March/April 2016
The Kenmore Kronicle A Newsletter for the Nursing Staff at Kenmore Mercy Hospital
“Everyone wants to change the world but no one thinks of changing him(her)self”
Celebrations Planned for Nurses’ Week
~ Leo Tolstoy, Russian novelist
Every year, Nurses Week takes place between May 6 (National Nurses Day) and May 12 (the birthday of Florence Nightingale). It is a celebration of nurses, nursing, their contributions in history, and their central role in modern medicine. It also acknowledges their continuing dedication to their profession and their patients.
A Note From Cheryl “ The Culture of Safety Starts with You” The American Nurses Association (ANA) 2016 nurses week theme is, “The culture of safety begins with you” is a very thoughtful and pertinent theme for nursing. We as nurses support and promote safety for our patients, we also always have to remember to support safety for ourselves and our coworkers. I would like to challenge all of us to improve our individual safety habits keeping safety of both our patients and ourselves first in mind. Also, take the time to think, “Are we doing enough to protect the patient and ourselves from harm?” Can we as an individual, as a bedside leader, as member of the interprofessional team, do a better job in promoting safety? The answer for all of us is probably yes. As we celebrate our profession, let us continue to grow in best practices to ensure safety, causing no harm to ourselves or our patients who are trusted in our care. ~ Cheryl Improved Patient & Family Outcomes Mutually Established Goals Collaboration
Healthy Work Environment
Integrity
Faith - Based
Innovation
Professional
Development
Communication
Nursing Professionalism Based Practices / Advocacy / Compassion / Trust-
Nursing’s Foundational Components
Monday, May 9 All associates, volunteers and physicians are welcome to join us for a special Nurses’ Week speaker. Mark Ackerman will address Leadership at the Bedside” 11:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. in the Community Room. Lunch will be provided by the Kenmore Mercy Foundation. Tuesday, May 10 The Spiritual Care team will offer a “Blessing of the Hands,” starting on May 10 and continue throughout the week on nursing units. Wednesday, May 11 Join us for the annual Nursing Award Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. in the Community Room. The Nurse of Distinction, Outstanding Nurse, and Outstanding Nursing Assistant will be recognized. A Hawaiian themed lunch will be served from 10:45 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Dinner will be served from 4:45 - 7 p.m. Stop in to see our recent research presentations and pick up a copy of the 2015 Annual Report. Meals will be delivered to night shift nursing staff from 11 p.m. - midnight on May 11. Nursing staff’s names have been entered into drawings for gift certificates to local restaurants and establishments. Thank you to the medical staff who donated $500 toward gift certificates. Names will be posted at the lunch. Friday, May 13 Food Truck Friday is back! Watch for more details.
Relationship Building/Therapeutic Conversations/Empathy
Caring / Knowledge / Evidence-
At Kenmore Mercy Hospital, our nursing staff will be celebrated with activities all week long.
Worthiness
Nursing Presents at Research Conference
Congratulations
Kenmore Mercy’s nursing team presented five research posters at the 29th Annual Nursing Research & Scholarly Activities Conference in April, held at Classics V.
We’re pleased to share that several of our nurses have recently achieved certifications. Cara Howitt, RN, Surgical Services, recently earned the credential of CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room).
Howitt
The five Kenmore Mercy research projects included: Patients on the Move: Increasing Hospital Ambulation by Utilizing a Mobility Program; Journey to Excellence – Achieving the Beacon Award Designation; Safe Patient Handling With A “Move with Care” Program: Improving Communication within the Surgical Services Department, and Redefining Triage: Implementation of a Two Tier Triage System.
Jessica Klug, RN, Intensive Care Unit, recently earned the credential of CMSRN (Med-Surg Certification). Klug
Christine Schwinn, BSN, RN, nurse manager of the MRU and float pool, and Ellen Swan, BSN, RN, nurse manager of 2 West, achieved the credential Swan of CNML (Certified Nurse Manager and Leader). Congratulations to Donna Anderson, PA-C. She completed a Physician Assistant Master’s degree from the State University of New York at Stony Book in March. Congratulations to Linda Butski, RN, Endoscopy nurse manager and Operating Room clinical advisor. She completed a Master’s degree in Nursing Leadership and Management from Western Governors University in April.
The night long event, sponsored by the Professional Nurses Association of Western New York and the Nursing Honor Society “Sigma Theta Tau International” (Gamma Kappa, Gamma Theta and Zeta Nu chapters), brought together nursing colleagues from across the Buffalo area to share their contributions.
Patients on the Move showed how the implementation of a formalized mobility program increased the rate of patients ambulating in the hall on the telemetry patient care unit, 3 East. The Beacon poster showed how the Intensive Care Unit pursues this national designation.
Schwinn
The “Move with Care” poster demonstrated the success of the program in reducing patient falls and associate injuries. Ellen Swan, BSN, RN, CNML, and Kathleen Vitthuhn, MSN, RN, received the Bronze Researcher Award and $20 gift card for their presentation. The Surgical Services poster analyzed the Press-Ganey staff survey statement: “Different levels of this organization communicate effectively with each other,” as it impacted Ambulatory Surgery, Operating Room proper, Central Sterile Processing and the Recovery Room.
Anderson
The Triage poster described a triage study with the goal to decrease time a patient waits to be assessed by a clinical staff member and establish consistent evaluation upon arrival. The posters were very well received with many requests for more information on the studies and how to start these projects in other settings.
Butski
Many of the fees associated with certification and degrees are covered by Kenmore Mercy funding. Check with your manager to see if you qualify.
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Amanda Kramer, Emergency Department nurse manager, presented her poster - Redefining Triage: Implementation of a Two Tier Triage System.
Responder 5, Helping Response Time Growth in consumer driven health care is requiring that hospitals do a better job of optimizing patient satisfaction. Thanks to the Kenmore Mercy Foundation, a new call bell system was made possible in 2015, giving patients the ability to reach nursing easier. The next phase in that upgrade was the recent purchase of Responder 5.
Responder 5 is a new system upgrade that allows us to analyze call volume and ultimately use that data to improve response times, the efficiency of the staff resources and workflow.
Patient satisfaction can be negatively impacted by length of time in answering call bells.
“By using Responder 5. nursing can better address HCAHP questions that focus on timely response to call bell,” noted nurse supervisor Nancy Chojecki, RN, who is leading a team to improve patient satisfaction. Her team is currently developing a plan to define and measure barriers to reducing call bell response time.
The Benefits of Nursing Certification
In celebration of Certified Nurses Day, Kenmore Mercy Hospital hosted a breakfast for nurses on March 18. Congratulations to all the nurses who have achieved the important career milestone of certification. More than 70 Kenmore Mercy nurses have specialty certifications, in 17 different areas. For those still considering it, here are some reasons to pursue specialty certification. Among the breakfast attendees were • Credentialing advances the certified nurses Kathy Daley, Mary Applegate, and Lori Meder. profession of nursing by both encouraging and recognizing professional achievement. • Meeting the needs of employers, practitioners, and the public by identifying individuals with certain knowledge and skills • Assuring consumers that professionals have met standards of practice. • Demonstrating an individual’s commitment to a profession and to lifelong learning. • Providing an individual with a sense of pride and professional accomplishment. Nurses achieve certification credentials through specialized education, experience in a specialty area, and a qualifying exam. Certification is a profession’s official recognition of achievement, expertise, and clinical judgment. It is a mark of excellence that requires continued learning and skill development to maintain.
Nursing Tips & Reminders Occurrence Reporting
Remember to fill out occurrence report for any reported lost items or fall/injury of a visitor that has been reported to you. Try to get all of the facts from the person who is reporting this to you and enter as much information as possible on the occurrence report. This documentation of an event will be used in any follow-up investigation.
Medication Patch
Be sure to remove the previous medication patch prior to putting a new one on a patient.
IV Bags
Be sure to scan all IV bags in MAK prior to hanging them.
Logging out of MAK Nurses must log out of MAK so that Respiratory can administer their medication without them having to do an override.
White Plastic Tray
Use the plastic white tray when mixing a medication in the Medication Room. The tray should be cleaned after each use. Do not place any items on the tray when not in use.
Sharps Usage
Be aware of your surroundings when using a sharps (needles). Some needle sticks are due to patients moving so explain what you will be doing before you place needle or get assistance from other staff if you feel there may be an issue with the patient moving.
Acknowledge the good work of your fellow nursing staff? Say thank you at least once per day. Use the “Kudos” forms to recognize someone who has gone above and beyond. Nominate staff LOVE Award or a nurse for the DAISY Award. Forms for the LOVE Award and DAISY Award are available online.
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Nursing Tips & Reminders New Great Catch Form
We want to hear about your Great Catch or one made by your co-workers. A Great Catch is an event that has the capacity to cause harm but did not reach the patient. Forms are available online and in each patient unit.
Protective Equipment
Remember to wear protective equipment such as gowns, gloves and goggles if there is a potential for splash of blood or bodily fluids such as disconnecting tubes, assisting with procedures. Safety first!
Report Hazards Report to facilities any hazards such as spills or loose tiles or trip hazards such as phone or computer cords. Be alert and report anything that may cause harm.
Welcome to Our New Nursing Leaders
Deborah Micholas
Congratulations to Deborah Micholas, BSN, RN, ONC. In March, she was appointed as the patient care services supervisor for 2 East and 2 South. In this role, Deborah co-manages the 2 East and 2 South Patient Care Units. She will be working in collaboration with Mary Hojnacki, BSN, RN, ONC, nurse manager of these units. Deborah completed an Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Trocaire College in 2007. In addition, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Niagara University in 2012 where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She is currently a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the Western New York Professional Nurses’ Association. In 2011, she received her orthopedic nursing certification and continues to focus her career on orthopedic, neurological and general postoperative care. In 2011, she was awarded the 29th Annual District 1 Outstanding Staff Nurse Award.
Inform UNYTS of a patient death immediately in order to prevent a delay in burial plans.
Deborah also serves as an adjunct professor between Kenmore Mercy Hospital and the University of Buffalo and has been integral in the implementation of the Dedicated Education Units at the hospital.
Welcome to our new hires
In 2014, the University of Buffalo honored her with the Distinguished Preceptor Award. She has been with Kenmore Mercy Hospital for eight years.
UNYTS
February Daren Powers, RN - 2 West Daniel Collins, NA - 2 East/2 South Kora Ettinger, RN - 2 East/2 South Jenna Holevinski, RN - 2 East/2 South Jaime Sutton, UC/TT -3 East Kara Forster, RN - 2 East/2 South March Tia Muehlbauer, NA - Medical Rehab Unit Kailene Jones, NA - 2 West Melanie Tomczak, RN - Emergency Department Katelyn Ritch, RN - Medical Rehab Unit Tracey Schmidt, RN - Operating Room Yuan Tian, RN - Medical Rehab Unit Olivia Wilheim, RN - 3 East Alicia Seguin, RN - 2 West Crista Stokes, NA - Emergency Department Cindy Setter, RN - Endoscopy April Ashley Harrington, RN - Medical Rehab Unit Kourtney Kajanka, RN - 3 East
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Susan McClure
Susan McClure, BSN, BSN, was appointed as the senior clinical advisor for the Emergency Department in March. In this role, Susan develops processes to enhance the care of Emergency Department patients. In addition, she provides staff education and orients new associates. She also assists with education in the ICU and 3 East. Susan completed an Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Trocaire in 1992. In addition, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Chamberlain in April 2016. Susan started her nursing career here at Kenmore Mercy hospital in 1992 as a graduate nurse on the orthopedic floor. In 1996, she transferred to the Emergency Department. While in the Emergency Department she grew as a bedside leader, taking charge and precepting new nurses. Susan took on an active role participating in committees during the opening of the new Emergency Department in 2013.