In Roads - May 23rd

In Roads

Inside information for the employees of Mercy Medical Center

May 23, 2014

Mercy in the News “When deeds speak, words are nothing.”

- Pierre-Joseph Proudhon

Plagarized Newspaper Ad Below is a post that a Dignity Health employee posted on our internal Hello Humankindness website

Mercy Medical Center’s Family Birth Center RNs Jewelene Rezendes, who is 28 weeks pregnant, Maria Rosquites, with baby Reza, 3 months old, Lindsey O’Banion, with baby Cash, 3 months old, and obstetrics technician Amanda Mora, who is 31 weeks pregnant, pose for a portrait Friday.

Mother’s Day is every day at Mercy's birth center in Merced

by Ana B. Ibarra May 9, 2014

MERCED — Nothing can prepare you to be a mom, even labor and delivery nurses who care for newborns on a daily basis can agree with that.

Nurses and obstetrics technicians at Mercy Medical Center’s Family Birth Center know from experience that being a first-time mom can be nerveracking, but they all agree that it can also be one of the greatest events in life.

The nurses and OB techs work long shifts, all while having to take care of their own growing families, but they assure they would not have it any other way.

“Being part of one of the most important moments in a person’s life, that’s just incredible,” said Jewelene Rezendes, a nurse who is expecting

her second baby.

Rezendes, along with other nurses in the birth unit, believe that nothing gives them a better understanding of what their patients are going through than calling upon their own experiences as mothers.

Lindsey O’Banion, nurse and mother of two, said it is especially important for her to make new moms feel at ease. O’Banion recalls how lost and scared she felt during her first pregnancy and uses that experience to connect with new moms.

“Most times they’re scared, so I try to reassure them that what they’re feeling is normal,” O’Banion said,

Article continued on pg 3.

by Joseph Erkenbrecher Mercy San Juan Medical Center

In the Sacramento Bee Dignity Health ran a half page advertisement that said "You are the heart and soul of everything we do." My 10 year old son saw the ad somewhere (we don't get the Bee so it wasn't our house) and brought it home to show me the cool ad for where I work. Then when he went to bed he had taken the newspaper, put it on my bed and drawn a line through "of everything we do" and added his own touch to make it read "You are the heart and soul of our family".

I love my son very much and with a little touch of "Humankindness" he showed me that he loves me too.

Employee of the Month April April- -2014 2014

Employee of the Month March - 2014

Alberto Leon EVS Alberto is an exceptional employee. He comes in every morning with a great attitude and ready for work. He always goes above and beyond his normal duties, like taking on extra projects in order to make the hospital shine.

Satvir Uppal Human Resources I have appreciated the assistance and communication Satvir provides while helping me with those confusing and critical employee issues, all the while keeping a cheerful attitude.

Satvir has made vast improvements to the LOA (Leave of Absence) process by providing consistently excellent communication on every aspect of LOAs. She notifies me of every step along the way, so I can easily follow when the employee will be out and when they are returning as well as what documentation or other paperwork they need prior to or upon their return.

Satvir has provided consistently excellent advice and or help in the employee disciplinary issues I have had. She hasn’t steered me wrong once or provided me with any incorrect information. On the rare occasions she doesn’t definitely know an answer, she tells me that she needs to confirm the answer, then quickly gets the correct answer and gets back to me.

So many times in this world (even with our best efforts) a lack of communication seems to be an issue, but Satvir’s communication skills seem to be one of her strongest skills.

And even better, as I think of all the times I have worked with her, I cannot think of a single incidence of her not exemplifying our Standards of Performance.

If he notices something that needs to be done, he brings it to our attention and always says he will work it into his schedule. If Alberto sees lights that are dirty, he not only cleans them on that floor, but will go to each floor and make sure they are all clean.

He is a self starter and motivator. I get numerous emails from directors and nursing staff complimenting on how great of a job he does.

His passion for his job is so inspiring, he doesn’t care what you give him to do, he is just happy to be here working.

Congratulations to the 2014 Values in Action Award Nominees!

All the nominees are invited to the Service Awards/Values in Action Awards luncheon on May 29, 2014. VIA nominees please RSVP to Janice Wilkerson by May 20th, 564-5007 or Janice.wilkerson@dignityhealth.org

Staples Offers Discount to Dignity Health Employees Employees can now benefit from Dignity Health’s negotiated pricing on Staples store purchases through the Staples Advantage® discount. The discount allows you to save on ink and toner, office supplies, furniture, technology, copy/print services, and more.

Click here to take advantage of this special program for Dignity Health employees. Simply complete the registration with your personal credit card information and then you are ready to begin shopping in Staples stores with the negotiated discount pricing. To get the discount, you must use the card you register and present the card in person at a Staples store.

You Can Chat with a Healthy Lifestyles Coach If you need a little help staying on track with your fitness and nutrition goals, check in with a Healthy Lifestyles online coach for a live chat.

You can get help with goal setting, nutrition, exercise, losing weight, managing stress or quitting smoking.

Even if they don’t have the answer, they’ll help you find it.

Chat with an online coach anytime by logging in to MyHealthyLifestyles. com and clicking on Live Chat (at the bottom of the page). Coaches are online Monday through Saturday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.

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Thank you to all who made Hospital Week so special!

“and I remind them that the pain and the fear will end, and that it will all be worth it.”

“All the nurses know the labor process, but it’s not until you become a mom that you can really relate to your patients and give them advice about how to go forward,” O’Banion continued. “Patients usually seem to feel more comfortable when they know they’re in the hands of someone who knows what they are going through.”

Nurses believe that the input and advice they give first-time moms can really make a difference.

“We have to educate a ton of first-time moms, and that’s a very important part of our job,” said Ryann Freitas, nurse and mother of three. “I remember that with my first baby, no one showed me how to breast-feed, and I almost gave up. Luckily, I found a nurse who made the difference for me. So when I became a nurse, I told myself that I was always going to educate my patients, especially about breast-feeding because that’s the best for the baby.”

Although Freitas and many other nurses will have to work this Mother’s Day, they hope to make some time to celebrate with their own mothers, husbands and children.

Patients at the birth center are also

Mercy Medical Center’s Family Birth Center RN Maria Rosquites, with baby Reza, 3 months old.

looking forward to Sunday.

This Mother’s Day will be extra special for Holly Lourenco, 26, who gave birth to her second child on Thursday. Lourenco said the timing of baby Luke could not have been better.

“It’s very special because he came a week early, so now I’ll be able to spend Mother’s Day at home with my two babies,” she said.

Even as she looks forward to going home, Lourenco said she couldn’t be happier with her experience at the birth center.

“The nurses are excellent,” she said.

“They were very friendly, and they really go out of their way to make you feel comfortable.”

Clinical manager of the Family Birth Center, Dawn Arnsberg, commends the nurses’ work and dedication.

“What these nurses do – it’s hard work, both physically and emotionally,” Arnsberg said. “They’re on their feet for long hours, they have crazy schedules, and some of them are still going to school. It’s crazy, but they do a wonderful job.”

Nancy Yang, an OB tech and mother of three, said the only thing she loves more than her job at the center is her job as a mom.

Holly Lourenco holds son Luke Taylor Lourenco, who is a day old, at the Family Birth Center on Friday.

From left: Chris Costa, Janice Wilkerson and Lillian Sanchez

Check your Badge

“Being that person that my children can always count on and being their role model – that’s truly the best thing ever.”

Make sure to check your name badge to see if there are no signs of burgundy or CHW. If your Standards of Performance card is not orange and looks like the badge card above, throw it away and get a new one.

The Family Birth Center currently has more than 80 nurses and OB techs.

The center averages about 230 births a month.

New badges/badge cards can be picked up at HR. If you have any questions about your badge, please call HR at 564-4358.

Hospital Week BBQ at Mercy Medical Center - May 16, 2014