coming down to be run STAT. I know there were other people involved like the paramedics….I want you to know how proud I was of everyone that night. It was a perfect example of teamwork and we delivered excellent care to a critically ill child.”

Laura Loverme, RN

Gina Savini, RN

FORCE 10: Community and the healthcare organization refers to the demonstration of partnering between the organization and the community it serves. As many of you have seen in recent press releases, our PIT team created coping kits for the ED and Wheeler 4. These kits assist our young patients in dealing with the trauma of an ED or inpatient stay. The press has generated community interest in the coping kits project. Kay Liebmann, RN, nurse coordinator of PIT, shared the following letter from the second grade teachers at Merriam School in Acton, who held a fundraising concert to benefit the kits. “Thank you for letting us know that the $700 or more now, will buy well over 100 coping kits," writes the teacher. "The children were thrilled to hear the amount that it would provide. They really connected to this cause, having experienced [a hospital stay] either firsthand themselves, a family member or a friend.”

 

 

 

 

Nursing leadership coordinating council

Providing leadership and direction for shared decision-making

The second leadership coordinating council meeting was held in June, and 30 nursing department members attended. The day involved unit and committee reports, a business meeting and a guest speaker, Patricia Rissmiller, D.N. Sc, RN, from Simmons College, who provided a continuing education presentation on nursing theorists. Highlights of the day include the following:

• An update on hospital and nursing activities during the past three months from Linda Wells, vice president for nursing and patient care services. These include the groundbreaking for project SCORE, due diligence with Simmons, Fitchburg State and UMASS Lowell on the possibility of an on-site BSN program, the Boston Globe Salute to Nurses and the Nursing Spectrum Gala. The Auxiliary’s Nightingale Ball was well attended, raising more than $275,000, which will fund a nurses' station in the new surgical area. The nursing staffing ratio bill continues to be an important health care legislative issue. Linda emphasized the enormous impact this legislation would have on hospitals, including Emerson. The bill does not inc lude LPNs and would require that the ratios be met on all shifts at all times. California hospitals have closed since the enactment of their bill, and more closings are expected as they continue to struggle to find enough nurses to meet the ratios. The American Nurses Association, Massachusetts Association of Registered Nurses, Massachusetts Organization of Nursing Executives and Massachusetts Hospital Association all oppose this legislation.
• Regina Burzynski, RN, director of patient care assessment, introduced the new management report to help share information on the quality initiatives at Emerson. The report includes compliments, complaints and core indicators such as the state-wide initiative on pneumonia, acute MI, surgical infections, etc. Regina reported that the national 100,000 Lives Campaign estimates that 122,300 lives were saved through initiatives aimed at improving patient care and preventing avoidable deaths. Emerson participated in all six initiatives associated with this program, including rapid response teams, whose purpose is to assist staff in assessing and stabilizing a patient’s condition, facilitate communication with the physician and help with patient transfer to CCU.
  
• Kevin Whitney, RN, director of nursing, introduced the multi-disciplinary process for JCAHO’s patient safety goal on hand-off communication. The key components of this goal include communicating relevant patient information and allowing the receiving clinician to ask questions. Clinical staff will complete the HealthStream assignment on hand-off communication as part of the education process.
• The proposal for LPNs to give IV push medications was approved. The purpose of the change in practice is to

Candice Respass, RN

• provide more timely care for patients requiring IV push medications. This policy will limit medications to drugs such as morphine, Dilaudid, Lasix, etc. LPNs will complete the IV push module and competency before administering IV drugs.
  
• PIT’s work on helping children during procedures and hospitalization was reviewed. Projects such as the age-specific coping kits now available in the ED and the research being done in conjunction with Candice Respass, RN, on pre-medication of children in interventional radiology were discussed.

For further details please refer to the meeting minutes, which are located on the Q-drive.

Editor’s note

The nursing newsletter is going electronic! Starting with the next issue, the newsletter will be distributed electronically via your Outlook mailbox.

Also, keep an eye on our new nursing web page. Access it at
http://www.emersonhospital.org/medical/nursing/default.aspx. We’ll be developing the site over time, so send us your content ideas and suggestions for improvement!

Questions? Story ideas? Contact Patti Shanteler, director of nursing quality, ext. 3365 or Mary Seymour, director of education, ext. 3051.