SPOTLIGHTO U R C U L T U R E A N D M I S S I O N I N A C T I O N • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 4

Has a nurse touched your life?

Catching up with Carol Ellis

Recognizing excellence in nursing

IN YOUR WORDS BETTER MEDICINE DAISY COMMITTEE3 6 8

‘I wouldn’t have traded it for anything.’

NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM:

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Kelly Evans, R.N., helps Margaret Durnford, R.N. suit up in personal protective equipment.

SPOTLIGHT

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DAISY Award nominees at St. Anthony’s since

May 2014

Percentage of nurses who complete the Nurse Residency

Program and succession-plan to a higher level of care

Reduction in nurse turnover

from FY 2013 to FY 2014

Involvement by front-line staff in Shared Governance councils since

its implementation in 2009

Retention rate of nurses hired through

Nurse Residency Program

Nurses with advanced professional certifications

(critical care, cardiac medicine, etc.)

Total number hired to Nurse Residency Program since

it started in March 2012

86%

110

5.1%

70% 80%

399

639177

28Great Great NURSES, NUMBERS

2

B Y T H E N U M B E R S

110

SPOTLIGHT

Registered nurses at

St. Anthony’s:

Full-time

Part-time

More than

to

DECEMBER 2014

3

Nurses with advanced professional certifications

(critical care, cardiac medicine, etc.)

Our winner:When I was four years old, I had to have my tonsils taken out. As I was going back to the surgical suite I realized that mommy and daddy were not going to follow me. My OR nurse was so comforting, and never took her eyes off me as I was going off to sleep. The operating team and anesthesia were wonderful, but for a few moments as they started to move things around, I could hear noises which would have been terrifying if it hadn’t been for my nurse locking eyes with mine right before my eyes closed. It was literally just a few seconds of her day, but it’s a moment and a tenderness that I will never forget.

DeAnna Robeson, R.N. Clinical Nurse Manager

Ashley Allen is a nurse who, despite her pregnancy, has held the fort in the Radiation Oncology department all by herself while our other nurse was on vacation. She had a large load of patients but kept me going, teaching me the computer system and helping me with forms, because I am a new doctor here. Despite this, she still was able to treat each patient with great respect and kindness, calling them by phone for questions and answers and such. She could have skipped all these steps with her condition, but she always kept a smiling face for everyone despite being tired and very hungry with the baby. Kudos to her.William H. Dunn, M.D.Radiology Oncology

Tell us about a time when a nurse has touched your life.

Visit SAMCare to see more responses.

I would like to recognize Ann Smith, L.P.N. at Fenton Family Medicine. We had a patient who forgot her glasses and couldn’t see to fill out the paperwork. Ann took her own glasses off for the patient to use! She is really sweet and thoughtful, and helps everyone out whenever possible. Christina Cantrell, R.M.A.St. Anthony’s at Fenton Family Medicine

All of the nurses at our Wound Treatment Center have my undying gratitude! They give wonderful care and assurances to their patients. I’ve been going as a patient for two months now, and I couldn’t have gotten better care anywhere. They always make the process as pleasant as possible. They never laughed at me over burning my big toe on the lid to my new Weber grill!Mary Ann Plymale, C.C.S.Inpatient Coder, Health Info. Management

My aunt, Debbie Kuhn, has been a registered nurse at SAMC for several years and currently works on the Same-Day Surgery floor. I can remember being a small child and feeling so lucky to have her not only as my aunt, but my godmother. She was more like a mother to me, watching me frequently during the day, teaching me, taking me places…Her career as a nurse became part of my inspiration to become one myself. I think of her often, thankful to have her as a role model.Elizabeth Warden, R.N.3 South Telemetry

After I was wheeled in [to the Operating Room] three nurses were working to get it ready for my surgery. All introduced themselves to me and were very encouraging and supportive. One nurse came to my side, took my hand and assured me that she would be there for me throughout the entire procedure. Then she did something that no one had done before: she made a sign of the cross on my forehead. Being Catholic, this was so comforting to me. me at that moment. I knew everything was going to be okay! Karen L. Studyvin, R.N., B.S.N. Education Specialist

My father’s nurse was Kate, on the sixth-floor stepdown unit. I have never met a more caring, kind and compassionate nurse. You could tell she actually cared, and he wasn’t just another room number. She is truly one of the best nurses I have ever met.Donna SertlPractice Manager, St. Anthony’s at Lemay Internal and Family Medicine

SPOTLIGHT

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SPOTLIGHT

Nurses know best: Shared Governance promotes superior practice

• The hallways are quiet each day between 2 and 4 p.m., so patients may rest.

• Patients in Same-Day Surgery no longer populate the waiting room in the mornings. For greater privacy and improved wait times, they’re whisked back to their respective rooms to be prepared for surgery.

• Nurses from Same-Day Surgery provide brief discharge education to their patients before they go to surgery, to enhance the discharge process.

• Third-floor staff worked with Courtney Katz and Information Services to move the transfer to facility discharge paperwork into the Electronic Medical Record for patients being released to nursing homes, in the interest of patient safety.

Cardiac Medical ICU nurse Kate Hodges, R.N. cares for seriously ill patients in what looks to be a typical intensive care environment. But there’s an important difference in this unit.

“We’ve made some big changes in CCU,” Kate said. “We’ve changed our room-cleaning procedures, improving the rate of infections. And we discontinued the lotion we were using when we found it was incompatible with the chlorhexidine baths our patients receive.”

These best practices were achieved by the nurses with a decision-making model called Shared Governance, first implemented at St. Anthony’s in 2009. Simply put, it’s the problem-solving and teamwork of front-line caregivers, in collaboration with their supervisors, to improve nursing practice and patient care.

“Shared Governance is all about empowering our nurses to improve their practices and morale, increase patient satisfaction, and improve care overall,” said Marsha Enchelmaier, co-chair of the Shared Governance Steering Committee and Stroke Program Manager.

Through Shared Governance, the CCU staff also have adjusted the amounts and types of supplies stored close to the patient’s bedside, to increase the time they can spend with the patient. They’ve formed a “journal club” to monitor best practices nationally for critical-care patients, and have improved the

nursing workflow and holiday rotation.“You have to have support from the top

down, and we do [from Natalie Wright, Director of Cardiovascular Services],” Kate said.About a dozen unit-based Shared Governance councils meet regularly throughout the medical center, including one in the CCU. They work closely with the Shared Governance Steering Committee, the Nurse Practice Council, Quality Council, and a newly formed Technology Council. A technical liaison, Informatics Nursing Specialist Courtney Katz, works with the Technology Council on improvements that center around the medical center’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and technology.

“It’s been exciting to see all the ways in which our employees have elevated their units and departments,” said Shared Governance Steering Committee Chair Amy Barker.

Nurses are smart, and understand the processes of caring for our patients, said Carol Ellis, Vice President of Nursing at St. Anthony’s. “Collectively, nurses know what works and what doesn’t, and they have a keen sense of the steps to take that will enhance or improve the care for our patients,” Ellis said. “Empowering nurses to use their knowledge and voices to improve care and advocate for changes enhances nursing practice and supports high-quality health care.”

(From left): R.N.s Marsha Enchelmaier, Amy Barker, Kara Adams, Anna Hamilton, Courtney Katz and Natalie Wright confer on matters of Shared Governance

Best practices made reality by Shared Governance:

DECEMBER 2014

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DECEMBER 2014

“I came out feeling confident that the floor chosen was the right fit for me.”

– Kayla Aydelott R.N., B.S.N.

Within a span of five minutes, Kayla Aydelott, R.N., B.S.N., has comforted an anxious patient in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), phoned a doctor for care instructions, stopped in to check on a patient whose nurse has gone on lunch break, adjusted an IV monitor and entered care documentation into a computer.

Kayla developed her passion for nursing from her mom, an Emergency Department nurse with 30 years’ experience. And she polished her education and honed her skills through St. Anthony’s Nurse Residency Program.

Nurse Residency Program

Nurses Kelly Evans, left., and Margaret Durnford dispense medication

‘I wouldn’t have traded it for anything’

Developed by Shelly O’Malley-Robinson, M.S.N., R.N., nurse instructor at St. Anthony’s, the Nurse Residency Program was launched in March 2012. It differs from other graduate nurse programs in two important areas:

• The year-long program “loops” nurses through a variety of clinical areas to give newly graduated registered nurses a big-picture perspective of patient care.

• Each nurse is assigned a full-time Advanced Clinical Expert (ACE), who works closely with the nurse to develop his or her clinical skills and to determine an optimal fit at the medical center. The nurses also are mentored by nurse preceptors in each department.

“The Nurse Residency program was the perfect experience,” she said. “I wouldn’t have traded it for anything in the world.”

The program promotes growth through succession planning: recently, two residents transferred successfully to intensive care units, with four more scheduled to follow shortly. This shortened orientation to the critical care area provides an average cost savings of $3,456 per resident, Shelly said.

“I’ve had several nurses from the Nurse Residency Program who have transferred into critical care areas,” said Natalie Wright, Director of Cardiovascular Services. “They have shown superior clinical and assessment skills. Also, they are highly engaged in the organization and have an understanding of relationships developed at the bedside with patients and families.”

Kelly Evans, M.S.N., R.N., the lead Advanced Clinical Expert and one of three ACEs at St. Anthony’s, said working on a floor is a scary time for new nurses. They must practice new procedures, such as setting up a Foley catheter or handling a life-threatening situation.

Kelly travels the halls of the hospital many times over and cares for a myriad of details. This includes pairing nurses with preceptors based on their personalities, scheduling, creating a patient list for the nurses, verifying charting and rounding on units.

After Kayla finished her classes and looping rotation, Kelly recommended that 4 South would be a good fit for her, and Kayla agreed. She worked her first year on 4 South, and as part of her succession planning transferred to the SICU in August 2013.

“I came out feeling confident that the floor chosen was the right fit for me,” Kayla said. “There was an incredible sense of cohesiveness and teamwork, and I was nervous as to whether I’d find that as well in the ICU. Well, I did: there’s incredible teamwork here. I think I’ll work here for a very long time.”

SPOTLIGHT

Carol Ellis, M.S.N., R.N., NE-BC, Vice President of Nursing at St. Anthony’s, has more than 30 years of nursing experience at St. Anthony’s, from float nurse to nursing management. Most recently, she served as Director of Nursing Operations.

Carol grew up in Crestwood, Mo., where she still resides with her husband of 33 years, Gene. She professes a passion for living a fit and healthy life, and strives to eat healthy, meditate and exercise each day to help relieve stress and maintain a positive outlook.

With her husband, Carol enjoys traveling and sports such as biking and hiking, and has made the rounds of every bicycle trail in the metro St. Louis area. They also enjoy spending time with their three grown children and two grandchildren.

Carol, why did you decide to become a nurse?Growing up, both my parents were ill: my father had multiple sclerosis and my mother had breast cancer. Even with their illnesses, my parents strived for normalcy in our home. Being available to assist my parents was a normal activity, and I enjoyed being responsible for helping others. My mom encouraged me to apply as a candy striper at age 14, at which time I began my interest in the medical field.

Catching Up

with Carol Ellis

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DECEMBER 2014

What keeps you in this high-stress field?A nursing career has so much to offer for individuals who have a passion for science and the capabilities of the human body. Helping others understand the physical processes as well as the psychosocial aspects of disease and wellness is intriguing and never dull.

What day-to-day functions does your position entail? I believe I am able to support our nurses to deliver the best care possible and to remove the barriers that impact their daily workflows so they may improve the quality, ensuring desired outcomes are met.

Can you tell us what it’s like to be a nurse? What sets nursing apart from other occupations? Most nurses I know have a passion inside of them that is inquisitive and compassionate. Inquisitive, to seek to understand how the body, mind and spirit work and how to balance each for optimal wellness, no matter what the condition. And compassion, which allows them to empathize to provide the right balance of care.

What attributes must all nurses possess to stay at the top of their profession?Nurses must never stop learning or advocating for improvements. Whether you are a nurse in a hospital, at a clinic or on the NASCAR race circuit, you must constantly update your knowledge of current trends and advances in health. Nurses must use their knowledge to advocate for each patient, whether it’s one or 100,000. We are well-educated and we persevere through difficult situations, and we must also use our voices to promote our profession and the power we have to improve care for everyone.

Nurses must never stop learning or advocating for improvements.

– CAROL ELLIS

7EDUCATION

Master’s in Nursing (M.S.N.) with an emphasis in Leadership:Webster University, 2011

Bachelor’s in Nursing (B.S.N.):University of Phoenix, 2003

FAMILY

Husband, GeneThree children Two grandchildren

INTERESTS

TravelingBikingHiking

Bicycling in Paris, September 2014

Carol meets with R.N.s Karen O’Laughlin, Michelle Jost and Kathy Williams

Spotlight is published quarterly by the Marketing Department of St. Anthony’s Medical Center.

Writer: Robbi Courtaway, ext. 4003 Photography: Christy Siebert, ext. 4934 Graphic design: Stephen Walker, ext. 4767

DAISY Award

PerksDAISY

8

Notice a nurse wearing a distinctive daisy pin? He or she was a nominee for, or a winner of, the DAISY Award. It was established by a grateful family and adopted by 1,500 hospitals around the world to recognize excellence in nursing.

St. Anthony’s adopted the DAISY Award program last spring to elevate the recognition of nurses at the medical center, said DAISY Award Committee Chair Karen Gist, Director of Medical and Surgical Services. Since May, the committee has received nearly 400 nominations, 116 in the last month.

It’s the DAISY Committee’s job to handpick these great nurses – tough but rewarding choices.

“We get so many nominations, it makes me feel so good about St. Anthony’s,” observed committee member Karen Fox of the Wound Treatment Center. “People are taking time to comment on their care.”

Nomination forms are available in patient care areas, and 95 percent of DAISY Award nominations at St. Anthony’s have come from the patients or their family members.

The DAISY Foundation has a template of guidelines to follow, and St. Anthony’s

DAISY team met for several weeks to expand on those guidelines and set additional criteria for honored nurses. When considering the candidates, for example, committee members do not know the nominees’ names or floors.

Nominations have included many excellent nurses who embrace St. Anthony’s four guiding principles as their own. To receive the award, however, they have to be standouts.

The fact that patients and families are taking the time to write out the nominations speaks volumes, said committee member Karen Subert of Hyland Behavioral Health, who also was nominated for the award.

“Frequently, the nominators write that the nurse ‘cared for me as if I was the only patient,’” added committee member Denise Pyles of Home Care. “People may not remember so much what the doctor did or the technician did. But they remember what the nurses did, and that determines whether they come back.”

• Ceremony• Flower arrangement• Sculpture made by tribe

in Zimbabwe• Daisy pin• Two boxes of Cinnabon

pastries presented to honoree’s nursing division

• Banner hung in honoree’s unit, signed by honoree

St. Anthony’s DAISY Committee Karen Gist, Director, Medical and Surgical Services, ChairCorin Allen, Nurse Manager, 3 SouthKaren Fox, Wound Treatment CenterKaren Subert, Hyland Behavioral HealthKim Newton, Same-Day SurgeryDenise Pyles, Home CareCatherine Christopher, Lemay Urgent CareBrittany Vargas, Cardiovascular ICUJennifer Young, Medical StepdownAlyssa Lehr, 5 West

Read about the DAISY Foundation: daisyfoundation.org

DAISY Committee recognizes nursing excellence

Committee members and nurse managers gather in the main lobby before surprising the latest DAISY winner. From left: Sarah Husser, Michelle Jost, Karen Fox, Karen Gist, April Napier, Corin Allen, Fawn Smith and Jennifer McBride-Hobbs.