M ETHODISTLeaders N URSE in Nursing MAY 2013 | A Magazine for Nurses
Promoting
Evidence
Based Practice Research
Page 8
N
A Message from
Ann Scanlon McGinity Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive
Exciting Happenings Nurses Week 2013 is upon us! It is always an honor for our organization to recognize our nurses for all that they bring to our health care team and to the nursing profession. This year, we are once again looking forward to hosting a number of fun-filled events and activities, including our system-wide Nurses’ Gala on Friday, May 10. Please be sure to look for further details on all of our Nurses Week events inside this issue. By now, you are probably aware that The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) has selected The Methodist Hospital as the recipient of its 2013 Nursing Certification Advocacy Award. This is tremendous news for our hospital because it affirms the commitment we continue to make in increasing our specialty certification rates and supporting the professional development of our nursing staff. ABNS President-Elect, Maria Shirey, RN, PhD, MBA, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN, will be on the Methodist campus to officially present the award to us on May 6—during our Nurses Week Kickoff Celebration. I ask that you join us for this special presentation recognizing the great and dedicated work of our nursing community. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m. As I am each year, I am excited to announce that our latest annual nursing report is completed and is being distributed to each unit. This report showcases our extraordinary work and accomplishments over the past year—and truly captures the high level of nursing excellence exhibited by our nursing enterprise. I hope that you review this report with great pride and take a moment to appreciate our unique stories, programs and achievements that continue to establish us as a bestin-class nursing organization. In June, I will be hosting Staff Nurse Assemblies and PCA/Unit Secretary Town Halls. These informative sessions provide me with an opportunity to share the current happenings and new advancements transpiring within Methodist Nursing. I also receive feedback from staff about how we can continue to further improve the great care you provide to patients and families at The Methodist Hospital. I will be disseminating the schedule soon and am looking forward to seeing you at one of the many available sessions. Lastly, Good Samaritan Foundation is seeking nominations for outstanding nurses who exemplify the finest qualities of the nursing profession for their Ninth Annual Excellence in Nursing Awards. Nominees must be registered nurses and prior nominees are eligible. I encourage nurses throughout The Methodist Hospital System to nominate a deserving colleague. Nominations are being accepted through May 31 and are available online at www.gsftx.org.
2013 Editorial Board Members Elizabeth Himes
Carlette Patterson
Beverley Lamoth
Joy Shiller
Kathy Materre
Maria Steele
Denise McNulty
Robyn Washington
Magazine Editor Trevor Mitchell
Graphic Designer Phyllis Gillentine
Photographers Phyllis Gillentine Trevor Mitchell
Do you have a
that you would like to post in the Methodist Nurse Magazine? Please submit your articles or ideas to Trevor Mitchell at tmitchell2@tmhs.org
Methodist Welcomes CE Direct Earlier this year, The Methodist Hospital System began offering CE Direct to nurses and allied health staff. Through our first three months, our housewide utilization rate is at 16 percent. We are encouraging our nursing and allied health staff members to review the information below and discover how having immediate access to CE Direct can enhance your professional practice and individual goals. CE Direct, an online tool that delivers continuing education, quality/safety courses, a certification review program and more. CE Direct is the only vendor in the nation to be recognized for CE excellence and has proven to be highly successful in offering unlimited access to more than 2,400 top quality Gannett Education courses available in a variety of formats, including: online self-study courses, webinars, audio courses and printed courses in Nurse.com magazines. This dynamic educational system will increasingly help to fulfill CE requirements for a number of service lines and specialty areas throughout each of our Methodist facilities.
Available To:
• Registered Nurses/LVNs • Nursing Support • Dietitians • Radiology/Imaging/Radiotherapy Technologists • Rehab
• • • •
Respiratory Therapy Social Workers Case Managers Speech Therapists
Multiple Modes of Access: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Online anywhere — from work, home or wherever you have Internet access Audio access via iPod or MP3 player. The 50 most recent courses are kept in audio format Webinar access provides interactive learning at live webinars. Webinars are also archived Print access for RN subscribers to the Nurse.com Nursing Spectrum or Nurse.com NurseWeek magazine to take, free of charge, a CE course is in each publication
Content Library:
• More than 700 online ANCC accredited courses with more than 1000 contact hours available • 170+ CME AMA PRA Category 1 Credit courses are available including state-specific CME • Most of the CE courses include Clinical Vignettes to apply knowledge learned
Certification Review Program:
• More than 70 certification review programs to prepare nurses for their specialty exam • All review courses are ANCC accredited • Digital Nursing Clinical Textbook is included with the program. This online textbook has more than 600 of the most frequently encountered at bedside conditions/diseases • Each online textbook chapter includes an exam to earn one ANCC contact hour plus each chapter has a patient education handout
Frequently Asked Questions:
New Hires – It can take up to three weeks for a new hire to gain access to CE Direct. New hires in designated job codes are automatically given access. Our Human Resources Department notifies these new hires of CE Direct through an email communication with information on how to access the program. If they are not able to access CE Direct after 3 wk, then please let me know and I’ll investigate what might be causing the delay. Unable to Access – Be sure to select the appropriate facility when signing on. Directions for sign-on can be found on TMH Homepage. Simply look under Reference Information and click on CE Direct. User ID Cards - The user ID cards issued earlier this year were a one-time promotional item for the roll out of CE Direct and are not being provided on an ongoing basis. They are not necessary to access CE Direct! For questions or concerns, please contact Roberta (Bobbi) Musgrove at rsmusgrove@tmhs.org or call CE Direct’s toll-free number: (877) 226-5953.
San Jacinto Methodist Hospital News
Jane DeStefano
Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
Encouraging
Healthy
Lifestyles
Lately, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital has hosted several great events focused on the health of our staff and local community.
disease, and research shows that a poor lifestyle is a major contributor. At San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, we are committed to living heart-healthy lives. By participating in National Walking Day, we encouraged our staff members to wear sneakers to work and take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get The San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Heart & Vascular Center recently commemorated the two-year anniversary of its opening. The celebration included a luncheon, guest speakers and gifts for all attendees. Free blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI/body fat screenings were also offered to attendees to estimate their 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease. On April 3, our hospital also took part in the American Heart Association’s National Walking Day. These days, adults are spending more and more time at work than ever before. As a result, as a nation, we are becoming more inactive. This is a problem when you consider the fact that physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease. Statistics show that 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women are at risk for heart
4 Methodist Nurse
up and walk. This event proved to be a fun way to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and to provide coworkers a friendly push toward a healthier life. Walking is one of the easiest ways to boost your health and prevent physical illness. So, each day, try to find some time to lace up your sneakers and get moving!
Methodist Sugar Land Hospital News
Janet Leatherwood
RN, MSN, VP / Chief Nursing Officer
Love in Action
“Prayer in action is love, love in action is service.” There are moments in time that jolt us so hard it causes us to stop in our tracks and examine what is truly important in our lives. Recently we said good bye to a dear nurse at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Walter Mitterhofer, who worked in our Emergency Department for over ten years. It seems like yesterday that Walter started at MSLH, and suddenly 10 years have gone by at breakneck speed! We have seen two other of our loving nurses, Imelda Varela ( Critical Care) and Lou Jimenez (Newborn Nursery), pass away over the last few years, much earlier than any of us thought they would. Each of these nurses left lasting impressions on their coworkers as well as lasting impressions of compassionate care provided to their patients and families. I saw our staff plan fundraising events and dinners for each of these nurses as they progressed though their long illnesses. This was witnessed again when the Emergency Department found several ways to show their love and support of Walter during his battle to survive. Camille Green, Manager of our Emergency Department, reflects on the months prior to Walter’s death as his co-workers learned of his illness. “This past August, one of our own Emergency Department nurses received the report that he had developed cancer. When he shared this with us, it was certainly news that caused us to pause and put our busy lives momentarily on hold as we thought, “what if it was me or my family member, what would I be feeling, what would I do?” These thoughts just inundate you as you are driving home, playing with your children, or trying to go to sleep at night. As Emergency Nurses we frequently see and treat Cancer patients, but in our busy world, sometimes we tend to lose sight of what our patient and their families are experiencing. However, when someone you have worked with side by side for 10 years gets the news, it really brings it home. Over the years, we have watched our friend work more than one job at a time and have watched him work many long hours, to
ensure a good home for his family and a quality education for his children. So, as a group, we made the decision to help our co-worker in a way that we believed would be beneficial to him and his family. Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Emergency Department, along with fellow co-workers throughout our hospital, community participants, Sacred Heart ER, Sugar Land Surgical Hospital, and St. Michaels ER, coordinated fund raising events, made monetary donations, sold our “Piece of Work” T-Shirts, coordinated a 5K Walk, Doubles Tennis Tournament, and gathered to prepare Christmas gifts for his children. Through these efforts, we have had wonderful support and collected over $30,000. In addition, the MSLH ED physicians set up an Education Fund for Walter’s four children.” A very humble Nobel Peace Prize recipient and minister to the sick said, “Prayer in action is love, love in action is service.” I have witnessed this very service within the walls of our hospital. Thank you to each one of you for showing such love for your fellow co-workers. Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and our community is a better place to live and work because of the living demonstration of our ICARE values. Each of your actions provided all of the affected nurses, their families, as well as the co-workers they left behind with much needed relief and reassurance in knowing that they have the support of many at their side during their time of need.
Leaders in Nursing 5
Methodist Willowbrook Hospital News
Sheila Fata
Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer
Our Journey Toward Magnet Methodist Willowbrook Hospital recently
embarked on a new phase in our Magnet Journey. Our Magnet documents have been completed and were submitted to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) earlier this year. Our Magnet Champions team is now leading the charge in preparing for our survey. It is a great time to take note of the growth within our nursing organization over the past several years. Our hospital has evolved and matured as new structures and processes have been put in place to promote and support the work of our nurses as professionals and leaders at the bedside and beyond. Over the past several years, Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has implemented a research program with a strong emphasis on evidence based practice, and our research council oversees these processes. We’ve revitalized our unit based council structure and provided tools to Shared Governance to promote autonomy. We adopted and tailored the The Methodist Hospital professional practice model to provide a framework that meets the unique needs of our nurses and community.
PICTURED ABOVE: Robin Howe, MSN, RN-BC, Dana Scott (seated), BSN, RN, Sheila Fata, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Geneva Caldwell, DNS, RN, OCN, and Nicholas Hough.
We have also built onto our quality infrastructure to better help our nurses understand the relationship between quality measures and their work with patients and Shared Governance. In addition, our commitment to the Magnet principles is rooted in a deep conviction that a Magnet designated hospital is driven to create a better working environment for nurses and to promote and strengthen the nursing practice. This type of dedication ultimately leads to a higher level of quality, compassionate care for our patients. Our Magnet document submission is the culmination of these years of institutionalizing the Magnet principles and truly becoming one of the best places for nurses to work. I know that our entire team is looking forward to continuing to build on the foundation that we have laid and to continue raising our level of excellence! The Magnet Journey is one that requires commitment, collaboration and stamina–and it truly “takes a village!” I want to recognize our Magnet team for their effort and dedication over the past year in organizing and writing our Magnet submission. I would also like to thank every nurse and nurse leader at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital for the work they do every day, which has provided shining examples of professionalism and care that are reflected in the narratives of our Magnet documents! 6 Methodist Nurse
Methodist West Houston Hospital News
Vicki Brownewell
Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer
Continuous Growth and Achievement We are continuing to grow at Methodist West Houston Hospital. This growth can be witnessed in a wide variety of our service lines—from oncology and orthopedics to cardiovascular, to name just a few. At times, we were overflowing with patients, which has allowed us to build out and open new beds in obstetrics and NICU. We also opened new medical surgical beds and an observation unit. Our overall market share has doubled in our community and we are now No. 1 in our market for heart services! How did this happen so quickly? These results are rooted in our vision, which is to serve our community in line with high Methodist standards of quality, sophisticated technology and of course, personalized service. Add great people and hard work to this vision and terrific things have happened. Not only have we experienced exceptional growth at our hospital, we are also fortunate enough to have high quality and excellent patient, physician and staff satisfaction.
In addition to all of this growth, we need to stay grounded in the basics of patient satisfaction, quality and safety and efficiency. Our staff has completed the invigorating Methodist Experience class. This fits perfectly with our philosophy of patient and family centered care and vision of personalized service. ISO certification is also in the works for the fall. This is a part of our DNV certification and gives us the structure for auditing our processes and improving them where needed. We will also be reviewing and updating our hospital policies. And, if that isn’t enough, we plan to achieve stroke certification with the DNV survey.
“Bigger and better”
As the saying goes, everything is growing “bigger and better” at MWHH. Earlier this year, we experienced our highest number of Emergency Center patients and a record number of open heart surgery patients. The observation unit we opened a few months ago has also been full. To accommodate yet more growth, staff members and nursing leaders are putting their heads together with architects to literally create designs for the future. We are currently planning for six – yes six – expansions. Construction has commenced on more medical surgical beds, which are on pace to open in July. In addition, by the end of the year we plan to build, equip and open several more operating rooms, surgical AOD’s, ICU beds, procedural area AOD’s and an infusion suite.
As part of the System-wide “Project Readiness’ initiative we will be working towards higher levels of efficiency. We are especially excited about the Patient Progression project, with the objectives of improved coordination of care, as well as having patients move smoothly through the continuum. Naturally, as a new hospital, we have a lot to accomplish to catch up with our sister hospitals. Therefore, last but not least, this year we have our sights set on receiving Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This designation will recognize the practice environment, hard work, professionalism, and collaboration of our wonderful nursing staff. All of the MWHH staff and leadership are proud of our accomplishments! We are also humbled and grateful to be part of TMHS, which continues to support us in these endeavors.
Leaders in Nursing 7
The Methodist Hospital Interprofessional
Research Evidence Based Practice Council
E
Evidence-Based Practice: Context, Challenges and Emerging Leaders By Shannon Hamlin, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, CCRN Director, Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Research has little value unless findings are translated into practice to improve patient outcomes. Several studies have demonstrated that research-based nursing interventions are more likely to result in better patient outcomes than ritual or traditional-based nursing interventions [1, 2]. Evidence-based practice (EBP) which is as a problem-solving approach to clinical decision making, allows nurses to substantially influence healthcare decisions and become partners with our interprofessional colleagues in improving quality of care [3]. In fact, Dr. Patricia A. Grady, Director of the National Institute for Nursing Research, stated “nurse scientists are well positioned to take leadership roles and serve as catalysts” in translating research into practice [3, 4]. Evidence-based practice began in the 1970’s when Dr. Archie Cochrane, a British epidemiologist, criticized the medical profession for not using the best evidence when Dr. Archibald Cochrane (1909-1988) making important decisions about patient care [5]. He cautioned patients to pay only for care that had been empirically supported as effective. Dr. Cochrane believed the randomized clinical trial (RCT) was the strongest level of evidence to which all healthcare treatment decisions should be based. After Dr. Cochrane’s death in 1988, the
8 Methodist Nurse
Cochrane Center was established in Oxford, England (1992) followed by the formation of The Cochrane Collaboration in 1993. The purpose of The Cochrane Collaboration is to provide systematic reviews concerning the effectiveness of healthcare interventions based on sound evidence (RCTs) and to ensure these reviews are accessible to the public [5]. The early EBP movement founded by Dr. Cochrane has since broadened in definition to include the synthesis of the best available evidence (e.g., meta-analysis, RCT, controlled trials, descriptive, and qualitative studies) and
combines it with clinical expertise, patient preferences and patient values [6]. A clinician’s expertise includes a) clinical judgment, b) internal evidence (e.g., quality improvement generated knowledge), c) clinical reasoning (e.g., ability to apply significant knowledge in a particular clinical situation), and d) evaluation and use of resources needed to implement chosen effective interventions to achieve the expected outcome [5]. Practice is rapidly outdated without current best-evidence and often to the detriment of the patient [5]. For example, for
to patient care at the bedside [8]. Studies in CLINICAL DECISION MAKING fact show, evidencebased knowledge is Clinical Expertise (i.e., internal evidence generated from outcomes Evidence-Based negatively correlated management or quality improvement Clinical Decision projects, a thorough patient with the year of Making assessment and evaluation, and use of available resoures) graduation [9]. As a result, many negative Patient Preferences Components of evidenceattitudes toward and Values based practice [5] utilizing research into practice exist for many years pediatric primary care nurses and care is often based on providers advised parents to always antiquated knowledge and practices place infants in the prone position in learned in academic programs [8]. order to prevent the risk of aspiration. Participation in the EBP process is After further study, researchers found one of the best strategies for nurses infants placed in the prone position to remain up-to-date on current while sleeping were at higher risk knowledge [3]. of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). These compelling findings Granted, in recent years the prompted the American Academy healthcare industry has witnessed an of Pediatrics (AAP) to expedite the information explosion in which new release of clinical practice guidelines knowledge has grown exponentially; recommending all infants be placed more is known than is currently in the supine position during sleep practiced [3]. With known healthcare [5]. This change in practice has practices in which effectiveness is resulted in a significant decline in supported by scientific evidence, infant mortality related to SIDS [7]. third-party payers are providing reimbursement only for supported Despite the widely recognized best practices (i.e., pay for knowledge that EBP reduces performance) and hospitals are morbidity, mortality, and medical being denied payment for patient errors, EBP is not implemented complications that developed due consistently by nurses or other to failure to follow EBP guidelines healthcare providers across the [5]. Moreover, by perusing EBP United States [8]. Historically, nursing websites, patients and families education at both the bachelor’s and are knowledgeable concerning master’s level have emphasized the effective treatment for their rigorous and often complex process health condition which is likely of how to conduct research but have to place even greater pressure on failed to educate students on how to healthcare providers to practice translate research and clinical data using the most current evidence into an evidence-based approach External Evidence from Research, Evidence-Based Theories, Opinion Leaders, and Expert Panels
[5]. Evidence-based practice is such a priority in healthcare the Institute of Medicine has set a goal that by the year 2020, 90% all healthcare decisions in the United States will be evidence-based [10]. Considering EBP is centered on multiple sources of knowledge, clinical expertise, and patient preferences, the bedside nurse is in a unique position to generate important questions that concern patient care and safety [3]. As the largest healthcare profession numbering more than three million, it is essential for nurses to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to participate and lead the EBP process and integration movement (translational science). Nurses can and must play a prominent role in transforming the future of healthcare by leading ourselves and our interprofessional colleagues in translating research into practice to improve the quality of care patients receive.
EBP Organizational Culture Context of Caring Research Evidence and Evidence-Based Theories.
Clinical Expertise, i.e., evidence from patient assessment, internal evidence, and the use of healthcare resources)
Clinical Decision Making
Quality Patient Outcomes
Patient Preferences and Values
Evidence-based practice modeled within a caring environment (evidence-based practice culture) produces the highest quality patient outcomes [5].
References 1. Williams, D.O., Treatment delayed is treatment denied. Circulation, 2004. 109(15): p. 1806-1808. 2. McGinty, J. and G. Anderson, Predictors of physician compliance with American Heart Association guidelines for acute myocardial infarction. Crit Care Nurs Q, 2008. 31(2): p. 161-72. 3. Pugh, L.C., Evidence-based practice: Context, concerns, and challenges, in Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice: Model and Guidelines, S.L. Dearholt and D. Dang, Editors. 2012, Sigma Theta Tau International: Indianapolis. p. 3-30.4. Grady, P.A., Translational research and nursing science. Nurs Outlook, 2010. 58(3): p. 164-6.5. Melnyk, B.M. and E. Fineout-Overholt, Making the case for evidence-based practice and cultivating a spirit of inquiry, in Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare a Guide to Best Practice, B.M. Melnyk and E. Fineout-Overholt, Editors. 2011, Wolters Kluwer: Philadelphia. p. 3-24.6. Sackett, D.L., et al., Evidence based medicine: What it is and what it isn’t. BMJ, 1996. 312(7023): p. 71-2.7. American Academy of Pediatrics, Changing concepts of sudden infant death syndrome: Implications for infant sleeping environment and sleep position. 2000, Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics. 8. Melnyk, B.M., et al., The state of evidence-based practice in US nurses: Critical implications for nurse leaders and educators. J Nurs Adm, 2012. 42(9): p. 410-7. 9. Shin, J.H., R.B. Haynes, and M.E. Johnston, Effect of problem-based, self-directed undergraduate education on life-long learning. CMAJ, 1993. 148(6): p. 969-76. 10. McClellan, M.B., et al., Evidence-based medicine and the changing nature of health care. 2007, Washington, DC: The Academies Press. 11. The Cochrane Collaboration. Archie Cochrane: The Name Behind the Cochrane Collaboration. 2013 [Janurary 4, 2013]; Available from: http://www.cochrane.org/about-us/ history/archie-cochrane.
Leaders in Nursing 9
The new uniforms are coming
“Let’s Get Ready”
COUNTDOWN... Only a few more days to a new look For more information, please contact Charlene Mason at 713-441-4546 or cmason@tmhs.org.
On April 24, 2013, Methodist MICU nurse Haley Hoskinson and several of her colleagues led a memorial event in The Methodist Hospital Healing Garden to remember former nursing colleague, Randy Mullins, who died last year. Over the past year, the MICU staff has raised over $3,000 in Randy’s honor. A portion of the proceeds went toward the purchase of a memorial bench, which was unveiled during the ceremony and is on display in the Healing Garden. MICU staff members voted to donate the remaining funds to the AIDS Foundation – Houston. Several Methodist executives and staff members attended this touching memorial, which was held on the one-year anniversary of Randy’s death. After a moment of prayer, white balloons symbolizing Randy’s free spirit were released into the Houston sky while individuals shared their personal memories of Randy. 10 Methodist Nurse
Randy Mullins Memorial
TMH Works to Improve Efficiency
in Clinical Student Placements
I
n an effort to meet the demands of our growing health care industry and diversity of the patient population, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) set forth a recommendation to increase the proportion of baccalaureate degree nurses from 50 percent to 80 percent by 2020. Nursing schools responded in kind by increasing enrollment by 5.1% in 2011. This type of growth affects both nursing schools and health care facilities. The Methodist Hospital remains committed to helping these schools educate the best and brightest nursing students through clinical placements and preceptorships. Since 2007, health care facilities and universities have relied on the Centralized Clinical Placement System (CCPS) to place hundreds of nursing students. Managing clinical placements is quite challenging due to the increasing nursing-student population. It would often take months to place students through CCPS, which allows each school of nursing to input cohort requests. Other issues with CCPS identified by both the schools of nursing and health care facilities included: preceptor placement, an inadequate number of sites relative to the
By: Tiffany McCarthy & Andrea Mejia
student population, and a lack of accountability or reporting to ensure schools use the spots they reserve. In an effort to streamline the process, The Methodist Hospital Center for Professional Excellence (CPE) began to embark on creating alternative clinical placement models. CPE decided to establish a pilot program modeled after the NFL draft. The first draft style event was hosted by Texas Women’s University and consisted of clinical placement coordinators from 11 nursing schools and coordinators from TMH. Each school took turns selecting spots from among the available hospitals until all positions were filled. The event was highly successful with nearly 500 students placed in just under five hours— including a record number of clinical placements at Methodist in one afternoon. University officials especially liked the face to face communication as well as the opportunity to secure their placements before they left. We are proud that this collaborative partnership has shown immediate results in improving the efficiency of student placements.
(American Association of College of Nursing (AACN), 2012).
Leaders in Nursing 11
Methodist Receives
certification opportunities. They also recently implemented a certification campaign entitled, “Catch the Fever,” to increase certification rates within all units.
h the Fev atc
er
The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) Awards and Recognition Committee announced that it has selected The Methodist Hospital as the recipient of the 2013 Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy. The
C
2013 ABNS Nursing Certification Advocacy Award
50 40
GOAL
30
“It was immediately clear from their application that The Methodist Hospital has a strong commitment to specialty certification,” Cynthia Nowicki Hnatiuk, EdD, RN, CAE, Chair of the ABNS Awards and Recognition Committee, said. “We applaud their use of creative programs to promote certification to the nursing staff and create excitement around the credentialing process.”
20 “This healthy competition has 10 generated excitement among our 0 staff and has drastically improved certification rates in many units Percentage of throughout the hospital,” Ann Certified Nurses on this Unit Scanlon McGinity, Ph.D., R.N., Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, said. “We strive to encourage nurses to seek certification, support them throughout the process and find multiple opportunities to recognize their achievement.”
Approximately 34 percent of direct patient care RNs and an impressive 97 percent of nursing managers and directors are certified—an important criteria for the award. Methodist promotes certification among its staff through various professional advancement and incentive programs. The hospital used “mobile” certification carts to launch a campaign called “In the Know, On the Go.” The staff manning the carts quiz nurses’ knowledge on Methodist’s certification data and uses the opportunity to discuss
The Methodist Hospital recognizes nurses who earn certification in weekly emails from the Executive Vice President, during an annual reception on Certified Nurses Day, in internal publications, on wall plaques and with a variety of other strategies. In addition to promoting and recognizing certification, The Methodist Hospital has invested in a dynamic educational system which delivers online continuing education and certification review courses free of charge to all nurses and allied health professionals.
award recognizes health care organizations, facilities or departments that are strong advocates of specialty nursing certification.
The Methodist Hospital also promotes certification through other multiple tactics, including: • Providing reimbursement for certification fees up to $250. • Providing career coaches who evaluate interest in certification and provide support through the process. • Partnering with aligned partners to promote relevant professional education and growth opportunities. • Allowing nurses to print their specialty credentials on name badges. • Providing lapel pins to certified nurses to raise awareness. • Holding career and education fairs to provide support for nurses interested in certification. Congratulations to the Methodist nursing community on this achievement, especially those who continue to play a role in advocating and supporting specialty nursing certifications. This accolade certainly reflects the quality
12 Methodist Nurse
of our nursing care at Methodist, and the care and dedication you all bring to your work. For more information, please visit www. nursingcertification.org.
Certified Nurses Day A Huge Success! The Methodist Hospital
recently celebrated Certified Nurses Day in recognition of all Methodist nurses that have achieved national certifications in their respective specialties. Celebrations were held in both the morning and afternoon to accommodate nurses’ schedules. During the events, each certified nurse in attendance received a commemorative certificate as well as an official certified nursing lapel pin to serve as a constant reminder of the leadership, commitment and expertise they demonstrate in caring for patients and their families. Our certified nurses at Methodist do a great job serving as ambassadors for national certification by sharing their experiences and achievements with their colleagues. So, if you have yet to pursue certification in your specialty— there has never been a better time to become a certified nurse.
O T
outstanding student nurse award
he Methodist Hospital’s Outstanding Student Nurse Scholarship Reception took place on April 24, 2013. Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 were awarded to one exceptional student from ten Houston area nursing schools. These students were selected for demonstrating excellence in academic and community leadership.
Leaders in Nursing 13
The Methodist Hospital System’s
MethodistSPEAKS Program (Formerly NurseSPEAK) By Debra Belgard, Patty Mendoza, Mary Harris, JoAnne Gaudet, Shannin Hamlin, Mary Shepherd
P
resenting a poster or podium presentation usually classifies as an exciting opportunity for each of us as health care professionals. Whether this opportunity is in-house, local, national, or international, it may fill you with trepidation and anxiety. However, do not let that stop you from accepting this challenge! Excellence in ICARE also includes effective communication. Would you like to improve your presentation skills or address concerns about future presentations? The Methodist Hospital hosts an inter-professional communication program called MethodistSPEAKS. This program is aimed at improving overall presentations skills whether your audience is made up of two or 300. MethodistSPEAKS provides a supportive, structured, and exciting opportunity for members of its academic medical center to develop a unique voice in presenting a professional poster or a full podium presentation. MethodistSPEAKS also offers its members tools to reduce anxiety and gain mastery of public speaking skills. Effective communication is important in all aspects of
your professional career such as handoff report and public speaking on a well known topic. So why not gain proficiency within a safe and professional environment aimed at providing constructive feedback? If you have a fear of public speaking, accept the challenge and learn how others make it look so easy! MethodistSPEAKS is open to everyone in The Methodist Hospital System. The program meets monthly in a venue that enables members to develop the skills needed to write and submit abstracts for presentation. In conjunction with these monthly meetings, you will be able to collaborate with colleagues of varying experiences and backgrounds and gain feedback that will get your presentation to that next level of excellence. The MethodistSPEAKS program follows a systematic process that will guide and support members to gain the confidence needed to give a professional presentation representative of Methodist ICARE and your own personal goals. Join us for our next inter-professional meeting on May 21, 2013, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, in the Dunn Pecos conference room. All are welcome to attend.
MethodistSPEAKS is held on the third Tuesday of each month in the Dunn Pecos Conference Room from 2:00pm – 3:00pm.
2013 DATES • May 21
• September 17
• June 18
• October 15
• July 16
• November 19
• August 20
• December 17
For more information, please contact: Debbie Belgard at dbelgard@tmhs.org 14 Methodist Nurse
NURSES WEEK EVENTS Monday, May 6:
Opening Reception for Nurses Week
Banner Signing (week long) Email Contest (week long) Tuesday, May 7:
Scavenger Hunt
Wednesday, May 8:
Silent Auction in Support of Nursing Development Fund
Thursday, May 9:
One Minute Manicures
Friday, May 10: Poster Presentation & Banner Display Announcement of Drawings and Contest Winners
Nurses Week Celebration Gala For additional information: Kimberley Dubose kdubose@tmhs.org 713-441-1156
FORTUNE ranks Methodist among “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2013 For the eighth year in a row, The Methodist Hospital System is ranked among FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” remaining the only hospital system ranked in Texas. Methodist is ranked No. 67 on the list, and is one of 13 companies in Texas to receive the prestigious distinction this year.
“Everyone who works at Methodist has earned this award, because it reflects the compassion and dedication of our 14,000 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians,” said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System. “Our employees and physicians make Methodist a great place to work.”
Leaders in Nursing 15
Nursing News
The Methodist Hospital is proud to have nurses who are dedicated to the nursing profession, driven to achieve growth in their professional development, and creative and always compassionate in their care for patients.
Accolades
The accolades page is an opportunity for the nursing staff to showcase a few of the many exciting tributes our nurses receive. Please submit kudos to: tmitchell2@tmhs.org
Congratulations to Methodist Hospital nurse Lorelie Lazaro, R.N., from Main 7 Southwest, who was selected as our latest DAISY Award winner.
Kudos to our nursing staff on Fondren 11 who has piloted the Patient Pass and completed 28 patient passes in the first month.
Congratulations to Glenda Zwambag, R.N., who recently passed her CVRN certification exam.
Mary Harris, R.N, and Joanne Gaudet, R.N, recently presented on their portable palliative care unit at the Houston Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society membership meeting. They received rave reviews from all those in attendance. Great job!
Kudos to Ashley Verzwyvelt, R.N., from OPC 21 Infusion, who recently passed her OCN exam. Congratulations to Chrissy Majors, R.N., from FBOR, for passing her CNOR exam. Way to go Chrissy! Congratulations to Kathleen Ulanday, M.H.A., M.B.A., R.N., Nursing Education Specialist II, from the Center for Professional Excellence, who recently passed her Informatics Nursing certification exam. Congratulations to Jennifer Boyd, R.N., from MICU, and Sunila Al, R.N., from NICU, who recently earned their certifications in Critical Care Nursing. Way to go! Kudos to Lorelie Miguel, R.N., on the Observation Unit, for earning her Progressive Care Certification (PCCN).
Nena Bonuel, Ph.D., R.N., C.C.R.N.-E., A.C.N.S.B.C., recently had three articles accepted for publication. The articles are entitled “Experiences of the Transplant Nurses Caring for Renal Transplant Patients in an Acuity-Adaptable Patient Room,” “Acuity-Adaptable Patient Room Improves Length of Stay and Cost of Patients Undergoing Renal Transplant, A Pilot Study” and “Review of the Literature: Acuity-Adaptable Patient Room.” They will each be featured in the 2013 April-June issue of Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, a peer-reviewed journal for critical care nursing. Congratulations Nena!