Kenmore Mercy Hospital
Kronicle
News and announcements for Nursing Staff at Kenmore Mercy Hospital May/June 2018 As I round on the units and attend meetings, one topic that I see and hear is the stress that our associates are experiencing.
Nursing Associates Honored with Awards
As nurses we know that stress is a fact of life particularly in our profession where our main responsibility is caring for people. It is important for our physical and mental well-being that we take time for ourselves to manage the stress that we may be experiencing. The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) provides an abundant amount of evidenced based information on what causes stress and helpful tools on how we can manage stress. A few of the tools they discuss include: the “Stop Technique” which is useful in stopping negative reactions when you feel stress building up. “Diaphragmatic Breathing” is another method in how to relax taking deep and slow breaths from the abdomen. Other techniques the AHNA website provides is information on nurturing your spirit, journaling, mindfulness, visualization, eating natural food and many others. The web site you can obtain this information is ahna.org and I added stress reduction in the search. An interesting fact is that the WNY chapter of the Holistic Nurses Association meets at Kenmore Mercy Hospital in the Community Room on a regular basis. The next meeting is June 26 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. If you are interested in this organization please consider attending a meeting The chapter’s web site is http://ahanwny. nursingnetwork.com. Enjoy your summer everyone! My best, ~ Cheryl
Anne Hedges-Creighton, Esther Sprehe, Lynn DeGrasse, Mary Hojnacki, Lisa Gonzales, and Carole Woomer.
Kenmore Mercy Hospital capped off National Nurses Week by recognizing some of its best nursing staff during a special ceremony held on May 9. This year’s Nurse of Distinction is Esther M. Sprehe, BSN, MSN, ANP-BC, RN, CNOR, CRNFA. Known for her smile and gentle voice, her peers refer to her as an exemplary nurse practitioner who works with both compassion and diligence to ensure her patients receive the optimal care and outcomes. This year’s Outstanding Staff Nurse is Lynn DeGrasse, BSN, RN. Lynn has been with Kenmore Mercy for 22 years and currently works on our 2 East and 2 South Patient Care Units where she cares for individuals post surgery. Day in and day out, the compassion and kindness provided to her patients is immeasurable. This year’s Outstanding Nurse Attendant is Lisa Gonzales. As a nurse attendant in our 2 East and 2 South Patient Care Units, she is always on game, planning ahead for patients being admitted post surgery. Lisa is known for her smiling face and cheerful demeanor, doing the extra little things for them that really matter. Thank you to all of this year’s award winners for their care and compassion and for demonstrating our mission and values.
Welcome To Our New Hires From April - May
Congrats to our Niagara University Cohort
April Mark Giangregorio, RN - 2 West Jessica Lottbrein, NA - ED Julia McCabe, NA - 2 West Laura Rokitka, RN - 3 East Lori Soos, RN - Nursing Supervisor Christine Swanson, NA - 3 East May: Jennifer Ricchiazzi, GN - 2 West Morgan Wagner, NA - ED Jonvier Whittington, NA - 2 West
Take Steps to be a Healthier You Register now for one of the following races and get a Kenmore Mercy Hospital t-shirt. Help us create a sea of blue at upcoming events! Thursday, July 19 at 7 p.m. Tim Frank Memorial Canal Fest 4 Miler ***Kenmore Mercy sponsored event. Saturday, July 21 at 9 a.m. St. Amelia’s Christmas in July *Kids 1/2 mile at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 12 at 6:45 p.m. Scrub Run South Buffalo’s Cazenovia Park, Cazenovia Street - Buffalo
Members of the graduating cohort -- Christine Reaser, Nicole Palesh, Sue Ederer, Tonya Holscher with Cheryl Hayes (c) at their Catholic Health celebration.
Congratulations to our latest graduates from the Catholic Health/ Niagara University “RN to BSN” program - Christine Reaser, RN - 2 East/2 South; Mary Willis, RN - 3 East; Tonya Holscher, RN - ICU; Sue Ederer, RN - Case Management; Nicole Palesh, RN - 3 East; and Cheryl Lewandowski, RN - GI. Kenmore Mercy has four nurses pursuing their Bachelor of Nursing degree in the next cohort that began in January - Bobby Gross, RN - 3 East; Amanda Kowalski, RN - Emergency Department; Kelly Martin, RN - 3 East; and Jessica Schulte, RN - 2 West/ IT. Catholic Health covers the cost of tuition and books, and provides a laptop computer for each nurse enrolled in the program. In exchange, the nurses agree to remain employed within Catholic Health for three years after earning their bachelors’ degrees. Thank you to all of our nurses who are working to obtain advanced degrees. Their work demonstrates commitment and advancement in nursing.
Register through www.buffalorunners.com in advance of your race. Once registered, call x76103 (administration) to place your shirt order.
Thank you to Senator Chris Jacobs who stopped by to meet with our nurses to discuss important healthcare issues, including safe staffing and how New York State officials can help nursing provide excellent patient care.
2
OR Team Participates in Active Shooter Training
Sacred Sixty
Dan Schrantz, Patrick Vaccaro, Jean Wood, Michale Baumgartner, Mike Milbrand and Tom Scime.
This past April, the Operating Room team -- nurses, surgical technicians, anesthiologist, RNFA, CRNAs and physician assistants participated in an active shooter program presented by Michael Baumgartner EMT-P from the Town of Tonawanda Police Department. The presentation was organized by Jean Wood, BSN, RN, from the Emergency Department who is completing her Masters of Science in Nursing project. Mike was joined by Dan Schrantz, manager of Health & Safety, and Patrick Vaccaro, security supervisor, who tied in Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s dangerous person policy. Real videos and local incidents were discussed and created great interest from the team. “That was the best in-service we ever had,” “that was awesome,” “I never knew 911 calls went to the state and I should have my local numbers in my phone,” were just some of the comments received.
Nurses Help with Stroke Awareness Nursing associates hosted a Stroke Education Fair on May 30. According to Joy MacNeil, BSN, RN, SCRN, stroke coordinator, “We were able to take blood pressures for about 20 people, and distributed FAST magnets and stroke education literature to about 30 people.”
Nursing recently rolled out the Sacred Sixty, an effort to honor and reflect on the lives of the patients we care for upon their passing. When a patient passes on, nursing team members are encouraged to take a few moments and use the Sacred Sixty prayer or a prayer of their choice. Consider asking the family to join you in this prayer in the patient’s room, surrounding the patient or in another location on the unit. Cards of the following prayer should be kept in the Bereavement Box and one may be left at the nurse’s station. We give thanks that we were able to care for this patient and family in the final moments of their loved ones life. We pray for peace and comfort for all those who mourn. Increase our trust in your power to bring life and wholeness even in the midst of pain and crying and death. We thank you for the gift of life. Amen.
A special thanks to Megan Kosmoski, RN, diabetes clinical educator; Tom Scime, EMS liaison; Ellen Swan, BSN, RN; Chris Schwinn, BSN, RN; Jim Bartlett, Pharm.D., BCPS; Theresa Jackson, RDN, CSOWM, CDN; and Hollis Busch, RD. All our advanced placement pharmacy experience (APPE) students - Taylor Hughes, William Helwig, and Nabila Ismail, also assisted.
3
Nurses in the News
ICU Nurse Recognized by AACN
Nurses’ Week proved to be newsworthy in the Buffalo area this year with several of Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s nurses featured in stories.
Congratulations to Intensive Care registered nurse Mary LaMartina, BSN, CCRN, who received the Circle of Excellence Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
Samantha Belter, RN, BSN, was interviewed by WKBW-7, showing a day in the life of a nurse.
Each year up to 25 individuals who exemplify excellence in high acuity and critical care nursing practice are chosen annually for a Circle of Excellence award. Recipients are recognized at the AACN National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition.
Kitty Scribner, RN, BSN, and Maria Richardson, RN, BSN, were featured as the cover story in the Buffalo News’ Refresh section, focusing on mother/daughter relationships in the nursing field.
Mary was recognized because of her community service through the WNY chapter of the AACN. She is a leading AACN organizer for the service projects with The Girls and Boys Club of Buffalo. She organized and attended all of the programs sponsored by the AACN including the “Back to School” backpack and school supply drive. Mary has also been in charge of donations to the City Mission Cornerstone Division which serves homeless woman and children. Mary, in collaboration with other AACN members, led the donation drive making “Welcome Bags” for the new residents of Cornerstone.
Maria & Kitty Julie Marshall, RN, BSN, was featured on WGRZ-2 when she gave birth to her little boy on Mother’s Day. Catholic Health’s Marketing Department thanks all the associates featured in the ads shot in Kenmore Mercy’s Emergency Department and Knee & Hip Center in April. The ads starting running on major cable and TV networks.
Other activities include providing the means for the staff at Cornerstone to become CPR certified, arranging a psychiatrist to speak to members about the issues they face. Mary is actively involved in the Palliative Care Committee at the hospital. She is an advocate for empowering the community to make educated decisions regarding their healthcare. She speaks at physician offices in the community as well as provides education for the hospital nurses to feel more comfortable having end of life conversations with patients and families.
ED Nurses Provide Stop The Bleed Training Members of the Shared Governance team were given critical, life-saving training at the May Committee Day meeting. “Stop the Bleed” training was led by Emergency Department nurse manager, Amanda Kramer, BSN, RN, CEN, and clinical advisor, Sue McClure, BSN, RN.
Samantha Belter, RN, BSN, along with Deb Bedard and Iris Blue take a break from filming to pose with one of the actors.
4
Stop the Bleed is a national awareness campaign and call-toaction. It is intended to cultivate grassroots efforts that encourNurses Tonya Holscher and age bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help Bridget Walborn participated in the training. in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. The training included an educational and hands on portion where all staff in attendance were taught how to pack wounds, apply pressure and use commercial tourniquets. Massive bleeding from any cause, but particularly from an active shooter or explosive event where a response is delayed can result in death within 5 to 10 minutes. Amanda and the ED team are providing life-saving “Stop the Bleed” training to the Kenmore community.
Nurses Week/Hospital Week Picture Page
Congratulations! Ellen Colan, BSN, RN, Perioperative Educator, recently earned the credential of CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room). This certification acknowledges her commitment to the highest standards of patient care and validates the specialized perioperative skills, experience and knowledge she has attained.
Ellen
Case manager Ella Mendez, RN, is officially a citizen of the United States! Originally from the Phillipines, Ella has been in the U.S. for twelve years and an associate at Kenmore Mercy Hospital for nine years. Her fellow case managers celebrated by hosting a “red, white, and blue” party in her honor.
Ella
Amanda Kramer, RN, BSN, CEN, nurse manager for the Emergency Department, completed her master’s degree in nursing leadership from the University of Buffalo. Vincent Nicosia, RN, float, completed his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Buffalo.
Amanda
Save The Date!
Associate Appreciation Picnic Wednesday, July 18
You asked; we responded.
New hours at Tim Hortons! Monday - Friday: 6 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
Congratulations to Dawn Tronolone, RN, winner of the Nurses’ Week Trivia Contest.
5