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Recognizing and Celebrating Ochsner Nurses
Celebrating Our Outstanding Nurses
Ochsner nurses are dedicated to the patients, the community we serve and to each other. In 2018 and 2019, Ochsner nurses were recognized here at Ochsner as well as in local and statewide award programs for commitment to our values: patients first, compassion, excellence, integrity and teamwork. These awards and celebrations recognize individual nurses who routinely go above and beyond in their service to the community and in their contribution to the nursing profession.
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Nurses Week Mini Nurse Refresh Day at Ochsner Medical Center – Kenner In addition to celebrating our nurses through formal awards programs, Ochsner nurses enjoyed Care for the Caregiver activities throughout the system in 2019 that promote care of self and each other.
Nursing Integration Councils
Ochsner’s 22 integration councils bring together nursing leaders in every clinical specialty around shared service. We are proud of the work accomplished by these councils.
Ambulatory Critical Care Emergency Pediatrics Education Respiratory Surgery Informatics Behavioral Health Wound Care Women’s Services Medical-surgical Professional Development Endoscopy Infusion Spiritual Care System Drug Administration for Nursing Rehabilitation Nursing Research Dialysis Intravascular Access Infection Control
Congratulations to Ochsner’s 2018 Spirit of Leadership Winners
Nurse of the Year:
Catherine Smith, RN, Flight Care, Emergency Medical Transportation, OMC – New Orleans
New Leader of the Year:
Jlynn Westley, manager, Nursing Strategy, Ochsner Health System
Advanced Practice Provider:
Michelle Lindsey, NP, Ambulatory, Ochsner St. Anne Family Doctor Clinic – Mathews
Supervisor of the Year:
Corina Juarez, Supervisor, RN, operations coordinator-specialty, OMC – Kenner
The 2018 Spirit of Leadership Nurse of the Year award went to Catherine Smith RN, Flight Care, Emergency Medical Transportation, OMC – New Orleans.
In addition to the many nurses recognized through Ochsner’s internal recognition programs, such as Spirit of Leadership, Spirit on the Spot, Values on the Spot and Power of One awards, the following nurses received recognition through external award programs.
Faces of Healing: In 2019, The Louisiana Nurses Foundation created the Faces of Healing: Celebrating Louisiana’s Nurses campaign as a way to elevate careers in nursing as well as an opportunity to celebrate individual nurses who exemplify exceptional performance in professional practice, innovation, leadership and advocacy. This award recognizes innovators, leaders and those who continually go above and beyond the call of duty. (Louisiana Nurses Foundation, 2019). • Ahnyel Burkes • Kenesha Bradley • Jessica Soudelier
Sigma Theta Tau Excellence Awards recognize nurses for consistently practicing excellence in nursing. Dawn Bernard, BSN, RN-BC, director of nursing professional development and education for Ochsner’s Bayou Region, received the 2019 Excellence Award for Nurse Leader through Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, Xi Zeta Chapter at Nicholls State University.
On May 11, 2019, the New Orleans District Nurses Association (NODNA), the local chapter of the American Nurses Association and the Louisiana State Nurses Association celebrated local nurses at the inaugural NODNA Nursing Excellence Brunch held at the Audubon Tea Room with nearly 200 attendees. Nurses were nominated, selected by out-of-state judges and recognized with awards in categories including direct patient care for registered nurses and advanced practice nurses, beyond the bedside, and legacy recognition. Our very own, Tracey Moffatt, MHA, BSN, RN, Ochsner Health System CNO and VP of Quality was recognized with the 2019 Legacy Award.
To learn more about NODNA and to view the winners for each award category, please visit: www.nolanurses.org.
“It was a tremendous honor to be recognized by NODNA with the 2019 Nurse Legacy Award. Throughout my career, I have been devoted to advancing the practice of nursing and, just as importantly, the environment of practice. This award acknowledges my passion for patient care
and my vision for the future of nursing. I am humbled by the recognition and proud to be a nurse leader!” said Tracey Moffatt
The Ochsner team celebrates local nurses at the NODNA Nursing
Excellence Brunch. 46 Ochsner Nursing 2018-2019 Annual Report
Ochsner Nurses Recognized at the 18th Annual Nightingale Awards Gala
On March 16, 2019, 33 Ochsner nurses, Ochsner affiliated nurses, and Ochsner facilities were honored as nominees during the 18th Annual Nightingale Awards Gala held at the Hilton Capitol Center Hotel in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Hosted by the Louisiana State Nurses Association (LSNA) and the Louisiana Nurses Foundation, the Nightingale awards recognize achievements of nurses throughout Louisiana. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate the nursing profession and recognize the excellence of nurses in a variety of specialties. • Janice Kishner, MSN, MBA, RN, FACHE, retired, St. Bernard Parish Hospital, inducted into the 2019 Hall of Fame. • Beverly Rainey, RN, SICU, Ochsner Medical
Center (OMC) – New Orleans, recognized as
LSNA Registered Nurse Mentor of the Year. • Fiona Winterbottom, APRN, Critical Care
Medicine, OMC – New Orleans, recognized for Outstanding Contribution to Quality. • Dominique Yancey, RN, interim unit director,
IMTA, OMC – New Orleans, recognized as
Clinical Practice Registered Nurse of the
Year. • Jennifer Couvillon, PhD, MSN, RN-BC, president, Chamberlain University College of Nursing at Ochsner Health System, recognized as the LSNA School of Nursing
Administrator of the Year.
Ochsner Nurses and Nightingale Nominees celebrate at the 2019 Nightingale Awards Gala
New Orleans City Business Honors Ochsner and Partners in Healthcare Heroes Recognition
• Je’na` Wells Matthews, Ochsner Health System
• Barbara Tarjan, St. Tammany Parish Hospital
• Kim Keene, St. Bernard Parish Hospital
23 Ochsner Nurses Honored Among the Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana
Twenty-three registered nurses with Ochsner and its affiliated hospitals were recognized in the 2019 “Great Nurses of Louisiana” list compiled annually by The Great 100 Nurses Foundation. Ochsner’s nursing staff has a history of acknowledgments by the Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana Foundation for their commitment to patient care. Approximately 570 Ochsner nurses have been recognized since the program launched more than 30 years ago. The Great 100 Nurses Foundation was founded in New Orleans in 1986 and since then has honored thousands of nurses across Louisiana, North Carolina, Texas and Oklahoma. The Great 100 Nurses of Louisiana list recognizes outstanding nursing accomplishments and successes. The annual honorees are selected by their peers and patients, based on their achievements in four areas: administration, clinical/community, education and research.
From left to right: Ochsner nurse leaders Ahnyel Jones-Burkes, DNP, RN-BC, Maria Nix, MSN, BSN, RN and Jessica Peterson, PhD, RN support nurses across the system in capturing stories that illustrate nursing excellence and work together to ensure that Ochsner nurses are represented and celebrated in nursing award programs.
Business Office – Benson Tower
• Jennifer Phillips, RN
Nursing Practice – Benson Tower
• Stuart Redfearn, RN
Nursing Practice – Dickory
• Rosalie Barker, RN
Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center
• Renee Bertinot, RN • Traci Boudreaux, RN • Tiffany Chiasson, RN • Shanna Ledet, RN
Ochsner Baptist a Campus of Ochsner Medical Center
• Kimberly Dunn, RN • Theresa Reynolds, RN
Ochsner St. Anne
• Lisa Labat, RN
Ochsner Medical Center – Northshore
• Doraine Woods, RN
Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge
• Abigail Kimbel, RN • Anna Polachova, RN
Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans
• Sarah Bordelon, RN • Mary Bouchon, RN • Jeri Casley, RN • Jennifer Garnand, RN • Denise Hancock, RN • Wendy Perera, RN • Jessica Peterson, RN • Pamela Travis, RN
Ochsner Hospital for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine
• Cristina Berthelot, BSN, RN • Lori Southerland, RN
Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans Achieves 4th Magnet Designation
OMC – New Orleans shared governance council leaders gathered in the Brent House atrium during the first annual shared governance council swearing-in ceremony
In 2019, the Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans team celebrated the achievement of the fourth consecutive Magnet® designation, a program that recognizes hospitals that foster nursing excellence. Fewer than 10% of hospitals in the United States have Magnet® status, and fewer than 1% have been recognized with Magnet® designation four consecutive times. The beauty of Magnet® is the structure it creates in nursing. Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans is committed to shared governance, which means that clinical nurses and leaders are actively involved in organizational decision making through the participation in councils at the unit, division and facility level. Through our shared governance committees, we’ve been able to change a lot for nurses and patients. This includes:: • Ensures nursing input is valued and included in decision-making processes. • The creation of the Unit Practice Council (UPC) to focus on processes in the professional work environment that impact quality and patient safety, finances, and team member engagement.
The UPS is comprised of a chairperson, co-chair and members.
Members contribute through practice evaluation, need identification and improvements implementation. • Ongoing review of the nursing professional practice model to ensure rigor of the model’s use to drive excellence in nursing practice, reduce nursing turnover rate through bedside handoffs, and decrease hospital-acquired infections and falls with injury to drive safe, quality care. This drives many examples of professional development opportunities and implementation of evidence-based practices to improve outcomes.
In 2018, OMC – New Orleans nurses hosted the first annual shared governance council chair swearing-in ceremony. During the ceremony, UPC leaders received a pin to honor the work they do.
“The ceremony offered an opportunity to recognize our unit practice council leaders as they pledge to serve our team members and our patients,” said Deborah Ford, chief nursing officer, OMC-New Orleans. UPC leaders also received a plant symbolizing that leadership of a shared governance group is like gardening, requiring careful tending and nurturing to survive and thrive.
“Through designations like Magnet®, Ochsner nurses are truly changing healthcare for the better. On the journey to achieve our fourth consecutive Magnet® designation, we’ve created a structure that empowers nurses at all levels to help shape the healthcare environment.” – Deborah Ford, MSN, RN, chief nursing officer, Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) work with all populations of patients, and the care ranges from wellness and prevention methods to illness and support of terminal patients. With more emphasis placed on reducing readmission and disease prevention, patients are increasingly seeking outpatient services.
LPNs are a valuable resource to the healthcare team and provide care in multiple settings, especially in ambulatory clinics. Patients with higher acuity levels require knowledgeable and qualified LPNs to maintain workflows, provide quality care and service, and ensure patient safety. At Ochsner Health System, LPNs serve in a unique role as frontline leaders and providers of direct patient care. One of our many exceptional LPNs, Candace M. Melancon, LPN is a clinic operations manager at Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge. Candace displays all of Ochsner’s Core Values, especially Excellence. Candace has thirty years of nursing experience and initially joined the Ochsner Baton Rouge Gastroenterology team in 1991 as a staff nurse. After serving in various clinical, coordination and educational roles, the Baton Rouge management team recognized that her organization and leadership skills would be an asset in the quality department. She joined the quality department as a performance improvement coordinator and held dual leadership positions as the ambulatory nursing supervisor for the Baton Rouge Region and employee health supervisor. Pursuing a leadership career track, she assumed the role of a clinical services supervisor, medical specialties, and is currently serving in the role of a clinical operations manager for Rheumatology, Pain Management and Physical Medicine. Candace’s strong leadership skills earned her the nomination as a finalist for the 2019 Spirit of Leadership Award.
“I have been blessed to work for Ochsner for the last 25 years. The core values of Ochsner align with my personal values, and that is not always easy to find. The training offered by Ochsner has helped me to reach my professional goals. I could not see myself working for any
other organization and I look forward to continuing my career at Ochsner until my retirement,” said Candace. Through their participation in inpatient and ambulatory practice settings, our LPNs provide a level of care that improves outcomes for our patients.
“In our inpatient setting, we rely on LPNs as vital members of the inpatient care team. They are prepared and engaged to provide excellent
care to all of our patients,” said Dianne Teal, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, chief nursing officer, Ochsner Medical Center – Baton Rouge We thank Candace and all of our great LPNs for their part in delivering on our promise to our patients!
A Patient’s Story:
Shelby Shoemake
Shelby Shoemake and her boyfriend traveled to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to celebrate her 18th birthday at the beach. Shortly after their arrival, Shelby began complaining of a headache and generally not feeling well. Not wanting to hamper the trip, she took some Tylenol and attempted to enjoy the day. After a few hours on the beach, Shelby’s headache continued to worsen and both her and her boyfriend decided to return home to Biloxi. However, on the way, Shelby became unresponsive. Her boyfriend brought her directly to the nearest hospital, Ochsner Medical Center – Hancock. Upon arrival to the emergency department (ED), the ED staff quickly realized Shelby was in a grave situation. The staff moved Shelby immediately into the radiology suite where a CT of her head confirmed that she was suffering from an arterial venous (AV) malformation that ruptured, causing a bleed in her brain. As the nursing staff stabilized Shelby, the ED physician initiated an emergent transfer to Ochsner Medical Center – New Orleans through Ochsner’s Regional Referral Center. Ochsner’s flight care team facilitated the transfer and transported Shelby to the awaiting neurosurgical team lead by Dr. Bui, chairman of neurosurgery. Shelby underwent an emergent craniotomy and Dr. Bui was able to evacuate the hematoma and repair the AV malformation. Shelby convalesced over the following weeks where she completed extensive physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Shelby celebrates her 19th birthday with her nurses and treatment team
Shelby made a full recovery with no deficits. She returned to Ochsner Medical Center – Hancock on April 3, 2019 to celebrate her 19th birthday and the one-year anniversary of the event. She was once again met by the same staff members, the flight care team and family members where they arranged a surprise party. “Taking care of Shelby was part of everyday life in the ED,” said Heidi Wilkinson, RN, Emergency Department, Ochsner Medical Center – Hancock. “However, the most remarkable thing in my heart and mind, was that this was the first time I had the pleasure of seeing my patient return exactly one year later with no residual effects. Shelby is an outstanding person meant for great things. I am so proud to have had a chance to play a part in her care.” . To watch a video about Shelby’s experience, visit: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=aUXZBUPZp4E&feature=youtu.be.
“Our entire patient care team was touched by Shelby’s remarkable recovery and the gratitude of both Shelby and her family. We celebrated Shelby’s birthday and recovery with friends, family, and Ochsner care team members. I am thankful Ochsner Health and the interdisciplinary care team was there for Shelby and here for our loved ones and those we serve every day.”
Kimberly Varnado, MSN, RN, NE-BC, chief nursing officer, Ochsner Medical Center – Hancock
