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Hello! From the CNO | Stroll With Your Nursing 'O' | Nursing Updates | Community Partnerships | Meet Your Leader | Award Winners | Announcements | Follow RMC on Social Media
Hello! From the CNO
As we lead into fall and move through the month of September, Ihope to bring light to the ongoing stigma around mental health as September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. There are likely not many of us who have not been touched by the aftermath of suicide. And if you were like me, I questioned myself; “Did Inot recognize signs?” “Could Ihave prevented this?”
The CDC has declared suicide as a serious public health problem and shared their campaign to #Bethe1To: Ask, keep them safe, be there, help them, follow up.
In some situations, simply taking the time to care, ask others how they are feeling, and making a connection can be all it takes to prevent an act of suicide. We had a brave, inspiring RPC patient, Lynda, who shared her story of overcoming suicidal thoughts. If you haven't seen her video or her KCTV5 news segment, I encourage you to watch it and share with others. With the ongoing changes in our healthcare environment and for the world around us, this is the time now more than ever to support and be there for each other. If you find yourself or your peers in need of help, HCA provides many resources and ways in which an individual can seek help (in person, virtually, via phone). These benefits are available to all employees and I encourage you to explore these options that are free of service to team members. View this flyer for a full list of resources from talking to a therapist, learning healthy ways to manage stress to quitting smoking.
On a final note, I also want to let each of you know that the Vital Voices Employee Engagement Survey will open on October 3 and run through October 17. We do this survey twice a year to elicit feedback from each of you on how we can make RMC a better place to work. I encourage each of you to take the time to complete this survey. If you ever wonder if the senior team reads each and every comment the answer is YES. I look forward to hearing your voice!
Thank you, Julie Filbeck Chief Nursing Officer, RMC
September 2022
Monthly Newsletter for RMC NursingandPCTs
Stroll With Your Nursing 'O'
RMC CNO Julie Filbeck takes a stroll with Terry Darago, Senior Unit Charge Nurse at Research Psychiatric Center. Terry talks to Julie about her day at RPC as she switches fromdays and nights, and what sets RPC apart fromother mental health centers. Enjoy your stroll!
Nursing/PCT Updates
StaffingUpdates
Going into Fall, we are spending an increased amount of time recruiting internally and externally to sign on the best talent here at RMC. We are excited to have five nurses starting in the month of October and 17 GN’s starting in January. Also, we have 41 internal employees that will graduate in the spring (May, June and July) and we hope that they will continue to make RMC their hospital of choice. We understand that this seems like a long journey when we need staff now. Because of this, Iamalso happy to report that we will have 26 traveling nurses starting in the month of October to help us get through while we build our team.
PCTHighlights
September PCT focused on CAUTIprevention and proper peri care. Dyamond Kendrick fromInfection Control answered questions and presented educational instructions. We also discussed the upcoming PCT Appreciation Dinner that will be in November. Our Leadership and Development Division office will be conducting training for Lead PCTs starting in November, which is the result of our Vital Voices Employee Engagement Survey. We have chosen 13 lead PCTSfor this first cohort to attend. They will be notified in the upcoming weeks.
View video by clicking here!
SharedGovernanceUpdate
Thank for those who have signed up for one of the following councils: Nursing Informatics: Cassie Montgomery, Sarah Textor or Dustin Williams Quality and Safety: Sheila Jones or Geri Seck Recognition and Advancement: Amy Bazzell
Peer Review: Jaimie Page
Professional Practice: Angela Yates Steering Council: Julie Filbeck
If you would like to join, please talk to the lead for that group.
Patient Care: Commitment to Patient-Centered Communications
DE&IPatientSubcommittee
Communicating effectively with diverse populations aligns with HCA's commitment to providing culturally-competent, patient-centered care or "care tailored to meet the needs of that individual patient" as outlined by the Joint Commission. The goal is to provide the highest quality patient-centered communication through the use of qualified interpreters, document translations, and effective communication assistance for deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low-vision, or limited English proficient individuals.
Standards developed to guide the delivery of culturally competent care include requirements that healthcare organizations "offer and provide language assistance services, including bilingual staff and interpreter services, at no cost to each patient/ consumer with Limited English Proficiency at all points of contact." The standards also direct healthcare organizations to "assure the competence of language assistance provided to Limited English Proficient patients/consumers by interpreters and bilingual staff." This competency requirement prohibits the use of family or friends as interpreters, except on request by the patient/consumer.
Did You Know?
In a study of patients who experienced physical harmduring their hospital stay, 47% of Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients experienced moderate, temporary harmor worse, compared to 25%of English-speaking patients.
Another study found that patients with physical communication barriers were three times more likely to suffer an adverse event than patients without a communication barrier.
Astudy on the impact of language barriers on medication compliance demonstrated that errors in communication could have negative clinical outcomes.
CulturaLink provides interpretation services that bridge the gap between individuals with communication barriers and healthcare providers. They offer on-site, over-the-phone, video remote interpretation services along with document translation services. Learn about from their iMobile CulturaLink Quick Reference Guide.
Community Partnerships
MidwestTransplantNetwork
RMC has always had a special partnership with Midwest Transplant Network, but earlier this month we engaged to be the first in care of a newtype. This summer MTNopened their Donor Care and Surgical Recovery Unit (DCU) at their Kansas headquarters. This unit was built with the intent to ease the burden on hospitals providing and coordinating care for consented organ donors. Within this newunit, donors can nowtransfer to their facility for ongoing allocation, donor optimization and ultimately surgical recovery.
Early this month, RMC had the honor of transferring the very first patient to the newly opened DCU. As always, we are incredibly grateful for those that arrived for our Honor Walk. When our donors are able to transfer to the newDCU, the Honor Walk will line the hallway fromthe MICUentrance to the north exit just down the hall where EMSwill transport from.
Each year our facility is consistently outpacing itself in the number of eligible and consented donors. There are many who support the care of these patients, their loved ones, and their ultimate selfless gift, Iamgrateful to each of you for honoring these heroes and for your compassion to themand their loved ones.
Meet
AmberClaytorPadilla,RPC
My passion through school and my career has always been social justice. The difference between success and devastation often seems to be as related to our support systems as our own abilities. Unfortunately, it seems patients with mental health issues can lack the support systems needed to maintain health and be successful. Ilove the opportunity to be a part of providing that support systemfor our community.
I’ve worked at Research Psychiatric Center for seven years with adults, adolescents and the quality department. Prior to RPC, Iworked at Synergy House for nine years. There, Iwas a case manager for adolescents. Ireally enjoyed the work, but noticed my clients had a lot of different providers and often disrupted medical treatment. Ithought nurse case management would be interesting and a way to use my skill set to help solve this issue.
Over the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to work with some amazing groups at RMC. Ihave left every one of those meetings feeling inspired by the work we do and the people who care so much about our patients on the RMC team. We had some great discussions about balancing safety with dignity and worked together to come up with ways to improve our patients experience, during one of the worst times in their life. It has been a lot of fun, and a great reminder that we really are here to give people wonderful care.
With it being Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we all knowthoughts of suicide can affect any person across all cultures, ages and socioeconomic backgrounds. Iwant everyone to knowthat having these thoughts and keeping themto yourself makes the situation worse. Find someone you trust and just say feelings out loud, it can change your life.
On a personal side, Imarried my high school sweetheart. We have two amazing kids and two amazing dogs. My son Jude is 12. He’s a very sweet guy who is always on the move. My daughter Seva is 10. She is hilarious and constantly making things (slime, hats for tiny toys, messes). We also have Otis who claims to be a lab/golden mix, but I’mnot convinced. He’s 90 pounds and afraid of his own shadow. His emotional support dog is Azzy, the other love of my life. She’s a little Frenchie, who is noisy, stinky and the very best.
Your Leader
Award Winners
DAISY AwardWinner:AlisonBoudreau
Congratulations to Alison Boudreau, Inpatient Oncology nurse. She was nominated by a patient after a simple act of going to get a burger for a patient made a lasting impression.
"Isawthat they had burgers back on the menu and was excited to have one for dinner. Unfortunately, my burger never showed up and my nurse called down to get it but they couldn’t bring me one. She finished her shift and went out and purchased a burger and brought it back to the hospital for me. Iknowthat seems small but it was so caring and kind. She really went above and beyond."
EmployeeoftheMonth:ChelseaFortuna
Congratulations are in order for Chelsea Fortuna, CNC on 4N. She was named our Employee of the Month for August!
Her nominator said "Chelsea is a positive force on our unit and goes above and beyond every single shift she works. Chelsea has a go with the flowattitude that is so appreciated by her teamand patients. Recently we had a shift with very tight staffing. Chelsea was asked to charge 4C and 4Nand take a teamof patients. Chelsea was so positive and never complained once about what was being asked of her. Chelsea fulfilled the duties of the CNC by helping her teamand by providing amazing care to her patients. Chelsea is the definition of 'care like family!' We are so fortunate to have Chelsea on our telemetry teamand as a member of our RMC team."
AttiBecomesaU.S.Citizen
We showup for our colleagues; and at RMC, we treat our colleagues like family. We are so happy for our very own Atti Pannicke, nurse on 3 Central. Last week, she, along with 153 applicants from53 countries, became a citizen of the United States. Atti has been with RMC for over 6 years and our staff had a fun time celebrating her citizenship.
"Iwas honored to be at the ceremony where Atti was with more than 150 others getting their UScitizenship. Iamnot a very emotional person, but Igot teary eyed," said her manager, Sheri.
Sophia Solomon, ACNO, said "we're so proud to have Atti on our team; when Iask others on her unit 'who would you always want by you when taking care of a patient,' they, more than not, say 'Atti.'"
Congratulations, Atti! Welcome home! Share your congrats to Atti here.
WeShowUpTeamoftheMonth:
We are honored to announce our We ShowUp Teamof the Month for September. Congratulations to ourResearch Psychiatric Centerteam. This teamshows up by: Providing 30+ years of mental health services to the KC community including inpatient acute care, outpatient group therapy, and helping acute patients to transition back to their daily life. Participating in community efforts to support mental health awareness, including walks for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, including Suicide Awareness Survivor Support Annual Remembrance Walk and SPEAKUP2022 Walk.
Providing offerings to patients to support mental wellbeing, including art classes, yoga, gymactivities, pet therapy, evidence based therapy groups, and a clothing closet supplied by staff.
Combatting the shortage of mental health services in Kansas City by seeing more than 4,000 adolescent and adult patients, offering patients a chance to be connected to the right level of care faster.
Supporting each other through Adopt-a-Family, holiday celebrations (pumpkin carvings and chili cook offs), food trucks, and free monthly education for professional credit. Thanks to all of you (mental health techs, nurses, doctors, therapists, food and nutrition services, EVStechs, and more) for showing up for our RPC patients every day!
CNC Monthly Meeting: Wed, Oct 5 from7:30-9:00am: Jernigan 1 Classroom, BLevel
Nurse Extern Meeting: Friday, Oct 7 from7:30-8:30am: 7 West Classroom
PCT Monthly Meeting: Wed, Oct 19 from7:15-8:15am: Auditorium, BLevel
Follow RMC on Social Media
Join the Nursing internal Facebook Group! Click here to join. Please answer the requested questions in order to be granted access.
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Announcements
