Mount Sinai Hospital Nursing Magnet News Spring 2024

The Mount Sinai Hospital Magnet ® Nurse NEWS

Spring 2024

Mission

To provide exceptional clinical experience and outcomes for patients and families in the many diverse communities we serve through the advancement of nursing practice guided by unrivaled education, equity, leadership, innovation, and scientific inquiry.

Vision

To be the place where nurses choose to work and patients want to receive their care.

nurturing excellence, wellness, and support

Magnet ® Program Director Welcome Message

Deborah Feehan, DHSc, MSN, RN, GERO-BC, MEDSURG-BC, CPM Magnet Program Director

The Magnet Recognition Program® is a prestigious designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) that recognizes our commitment to nursing excellence in care delivery, innovation, and the advancement of nursing science.

My mission is to ignite a passion among nurses to champion the professional practice of nursing through empowerment and innovation. The Mount Sinai Hospital Nursing Department provides an unparalleled platform for this endeavor. I am deeply honored to play a role in this transformative journey and to lead The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens toward a well-deserved and triumphant Fifth Magnet designation.

The Magnet Nurse NEWS was founded with the purpose of disseminating Magnet-specific information, featuring stories contributed by nurses to facilitate knowledge exchange across various departments and sites. The title of this periodical was carefully chosen by clinical nurses serving on the Magnet Champion Council. We hope you enjoy reading and sharing, and we look forward to future contributions

Magnet ® Designation Update

We are proud to announce that the Magnet Designation site visit is scheduled for Monday, July 22 – Friday, July 26. The aim of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet site visit at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens is to affirm the presence of robust structures and processes that support excellence in nursing practice and patient outcomes. Appraisers will verify and clarify alignment between the content of the ANCC Magnet Application and the actual professional practice environment at The Mount Sinai Hospital, providing an opportunity during the site visit to amplify the evidence submitted in The Mount Sinai Hospital Magnet Designation Application for 2023.

The fifth designation Magnet document has been officially submitted and accepted by the Magnet commission. This comprehensive document comprises more than 80 impactful narratives, spotlighting the exemplary professional nursing practices at The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens. Additionally, it encompasses two years’ worth of nursing-sensitive indicators and patient experience data for each unit, along with nurse satisfaction data. Both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens campuses collectively met or exceeded Magnet standards on all nurse-sensitive indicators and nurse satisfaction.

In preparation of the site visit, every unit and department has been wholeheartedly engaged in crafting its own

Magnet board. These boards serve as vibrant showcases of each team’s individual attributes, unwavering commitment to professional development, and relentless pursuit of excellence in professional practice. Let your Magnet boards radiate your brilliance to all.

Special thanks to the exceptional writing team whose expertise was instrumental in crafting a compelling Magnet application document, contributing significantly to our successful outcome.

Lindsay Condrat, DNP, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC

Christine Seidler, MSN, RN-BC

Johnathan Nover, MBA, BSN, RN

Mary Dee McEvoy, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ

Josephine Agyei, BSN, RN

Frances Cartwright, PhD, RN-BC, AOCN, FAAN

Latia Lee, MA, BSN, RN, CPN

Mackenzy Scott, MBA, BSN, RN, CHPQ

Golda Boahene, MSN, BSN, RN

Bernadette Springer, MS, RN, FNP-BC

Jennifer Kero, MSN, RN, CPPS, CPHQ

Bevin Cohen, PhD, MPH, MS, RN

Karen Tumibay, BSN, AAS, RN, CNOR

Irene Braccia, BSN, RN, OCN

Laura Butler, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, OCN

Florin Cristache, MSN, RN, CNE, NPD

Carla Alves-Morales, MS, MSN-Ed, RN, CHPN

Getting Magnetized

October 2023

The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens ANCC National Magnet Conference, Chicago

More than 50 clinical nurses and nurse leaders enthusiastically participated in the annual Magnet Conference, where they joyously celebrated Mount Sinai South Nassau nurses on achieving their remarkable third designation. It was a vibrant gathering where nurses actively engaged and fostered connections with peers from Magnet organizations worldwide. Through insightful sessions, nurses gleaned valuable insights on aligning our organizational culture with Magnet standards to enhance outcomes and elevate the professional practice of nursing.

Getting Magnetized November 2023

The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens Magnet Champion Councils Magnet Model Immersive Events

More than 400 dedicated staff members and nurses enthusiastically participated in these dynamic events held at both The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens, designed to illuminate the core elements of the Magnet model. Through interactive stations, attendees immersed themselves in the principles of transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, and new knowledge, innovations, and improvements. These engaging experiences fostered a culture deeply rooted in continuous learning and innovation, empowering all to strive for excellence.

continues >

Getting Magnetized March 2024

Mount Sinai Queens Magnet Champions

On March 26, Dr. Feehan received a warm reception from the Mount Sinai Queens Magnet Champions. Unit-based rounds were conducted, during which the champions showcased their Magnet boards with remarkable professionalism, enthusiasm, and excellence. They skillfully navigated through their presentations, emphasizing the primary initiatives of their units while addressing outcomes and fostering cultural engagement to nurture a positive work environment. It was a truly magnetic experience for all involved.

nurture a positive work environment

Magnet ® Champion Message

My Joyful Path as a Magnet Champion

I am embarking on my fifth Magnet designation journey with a heart brimming with pride and gratitude. Serving as a Magnet Champion is more than a role—it is a warm embrace of our collective commitment to nursing excellence and the genuine care we offer our patients.

Over the past 18 years, The Mount Sinai Hospital has woven a tapestry of nursing excellence, and I have been fortunate to be a part of this magnificent effort. The camaraderie, innovation, and dedication to providing compassionate care have shaped the ethos of what it means to be a Magnet Champion.

The experience of attending my first Magnet Conference in 2023 in Chicago was truly heartwarming. Colleagues like Melody Cubas, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, and Lynette Joy Romanovitch, BSN, RN, CRNI, VA-BC, made it an unforgettable journey, instilling a sense of teamwork and a deep appreciation for Magnet hospitals. On returning to Mount Sinai, I felt inspired to showcase my unit’s achievements on the Magnet board, a canvas of shared accomplishments.

The true highlight unfolded during the recent Magnet Immersive. Serving on the Exemplary Professional Practice Committee alongside Melody, Lynette, Susan Hiraldo, BSN, RNC, and Darlyn Bretous, MSN, RN, created a bond that went beyond professional collaboration. Together, we crafted a seven-foot wooden rotating tree, a symbol of the remarkable contributions made by our nurses. This experience fostered a genuine bond among us, strengthening our commitment to excellence and compassionate care.

In the vibrant halls of The Mount Sinai Hospital, I am honored to champion nursing excellence with a warmth that extends from one heart to another, creating a nurturing environment where every nurse’s voice is heard and valued.

Carla Alves-Miraldo, MS, MSN-Ed, RN, CHPN, MSH KP6/Palliative Care

Nurturing Excellence, Wellness, and Support

Jennet Crawford, BSN, RN, Clinical Nurse, The Mount Sinai Hospital Madison 5

As a clinical nurse, I am prepared for any situation that may arise at work or in the community. The patient experience continues, our tools as nurses remind us to apply the Magnet experience in the community to promote patient safety and to improve quality of care. As I was walking down the stairs of a busy New York City subway station, I heard a loud thud and witnessed a teenager lying on the train track. I called to a bystander, who assisted me in getting her off the tracks and onto the platform. After determining responsiveness, emergency medical services (EMS) was called. I noted two small hematomas to the forehead. She was 18 years old and had not eaten or drank anything all day. She fainted and fell on the tracks. She was conscious but complained of a headache. Cold water was applied to her forehead until EMS arrived and she was transported to a local hospital. As I was about to board the train, a young man of Asian descent ran yelling, “Help, help, help me!” while holding his face. Blood was observed oozing from the right side of his face. I jumped into Magnet mode, walked him over to the platform chair, and applied a sanitary pad that was in my backpack to the injured site. There was a laceration from his right outer eye to the bottom of his jaw line. He was saying, “Thank you, thank you.” A friend who was with me called EMS. Police officers and a crowd gathered. Next of kin were notified. Two weeks later, the mother of the 18-yearold woman called to offer money or a gift as a reward, which I kindly declined. The police officers arrested the perpetrator of the assault victim, and the City of New York was made aware of the situation.

Varvara Bazin-Rousseau, BSN, RN, Nurse Manager, The Mount Sinai Hospital Center for Advanced Medicine

A 68-year-old male patient presented to the Wound Care Clinic located at 17 East 102nd Street for a right lower leg wound. Patient arrived to the scheduled appointment, had the wound assessed and treated. During the appointment, the patient was at baseline with no apparent distress. After the visit was complete, the patient went to the waiting room to await transportation home, where he became unresponsive. A bystander in the waiting room alerted the front desk staff that the patient started shaking and became cyanotic with slow, shallow breathing. The clinical staff called 911 and alerted the nurse practitioner on the unit of the situation. The patient then became apneic, and the situation was identified as a potential opioid overdose. A nurse retrieved intranasal naloxone and administered four mg to the patient. A few minutes after naloxone was administered, the patient became responsive and was alert and oriented. Emergency medical services arrived and transported the patient to The Mount Sinai Hospital Emergency Department (ED). During the ED visit, it was brought to staff attention that the patient used IV heroin in the bathroom of the Wound Care Clinic before going into the waiting room.

Transformational Leadership

DEFINITION :

Effective leadership that fosters a supportive environment and promotes professional growth.

Lorisa Richards, DNP, MSN, RN, FNP, NE-BC, Acting Chief Nursing Officer, The Mount Sinai Hospital

Leader Spotlight:

Lorisa Richards, DNP, MSN, RN, FNP, NE-BC

Acting Chief Nursing Officer, The Mount Sinai Hospital

Dr. Richards joined The Mount Sinai Hospital in 2001 as a clinical nurse on an organ transplant unit and has consistently championed initiatives to improve patient outcomes across the hospital while advancing the professional development of clinical nurses in her areas of responsibility. Her passion for evidence-based nursing practice coupled with her collaborative leadership style led to her promotion through several leadership roles during the past two decades.

Dr. Richards became an assistant nursing administrator in 2004, and a nurse manager for a medical surgical unit in 2008. Her leadership abilities and proven track record in nursing operations led to her appointment as Associate Director of Nursing in 2016, when she assumed responsibility for the Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Program, as well as the gastroenterology medical and surgical specialties.

In 2018, she was promoted to Director of Nursing, and her role expanded to include the float pool, surgical advanced practice nurses, and nurse administrators. In 2020, she became Senior Director with responsibility for medicine. Most recently, working collaboratively with key stakeholders, she codeveloped the Nursing Department’s Staffing Office. Dr. Richards is considered an expert in labor relations and made a significant impact during the 2019 New York State Nurses Association negotiations.

Dr. Richards began her career in 1998 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Connecticut as a surgical RN. In 1999, she transitioned to home care as a clinical nurse at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York.

Dr. Richards is a distinguished academic who recieved her Master of Science from Pace University in 2005 and Doctorate of Nursing Practice from William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey, in 2022. Her commitment to excellence is evident through her completion of the NYU Leadership Development Program for Black Nurses in 2010 and her receipt of the prestigious Ellen Fuller Award for Excellence in Nursing in 2012. Demonstrating her ongoing dedication to professional growth and leadership, she is currently an active participant in the Black Executive Acceleration Program.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Richards and wishing her continued success in this new role.

Transformational Leadership Stories

Florina Abaring, BSN, RN, CRRN

Clinical Nurse, The Mount Sinai Hospital KCC 3S

Being a Magnet Champion is an honor and a privilege. I would like to thank our nurse manager, Susan Brindisi, MS Ed, MA, CHES, CRRN, MSN, for giving me the opportunity to be one of them. I started working at Mount Sinai 35 years ago. I was hired in 1988, during a nursing shortage. I was recruited to work here in Mount Sinai through an agency in Manila where I had been working in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at the Philippine Heart Center for Asia, a tertiary hospital. When I joined Mount Sinai, I started working in neurology for about a year, followed by rehab nursing (spinal cord injury, brain injury, and medically complex cases). Rehab nursing became my passion. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing patients recuperate. Furthermore, I get ecstatic whenever I get rave reviews from patients and families. This explains my longevity here in The Mount Sinai Hospital as a Certified Rehab RN. Recently, I have accepted the wonderful opportunity to become one of the Magnet Champions, knowing that my rehab nurse manager will support me in my new endeavor.

Sylvia Springer-Fahie, DNP-RN-BC DWC, WCC, DNP, MSN, DWC-BC, WCC-BC

Nursing Clinician, The Mount Sinai Hospital Wound Care Service

Creating a safe environment and a culture of excellence and sensitivity by prioritizing patience is a priority for these RNs at KCC 5 North. Being culturally sensitive to patients’ needs demonstrates that they are valued and essential. Education is my passion and I use every opportunity as a teaching moment. I was consulted for a patient on KCC 5N with bilateral foot ulcerations. I was able to demonstrate for three novice nurses how washing a patient’s feet can help maintain good foot care. I explained how this can help prevent ulcers and bacterial and fungal infections, and can, for some, provide a moment of humility and selflessness. This Magnet moment captured the nurses’ gratitude and the value of the human therapeutic touch. The patient told us, “You all made me feel special; my feet haven’t been washed in years.” He was clapping and praising the team for caring for him.

Lauren Cain, BSN, RN

Assistant Nurse Manager, Emergency Department

The leadership team in the ED works exceptionally hard to create a supportive environment for our staff and promote professional growth. With virtually 24/7 leadership coverage, we are ready and available to address staff needs in real time. In addition to appointing an employee of the month, we recognize a staff member for their outstanding work every Friday for our Operation Recognize program. We also ensure that staff who go above and beyond to meet our stroke and cardiac metrics receive Stroke Stars and Cardiac Angel awards. To promote ongoing education, we offer ultrasound IV classes, provide triage or pediatric orientation opportunities, and encourage staff to attend Hospital Meeting Day. All of these engagement

activities allow staff to participate in increasing quality of care, as well as to learn new skills. Additionally, we maintain monthly meeting schedules for Professional Practice Council, Wellness Council, and general staff meetings. These sessions facilitate seamless communication between our leadership team and the frontline staff on the unit.

Kiteema McDonald, BSN, RN

Assistant Nurse Manager, The Mount Sinai Hospital Emergency Department

On March 7, the ED Nursing Wellness Committee volunteered at the Common Pantry in East Harlem. The committee assisted community members in placing their grocery orders using a tablet, then packed the bags and distributed them.

Structural Empowerment

DEFINITION :

Empowering structures and processes that enable nurses to perform at their best.

The Mount Sinai Hospital is committed to ongoing professional development of nurses and we actively encourage them to achieve bachelor of science or higher nursing degrees. Mount Sinai demonstrates this commitment through robust tuition reimbursement programs, investing $3,732,170 in 2020 and $4,241,961 in 2021 toward supporting registered nurses in their educational endeavors.

Moreover, The Mount Sinai Hospital actively promotes the attainment of professional nurse certifications by offering various incentives, including salary enhancements, recognition programs, participation in the Success Pays® initiative, complimentary continuing education units through Relias, and access to the extensive resources of the Levy Library. Despite a recent decline in board certification rates, The Mount Sinai Hospital remains steadfast in its encouragement and support for nurses seeking to attain professional certifications, ensuring that the pursuit of excellence in the practice of nursing remains a top priority.

The Mount Sinai Hospital/Mount Sinai Queens BSN Above Rate

Certified Nurses Day March 19

On March 19, The Mount Sinai Hospital Nursing Department celebrated and recognized Certified Nurses Day. The event included a certification education resource table led by The Mount Sinai Hospital certified clinical nurses.

Bridge to Excellence: RN Preceptor Workshop

DATES:

Tuesday, June 11; Tuesday, July 16; Friday, September 20; Tuesday, October 22; November TBD

TIMES: 8:30 am–4:30 pm

Nursing Education Professional Development Resource Corner

This program introduces the principles of preceptorship in professional nursing practice and supports the American Nurses Association Standards of Professional Practice. In-person classes began January 24 at 150 East 42nd Street.

For registration, please email nursing.education@mountsinai.org. Participation for the entire day is required. Six contact hours are offered, pending approval.

Provides information on matters related to nursing education, such as tuition reimbursement process, conferences, and conventions, American Health Association classes, practice alerts, and more.

Clinical Nurse Magnet® Educational Sessions

DATES:

Tuesday, May 14; Tuesday, June 4; Tuesday, June 11

TIMES: 8:30 am and 11:30 am

Discover the essence of Magnet designation and dive deep into the recognition program’s model during one of our Clinical Nurse Magnet Education Leading to Fifth Designation workshop sessions. Register using the QR code or contact Deborah.feehan@mountsinai.org for additional information.

LINK: forms.office.com/r/a2ZkFG8ESj

workshops and resources

Congratulations, Daisy Honorees!

The Mount Sinai Hospital Daisy Recognition Council would like to congratulate the 2023 and recent 2024 Daisy recipients. The goal of The Mount Sinai Hospital Daisy Recognition Council is to recognize monthly Daisy honorees, nominees, and the quarterly Daisy Leader.

January 2023

February 2023

March 2023

May 2023

May 2023

May 2023

May 2023

June 2023

Q3 2023

September 2023

October 2023

October 2023

October 2023

November 2023

November 2023

Ellis Joseph Amora, BSN, RN, The Mount Sinai Hospital KCC 5N, Daisy Honoree

Wilma Chietero, AAS, RN, The Mount Sinai Hospital Endoscopy, Daisy Honoree

The Mount Sinai Hospital SICU/TICU, Daisy Team

Julie Van Yahres, BSN, RN, Mount Sinai Queens IMCU, Daisy Honoree

Adrian Cruz, BSN, RN, Mount Sinai Queens IMCU, Daisy Honoree

Michele Ramirez, BSN, RN, Mount Sinai Queens Family Health Associates, Daisy Leader

Mount Sinai Queens Nursing Quality and Education, Daisy Team

Joseph Reichert, BSN, RN, Mount Sinai Queens 3 East, Daisy Honoree

Irving Glinik, MSN, BSN, RN, Nurse Manager, The Mount Sinai Hospital OR, Daisy Leader

Alyssa Barnewold, BSN, RN, Mount Sinai Queens 3 East, Daisy Honoree

Nina Landa, BSN, RN, The Mount Sinai Hospital, Peds ED, Daisy Honoree

Goodness Iheanachor, BSN, RN, The Mount Sinai Hospital 10 East, Daisy Honoree

Christopher Anderson, BSN, RN, Mount Sinai Queens 3 West, Daisy Honoree

Veronica Evans, BSN, RN, The Mount Sinai Hospital 9 Center, Daisy Honoree

Sylvia Springer-Fahie, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN-BC WCC, The Mount Sinai Hospital Wound Care, Daisy Honoree

December 2023 Ki Bang, BSN, RN, The Mount Sinai Hospital 8E, Daisy Honoree

December 2023 Kelly Hu, BSN, RN, Mount Sinai Queens ED, Daisy Honoree

Q1 2024

February 2024

February 2024

Lyza Bandong, DNP, AGACNP-BC, Nurse Manager, The Mount Sinai Hospital KCC 6N/S, Daisy Leader

Monica Tse, MSN, RNC-MNN, The Mount Sinai Hospital KP8, Daisy Honoree

Catriona Slattery, BSN, RN, Mount Sinai Queens PACU, Daisy Honoree

Look out for the The Mount Sinai Hospital Daisy Recognition Council and Daisy cart

Structural Empowerment Stories

Jay Reyes, RN, BSN, AMB-BC

Clinical Nurse II, The Mount Sinai Hospital Pulmonary-Respiratory Institute

I was hesitant to pursue ambulatory certification due to the fact that I would have to do extensive review and find time on top of my busy schedule. However, The Mount Sinai Hospital is very supportive and provided all the resources I needed to achieve my goal. I felt really empowered by the encouragement of my esteemed colleagues. I am proud to be the first ambulatory certified nurse in our department.

Isabella Parker, BSN, RN,

Margaret Connors, MSN, RN, OCN Mount Sinai Queens Nursing Quality

Clinical Nurse, The Mount Sinai Hospital Annenberg 8/MICU

The MICU recently started a new mentorship program that pairs our new hires with experienced certified nurses to help them transition to the unit. The mentors assist in identifying educational opportunities, offer advice, and support the new hires once they complete orientation. Additionally, hires who have reached their clinical hour requirement are placed on a “Pathway to Certification” to help support their journey to obtaining their Critical Care Registered Nurse certification. Educational materials are provided to all interested staff, including study guides, video lectures, and question banks. Nurses who are studying for their exam meet with our senior charge nurse and manager on a regular basis to check in on study progress. This allows barriers and challenges to be identified and addressed so we can ensure success in passing the certification exam.

Mount Sinai Queens Cancer Center opened less than a decade ago and has been constantly evolving to fill the needs and expand for better patient care of the Astoria community. A nurse manager was hired and now has a team of five full-time RNs, filling all RN vacancies. All the RNs have a background of administering chemotherapy or taking care of oncology patients. Only three percent were chemo certified nurses who were per diem, or advanced practice nurses. The Magnet® Champions spoke as a group and came to investigate. The nurses discovered that nurses who were certified in the past went elsewhere for better pay. They also found that oncology nurses have only two attempts to pass while other certified nurses from different specialties had three. As a collective, the nurses spoke with our nurse manager and acknowledged our obstacles. She teamed up with the Mount Sinai Tisch Cancer Center, which helped us obtain free books to prep for the Oncology Certified Nurse designation and is working on letting Mount Sinai Queens infusion nurses attempt three tries to pass. The opportunity to become certified validates our knowledge in a niche field.

Mount Sinai Queens’ Magnet Champion Althea Tungol, BSN, RN, OCN, Clinical Nurse, Mount Sinai Queens Infusion Center, used this opportunity to take the test. She did practice questions with fellow coworkers and, in November, passed the exam. This also encouraged and motivated the rest of the nurses to get certified as well, which they are working toward in the upcoming year.

Susan Brindisi, MSN, CRRN, LCC Nurse Manager, The Mount Sinai Health System 3S

Wellness: A Head-to-Toe Approach

What does it take to maintain a healthy lifestyle? The answer depends on your stage of development and cultural preferences. In nursing, we take a head-to-toe approach to learning physical assessment. If we use that approach with our own wellness and incorporate healthy habits on a daily basis, we can see positive results.

• Head –

(the neurological system check and the psychological system check) – How stressed are we? How are we managing our stress? Are we depressed? On a daily basis, do we do what we need to be in our body, breathe, be present, and be joyful? Stress, the silent killer, needs to be tamed.

• Eyes –

Is our vision clear? Do we take the time to be off screen?

• Neck –

How is our thyroid? How do we swallow? Do we have good oral care?

• Heart –

What is our blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation rate (O2 sat)? What is our cholesterol level? Do we understand the breakdown?

• Gastrointestinal –

Are we having regular bowel movements? Are we eating a well-balanced, high-fiber, low-fat diet?

• Reproductive system –

Are we getting annual checks? Do we practice safe sex?

• Musculoskeletal system –

Are our joints all working well? Do we have arthritis? Do we exercise at least five times a week?

• Integumentary system –

Are we wearing sunscreen? Sunglasses?

This simple approach can help with wellness, but it takes dedication and persistence to see results. Some of us are inconsistent with exercise and stress management. Each individual needs to find what they need to be consistent. Wellness is not something that comes and stays. It’s an ongoing effort, with new norms challenging us as we age. “If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream.” info.totalwellnesshealth.com/blog/25-quotes-about-wellness-your-employees-need-to-hear

maintaining a healthy lifestyle

Structural Empowerment Stories (cont.)

Josephine Agyei, BSN, RN

The Mount Sinai Health System CSICU/CVICU

Global Health Initiative January 2024 –Ghana, West Africa

My name is Josephine Agyei, and I am a clinical nurse in the CSICU/ CVICU. I had the opportunity to travel to Ghana with the Ghanaian Diaspora Nursing Alliance (G-DNA), where I serve as the Director of Global Health. Our mission is to foster sustainable local-global collaboration among Ghanaian nurses in Ghana and the diaspora to advance nursing education in Ghana and improve health outcomes. In January, I co-led a health fair with G-DNA. Our team provided services such as blood pressure and glucose checks, wound care, dental education, and screenings for hepatitis B, hemoglobin levels, and malaria. On the first day, we successfully screened 219 adults and children. The Mount Sinai Hospital contributed gauze, chlorhexidine wipes, hand sanitizers, alcohol swabs, thermometers, bandages, and gloves. Special thanks to Lindsay Condrat for coordinating the donations. Additionally, G-DNA organized a nursing conference at the University of Ghana under the theme “Re-imagining Nursing in Ghana through Education, Research, Clinical Practice, Leadership, and Management.” The event welcomed Ghanaian nurses, nursing students, and educators with a total of 500 participants. We intend to return in January 2025 for a two-day conference, extending an open invitation to anyone interested in participating. Attending the Ghana College of Nurses and Midwives for a three-year program typically costs around $2,300, making it unaffordable for many nurses. To assist, G-DNA organized a fundraising gala aiming to sponsor a minimum of 10 nurses from rural regions, funding their complete tuition at the college, and enabling specialized training. Additionally, we collaborated with the DAISY Foundation to recognize exceptional nurses in Ghana.

Charmin Williams, BSN, RN, Clinical Nurse, The Mount Sinai Health System Radiation Oncology Community Outreach Backpack Initiative 2023 –Guyana, South America Eversham Village is the small community where I grew up in Berbice, Guyana. This year, it was such a pleasure to be present and give back to two of the schools that I attended: Eversham Primary School and Kiltern Nursery School. With the help of funding from Mount Sinai Radiation Oncology nurses, my personal funds, and help from family and friends, I purchased and shipped school supplies to Guyana.

On September 10, 2023, in conjunction with a local non-governmental organization—Family Awareness Consciousness Togetherness—we were able to provide these school supplies directly to 170 children. Every single contribution was so generous and greatly appreciated. I look forward to making a continued impact on the children of other neighboring communities in 2024.

Structural Empowerment Stories (cont.)

Melissa Sanchez Brito, MS, AGPCNP-BC, CBCN Nurse Practitioner, The Mount Sinai Hospital Breast Cancer in Radiation Oncology

On November 18, 2023, I had the pleasure of volunteering at New York City’s High School for Law and Public Service‘s Health and Wellness Fair for the local community, students, and their families. The school is located in Washington Heights, a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood in upper Manhattan. The high school serves a population of more than 50 percent English language learners. Interestingly, this particular school has received more than 150 newly arrived migrants and refugee students, who now constitute 25 percent of the school. Overall student enrollment consists of approximately 97 percent minority students, and 94 percent of the attendees come from economically disadvantaged households. The average graduation rate is 80 percent.

The school prepares students for careers in law through their Continuing Teacher and Leader Education Certified Law Course Sequence Program, as well as in other areas of public service fields such as medicine and public safety.

The aim of the Health and Wellness Fair is to bring the community together to educate, motivate, and expose the students and their families to available resources. Activities included introduction to physical activity classes such as Zumba, strength-training activities, and cycling with professional exercise trainers. Fun and relaxation activities such as making scarves and painting as well as a salad bar and juice bar were also prepared for the attendees. Other exhibitors present at the fair included the medical practice team of the school’s primary in-house clinic providing educational family games, social work/counseling services, and other appropriate community entities such as medical insurance resources. My participation consisted of encouraging breast cancer awareness and the importance of appropriate screening and management. Early detection of breast cancer with appropriate breast imaging can help improve the chances for successful treatment and for most people, a cure.

My dedicated station provided breast cancer awareness printed educational resources in Spanish and English as well as breast cancer-related giveaways, which serve as a reminder of the information provided. The community is highly impacted by multiple factors, which ultimately can negatively affect their health and overall well-being. These issues include health disparities, reduced access to adequate and appropriate health services, and limited health care literacy. Other issues in the community involve socio-economic limitations, recent immigrant status and legal issues, and a significant language barrier. As a Hispanic, Spanish-speaking health care provider and first-generation American who grew up in the neighborhood, I am highly trusted by the community members. This station gave me the perfect opportunity to use my skills and knowledge for a real, positive impact. I was able to engage students’ parents, staff, and even young women on breast health awareness. Additionally, the students saw a working professional with whom they have a lot in common to inspire them to continue their studies and work in a similar field of service or other professional role in the future.

Resource: www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/new-york/districts/new-york-city-publicschools/high-school-for-law-and-public-service-13153

Exemplary Professional Practice

DEFINITION:

Creating a culture of excellence in nursing through evidence-based practice and continuous improvement.

Highlighting Nursing Excellence in Outcomes: Nurse-Sensitive

Indicators

Nurse-sensitive indicators help us assess the quality of nursing care and its impact on patient outcomes. These indicators are specific to nursing interventions and can reflect the effectiveness, safety, and patientcenteredness of nursing care. Examples include rates of pressure injuries, falls, patient satisfaction with nursing care, and rates of hospital-acquired infections. Monitoring nurse-sensitive indicators helps health care organizations evaluate the performance of nursing staff and identify areas for improvement in patient care delivery.

In this edition of the Magnet® Nurse NEWS, we focus on nurse-sensitive indicators pertinent to pressure injuries, medical device-related pressure injuries, falls with injury, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) across both inpatient and ambulatory units. The 2023 Magnet® document submission encapsulated eight quarters of nurse-sensitive indicators, where applicable, across all inpatient and ambulatory units, showcasing a remarkable two-year streak of unwavering nursing excellence.

Notably, The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens surpassed Magnet benchmarks for all nurse-sensitive indicators, underscoring their exceptional performance. The majority of the units must outperform the benchmark the majority of the time (50 percent or more units must outperform for eight quarters). The graphs below depict the percentage of The Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Queens outperforming the nurse-sensitive indicators.

Exemplary Professional Practice (cont.)

Clinical Nurse Peer Feedback Cycle

Now Open

Annual nursing peer reviews are completed annually by all Mount Sinai nurses and are an opportunity for peer feedback. Peer feedback is an objective process of giving and receiving deliberate input to identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement for a nurse peer. Peer feedback tools are electronic for all nurses. advanced practice nurses’ (APN) peer feedback tools and self-assessments are in paper form. Completed APN documents are emailed to apn.compliance@mountsinai.org

Process

Nurses must have two peer reviews completed by colleagues with similar roles, education, clinical expertise, and level of licensure. It is preferred pairs work in the same department or unit type.

Examples of peer feedback pairs

• Clinical Nurse reviews Clinical Nurse

• Advanced Practice Nurse reviews Advanced Practice Nurse

• Nurse Educator reviews Nurse Educator

Maria “Vickee” Sevillano, BSN, RN, CWON Nurse Clinician, The Mount Sinai Hospital Wound Care Service, Clinical Project Lead

Next-Generation Health Care: AI-Driven Patient Risk Profiling for Pressure Injuries in The Mount Sinai Hospital

This project began more than a year ago to keep up with the evolving advancement in medicine. While it is still in its early stages, we recognize that machine learning and artificial intelligence have the potential to change the landscape of the health care industry. The benchmark in assessing pressure injury risk is by Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk. However, there are other clinical factors that are not included in this scoring system such as patients who are undergoing surgery and cannot be repositioned for hours, and patients with laboratory-proven low albumin or pre-albumin. The machine is able to identify more than 300 clinical features in high-risk patients. The main purpose of this project is to design, deploy, and develop machine learning applications to identify patients at risk for pressure injury.

After a series of meetings, discussions, chart reviews, and site visits, changes to patients’ clinical profiles and clinical workflows were established. The workflow was initially deployed in two pilot units with patients who are representative of our patient population. The machine screened admitted patients with no pressure injuries every day at 7 am. A score was assigned to patients who are at risk for pressure injury and, upon identifying those patients, the wound care nurse conducted a visit and validated if the clinical assessment and the hospital-acquired pressure injury (HAPI) risk assessment by the machine agreed. If there was agreement, all the necessary preventive measures and tools should be in place. Re-screening of these patients was done every two days. If there was no agreement, meaning the patient was not at

risk for pressure injury, the re-screening was done every seven days. All patients identified by artificial intelligence must be re-screened during the entire hospital stay until discharged or until the patient developed a hospital-acquired pressure injury. A wound care consult was placed and a root cause analysis was conducted for any patient who developed hospital-acquired pressure injury.

This workflow heightened the awareness of pressure injury prevention, the appropriate use of the tools and or devices as well as closely monitored the patients at risk for pressure injury. Initial data collected and analyzed showed that the HAPI predictive model gave a 26 percent improvement in sensitivity on the retrospective validation set and a 32 percent improvement in sensitivity on the prospective validation set. There were significant observations noted in the course of the pilot trial that patients who were transferred out of the pilot units developed a hospital-acquired pressure injury. As a result, elective preop patients with no risk on admission will be assessed as high risk after a prolonged procedure.

Numbers are the drivers of change and basis of initiatives for improvement.

Other Team Members

Prem Timsina, Clinical Data Science, IT Director

Fabio Santana, Technical Project Manager, Clinical Data Science

Jaqueline Henriquez, MSN, Clinical Informaticist

Sean El Haj, Technology Specialist

Evajoyce Woullard, MBA, Clinical Data Science Project Manager

Arash Kia, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Director, Clinical Data Science, Mount Sinai Health System; Kim-anh-nhi Nguyen, Data Scientist, Data Clinical Science; Maria “Vickee” Sevillano, BSN, RN, CWON, Nurse Clinician, Wound Care Service; Dhavalkumar Patel, Data Engineer, Technology Specialist

Celebrating the Holidays!

The Mount Sinai Hospital

At The Mount Sinai Hospital, the Mother-Baby team celebrated the holidays by adorning matching “We wrap the best presents” T-shirts, bringing joy to all. They do wrap the best presents!

we wrap the best presents!

New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements

DEFINITION:

Encouraging innovation, research, and the integration of new knowledge to advance nursing care and patient outcomes.

GlobalIssues

On November 10, 2023, Mount Sinai’s Center for Nursing Research and Innovation hosted Nursing Research Day, an annual conference for our nursing community and interdisciplinary colleagues within and beyond our institution. The theme for this year’s event was “Crossing the Divide: The Role of Nursing in Navigating Transitions of Care.”

Participants explored how the past, present, and future of nursing are rooted in caring for patients and their loved ones as they transition across settings of care, stages of health, and seasons of life. The discussion highlighted research that is shaping nursing practice and policy across the United States, with special emphasis on the intersection of community resources and support.

The day included keynote addresses from Susan Reinhard, PhD, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President and Director of the AARP Public Policy Institute, and Dora Clayton-Jones, PhD, RN, CPNP-PC, FAAN, Associate Professor at Marquette University College of Nursing. The Mount Sinai Hospital nurses presented posters disseminating rigorous and innovative initiatives aimed at improving care for patients and families.

advancing nursing care and patient outcomes

New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvement Stories

Melody Cubas, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, Clinical Nurse, The Mount Sinai Hospital

Madison 5-Inpatient Psychiatry

In Madison 5, an adult inpatient psychiatry unit, workplace safety is our priority. A personalized safety plan is initiated for patients who are assessed as high risk for violence. All staff completes crisis prevention intervention and take-down training biennially. Nurses use the Brøset Violence Checklist for early determination of aggression/violence risk and interventions on how to prevent and address them. On October 1, 2023, Madison 5 launched a pilot use of the automated Expected Brøset Score (EBS). Working in collaboration with the Data Science team, we created a reliable automated predictive model for each patient’s chance for exhibiting violent or aggressive behavior during their hospital stay. The EBS is generated using information available in each patient’s chart such as language documented, medications administered, and one-to-one status. At the beginning of each shift, the Brøset Violence

Checklist is only completed on patients with an EBS of two and higher. We do environmental safety rounding once a shift to assess and mitigate risks for anything that patients might use to hurt themselves or others. We check the amount of toiletries at bedside, look for any strings, belts, cans, plastic bags, gloves, and any sort of sharps. Linens and mattresses are inspected for any rips and tears. All furniture in patient areas are behavioral health-approved ones, screws and knobs are tamper-proof and ligature-free. Closed-circuit television cameras, panic alarm buttons, and sallyport entrance are installed. Spot body checks on high-risk patients for self-harm are performed. Patient visits are monitored. The small side of the unit is designated as the high-risk side. Patients at risk for elopement, violence, or disorganized behavior who may benefit from less stimulating milieu are assigned on this side. A minimum of one security officer is stationed at the small side and works with the clinical team and receives reports from nurses at the beginning of their shift.

Lynette Joy Romanovitch, BSN, RN, CRNI, VA-BC, The Mount Sinai Hospital Vascular Access Service

The Mount Sinai Hospital Vascular Access Service (VAS) held the second annual Vascular Access Specialty Day on October 25, 2023. It was a momentous occasion that brought together health care professionals, industry experts, and patients to celebrate advancements in vascular access. This special event aimed to highlight the importance of this crucial specialty within health care, shed light on recent innovations, and foster collaboration and education to improve patient outcomes. The event kicked off with an engaging keynote session delivered by The Mount Sinai Hospital epidemiologist, Gopi Patel, MD. Dr. Patel delved into topics such as the latest research findings, upcoming challenges, and innovative practices in vascular access. She shared her insights on the evolving landscape of vascular continues >

access, emphasizing the significance of having a VAS team at Mount Sinai, education, and continuous improvement. Attendees were provided with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills through interactive workshops, poster presentations, and a one-on-one experience with the VAS Team. These sessions covered diverse aspects of vascular access, including ultrasound-guided vascular access, catheter maintenance, infection control, and best practice for central line insertion. A highlight of the event was the industry exhibition, which featured leading companies showcasing their latest products, technologies, and services related to vascular access. This exhibition allowed participants to interact with industry experts, explore state-of-the-art equipment, and gain insight into the latest advancements in vascular access devices and solutions. The event provided an ideal setting for professionals across various disciplines, especially our bedside nurses, to network, collaborate, and share their experiences in caring for our patients with vascular access devices. The event was a resounding success that celebrated the excellence in vascular access while fostering collaboration, education, and innovation. By bringing together health care professionals, researchers, industry experts, and patients, this event showcased the remarkable progress made in the field and identified avenues for further improvement. This event’s impact will undoubtedly continue to resonate, inspiring nurses and clinicians to strive for excellence in vascular access, ultimately benefiting our patients.

KP5 staff involved in the construction project

Hard hats were worn for the walk-through

Advanced Practice Nurse Corner

Leader Introduction

We are thrilled to share exciting developments that will shape the future of health care at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Caroline Austin-Mattison, DNP, RN, FNPBC, Director of Advanced Practice Nursing, our newly appointed Director of Advanced Practice Nursing, brings a wealth of experience and strategic vision to lead our clinical programs in alignment with the Hospital’s mission and patient care standards.

Dr. Austin-Mattison will spearhead the strategic planning for clinical programs, collaborating with medical leaders to ensure alignment with safety, quality, patient experience, and fiscal targets. Her leadership promises to elevate the standard of care we provide to our community.

We are excited to introduce two transformative initiatives under Dr. Austin-Mattison’s guidance. We launched the APN Journal Club in January, and relaunched The Mount Sinai Hospital Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Mentorship Program. Recognizing the importance of mentorship, Dr. AustinMattison has made this a priority to offer support to new APNs and improve retention. This initiative aims to connect experienced health care professionals with those seeking guidance and support in their career journeys. Through mentorship, we aspire to cultivate a supportive community that values collaboration and professional development.

Get to Know an APN

We are pleased to introduce our group of committed APNs: Melissa Gray, DNP, PMHNP-BC, RN, CCTP, CAIMHP, Nurse Clinical Specialty Manager, and Terry Crumbley, DNP(c), ACNP-BC, RN, ADS, Cardiology Nurse Practitioner, who played a pivotal role in the successful launch of our APN Journal Club. This initiative has been strategically designed to emphasize continuous learning and knowledge sharing, with a primary goal of staying informed and instigating positive changes in the landscape of patient care. Their dedication to advancing their expertise reflects a shared commitment to shaping the future of health care through informed and transformative practices.

Meet Heather Angus, MS, CRNA, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) at The Mount Sinai Hospital. Heather educates Mount Sinai nursing students about CRNA roles and education requirements. Beyond her clinical expertise, she mentors under-resourced high school students, volunteers globally with Global Smile, and runs the New York City marathon every year. Colleague Carllyne affirms, “She is truly a kind and giving human being. We love her!”

Terry Crumbley, DNP(c), ACNP-BC, RN, ADS (left), and Melissa Gray, DNP, PMHNP-BC, RN, CCTP, CAIMHP (right)

Gail Rivera, CNM, is a licensed midwife since 1992 who joined The Mount Sinai Hospital Midwifery team in 2016. In the first quarter of 2024, Gail launched Group Prenatal Care, a prenatal care model that engages birthing people in group discussions with other pregnant people of similar estimated due dates—improving both clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.

APN Advancing the Practice

Charleen Jacobs, PhD, RN, ANP-BC, Nurse Practitioner, was appointed Chair of the Nurse Practitioners Association’s (NPA) Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which serves as an internal advisory group. Dr. Jacobs will spearhead the committee’s effort to facilitate a collective energy that celebrates, respects, and nurtures differences in the organization. In this role, she will provide equal opportunities for members, staff, and the board to fully engage in the NPA’s mission and vision. Additionally, Dr. Jacobs is currently enrolled in a postdoctoral fellowship. This Clinician Scientist Training Program T32 Award in Emergency Medicine is the first of its kind for the Mount Sinai Health System and the first of its kind in the history of the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The National Institutes of Health funds these T32 Institutional Training Programs to ensure that a diverse and highly trained workforce is available to assume leadership roles related to biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research agendas. The T32 award is issued to eligible institutions to support research training for groups of pre- and/or postdoctoral fellows.

Derek Pineda, FNP, RCIS, AACC, Nurse Practitioner, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory is a co-developer of unit applications, procedural guidelines and quality reviews, and leads the development and pilot implementation of STEMIcathAID across multiple campuses, which led to improving the quality of care delivered to STEMI patients.

Derek is a committed nurse practitioner within the cardiac catheterization lab. Working under the guidance of Annapoorna S. Kini, MD, and Parasuram Krishnamoorthy, MD, he played a pivotal role in leading initiatives related to unit applications, procedural guidelines, and quality reviews. His leadership contributions were particularly notable in the successful implementation of STEMIcathAID across multiple campuses, resulting in a substantial improvement in care for STEMI patients.

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The stories will be highlighted in the next Magnet Nurse NEWS LINK: redcap.mountsinai.org/redcap/ surveys/?s=D8HDHHPF7X9F77NT

Notable Dates

• Magnet Conference Wednesday, October 30–Friday, November 1 New Orleans (registration opens soon)

• Nurses Month May 2024

• Magnet Champion Council meets every third Thursday of the month at 1 pm Contact deborah.feehan@mountsinai.org for more information.

• Chief Nursing Officer Town Hall Dates 2024

• Wednesday, June 26, 2–3 pm

• Wednesday, July 31, 2–3 pm

• Wednesday, September 25, 2–3 pm

• Wednesday, November 27, 2–3 pm

• Clinical Nurse Magnet Education Leading to Fifth Designation

Contact deborah.feehan@mountsinai.org

• Tuesday, April 2, 8:30–11:30 am

• Tuesday, April 23, 8:30–11:30 am

• Tuesday, May 14, 8:30–11:30 am

• Tuesday, June 4, 8:30–11:30 am

• Tuesday, June 11, 8:30–11:30 am

• Bridge to Excellence: RN Preceptor Workshop

• Tuesday, April 9, 8:30 am–4:30 pm

• Tuesday, May 7, 8:30 am–4:30 pm

• Tuesday, June 11, 8:30 am–4:30 pm

• Tuesday, July 16, 8:30 am–4:30 pm

• Friday, September 20, 8:30 am–4:30 pm

• Tuesday, October 22, 8:30 am–4:30 pm

• November TBD

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