MAY 2013 | A Magazine for Nurses

METHODIST NURSELeaders in Nursing

Page 8

Promoting EvidenceBased Practice Research

NNurses Week 2013 is upon us! It is always an honor for our organization to recognize our nurses for all that they bring to our health care team and to the nursing profession. This year, we are once again looking forward to hosting a number of fun-filled events and activities, including our system-wide Nurses’ Gala on Friday, May 10. Please be sure to look for further details on all of our Nurses Week events inside this issue.

By now, you are probably aware that The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) has selected The Methodist Hospital as the recipient of its 2013 Nursing Certification Advocacy Award. This is tremendous news for our hospital because it affirms the commitment we continue to make in increasing our specialty certification rates and supporting the professional development of our nursing staff. ABNS President-Elect, Maria Shirey, RN, PhD, MBA, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN, will be on the Methodist campus to officially present the award to us on May 6—during our Nurses Week Kickoff Celebration. I ask that you join us for this special presentation recognizing the great and dedicated work of our nursing community. The event will begin at 7:30 a.m.

As I am each year, I am excited to announce that our latest annual nursing report is completed and is being distributed to each unit. This report showcases our extraordinary work and accomplishments over the past year—and truly captures the high level of nursing excellence exhibited by our nursing enterprise. I hope that you review this report with great pride and take a moment to appreciate our unique stories, programs and achievements that continue to establish us as a best-in-class nursing organization.

In June, I will be hosting Staff Nurse Assemblies and PCA/Unit Secretary Town Halls. These informative sessions provide me with an opportunity to share the current happenings and new advancements transpiring within Methodist Nursing. I also receive feedback from staff about how we can continue to further improve the great care you provide to patients and families at The Methodist Hospital. I will be disseminating the schedule soon and am looking forward to seeing you at one of the many available sessions.

Lastly, Good Samaritan Foundation is seeking nominations for outstanding nurses who exemplify the finest qualities of the nursing profession for their Ninth Annual Excellence in Nursing Awards. Nominees must be registered nurses and prior nominees are eligible. I encourage nurses throughout The Methodist Hospital System to nominate a deserving colleague. Nominations are being accepted through May 31 and are available online at www.gsftx.org.

Exciting Happenings

Ann Scanlon McGinityA Message from

Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive

2013 Editorial Board MembersElizabeth Himes

Beverley Lamoth

Kathy Materre

Denise McNulty

Carlette Patterson

Joy Shiller

Maria Steele

Robyn Washington

Magazine EditorTrevor Mitchell

Graphic DesignerPhyllis Gillentine

PhotographersPhyllis Gillentine

Trevor Mitchell

Do you have a

that you would like

to post in the Methodist Nurse MagaziNe?Please submit your articles or ideas to Trevor Mitchell attmitchell2@tmhs.org

Methodist WelcoMes ce directEarlier this year, The Methodist Hospital System began offering CE Direct to nurses and allied health staff. Through our first three months, our housewide utilization rate is at 16 percent. We are encouraging our nursing and allied health staff members to review the information below and discover how having immediate access to CE Direct can enhance your professional practice and individual goals.

CE Direct, an online tool that delivers continuing education, quality/safety courses, a certification review program and more. CE Direct is the only vendor in the nation to be recognized for CE excellence and has proven to be highly successful in offering unlimited access to more than 2,400 top quality Gannett Education courses available in a variety of formats, including: online self-study courses, webinars, audio courses and printed courses in Nurse.com magazines. This dynamic educational system will increasingly help to fulfill CE requirements for a number of service lines and specialty areas throughout each of our Methodist facilities. Available To:• Registered Nurses/LVNs• Nursing Support• Dietitians• Radiology/Imaging/Radiotherapy Technologists• Rehab Multiple Modes of Access:1. Online anywhere — from work, home or wherever you have Internet access2. Audio access via iPod or MP3 player. The 50 most recent courses are kept in audio format3. Webinar access provides interactive learning at live webinars. Webinars are also archived4. Print access for RN subscribers to the Nurse.com Nursing Spectrum or Nurse.com NurseWeek

magazine to take, free of charge, a CE course is in each publication

Content Library:• More than 700 online ANCC accredited courses with more than 1000 contact hours available• 170+ CME AMA PRA Category 1 Credit courses are available including state-specific CME• Most of the CE courses include Clinical Vignettes to apply knowledge learned

Certification Review Program:• More than 70 certification review programs to prepare nurses for their specialty exam• All review courses are ANCC accredited• Digital Nursing Clinical Textbook is included with the program. This online textbook has more than

600 of the most frequently encountered at bedside conditions/diseases• Each online textbook chapter includes an exam to earn one ANCC contact hour plus each chapter has a

patient education handout Frequently Asked Questions:New hires – It can take up to three weeks for a new hire to gain access to CE Direct. New hires in designated job codes are automatically given access. Our Human Resources Department notifies these new hires of CE Direct through an email communication with information on how to access the program. If they are not able to access CE Direct after 3 wk, then please let me know and I’ll investigate what might be causing the delay.

unable to access – Be sure to select the appropriate facility when signing on. Directions for sign-on can be found on TMH Homepage. Simply look under Reference Information and click on CE Direct.

user id cards - The user ID cards issued earlier this year were a one-time promotional item for the roll out of CE Direct and are not being provided on an ongoing basis. They are not necessary to access CE Direct!

For questions or concerns, please contact Roberta (Bobbi) Musgrove at rsmusgrove@tmhs.org or call CE Direct’s toll-free number: (877) 226-5953.

• Respiratory Therapy• Social Workers• Case Managers• Speech Therapists

Jane DeS tefanoVice President and Chief Nursing Officer

San Jacinto MethodistHospital News

4 Methodist Nurse

The San Jacinto Methodist Hospital Heart & Vascular Center recently commemorated the two-year anniversary of its opening. The celebration included a luncheon, guest speakers and gifts for all attendees. Free blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI/body fat screenings were also offered to attendees to estimate their 10-year risk for cardiovascular disease.

On April 3, our hospital also took part in the american heart association’s National Walking day. These days, adults are spending more and more time at work than ever before. As a result, as a nation, we are becoming more inactive. This is a problem when you consider the fact that physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease. Statistics show that 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women are at risk for heart

disease, and research shows that a poor lifestyle is a major contributor.

At San Jacinto Methodist Hospital, we are committed to living heart-healthy lives. By participating in National Walking Day, we encouraged our staff members to wear sneakers to work and take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get up and walk. This event proved to be a fun way to raise awareness of the importance of physical activity and to provide coworkers a friendly push toward a healthier life.

Walking is one of the easiest ways to boost your health and prevent physical illness. So, each day, try to find some time to lace up your sneakers and get moving!

EncouragingHealthyLIFESTyLES

Lately, San Jacinto Methodist Hospital has hosted several great events focused on the health of our staff and local community.

Leaders in Nursing 5

Love in ActionThere are moments in time that jolt us so hard it causes us to stop in our tracks and examine what is truly important in our lives. Recently we said good bye to a dear nurse at Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, Walter Mitterhofer, who worked in our Emergency Department for over ten years. It seems like

yesterday that Walter started at MSLH, and suddenly 10 years have gone by at breakneck speed! We have seen two other of our loving nurses, Imelda Varela ( Critical Care) and Lou Jimenez (Newborn Nursery), pass away over the last few years, much earlier than any of us thought they would. Each of these nurses left lasting impressions on their co-workers as well as lasting impressions of compassionate care provided to their patients and families.

I saw our staff plan fundraising events and dinners for each of these nurses as they progressed though their long illnesses. This was witnessed again when the Emergency Department found several ways to show their love and support of Walter during his battle to survive. Camille Green, Manager of our Emergency Department, reflects on the months prior to Walter’s death as his co-workers learned of his illness.

“This past August, one of our own Emergency Department nurses received the report that he had developed cancer. When he shared this with us, it was certainly news that caused us to pause and put our busy lives momentarily on hold as we thought, “what if it was me or my family member, what would I be feeling, what would I do?” These thoughts just inundate you as you are driving home, playing with your children, or trying to go to sleep at night. As Emergency Nurses we frequently see and treat Cancer patients, but in our busy world, sometimes we tend to lose sight of what our patient and their families are experiencing. However, when someone you have worked with side by side for 10 years gets the news, it really brings it home. Over the years, we have watched our friend work more than one job at a time and have watched him work many long hours, to

ensure a good home for his family and a quality education for his children. So, as a group, we made the decision to help our co-worker in a way that we believed would be beneficial to him and his family. Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Emergency Department, along with fellow co-workers throughout our hospital, community participants, Sacred Heart ER, Sugar Land Surgical Hospital, and St. Michaels ER, coordinated fund raising events, made monetary donations, sold our “Piece of Work” T-Shirts, coordinated a 5K Walk, Doubles Tennis Tournament, and gathered to prepare Christmas gifts for his children. Through these efforts, we have had wonderful support and collected over $30,000. In addition, the MSLH ED physicians set up an Education Fund for Walter’s four children.”

A very humble Nobel Peace Prize recipient and minister to the sick said, “Prayer in action is love, love in action is service.” I have witnessed this very service within the walls of our hospital. Thank you to each one of you for showing such love for your fellow co-workers. Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and our community is a better place to live and work because of the living demonstration of our ICARE values. Each of your actions provided all of the affected nurses, their families, as well as the co-workers they left behind with much needed relief and reassurance in knowing that they have the support of many at their side during their time of need.

Methodist Sugar LandHospital News

Janet LeatherwoodRN, MSN, VP / Chief Nursing Officer

“Prayer in action is love, love in action is service.”

Methodist WillowbrookHospital News

Sheila FataVice President & Chief Nursing Officer

6 Methodist Nurse

Our Journey Toward MagnetMETHODIST WILLOWBROOk HOSPITAL recently embarked on a new phase in our Magnet Journey. Our Magnet documents have been completed and were submitted to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) earlier this year. Our Magnet Champions team is now leading the charge in preparing for our survey.

It is a great time to take note of the growth within our nursing organization over the past several years. Our hospital has evolved and matured as new structures and processes have been put in place to promote and support the work of our nurses as professionals and leaders at the bedside and beyond. Over the past several years, Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has implemented a research program with a strong emphasis on evidence based practice, and our research council oversees these processes. We’ve revitalized our unit based council structure and provided tools to Shared Governance to promote autonomy. We adopted and tailored the The Methodist Hospital professional practice model to provide a framework that meets the unique needs of our nurses and community.

We have also built onto our quality infrastructure to better help our nurses understand the relationship between quality measures and their work with patients and Shared Governance. In addition, our commitment to the Magnet principles is rooted in a deep conviction that a Magnet designated hospital is driven to create a better working environment for nurses and to promote and strengthen the nursing practice. This type of dedication ultimately leads to a higher level of quality, compassionate care for our patients.

Our Magnet document submission is the culmination of these years of institutionalizing the Magnet principles and truly becoming one of the best places for nurses to work. I know that our entire team is looking forward to continuing to build on the foundation that we have laid and to continue raising our level of excellence!

The Magnet Journey is one that requires commitment, collaboration and stamina–and it truly “takes a village!” I want to recognize our Magnet team for their effort and dedication over the past year in organizing and writing our Magnet submission. I would also like to thank every nurse and nurse leader at Methodist Willowbrook Hospital for the work they do every day, which has provided shining examples of professionalism and care that are reflected in the narratives of our Magnet documents!

PICTURED ABOVE: Robin Howe, MSN, RN-BC, Dana Scott (seated), BSN, RN, Sheila Fata, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Geneva Caldwell, DNS, RN, OCN, and Nicholas Hough.

Methodist West HoustonHospital News

Vicki Brownewell Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer

Leaders in Nursing 7

Continuous Growth and aChievement

We are continuing to grow at Methodist West Houston Hospital. This growth can be witnessed in a wide variety of our service lines—from oncology and orthopedics to cardiovascular, to name just a few. At times, we were overflowing with patients, which has allowed us to build out and open new beds in obstetrics and NICU. We also opened new medical surgical beds and an observation unit. Our overall market share has doubled in our community and we are now No. 1 in our market for heart services! How did this happen so quickly?

These results are rooted in our vision, which is to serve our community in line with high Methodist standards of quality, sophisticated technology and of course, personalized service. Add great people and hard work to this vision and terrific things have happened. Not only have we experienced exceptional growth at our hospital, we are also fortunate enough to have high quality and excellent patient, physician and staff satisfaction.

As the saying goes, everything is growing “bigger and better” at MWHH. Earlier this year, we experienced our highest number of Emergency Center patients and a record number of open heart surgery patients. The observation unit we opened a few months ago has also been full.

To accommodate yet more growth, staff members and nursing leaders are putting their heads together with architects to literally create designs for the future. We are currently planning for six – yes six – expansions. Construction has commenced on more medical surgical beds, which are on pace to open in July. In addition, by the end of the year we plan to build, equip and open several more operating rooms, surgical AOD’s, ICU beds, procedural area AOD’s and an infusion suite.

In addition to all of this growth, we need to stay grounded in the basics of patient satisfaction, quality and safety and efficiency. Our staff has completed the invigorating Methodist Experience class. This fits perfectly with our philosophy of patient and family centered care and vision of personalized service.

ISO certification is also in the works for the fall. This is a part of our DNV certification and gives us the structure for

auditing our processes and improving them where needed. We will also be reviewing and updating our hospital policies. And, if that isn’t enough, we plan to achieve stroke certification with the DNV survey.

As part of the System-wide “Project Readiness’ initiative we will be working towards higher levels of efficiency. We are especially excited about the Patient Progression project, with the objectives

of improved coordination of care, as well as having patients move smoothly through the continuum.

Naturally, as a new hospital, we have a lot to accomplish to catch up with our sister hospitals. Therefore, last but not least, this year we have our sights set on receiving Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This designation will recognize the practice environment, hard work, professionalism, and collaboration of our wonderful nursing staff.

All of the MWHH staff and leadership are proud of our accomplishments! We are also humbled and grateful to be part of TMHS, which continues to support us in these endeavors.

“BiggER ANd

BETTER”

8 Methodist Nurse

Research has little value unless findings are translated into practice to improve patient outcomes. Several studies have demonstrated that research-based nursing interventions are more likely to result in better patient outcomes than ritual or traditional-based nursing interventions [1, 2]. Evidence-based practice (EBP) which is as a problem-solving approach to clinical decision making, allows nurses to substantially influence healthcare decisions and become partners with our interprofessional colleagues in improving quality of care [3]. In fact, Dr. Patricia A. Grady, Director of the National Institute for Nursing Research, stated “nurse scientists are well positioned to take leadership roles and serve as catalysts” in translating research into practice [3, 4].

By Shannon Hamlin, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, CCRNDirector, Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Evidence-Based Practice: Context, Challenges and emerging Leaders

Evidence-based practice began in the 1970’s when Dr. Archie

Cochrane, a British epidemiologist, criticized the medical profession for not using the best evidence when making important decisions about

patient care [5]. He cautioned patients to pay only for care that had been empirically supported as effective. Dr. Cochrane believed the randomized clinical trial (RCT) was the strongest level of evidence to which all healthcare treatment decisions should be based. After Dr. Cochrane’s death in 1988, the

Cochrane Center was established in Oxford, England (1992) followed by the formation of The Cochrane Collaboration in 1993. The purpose of The Cochrane Collaboration is to provide systematic reviews concerning the effectiveness of healthcare interventions based on sound evidence (RCTs) and to ensure these reviews are accessible to the public [5].

The early EBP movement founded by Dr. Cochrane has since broadened in definition to include the synthesis of the best available evidence (e.g., meta-analysis, RCT, controlled trials, descriptive, and qualitative studies) and

combines it with clinical expertise, patient preferences and patient values [6]. A clinician’s expertise includes a) clinical judgment, b) internal evidence (e.g., quality improvement generated knowledge), c) clinical reasoning (e.g., ability to apply significant knowledge in a particular clinical situation), and d) evaluation and use of resources needed to implement chosen effective interventions to achieve the expected outcome [5].

Practice is rapidly outdated without current best-evidence and often to the detriment of the patient [5]. For example, for

Research EvidenceBased PracticeCouncil

EThe Methodist Hospital Interprofessional

Dr. Archibald Cochrane (1909-1988)

Leaders in Nursing 9

many years pediatric primary care providers advised parents to always place infants in the prone position in order to prevent the risk of aspiration. After further study, researchers found infants placed in the prone position while sleeping were at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). These compelling findings prompted the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to expedite the release of clinical practice guidelines recommending all infants be placed in the supine position during sleep [5]. This change in practice has resulted in a significant decline in infant mortality related to SIDS [7].

Despite the widely recognized knowledge that EBP reduces morbidity, mortality, and medical errors, EBP is not implemented consistently by nurses or other healthcare providers across the United States [8]. Historically, nursing education at both the bachelor’s and master’s level have emphasized the rigorous and often complex process of how to conduct research but have failed to educate students on how to translate research and clinical data into an evidence-based approach

to patient care at the bedside [8]. Studies in fact show, evidence-based knowledge is negatively correlated with the year of graduation [9]. As a result, many negative attitudes toward utilizing research into practice exist for

nurses and care is often based on antiquated knowledge and practices learned in academic programs [8]. Participation in the EBP process is one of the best strategies for nurses to remain up-to-date on current knowledge [3].

Granted, in recent years the healthcare industry has witnessed an information explosion in which new knowledge has grown exponentially; more is known than is currently practiced [3]. With known healthcare practices in which effectiveness is supported by scientific evidence, third-party payers are providing reimbursement only for supported best practices (i.e., pay for performance) and hospitals are being denied payment for patient complications that developed due to failure to follow EBP guidelines [5]. Moreover, by perusing EBP websites, patients and families are knowledgeable concerning effective treatment for their health condition which is likely to place even greater pressure on healthcare providers to practice using the most current evidence

[5]. Evidence-based practice is such a priority in healthcare the Institute of Medicine has set a goal that by the year 2020, 90% all healthcare decisions in the United States will be evidence-based [10].

Considering EBP is centered on multiple sources of knowledge, clinical expertise, and patient preferences, the bedside nurse is in a unique position to generate important questions that concern patient care and safety [3]. As the largest healthcare profession numbering more than three million, it is essential for nurses to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to participate and lead the EBP process and integration movement (translational science). Nurses can and must play a prominent role in transforming the future of healthcare by leading ourselves and our interprofessional colleagues in translating research into practice to improve the quality of care patients receive.

References1. Williams, D.O., Treatment delayed is treatment denied. Circulation, 2004. 109(15): p. 1806-1808.2. McGinty, J. and G. Anderson, Predictors of physician compliance with American Heart Association guidelines for acute myocardial infarction. Crit Care Nurs Q, 2008. 31(2):

p. 161-72.3. Pugh, L.C., Evidence-based practice: Context, concerns, and challenges, in Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice: Model and Guidelines, S.L. Dearholt and D.

Dang, Editors. 2012, Sigma Theta Tau International: Indianapolis. p. 3-30.4. Grady, P.A., Translational research and nursing science. Nurs Outlook, 2010. 58(3): p. 164-6.5. Melnyk, B.M. and E. Fineout-Overholt, Making the case for evidence-based practice and cultivating a spirit of inquiry, in Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare a Guide to Best Practice, B.M. Melnyk and E. Fineout-Overholt, Editors. 2011, Wolters Kluwer: Philadelphia. p. 3-24.6. Sackett, D.L., et al., Evidence based medicine: What it is and what it isn’t. BMJ, 1996. 312(7023): p. 71-2.7. American Academy of Pediatrics, Changing concepts of sudden infant death syndrome: Implications for infant sleeping environment and sleep position. 2000, Elk Grove Village, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics.

8. Melnyk, B.M., et al., The state of evidence-based practice in US nurses: Critical implications for nurse leaders and educators. J Nurs Adm, 2012. 42(9): p. 410-7.9. Shin, J.H., R.B. Haynes, and M.E. Johnston, Effect of problem-based, self-directed undergraduate education on life-long learning. CMAJ, 1993. 148(6): p. 969-76.10. McClellan, M.B., et al., Evidence-based medicine and the changing nature of health care. 2007, Washington, DC: The Academies Press.11. The Cochrane Collaboration. Archie Cochrane: The Name Behind the Cochrane Collaboration. 2013 [Janurary 4, 2013]; Available from: http://www.cochrane.org/about-us/

history/archie-cochrane.

External Evidence from Research,Evidence-Based Theories,

Opinion Leaders, and Expert Panels

Patient Preferencesand Values

Evidence-BasedClinical Decision

Making

Clinical Expertise (i.e., internal evidence generated from outcomes management or quality improvement

projects, a thorough patient assessment and evaluation, and use

of available resoures)

CLINICAL DECISIONMAKING

Components of evidence-

based practice [5]

EBP ORGaNizaTiONaL CuLTuRE

Context of Caring

QualityPatient

OutcomesClinical

Decision Making

Research Evidenceand Evidence-Based

Theories.

Clinical Expertise, i.e., evidence from patient assessment,

internal evidence, and the use of healthcare resources)

Patient Preferencesand Values

Evidence-based practice modeled within a caring environment (evidence-based practice culture) produces the highest quality

patient outcomes [5].

10 Methodist Nurse

“Let’s Get Ready”COUNTDOWN...

Only a few more days to a new look

For more information, please contact Charlene Mason at 713-441-4546 or

cmason@tmhs.org.

On April 24, 2013, Methodist MICU nurse Haley Hoskinson and several of her colleagues led a memorial event in The Methodist Hospital Healing Garden to remember former nursing colleague, Randy Mullins, who died last year. Over the past year, the MICU staff has raised over $3,000 in Randy’s honor. A portion of the proceeds went toward the purchase of a memorial bench, which was unveiled during the ceremony and is on display in the Healing Garden. MICU staff members voted to donate the remaining funds to the AIDS Foundation – Houston. Several Methodist executives and staff members attended this touching memorial, which was held on the one-year anniversary of Randy’s death. After a moment of prayer, white balloons symbolizing Randy’s free spirit were released into the Houston sky while individuals shared their personal memories of Randy.

Randy Mullins Memorial

THE NEW UNIFORMS ARE COMING

In an effort to meet the demands of our growing health care industry and diversity of the patient population, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) set

forth a recommendation to increase the proportion of baccalaureate degree nurses from 50 percent to 80 percent by 2020. Nursing schools responded in kind by increasing enrollment by 5.1% in 2011. This type of growth affects both nursing schools and health care facilities.

The Methodist Hospital remains committed to helping these schools educate the best and brightest nursing students through clinical placements and preceptorships. Since 2007, health care facilities and universities have relied on the Centralized Clinical Placement System (CCPS) to place hundreds of nursing students. Managing clinical placements is quite challenging due to the increasing nursing-student population. It would often take months to place students through CCPS, which allows each school of nursing to input cohort requests. Other issues with CCPS identified by both the schools of nursing and health care facilities included: preceptor placement, an inadequate number of sites relative to the

student population, and a lack of accountability or reporting to ensure schools use the spots they reserve.

In an effort to streamline the process, The Methodist Hospital Center for Professional Excellence (CPE) began to embark on creating alternative clinical placement models. CPE decided to establish a pilot program modeled after the NFL draft. The first draft style event was hosted by Texas Women’s University and consisted of clinical placement coordinators from 11 nursing schools and coordinators from TMH. Each school took turns selecting spots from among the available hospitals until all positions were filled.

The event was highly successful with nearly 500 students placed in just under five hours—including a record number of clinical placements at Methodist in one afternoon. University officials especially liked the face to face communication as well as the opportunity to secure their placements before they left. We are proud that this collaborative partnership has shown immediate results in improving the efficiency of student placements.

Leaders in Nursing 11

in Clinical Student Placements By: Tiffany McCarthy & Andrea Mejia

TMH Works to improve Efficiency

(American Association of College of Nursing (AACN), 2012).

Methodist receives 2013 ABNS Nursing Certification Advocacy Award

The Methodist Hospital also promotes certification through other multiple tactics, including:

• Providing reimbursement for certification fees up to $250.

• Providing career coaches who evaluate interest in certification and provide support through the process.

• Partnering with aligned partners to promote relevant professional education and growth opportunities.

• Allowing nurses to print their specialty credentials on name badges.

• Providing lapel pins to certified nurses to raise awareness.

• Holding career and education fairs to provide support for nurses interested in certification.

The American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS) Awards and Recognition Committee announced that it has selected The Methodist Hospital as the recipient of the 2013 Award for Nursing Certification Advocacy. The award recognizes health care organizations, facilities or departments that are strong advocates of specialty nursing certification.

“It was immediately clear from their application that The Methodist Hospital has a strong commitment to specialty certification,” Cynthia Nowicki Hnatiuk, EdD, RN, CAE, Chair of the ABNS Awards and Recognition Committee, said. “We applaud their use of creative programs to promote certification to the nursing staff and create excitement around the credentialing process.”

Approximately 34 percent of direct patient care RNs and an impressive 97 percent of nursing managers and directors are certified—an important criteria for the award. Methodist promotes certification among its staff through various professional advancement and incentive programs. The hospital used “mobile” certification carts to launch a campaign called “In the Know, On the Go.” The staff manning the carts quiz nurses’ knowledge on Methodist’s certification data and uses the opportunity to discuss

certification opportunities. They also recently implemented a certification campaign entitled, “Catch the Fever,” to increase certification rates within all units.

“This healthy competition has generated excitement among our staff and has drastically improved certification rates in many units throughout the hospital,” Ann Scanlon McGinity, Ph.D., R.N., Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, said. “We strive to encourage nurses to seek certification, support them throughout the process and find multiple opportunities to recognize their achievement.”

The Methodist Hospital recognizes nurses who earn certification in weekly emails from the Executive Vice President, during an annual reception on Certified Nurses Day, in internal publications, on wall plaques and with a variety of other strategies. In addition to promoting and recognizing certification, The Methodist Hospital has invested in a dynamic educational system which delivers online continuing education and certification review courses free of charge to all nurses and allied health professionals.

Congratulations to the Methodist nursing community on this achievement, especially those who continue to play a role in advocating and supporting specialty nursing certifications. This accolade certainly reflects the quality

of our nursing care at Methodist, and the care and dedication you all bring to your work.

For more information, please visit www.nursingcertification.org.

12 Methodist Nurse

50

40

30

20

10

0

Percentage of Certified Nurseson this Unit

Catch the Fever

GOAL

Leaders in Nursing 13

OOUTSTANDING STUDENT NURSE AWARD

The Methodist Hospital’s Outstanding Student Nurse

Scholarship Reception took place on April 24, 2013. Scholarships in the amount of $1,000 were awarded to one exceptional student from ten Houston area nursing schools. These students were selected for demonstrating excellence in academic and community leadership.

CERTIFIED NURSES DAy A Huge Success!THE METHODIST HOSPITAL recently celebrated Certified Nurses Day in recognition of all Methodist nurses that have achieved national certifications in their respective specialties. Celebrations were held in both the morning and afternoon to accommodate nurses’ schedules. During the events, each certified nurse in attendance received a commemorative certificate as well as an official certified nursing lapel pin to serve as a constant reminder of the leadership, commitment and expertise they demonstrate in caring for patients and their families. Our certified nurses at Methodist do a great job serving as ambassadors for national certification by sharing their experiences and achievements with their colleagues. So, if you have yet to pursue certification in your specialty—there has never been a better time to become a certified nurse.

14 Methodist Nurse

The Methodist Hospital System’s MethodistsPeaKsProgram(Formerly NurseSPEAk)

By Debra Belgard, Patty Mendoza, Mary Harris, JoAnne Gaudet, Shannin Hamlin, Mary Shepherd

MethodistsPeaKs

is held on the third Tuesday of each month in the

Dunn Pecos Conference Room from 2:00pm – 3:00pm.

2013 DATES• May 21

• June 18

• July 16

• August 20

• September 17

• October 15

• November 19

• December 17

For more information, please contact: Debbie Belgard at dbelgard@tmhs.org

Presenting a poster or podium presentation usually classifies as an exciting opportunity for each of us as health care professionals. Whether this opportunity is in-house, local, national, or

international, it may fill you with trepidation and anxiety. However, do not let that stop you from accepting this challenge!

Excellence in ICARE also includes effective communication. Would you like to improve your presentation skills or address concerns about future presentations? The Methodist Hospital hosts an inter-professional communication program called MethodistSPEAKS. This program is aimed at improving overall presentations skills whether your audience is made up of two or 300. MethodistSPEAKS provides a supportive, structured, and exciting opportunity for members of its academic medical center to develop a unique voice in presenting a professional poster or a full podium presentation.

MethodistSPEAKS also offers its members tools to reduce anxiety and gain mastery of public speaking skills. Effective communication is important in all aspects of

your professional career such as handoff report and public speaking on a well known topic. So why not gain proficiency within a safe and professional environment aimed at providing constructive feedback? If you have a fear of public speaking, accept the challenge and learn how others make it look so easy!

MethodistSPEAKS is open to everyone in The Methodist Hospital System. The program meets monthly in a venue that enables members to develop the skills needed to write and submit abstracts for presentation. In conjunction with these monthly meetings, you will be able to collaborate with colleagues of varying experiences and backgrounds and gain feedback that will get your presentation to that next level of excellence. The MethodistSPEAkS program follows a systematic process that will guide and support members to gain the confidence needed to give a professional presentation representative of Methodist ICARE and your own personal goals.

Join us for our next inter-professional meeting on May 21, 2013, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, in the Dunn Pecos conference room. All are welcome to attend.

Leaders in Nursing 15

For the eighth year in a row, The Methodist Hospital System is ranked among FORTUNE magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” remaining the only hospital system ranked in Texas.

Methodist is ranked No. 67 on the list, and is one of 13 companies in Texas to receive the prestigious distinction this year.

“Everyone who works at Methodist has earned this award, because it reflects the compassion and dedication of our 14,000 employees and 4,000 affiliated physicians,” said Dr. Marc Boom, president and CEO of The Methodist Hospital System. “Our employees and physicians make Methodist a great place to work.”

FortuNe ranks Methodist among “100 Best Companies to Work For” in 2013

NURSES WEEK EVENTS

kimberley Dubose kdubose@tmhs.org

713-441-1156

For additional information:

Monday, May 6: Opening Reception for Nurses Week Banner signing (week long) email contest (week long)

Tuesday, May 7: Scavenger Hunt

Wednesday, May 8: Silent Auction in Support of Nursing Development Fund

Thursday, May 9: One Minute Manicures

Friday, May 10: Poster Presentation & Banner Display Announcement of Drawings and

contest Winners

Nurses WeekCelebration Gala

kudos to our nursing staff on Fondren 11 who has piloted the Patient Pass and completed 28 patient passes in the first month.

Mary Harris, R.N, and Joanne Gaudet, R.N, recently presented on their portable palliative care unit at the Houston Chapter of the Oncology Nursing Society membership meeting. They received rave reviews from all those in attendance. Great job!

Nena Bonuel, Ph.D., R.N., C.C.R.N.-E., A.C.N.S.-B.C., recently had three articles accepted for publication. The articles are entitled “Experiences of the Transplant Nurses Caring for Renal Transplant Patients in an Acuity-Adaptable Patient Room,” “Acuity-Adaptable Patient Room Improves Length of Stay and Cost of Patients Undergoing Renal Transplant, A Pilot Study” and “Review of the Literature: Acuity-Adaptable Patient Room.” They will each be featured in the 2013 April-June issue of Critical Care Nursing Quarterly, a peer-reviewed journal for critical care nursing. Congratulations Nena!

Congratulations to Methodist Hospital nurse Lorelie Lazaro, R.N., from Main 7 Southwest, who was selected as our latest DAISy Award winner.

Congratulations to Glenda Zwambag, R.N., who recently passed her CVRN certification exam.

kudos to Ashley Verzwyvelt, R.N., from OPC 21 Infusion, who recently passed her OCN exam.

Congratulations to Chrissy Majors, R.N., from FBOR, for passing her CNOR exam. Way to go Chrissy!

Congratulations to Kathleen Ulanday, M.H.A., M.B.A., R.N., Nursing Education Specialist II, from the Center for Professional Excellence, who recently passed her Informatics Nursing certification exam.

Congratulations to Jennifer Boyd, R.N., from MICU, and Sunila Al, R.N., from NICU, who recently earned their certifications in Critical Care Nursing. Way to go!

kudos to Lorelie Miguel, R.N., on the Observation Unit, for earning her Progressive Care Certification (PCCN).

AccoladesNursing

NewsThe Methodist Hospital is proud to have nurses who are dedicated to the nursing profession, driven to achieve growth in their professional development, and creative and always compassionate in their care for patients.

The accolades page is an opportunity for the nursing staff to showcase a few of the many exciting tributes our nurses receive. Please submit kudos to: tmitchell2@tmhs.org