The Pause important services to community That...

July 21, 2009 VJuly 21, 2009 VJuly 21, 2009 VJuly 21, 2009 VJuly 21, 2009 Vol. 10 Issue 28 ol. 10 Issue 28 ol. 10 Issue 28 ol. 10 Issue 28 ol. 10 Issue 28 Information for Denver’s Nursing & Health Care Professionals www.denvernursingstar.com Locally Published, Owned and Operated Each Week by Metro Publishing LLC

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Recruiter Showcase

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by Elizabeth Bussey Sowdal

The PauseThat Regresses

ndropause. Male menopause. HA! That’s all I cansay. HA! I was interested to read an article recentlyaddressing the issue of male menopause, or

andropause. I was gratified, satisfied and gleeful and not in avery nice way, if you must know. Here’s why.

I enjoyed a very early menopause. By the time I was 34 Iwas having symptoms. These symptoms were well controlledby birth control pills. I took them for two years with verygood results and then could no longer take them because Iwas over 35 and a smoker.

You might think that if my symptoms were unpleasantenough and if the birth control pills were effective enough Iwould have stopped smoking. You will be pleased to learnthat I was stronger than that. Istalwartly continued smokingand switched to over thecounter estrogen.

Anyway, the long andthe short of it is that I hadcomple te ly surv ivedmenopause and was over allthe unpleasantness by thetime I hit forty.

I have the thin, crinklyskin to prove it, but mydisposition is about back to

Presorted StandardU.S. PostagePAID

Permit #1Oklahoma City, Ok 731

Denver’s Nursing StarP.O. BOX 239MUSTANG, OK 73064

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North Colorado MedicalCenter recognized for care

North Colorado MedicalCenter has been recognized forach ievement in us ingevidence-based guidelines to

provide the best possible careto patients through TheAmerican Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s

Get With The Guidelines program.NCMC and 569 other hospitals are being recognized for their receipt of Get With The

Guidelines Gold or Silver Performance Achievement Award. The awards are given for achievementin the treatment of coronary artery disease, stroke and/or heart failure.

Hospitals are recognized in each category in which they achieve at least 85 percentcompliance to Get With The Guidelines measures. Those hospitals marking 85 percent compliancefor 24 consecutive months are given the Gold Performance Achievement Award, with theSilver Performance Achievement award going to those with 85 percent compliance for 12consecutive months.

Get With The Guidelines is a hospital-based quality-improvement program designed toensure that hospitals consistently care for cardiac and stroke patients following the most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations.

The program addresses coronary artery disease, heart failure and stroke. Currently morethan 1,450 hospitals participate in the program.

NCMC and the other hospitals are featured in a July 28 advertisement in the “America’sBest Hospitals” issue of US News & World Report to commemorate their receipt of

the achievement awards. The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’sadvertisement recognizes NCMC’s commitment and success in performance achievement.

“The American Heart Association is pleased to recognize its top Get With The Guidelinesparticipants,” said Lee Schwamm, M.D., national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines

On Monday, July 20 thefirst new hospital in theFruita area in 60 yearsopened its doors to patients.

The new facility willoffer many services that, untilnow, residents of the lower

valley had to travel to GrandJunction to find.

The new hospital will bea critical-access rural hospitalwith 16 private rooms. It wasbuilt just about a half a blockfrom the 60-year-old originalFamily Health West hospital.

“It’s overdue. The residentsof Fruita are thinking, ‘we’re

finally getting our hospitalback,’” said Angelina Salazar,d i rec tor o f market ing ,contributions and communityrelations for Family HealthWest. “It’s been a long timecoming.”

Family Health West isopening the $19 million,

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by Cara O’BrienStaff Writer

Critical Care: New hospital offersimportant services to community

Critical Care: New hospital offersimportant services to community

Denver’s Nursing Star July 21, 2009

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Elizabeth

Elizabeth Bussey Sowdal is an RN andfreelance writer who lives and works inOklahoma City.

normal , so that ’s a rel ief . Myequilibrium firmly re-established, I amin a good position to help my dearhusband deal with his own burgeoninghormonal issues. At least, I am intheory.

In practice, it is another matter.At work I consider myself to be avery empathetic person. At home Ihave issues. It is not very empatheticto chortle gleefully when the personyou adore complains about somemiddle-age acne. It is hard to bebelievably sympathetic sounding whenyou are laughing maniacally. It is notvery therapeutic to say, "it’s only goingto get worse!" I should be sympatheticI know. Having been through it myself,I should be able to help my husbandthrough the struggle as he mournsthe loss of his youth and begins thedecline into agedness. Should be. Mightbe, if I was a nicer person.

Instead, the whole thing strikesme as being a kind of poetic justice.It strikes me as being kind of hilarious.How many indignities did I suffer atthe hands of this very man whilstgoing through my own hormonaldemise? How many times did I notfling cutlery and glasses and bottlesof dish soap at him when he saunteredinto the kitchen whistling (!) when Iwas feeling bleakest and say somethingwrenchingly, cavalierly inconsideratesuch as, "Hi hon! How was your day?"

How many dishtowels did I chewto shreds in an attempt not to screamout loud when I heard him in thenext room whispering to the children,"I wouldn’t go in there just now."?How many times was I left home aloneto stew in my own evaporating juiceswhile he took the kids out for a drive?How often have I heard him tell methat I’m still just as pretty to him. To.

Him. So, what does that mean? I’mnot just as pretty to everybody? Areyou saying that these zits are notpretty? Are you saying that I am ashriveled up, wrinkly old shadow ofmy former self and that you can barelystand to be around me? Cuz you hateme? Is that what you’re saying?HUH!?!?!

My husband may be finding theoccasional spot on his face, may befeeling a little tired and blue, but thatseems to be as far as it is going forhim. And I guess I am glad. While Imight kind of like the idea of himhaving to suffer a little as I suffered,I am glad that I do not have to tiptoearound his moods very often. I amglad that we don’t have the horriblecircular conversations I subjected himto, "Do you think I’m looking fatter?So, are you saying I look good fat?So, you think I am fat and old andunattractive, but you love me anyway?What? So, even though I am old andfat and ugly and have whiskers onmy chin and zits and my teeth aregetting wobbly you still love mebecause you feel sorry for me? Is thatwhat you’re saying by walking in hereand saying, ‘hello’ like that, like youdidn’t have a care in the world?"

Oh dear. I had kind of forgottenwhat it was like. I may not be sorryfor him, but I wonder if I should besorry for me. Maybe his andropauseis not a punishment for him, but apunishment for me. I wonder if thereis something I can do to help.


Care

InTouch Health, the world leader in Remote Presence healthcare solutions,announced the release of Multi-Presence™,a new clinical workflow software solutionthat expands its turnkey Remote Presence telehealth offering. Multi-Presence enablesmultiple physicians and healthcare specialists at different locations to simultaneouslyaccess the same Remote Presence consultation thereby allowing them to collaborateon patient care at anytime, from anywhere.

InTouch Health provides Remote Presence solutions that allow physicians toperform comprehensive real-time consults with hospital patients. Over one networkand through a single interface, physicians can access a family of Remote Presencedevices to provide care and expert collaboration across the entire continuum ofhealthcare, all delivered through a single backbone of SureConnect™ connectivityservices and support. Multi-Presence represents another leap forward for theadvancement of telehealth care delivery by allowing physicians to enlist additionalexperts when needed to offer specific knowledge, collaboration and consultation.Multi-Presence also facilitates training and education, where physicians and healthcare professionals can observe, train and collaborate on clinical cases and procedures.

“The addition of Multi-Presence capability to Remote Presence results in aformidable combination for remote consults,” said Dr. Paul M. Vespa, Professor ofNeurosurgery, Neurology, and Director of Neurocritical Care at the University ofCalifornia Los Angeles Medical Center. “Healthcare today is a collaborative effort.This new capability will allow teams of physicians to collaborate in real-time in thecare of a single patient. The old saying that ‘Two heads are better than one’ ringstrue using modern technology.”

For more information, please visit www.intouchhealth.com.

Intouch Health launches newclinical workflow software solution

steering committee, associate professorof neurology at Harvard MedicalSchool and vice chairman of neurologyat Massachusetts General Hospital.“Healthcare providers who use GetWith The Guidelines are armed withthe latest evidence-based guidelinesand immediate access to clinicaldecision support, using a set of toolsthat have been shown to improvedelivery of evidence-based care.

The goal of this initiative is toimprove the quality of life and helpreduce deaths and disability amongpatients with heart disease and stroke.”

North Colorado Medical Center isa fully accredited, private, not-for-profit facility licensed to operate 398beds. It serves as a regional medicalcenter with community-based andspecialty services in a service areaincluding southern Wyoming, westernNebraska , western Kansas andnortheastern Colorado.

A family-centered obstetrics unit,cardiovascular, oncology, ortho/neuro,Level II trauma, Western States BurnCente r and acute inpa t i en trehabilitation are among the manyservices offered through the medicalcenter.

Nearly 400,000 square feet of newpatient care space was added to thenorthern Colorado region when the

NCMC opened an expanded facilityin December 2005.

Included is the CardioVascularInstitute of North Colorado featuringstate-of-the-art heart services; expandedbirthing center and neonatal care unit,new intensive care units and newsurg i ca l su i t e s .Based in Phoenix, Banner Health isone of the largest, not-for-profit healthcare systems in the country. Bannerhas 22 facilities that offer an array ofservices including hospital care, homecare, hospice care, nursing registries,surgery cente r s , l abora to r i e s ,rehabilitation services.

These facilities are located in sevenstates - Alaska, Arizona, California,Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, andWyoming. In addition to emergencyand medical services, Banner Healthmedical centers house a variety ofspecialized services, including heartcare, cancer treatment, delivery ofhigh-order multiple births, organtransplants, bone marrow transplants,rehabilitation services, and behavioralhealth services.

For more information, vis i twww.BannerHealth.com.

Get With The Guidelines is theAmerican Heart Association/AmericanStroke Association’s hospital-basedquality improvement program thatempowers healthcare teams to savelives and reduce healthcare costs byhelping hospitals follow evidence-basedguidelines and recommendations.

For more information, vis i twww.americanheart.org.

AT 10:26 A.M. SANDY HARDWICKBROUGHT HER 57-YEAR-OLD CARDIAC

PATIENT BACK TO LIFE.

WHAT DID YOUACCOMPLISH THIS MORNING?

If you’re not satisfied with your answer, maybe you should be looking for amore satisfying career. Nursing is rewarding in more ways than you think.

Starting salaries are high. There are more generous financial aid packagesto help you pay for school. And with over 600,000 openings in the next

decade, you’re virtually guaranteed a job when you graduate. So if you arelooking for a second career where you can make a living and make a

difference, check out nursing.

IF CARING WERE ENOUGH, ANYONE COULD BE A NURSE.



Critical

40,000 square-foot hospital after justmore than one year of fundraisingand construction. It opened ready tostart in on all of the services it willoffer.

“They were ahead of schedule withthe cons t ruc t ion proce s s andeverything wentreally smoothly,”Salazar said.

In the lastcouple of yearsthe population ofthe Fruita regionhas more thandoubled, Salazarsaid.

Many of thosenew residents arefamilies; families that need accessiblehealth services.

And a feasibility study on a newhospital for the region completed lastyear showed that it was both necessaryand possible.

“It’s obvious this valley has growna great deal, and it’s needed,” Salazarsaid. “It was time to have a newhospital”

The $19 million was raised throughgrants, local fundraising and a tax-exempt bond issue. Family Health West

is responsible for the bond, it did nothave to go to the voters for approval.The city also contributed to the projectand the local school district donatedthe land.

The new facil ity will offer:inpatient, outpatient and ambulatorycare; general and orthopaedic surgery;Med ica re - sk i l l ed nurs ing andrehabilitation; a full-service, CAP-certified lab; and a radiologydepartment.

This new hospital replaces ahospital built in the 1950s in Fruita,which offered some of the sameservices.

This new hospital also builds onthose capabilities. The old hospital willbe renovated by the Mesa CountyHealth Department.

The health department wil ldemolish some of the building andbuild an addition in which to providemany of the county services currentlyonly available in Grand Junction.

Family Health West alreadyoperates several medical facilities inthe Fruita area.

The original hospital was built inthe 1940s and renovated in 1950, atwhich point the second and third floorsbecame home to a nursing home andassisted living facility.

The third floor specializes inAlzheimer’s patients. It was among thefirst facilities to utilize moderntechniques to work with Alzheimer’s

patients.“ ( I t ’ s ) what got

Family Health West onthe map,” Salazar said.

In the 1990s FamilyHealth West expandedagain, building theKokopelli Clinic, whichoffers rehabilitation andtherapy, an urgent carecenter, Imaging centerand coagulation clinic.

Finally, Family Health Westoperates The Willows and The Oaks,two assisted living facilities in Fruita.

This new hospital will mean atleast 40 to 45 new jobs for the Fruitaarea. Some of the employees will belocal, some will come from outside ofFruita.

For more information on the facility,please visit www.familyhealthwest.org.

“In the last couple of years the population of theFruita region has more than doubled. Many ofthose new residents are families, families thatneed accessible health services.”

- Angelina Salazar, Director of Marketing,Contributions, & Community Relations - Family Health West

People who want to learn more about weight-loss surgery or who havealready had bariatric surgery should plan to attend the Bariatric Health Fair onAug. 10 at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley.

The event, sponsored by the NCMC Bariatric Center, will be from 6 to 8 p.m.in NCMC Auditorium A and B. At the fair, you can visit with representativesfrom the makers of the equipment used in REALIZE and LAP BAND surgeries.Also, an exercise specialist will demonstrate exercise equipment that can be usedin your home. For people considering bariatric surgery, experts will be on hand toprovide information and answer questions. They also will conduct intakeappointments if someone wants to schedule an initial consult or talk aboutemotional eating.

Guests can visit the NCMC pharmacy booth to learn about products availablefor the bariatric patient and can sample protein or vitamin shakes and powders.Exercise specialists will provide interactive exercise tools with a Wii Fit for guests.

In 2005, NCMC received the industry’s highest distinction, the AmericanSociety of Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence. Patients travel from throughoutColorado and many surrounding states to work with the team at NCMC.

Michael Johnell, M.D. is renowned for his expertise in minimally invasivesurgery. In 2006, he trained for robotically assisted surgery and began using thedaVinci™ robot to perform many of the bariatric cases. He has been a generalsurgeon since 1985 and has performed thousands of laparoscopic proceduresduring his career. He has currently limited his practice to focus on the needs ofbariatric patients. To learn more about the surgical options available throughNCMC’s Bariatric Center, please visit www.bannerbariatrics.com. To get moreinformation about the fair, call Sylvia Stager, Outreach Program Manager at (970)378-4436.

Bariatric Health Fairscheduled to educate patients

July 21, 2009 Denver’s Nursing Star

Healthagen™, a developer ofhealthcare information software, todayannounced its new partnership withCentura Health, offering a premierlisting service for its healthcarefacilities in Colorado available on allof its smart phone iTriage applications,including iTriage for the iPhone.

With the introduction of thispremier level of service, CenturaHealth, Colorado’s largest healthcareprovider, is the first hospital systemtaking advantage of the interactivetechnology which allows consumers toevaluate their symptoms, learn aboutthe possible causes, find appropriatelocations for treatment, as well as getcost information based on the type offacility they visit.

“We have a history of seekingout and using the latest technologyto provide valuable resources to peoplewithin the communities we serve,” saidGary Campbell, president and chiefexecutive officer, Centura Health.

“The iTriage application is a state-of-the-art application that will benefitour communities by allowing peopleto make more informed medicaldecisions and connect to neededmedical resources when it mattersmost.”

Beyond providing a valuableresource to the healthcare consumer,iTriage opens up a new medium forhealthcare providers to interface withpotential patients and customers at thecritical point of illness or injury.

Through the iTriage application,

Centura Health first to leverageinnovative service to reach patients

Centura Health will have a direct linkto consumers and are provided a newavenue with which to differentiatefrom local competitors.

“With applications for all smartphones, including the iPhone, iTriagebegins where other medical contentresources end by providing consumerswith actionable healthcare information,including basic information andmapping on facilities where they canreceive treatment,” said Peter Hudson,M.D., CEO, Healthagen.

“We are taking this a step furtherwith the premier listing service. Thisservice provides more extensive,interactive information for consumers,as well as offering healthcare facilitiesa new channel to reach customers.”

With more than more than 67,000healthcare treatment facilities acrossthe country, including hospitalemergency rooms, urgent care facilitiesand pharmacies.

iTriage does not rely upon searchengine data to provide users with alltypes of acute care facility options.

Healthagen’s proprietary processprovides more accurate healthcarefacility and geo-locational informationthan conventional search engines tooffer better point-of-care service forconsumers.

It also offers more options forhealthcare facilities.

iTriage for the iPhone is currentlyavailable in the Apple App Store andat www.iTriageHealth.com from allother smart phone internet browsers.

St. Anthony Central Hospital recently received the American StokeAssociation’s Get With The GuidelinesSM–Stroke Gold Performance AchievementAward.

The award recognizes the hospital’s commitment and success in implementinga higher standard of stroke care by ensuring that stroke patients receivetreatment for at least 24 months according to nationally accepted standardsand recommendations.

“With a stroke, time lost is brain lost, and the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke Gold Performance Achievement Award addresses the important elementof time,” said Keri Schroeder-Jaeger, director of Neurosciences Services. St.Anthony Central Hospital has developed a comprehensive system for rapiddiagnosis and treatment of stroke patients admitted to the emergencydepartment.

This includes always being equipped to provide brain imaging scans,having neurologists available to conduct patient evaluations and using clot-busting medications when appropriate.

To receive the Get With The Guidelines-Stroke Gold PerformanceAchievement Award, St. Anthony Central Hospital demonstrated 85% adherencein the Get With The Guidelines–Stroke key measures for 24 or more consecutivemonths. These include aggressive use of medications like tPA, antithrombotics,anticoagulation therapy, DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol-reducing drugs, andsmoking cessation.

“The American Stroke Association commends St. Anthony Central Hospitalfor its success in implementing standards of care and protocols,” said Lee H.Schwamm, MD, vice-chair of the national Get With the Guidelines SteeringCommittee and vice-chair of the Neurology department and director of acutestroke services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

“The full implementation of acute care and secondary preventionrecommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives andimproving outcomes of stroke patients.”

Get With The Guidelines–-Stroke uses the “teachable moment,” the timesoon after a patient has had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen toand follow their health care professionals’ guidance. Studies demonstrate thatpatients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in thehospital reduce their risk of a second heart attack or stroke.

Through Get With The Guidelines–-Stroke, customized patient educationmaterials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients’individual risk profiles. The take-away materials are written in an easy-to-understand format and are available in English and Spanish. In addition, theGet With The Guidelines Patient Management Tool* provides access to up-to-date cardiovascular and stroke science at the point of care.

“The time is right for St. Anthony Central Hospital to be focused onimproving the quality of stroke care by implementing Get With The Guidelines–-Stroke. The number of acute ischemic stroke patients eligible for treatment isexpected to grow over the next decade due to increasing stroke incidence anda large aging population,” said Keri Schroeder-Jaeger.

According to the American Stroke Association, each year approximately795,000 people suffer a stroke — 610,000 are first attacks and 185,000 arerecurrent. Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States is suffering from astroke. This deadly condition accounts for 1 out of every 18 deaths in theUnited States.

St. Anthony Central Hospital is Colorado’s largest nonprofit Level I traumacenter and home of Flight For Life Colorado, the nation’s first hospital-basedemergency medical helicopter program. Located in Denver, Colorado, St.Anthony Central Hospital is a nationally recognized full-service health careorganization with renowned programs in trauma, cardiovascular services,neurosciences and orthopedics. This faith-based hospital has served Coloradofor more than 100 years. St. Anthony Central Hospital is part of CenturaHealth, which operates 12 hospitals, seven senior residences, medical clinicsand home care and hospice services across Colorado. For more information onSt. Anthony Central Hospital, please visit www.stanthonyhosp.org.

St. Anthony Central recognizedby American Stroke Association

AT 10:26 A.M. SANDY HARDWICKBROUGHT HER 57-YEAR-OLD CARDIAC

PATIENT BACK TO LIFE.

WHAT DID YOUACCOMPLISH THIS MORNING?

If you’re not satisfied with your answer, maybe you should be looking for amore satisfying career. Nursing is rewarding in more ways than you think.Starting salaries are high. There are more generous financial aid pack-ages to help you pay for school. And with over 600,000 openings in thenext decade, you’re virtually guaranteed a job when you graduate. So ifyou are looking for a second career where you can make a living and

make a difference, check out nursing.

IF CARING WERE ENOUGH, ANYONE COULD BE A NURSE.


Martha Foley’s job is anything butboring — even after 20 years.

On any given day, Foley, RN andcertified poison information specialistat the Rocky Mountain Poison andDrug Center (RMPDC), may field callsabout a child eating a houseplant oran adult who brushed their teeth withhydrocortisone.

“There’s just such a variety, you’renever bored,” she said. “Some daysyou go to work and you get a callabout a poisonous dart from Africathat someone brought home fromvacation. It’s pretty diverse.”

Foley takes on average four callsan hour, or roughly 40 calls per day,talking to people of all cultural andsocioeconomic backgrounds to assesstheir poison or drug emergency.

“I enjoy talking to people,” Foleysaid. “I also like learning everydayand everyday is different.”

A big part of Foley’s job is calmingdown frantic callers to gather theinformation she needs to assess thesituation.

Like any job in nursing, Foley saidone of the challenges she faces isadapting to different personalities andstress levels when communicating withpatients.

“When you’re talking to someonewho is so scared they may not be ableto talk or are just crying, you have tobe able o calm them down to getinformation you need,” she said. “Thatin itself is a skill.

“Every time someone calls you’reestablishing a new relationship witha person.”

The RMPDC serves Colorado,Montana, Nevada, Idaho and Hawaii.When a caller dials 1-800-222-1222anywhere in the United States, theyare sent to their regional poison center.

Mary Hilko, the public educationcoordinator for the RMPDC, said theDenver center has 32 nurses, 2pharmacists and 11 poison informationproviders on staff.

During a 24-hour period, there areusually 15 people answering calls—alot of calls.

by Joelle MoranStaff Writer

A Calming Effect: RMPDCnurse enjoys everyday challenges

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RMPDC handles 500 to 600 calls aday, although some days the callvolume is higher. And summertime isthe busiest, with children out of schooland people spending more timeoutdoors being exposed to pesticidesand herbicides, Hilko said.

More than half of the poisoncenter’s calls are about children, usuallyunder 5 years old. Whether a childsprayed sunscreen in their eyes, tastedmom’s makeup or got into the medicinecabinet, Foley said that small groupof kids make up a large number ofcalls.

The RMPDC handles 75 percentof the calls in the home setting, Hilkosaid, which keeps many patients outof hospitals and urgent care clinics.

“A huge part of what we do issave a lot of healthcare dollars, suchas preventing a caller from picking achild up and running to the emergencyroom” she said.

Every dollar spent on poison centerservices results in a $7 savings inhealthcare dollars, Hilko added.

Foley says helping callers makecritical decisions is such an importantpart of what she and her coworkersdo.

“We are able to keep most peopleat home. It’s easily accessible, anyonewith a phone can call. We have TTY,working with deaf people and we havelanguage services, so if you speakanother language, we have someonehelp us with that.

“Even though you may live threehours from an ER you are able to getsome information right away,” she said.

After 20 years on the job, Foley isat the top of her game, Hilko said,and always handles situations calmlyand thoroughly.

“She’s extremely intelligent. She’sone of the brightest nurses I’ve everknown,” Hilko said. “She’s got a lotof patience with her callers and she’svery kind.

“No matter even if she’s riled andhas two people waiting to talk to her,she’s extremely kind and patient withthem. I’ve never heard her slip withthem. She always keeps it together.She’s kind, respectful and considerate.She goes the extra mile.”

Foley earned her BSN in 1981 from

the University of Nebraska inLincoln. While finishing schoolshe worked at a traumahospital and knew she wantedto work in intensive care.

After moving to Colorado,from 1982 to 1989, Foleyworked in intensive care andcoronary care at Presbyterian,St. Luke’s and University ofColorado Hospital in Denver.

Foley said she liked thefast pace of intensive care.

“I like patients that getbetter quickly,” she said. “Andit really was challengingbecause your patient wascritical and you had to makedecisions quickly.”

When Foley started workat the RMPDC in 1989, it wasa natural transition.

“At that time the jobsounded so interesting,” shesaid. “I learned a whole bunchof new information. I knewpatients in ICU and aboutcertain critical diseases. Butonce you got into toxicologyyou lea rned aboutoccupational exposures. Therewas a broader medical field.”

Whether i t ’ s snakesbrought into the states illegally and toxic exposures in the workplace to drugoverdoses, coronary arrest and even weapons of mass destruction during thePersian Gulf War, there is always something new to learn about, Foely said.

“The other thing with toxicology is it’s an ever-evolving science,” Foleysaid. “Things we did years ago, we may not be doing now.”

Another aspect of Foley’s job that she enjoys is the training and researchshe’s involved with. She sits on the committee for the American Association ofPoison Control Centers (AAPCC) that writes certification exams for toxicologistsat poison centers in the United States and Canada. She also teaches some ofthe core classes for new hires at the RMPDC.

“I love my job, I’ve been there 20 years,” Foley said. “I think any nursewould love to do it. I really enjoy working with all my coworkers. They’rereally a dedicated group of people.”

According to a recent review, it takes California considerably longer to disciplineregistered nurses than many other large states. The report stated that it took theCalifornia Board of Registered Nursing three years and five months, on average,to resolve complaints closed in fiscal 2008. It was found that nurses continued towork unrestricted for years despite documented histories of incompetence, violence,criminal convictions and drug theft or abuse.

In response to the report and other revelations, Gov. Arnold Schwarzeneggerreplaced most members of the California Board of Registered Nursing this week,citing the unacceptable time it takes to discipline nurses accused of egregiousmisconduct.

What do you think of the findings of the report? Do you believe the governorhandled the situation appropriately, or should other actions have been taken?

Denver’s NursingStar would like to know your thoughts. Please email yourresponse, along with your name, nursing credentials, city, and contact informationto [email protected] or fax it to 720-283-2198.

Do you think the California Board ofNursing was disciplined accordingly?

Question of the Week

Check out our banner ads at www.denversnursingstar.com!For special banner ad rates, simply email your request to

[email protected].


1 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 0 GENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSING 1 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 0 GENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSING 1 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 0 GENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSING1 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 0 GENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSING

Nurse - CathLab - Day Shift!

This really is perfect Colorado.When it is snowing or raining inDenver, the sun shines on this

gateway to the canyons. From thehigh tops of Grand Mesa at 10, 000feet to the Valley floor, replete withfruit orchards and wineries to theriffles of the Colorado River, this

area has it all. Everything thatattracts people to Colorado existshere and in close proximity. World

class skiing, camping, hiking,cycling, fishing, kayaking, rafting ,golf and more. Not just a job but alife style, not just patients but yourneighbors, not just co-workers butyour friends, not just any place butColorado. Our healthcare system

made up of local people andgoverned by local communityleaders. We exist to serve our

communities, by providing state-of-the-art medical care in a hospitalsetting and by promoting wellness

through events, screenings andclasses We are looking for

Registered Nurses for our CathLab. Must be a graduate of an

Accredited Nursing School, andhave a least one year experience or

BSN. Must have a Cardiacbackground. Plans and coordinates

the delivery of quality and safenursing care in Cath Lab. We arelooking for an RN who is highlymotivated to be part of a team.

Must be reliable and flexible. Musthave Cath Lab/Critical Care

experience and be willing to takecall for the Cath Lab with a 30-

minute response time. Required:current BLS and ACLS

certifications. Patient care inscrubbing, circulating and pre- and

post-procedure care Flexibledaytime hours M-F BCLS/ACLSrequired We offer a great place to

work and relocation assistance andexcellent benefits. Call us beforethis job is filled! ! Please email

resume to qai@austin. rr. com andcontact us Toll Free (866) 734-

5625. Compensation: Competitive.Experience: RN TX License, BSNPreferred. Contact: Chip Andrews.

Tracking Number: 56903042.Contact Fax: (512) 894-4432.

Contact Phone: (866) 734-5625

Neuro SurgeryNurse ManagerJoin the state’s top hospital

offering a full array ofservices. Advance your

career as you join a healthyhospital with stable

leadership (CEO was aformer nurse) and staff thatis truly committed to high

quality patient care. Strokecertified hospital, cardiac

monitoring, really consideredmore of a step down unit dueto the complexity of cases.Neuro Unit won the silver,

bronze and gold awards forquality of care awarded byJACHO. World renowned,high caliber surgeons thatare actually a pleasure to

work with! This facility is onit''s Magnet Journey, Shared

Governance is embraces,along with Studer Ideologies.

Excellent tenured nursesserving on staff. There is avery low nurse to patient

ration - 4 to 1, sometimes 5to 1. This is truly an

opportunity of a lifetime.Position offers generousbenefits and relocation

package and highlycompetitive compensation.Location’s economy is ingreat condition, the area

offers a plethora of outdooractivities. Lifestyle is laidback and family oriented.Excellent schools in the

area. For more information onthis position and others thatwe currently have, contactAmanda Martinez, 303-799-

8188 x [email protected].

Position Id: 13252

Director of NursingJob #: 87642111111.

Palisades Living Center.SSC Palisade Operating

Company LLC. 151 E 3RdStreet. Palisade, CO 81526.Job Description: Come Join

our Team of DedicatedProfessionals! Our beautiful

skilled nursing facility,Palisade Living Center in

Palisade, Colorado currentlyhas an opening for a

dynamic clinical leader asour Director of Nursing. Inaddition to great pay weoffer excellent full time

benefits including health,dental, 401k, and much

more! If you are interested,please contact Wendy

Schultz, Regional NurseRecruiter, Email:

[email protected]. Orphone me at 877-628-9172

Fax: 262-628-9185 EOE

Nurse Supervisor -Littleton, CO

Tracking Code: 304344-645.Cherrelyn Healthcare Center,

a premier skilled nursingfacility in Littleton, Colorado,

is seeking a part-timeRegistered Nurse

Supervisor. Per Diem shiftsare also available. We are

looking for professional andcompassionate nurses with

excellent communicationskills to enhance the lives ofour elderly residents. Must

have current Coloradolicense and prefer candidatewith experience working witholder adults and knowledgeof the aging process. As a

care partner, our nurses areresponsible for assisting the

residents with daily livingactivities and medications.We offer competitive wages

and benefits includingmedical, dental, vision, life,

supplemental insurance,401k, FSA, education

assistance, EAP, Paid TimeOff, and a rewarding workenvironment. Please applyon-line at www.5sqc.com,

visit us at 5555 South ElatiStreet, Littleton, CO 80120,

call (303) 798-8686, faxresumes to ATTN: HUMANRESOURCES @ (720) 283-

1381 or [email protected]. EOE.

NO AGENCIES PLEASE.Required Experience:Current RN license,

preferably with experience inlong term care or geriatricnursing and current CPR

certification.

ICU/ER Nurse ManagerLaunch your nursing career

forward and join aprogressive, financially

solvent hospital part of areputable system. Full-timeLevel II emergency room,

Level II nursery andbehavioral health program,

state-of-the-art medicalequipment, and excellent

physician specialistsincluding neurologists,otorhinolarygologists

(ENT''s), & ophthalmologists.Hospital is truly focused on

high quality care, theyscored in the 90th percentilein patient care. Very diverse,busy hospital offering a fullarray of services. Manage

an 8 bed ER, and 4 bed ICU.Very stable staff, 1,000

visits a month. CNO is oneof the best perks of the job -

she is a joy to know andwork with. 4 top notch docsare also a part of this team.Gorgeous area, plethora ofoutdoor activities to enjoy.Great schools in the area.Lifestyle is laid back andfamily oriented. National

Outdoor Leadershipconference brings world

travelers to the area. Needsomeone with strong

leadership skills, decisive,and willing to coach andkeep staff accountable.Position offers generous

benefits package and highlycompetitive compensation.Contact Amanda Martinez

303.799.8188 [email protected].

for more details on thisposition and other nursing

leadership positions that wecurrently have available.

Position Id: 13253

Colorado PermCertified Nurse

Midwife jobPerm Certified Nurse Midwife jobin Colorado. Shift is 8 hour days.

Position requires 2-5 yearsexperience. CNM position will be

working for small JCAHOaccredited facility. Colorado is the

kind of Colorado people dreamabout. Situated in southwestern

Colorado on the Western Slope ofthe Rocky Mountains, Montrose ishome to the Black Canyon NationalPark and offers scenic mountains,

valleys, canyons, mesas, lakes andrivers, plus all the recreationalactivities that accompany these

natural wonders like hiking,mountain biking, skiing, fishing,

camping, boating and more. If youare interested in learning moreabout this great place to work

please give Alex Presley a call atSunbelt Staffing at 1-800-659-1522


2 0 42 0 42 0 42 0 42 0 4 REG ISTEREDREG ISTEREDREG ISTEREDREG ISTEREDREG ISTEREDN U R S EN U R S EN U R S EN U R S EN U R S E


1 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 01 4 0 GENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSINGGENERAL NURSING

Nurse ManagerDepartment: PVH Ortho/RehabSupport. Full-time (80 hours/payperiod) Job Req Number: 11435.

1st shift - hours may vary. Monday-Friday. Contact: Human Resources– CBK. Email: [email protected].

Job Details: - Experience isrequired *This position will be

Nurse Manager for the OutpatientWound Healing Clinic. Candidate

will have a background in outpatientclinic management, wound care

billing and coding regulations. Mustbe successful in teambuiding andcreative problem solving for anenthusiastic professional team.Summary: Manage the unit on a24-hour basis. Minimum work

expectation of sixty four (64) hoursper pay period. Exceptions to

minimum hours worked need to beapproved by the Chief Nursing

Officer. Requirements: Graduate ofnursing program: Diploma, ADN,

BSN or MSN. BSN preferred. BSNwill be required for new hires

starting on or after July 12, 2009.BSN will be required for all NurseManagers on or after January 1,2013. Minimum 2 years nursing

exp. DEMONSTRATEDKNOWLEDGE, SKILLS &

ABILITIES: Critical thinking skillswhile utilizing the nursing process

based on evidence-basedoutcomes and Standards of

Practice. Expertise in clinical skillsrelated to the patient populationbeing served. Competency in

decision-making for emergencysituations. Competency in themanagement of critical patientsituations. Knowledge of how to

access and utilize availableresources. Knowledge of system

policies and procedures.Unrestricted RN license by State of

Colorado Board of Nursing orcompact privileges under the multi-

state Nurse Licensure Compactagreement. Practice according toprofessional and ethical standardsin accordance with the ColoradoState Nurse Practice Act, ANACode of Ethics, and NursingService Scope of Practice.

RegisteredNurse; Benefits

for Full TimeEmployment is dependent onthe programs offered by ourclients, which may vary. Formore information, please calla TravelMax NRM.; We are

currently seeking a RN for aGeriatrics/LTC/Rehab

Facility. Facility has 107beds with a current census

of 90%. The minimumstarting salary for this

position is $25.70/hr. ASAPstart date. 40 hrs/wk. Formore information, please

contact Nate Alberts at 303-322-7108 or

[email protected].


Nurse -Registered (RN)

All About Staffing, Denver, CO(Travel). Unit: PACU-Recovery

Room. Job Summary: This is a 13week travel assignment. In thisposition, you will evaluate, plan,and administer nursing care to

patients. You will provideprescribed medication and

treatment, help physicians duringexams and treatment, and monitor

and record patient condition,notifying physician when

appropriate. You will also monitorpatient care provided by LPNs,

CNAs, and others. Shift: 6:00 AM to6:00 PM36 hour work week. Min.

Requirements:Completion ofnursing school and state license.1year recent acute care experience.PBDS Testing Not Required. Apply

by phone at 1-866-967-5748.Please quote Job Code 6666 whencontacting the employer by phone

about this position.

Registered Nurse IIPart-time with full benefits (64

hours and above). Shift: Night shift.Job Req Number: 11197. Hours: 72hrs/pp, night shift, days vary, every

third weekend. Contact: HumanResources – PKM. Tel: 970-495-7800. Email: [email protected].

Responsible for carrying outroutine patient care assignments on

unit assigned, performingestablished nursing procedures forindividuals or groups of patients,utilizing age specific guidelines.

MCR encourages participation inhospital related or other community

activities that improves the wellbeing of the community.

Requirements: Graduate of nursingprogram: AD, Diploma, BSN,

MSN. 1 or more years of acutecare experience. RN licensure by

State of Colorado Boardof Nursing

Registered Nurse-MCR Surgery Center

Part-time with full benefits (64hours and above). Job Req

Number: 11428. Hours: 64 hrs pp/M-F - hours may vary. No

holiday's or weekends. Contact:Human Resources – AY. Email:

[email protected]. Responsibleto carry out routine patient care

assignments and performestablished nursing procedures forindividuals or groups of patients.Utilizes age specific guidelines.

Requirements: May be hired at thislevel if have: BSN and 1 year or >

FTE of acute care experience.MSN and 1 year or > FTE of acutecare experience. AD/Diploma and

2 years or > FTE of acute careexperience. RN licensure in State

of Colorado. CPR/ACLS/PALScertification within 6 months.

Registered Nurse IIJob Req Number: 11414. 7pm-7:30am/Days & Weekends vary.

Contact: Human Resources SJR.Email: [email protected]. Job

Details: 2 positions available.Summary: Responsible for

carrying out routine patient careassignments on unit assigned,performing established nursingprocedures for individuals or

groups of patients, utilizing agespecific guidelines. Unit

specializes in care of women,birthing and family support.

Requirements: Graduate of nursingprogram: AD, Diploma, BSN,

MSN. 1 or more years of acutecare experience. Labor and

Delivery experience preferred.Current RN licensure by State ofColorado Board of Nursing. NRP

within 1 year of hire. BLS certification.

Registered Nurse/RN - Labor &Delivery Nurse Options USA is theultimate free resource for Nurses

that gives you access tounadvertised openings, advertised

openings, & networkingopportunities for all locations,

settings, & case types/specialtiesthroughout the USA. Assistance isavailable to help you find full timepermanent positions, part time,

temporary, or per diem positions,as well as travel assignments. We

are not a recruiting firm, staffingcompany, or travel company. Thereis no other service anywhere in theUSA that is like us. We also offer

salary survey info, relocationassistance info, as well as

professional licensing info. If youwish to learn more about Nurse

Options USA, we welcome you tovisit our web site at http://www.

NurseOptions. com, or to watch thevideo about our company containedin this posting. Exp: New graduateRegistered Nurses & experienced

Staff Registered Nurses, andNursing Management (all levels)located in the USA & Canada arewelcome to reply. Contact: LouiseDeGolia, Contact Fax: (561) 434-0209. Contact Phone: (800) 828-0665. Tracking Number: 32804

Registered Nurse/RN -General Medical/

Surgical (Med/Surg)Nurse Options USA is the ultimatefree resource for Nurses that gives

you access to unadvertisedopenings, advertised openings, and

networking opportunities for alllocations, settings, and case types/

specialties throughout the USA.Assistance is available to help youfind full time permanent positions,part time, temporary, or per diem

positions, as well as travelassignments. We are not a

recruiting firm, staffing company, ortravel company. There is no otherservice anywhere in the USA that

is like us. We also offer salarysurvey information, relocation

assistance information, as well asprofessional licensing information.

Experience: New graduateRegistered Nurses and

experienced Staff RegisteredNurses, and Nursing Management(all levels) located in the USA and

Canada are welcome to reply.Contact: Louise DeGolia. TrackingNumber: 32811. Contact Fax: (561)434-0209. Phone: (800) 828-0665

RegisteredNurse Full-Time.Job #: 87642111 Palisades LivingCenter, SSC Palisade OperatingCompany LLC, 151 E 3Rd Street,Palisade, CO 81526, Come Join

our Team of DedicatedProfessionals! Our beautiful skilled

nursing facility,Palisade LivingCenter in Palisade, Coloradocurrently has RN positions

available: Registered Nurse -Various shifts In addition to greatpay we offer excellent full timebenefits including health, dental,

401k, and much more!Requirements: Applicants must

have RN licensure from the State.Long term care experience

preferred but not req'd. If you areinterested, please contact Wendy

Schultz, Regional Nurse Recruiter,Email: [email protected] phone me at 877-628-9172 Fax:

262-628-9185

Registered Nurse/RN -Emergency Room

Nurse Options USA is the ultimatefree resource for Nurses that gives

you access to unadvertisedopenings, advertised openings, and

networking opportunities for alllocations, settings, and case types/

specialties throughout the USA.Assistance is available to help youfind full time permanent positions,part time, temporary, or per diem

positions, as well as travelassignments. We are not a

recruiting firm, staffing company, ortravel company. There is no other

service anywhere in the USA that islike us. We also offer salary surveyinformation, relocation assistance

information, as well as professionallicensing information. If you wish to

learn more about Nurse OptionsUSA, we welcome you to visit our

web site at http://www.NurseOptions. com, or to watch thevideo about our company contained

in this posting. Experience: Newgraduate Registered Nurses and

experienced Staff RegisteredNurses, and Nursing Management(all levels) located in the USA and

Canada are welcome to reply.Contact: Louise DeGolia. ContactPhone: (800) 828-0665. Fax: (561)434-0209. Tracking Number: 32798

OR Registered NurseJNT Consulting LLC is seeking anOperating Room Registered Nurse- Code JNCO-090502. Location: 60miles north of a world class ski and

summer resort. Wine vineyards,spectacular mountains, 300 + days

of sunshine. Looking for a well-rounded Operating Roon Nurse.

Experience in circulation and scruba plus. Do most types of surgeryexcept heart, brain and Neuro.Responsibilities: Executes the

nursing process for patient care inall surgical specialties supported

by the Hospital. Implementsspecialized knowledge and skillsfor direct patient care, teaching

patients or staff. Evaluates clinicalperformance of other perioperativestaff. Acts as a resource within the

department to all staff. Ability tocirculate and scrub experience is aplus. Works under the supervision

of the Nurse Director and/or theHouse supervisor. Requirements:Certified Nurse in the Operating

Room (CNOR). Activemembership in AORN

(Association of OR Nurses) asprofessional organization. ActiveBCLS certification. Active ACLS

certification. Compensation: DOE(Depending On Experience) +

Benefits. Relocation Assistance isavailable. About the Facility: 63-

Bed Hospital. Four rooms ofOperating Room Suite. 10 Hour

Days. Monday – Thursday.Applicants: Please put the positioncode when submitting your resume

to: [email protected]: JNCO-090502 for Operating

Room RN. All qualifyingcandidates will be interviewed bytelephone for screening purposes.

Succeeding steps will follow tothose who will become strong

candidate for the position. Inquiriesabout the status of an application

are discouraged. When yourqualification will not match to all ofthe requirements of this position,your Resume will be put in our

active database for futureconsideration of any employment

opportunity. Thank you.

Registered Nurse/RN -Critical Care (CCU) /

Intensive CareNurse Options USA is the ultimatefree resource for Nurses that givesyou access to unadvertised openings,advertised openings, and networkingopportunities for all locations,settings, and case types/specialtiesthroughout the USA. Assistance isavailable to help you find full timepermanent positions, part time,temporary, or per diem positions, aswell as travel assignments. We arenot a recruiting firm, staffing company,or travel company. There is no otherservice anywhere in the USA that islike us. We also offer salary surveyinformation, relocation assistanceinformation, as well as professionallicensing information. If you wish tolearn more about Nurse Options USA,we welcome you to visit our web siteat http://www. NurseOptions. com, orto watch the video about our companycontained in this posting. Experience:New graduate Registered Nursesand experienced Staff RegisteredNurses, and Nursing Management(all levels) located in the USA andCanada are welcome to reply.Contact: Louise DeGolia. ContactPhone: (800) 828-0665. Fax: (561)434-0209. Tracking Number: 4242



Aroundthe State

University of Phoenix addsdoctorate level nursing programs

University of Phoenix has announcedthe launch of two online doctorate-leveldegree programs - a Doctor of Philosophydegree in Nursing (Ph.D.) and anEducational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree.Enrollment for both programs is currentlyunderway, with the Ed.S. programbeginning later this month, and the Ph.D.Nursing program scheduled to launchin August. Both programs will be offeredthrough the University’s School ofAdvanced Studies (SAS).

“We’re very proud to add the Ph.D.in Nursing and Educational Specialistdegrees to our robust roster of offerings,”said Jeremy Moreland, Ph.D., dean ofthe School of Advanced Studies. “Thenursing program is designed forindividuals who currently hold a master’sdegree in nursing, have previous full-time work experience in nursing or arelated field, and are currently employedin a nursing or healthcare field, withthe primary goal of providing a strongresearch background, advanced educationand enhanced training to helpindividuals move forward into aleadership, administrative and/or anursing faculty position.”

According to a recent AmericanAssociation of Colleges of Nursing report,U.S. nursing schools turned away nearly50,000 qualified applicants frombaccalaureate and graduate nursingprograms in 2008 due to an insufficientnumber of qualified faculty and otherextenuating factors. Almost two-thirdsof the nursing schools responding tothe survey pointed to faculty shortagesas a reason for not accepting all eligibleapplicants.

The Ed.S. program is designed forindividuals who work primarily in K-12education, but would like to advancetheir academic careers and increase theirearning levels. The program will preparelearners to become transformationalleaders who will strategically manageand lead complex educat ionalorganizations. The program emphasizesleadership, with a focus on aspecialization in Curriculum andInstruction.

“This degree is a vital step up foracademic professionals who want toincrease their own personal knowledgeor skills, but would like an alternativeto the demands that a doctoral degreemay impose on them,” said Rita Edwards,

area chair for education for theUniversity’s School of Advanced Studiesand a member of SAS’s Global AcademicCouncil.

“We want to help keep the best ineducation in education. University ofPhoenix is working to achieve that goalby helping teachers and othereducational professionals gain the skillsthey need to advance them in the K-12educational system rather thanpotentially taking their experience toanother career field,” added Edwards.

The Educational Specialist programhas the same admissions requirementsas that of the University’s doctoral degreein Education in that it requires applicantsto have already earned their master’sdegree, have at least three years ofprofessional work experience and havecurrent access to an educationalenvironment. Interested doctoral nursingapplicants and those interested inpursuing the Ed.S. degree may obtainadditional information by calling (602)387-6844 or vis i t ing http:/ /doctoral.phoenix.edu. Informationregarding certain state restrictions ononline programs may also be obtainedvia the University’s Web site.

University of Phoenix established itsfirst doctoral program - the Doctor ofManagement in Organizat ionalLeadership - in 1998. In 2002, the Schoolof Advanced Studies was formed andfurther expanded the doctoral programofferings to 10, including the recentaddition of the Ph.D. in Nursingprogram. Since SAS was formed,University of Phoenix has provideddoctoral-level programs for more than6,000 learners throughout the world.

University of Phoenix is constantlyinnovating to help students balanceeducation and life in a rapidly changingworld. Through flexible schedules,challenging courses and interactivelearning, students achieve personal andcareer aspirations without putting theirlives on hold. During the quarter endingMay 31, 2009, 420,700 students wereenrolled at University of Phoenix, thelargest private university in NorthAmerica. University of Phoenix serves adiverse student population, offeringassociate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, anddoctoral degree programs from campusesand learning centers across the U.S. aswell as online throughout the world.

Eddie Chen, D.O., has joinedBig Thompson Medical Group asa hospitalist.

He will provide inpatient careas a hospitalist at McKee MedicalCenter.

As a hosp i t a l i s t , Chenspecializes in caring for patientswhile they are in the hospital andcoordinates with those patients’primary care physicians.

Chen was born in Kaoshiung,Taiwan, and grew up in Clinton,Okla. He received his bachelor’sdegree in pharmacy at theUniversity of Oklahoma.

After a year working forEckerd Drugs in Texas, he wentto medical school at OklahomaState Univers i ty Col lege ofOsteopathic Medicine in Tulsa,Okla.

Chen completed his Internshipand Residency at Case WesternUniversity – St. Vincent CharityHospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and is board certified in internal medicine.

After residency, he had a traditional internal medicine practice in Alamosaand started the hospitalist program at the San Luis Valley Regional MedicalCenter.

Coming from a long line of physicians and dentists, he is the onlymember of his family to specialize in internal medicine.

Chen is married and has four cats and two dogs. He and his wife, a schoolpsychologist, enjoy traveling, gardening, hiking, bicycling and spending timeoutdoors with family and friends.

Chen has bicycled across the country on numerous rides to help supportcharity events.

For more information, please visit www.bannerhealth.com.

EdEdEdEdEddie Chen,die Chen,die Chen,die Chen,die Chen, D D D D D.O.O.O.O.O.,.,.,.,., has joined Big has joined Big has joined Big has joined Big has joined Big TTTTThompson Medicalhompson Medicalhompson Medicalhompson Medicalhompson MedicalGrGrGrGrGroup as a hospitalist.oup as a hospitalist.oup as a hospitalist.oup as a hospitalist.oup as a hospitalist.

ARE YOU READING THIS?So are more than80,000 Healthcare

Professionals throughout theDenver Metro area !

Call 720-283-2209 TODAY!!

Chen joins Big ThompsonMedical Group as hospitalist


Nation

More than seven in ten nurses saidthat staffing on their unit and shift isinsufficient, and more than half saidthey are currently considering leavingtheir position, according to anAmerican Nurses Association (ANA)online poll that drew more than 15,000responses.

The poll, which has been postedon ANA’s Safe Staffing Saves LivesCampa ign Web s i t e(www.SafeStaffingSavesLives.org) sinceMarch 2008, showed that about 7,900of the 15,000 respondents said theyare considering leaving their position.About 42%, or 6,300 of the 15,000respondents, said the reason theywould leave is associated withinadequate staffing.

Also, more than one in three nursesreported that they knew a nurse ontheir unit who left direct care nursingdue to concerns about unsafe staffing.

“These results confirm what wehave long been hearing from registerednurses: that unsafe staffing on theirunits is their top concern,” said ANAPresident Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN,CNOR.

“Nurses take our profession’s Codeof Ethics very seriously. Whenobligations to our patients arecompromised because there are notenough nurses on hospital units toprovide the highest quality of care,registered nurses are understandablyfrustrated.

“ANA has a long track record ofadvocating for safe staffing conditionsfor the nation’s 2.9 million registerednurses.”

In 2007, ANA launched its “SafeStaffing Saves Lives” grassrootscampaign calling for sufficient nursestaffing levels in healthcare facilitiesand supporting staffing legislationANA crafted with members ofCongress.

Known as “The Registered NurseSafe Staffing Act,” the legislation isexpected to be re-introduced inCongress later this year.

The legislation would requirehospitals to develop nurse staffingplans, with input from direct-carenurses, for each care unit and workshift, based on factors such as patientacuity, number of patients, nurse skill

mix and experience and availableresources, such as support staff andtechnology.

Seven states have passed nurse safestaffing legislation that closelyresembles ANA’s model, including fivestates since 2008.

The online poll also revealed thatnurses are in a severe time crunchduring their work hours. Nearly one-quarter said their work schedule rarelyallows them to take a full meal break– which translates into a full mealbreak less than one time per month.

Nearly two-thirds said they mustperform non-nursing activities daily,such as delivering meals, transportingpatients and making pharmacy runs,in addition to nursing duties for whichthey are trained.

“The staffing issue is not onlyabout ensuring there are enough nursesto properly care for patients, but aboutemploying sufficient support staff sonurses can do the vital work withpatients that they are trained to do,”said ANA President Patton.

“Anything that takes away fromthat potentially can result in declinesin the quality of care and safety forpatients.”

The survey also showed that:�� More than half (51.6%) said the

quality of care on their unit haddeclined in the past year�� Nearly half (49.5%) would not

feel confident having someone closeto them receive care in the facility inwhich they work�� Nearly one-quarter (23.9%) said

they were considering leaving nursingaltogether

Of those taking the survey, 83.6%said they work at a hospital, and 75.8%said they work full-time. Nearly 75%identified themselves as a “staff nurse.”

Experience levels were broadlydistributed, with about 55% reportingless than 15 years experience and 45%more than 15 years.

Results to some of the pollquestions can be found here: http://www.safes taf f ingsaves l ives .org/WhatisANADoing/PollResults.aspx

The ANA is the only full-serviceprofessional organization representingthe interests of the nation’s 2.9 millionregistered nurses through its 51

constituent member nurses associationsand its 24 specialty nursing andworkforce advocacy a f f i l i a t eorganizations that currently connectto ANA as affiliates.

The ANA advances the nursingprofession by fostering high standards

of nursing practice, promoting therights of nurses in the workplace,projecting a positive and realistic viewof nursing, and by lobbying theCongress and regulatory agencies onhealth care issues affecting nurses andthe public.

ANA says seven of 10 nursesreport insufficient staffing

For years, doctors, nurses andpatients have wondered why someonehasn’t come up with a modest yetpractical patient hospital gown thatcovers the backside while allowingmedical personnel easy access to thepatient’s body.

And now there is. AMD-Ritmed,Inc., a leading distributor of hospitalclothing, supplies and disposables, hasbegun sales of the Privacy PreferredHospital Gown, an FDA-approved,patented garment designed by arecovery room nurse andanesthesiologist.

Traditional hospital gowns thattie at the neck and are open at theback have been around since the1920s, and been the bane of patients and health practitioners ever since.

But with its V-neck, ties that are connected at the sides and tie togetherin the front and snaps at both shoulder seams, the Privacy Preferred HospitalGown allows access to the entire length of the body for examination, procedures,dressing changes and wound care, auscultation and lead placement, whilekeeping the patient fully covered.

The Privacy Preferred Hospital Gown is ideal for all acute and clinicalsettings. One side of the gown can be unsnapped for IV bag changes andnursing mothers, while the V-neck allows for EKG lead placement.

In a code situation where seconds matter, one strong pull on the front ofthe gown unsnaps the entire shoulder seam, allowing quick access to thechest for lead and paddle placement.

Cost-effective washable and reusable, the Privacy Preferred Hospital Gownis made of 55% cotton and 45% polyester and comes in four sizes: Children’s/Small (Torso: 26 ½” x 30"), Medium (Torso: 30" x 37"), Large (Torso: 35" x 42½”), and X-Large (Torso: 44" x 49").

The Privacy Preferred Hospital Gown is available in cases of 50 piecesthrough all major distributors to acute and long term care facilities and clinicsnationwide. For more information, contact AMD-Ritmed Customer Service at800-445-0340 www.amdritmed.com

New gown gives patients dignity,and easy access for clinicians

Want to reach more than 80,000 readers?

Send us all your continuing education programs andwe’ll publish them

FREE OF CHARGE!

Email your continuing education information to us at:[email protected]

or simply fax it to 720-283-2198!

Continued Education

LPN IV Certification –Full Course – IndependentStudy

We are now offering aColorado Board of Nursingapproved, full 60-hour IVCertification for LPNs in anindependent study format! Thiscourse allows completion ofthe didactic content at yourown pace and on you owntime. After completion of theindependent study modulesand quizzes you will attend aone-day laboratory educationand practice seminar in SouthDenver. Once these twosections are successfullycompleted you will validatethe clinical skills in your ownfacility with a qualified RNpreceptor. Registration Fees:$510.00 Contact Hours: 60 Weare also offering a skillsvalidation for LPNs that arecurrently not employed or donot have a means to validatetheir IV skills. For additionalinformation contact CarolynnCassutt Consulting, Inc at(303) 680-2243 or visit ourweb site at:www.CassuttConsulting.com.

Pediatric Challenges:New Approaches toTreatment andPrevention

These evening CME activitiesare offered several times ayear for primary careproviders with a focus on newtherapies and preventionstrategies for common healthproblems in children andadolescents. Held in variousmetro area locations, theseevents begin with dinnerfollowed by a 60 minutepresentation and a panel Qand A session. (CMEcredit)For more information,please contact (720) 777-6160orwww.thechildrenshospital.org.

Trauma Nursing CoreCourse (TNCC)The Trauma Nursing CoreCurriculum (TNCC), a coursedesigned by the EmergencyNurses Association, teaches acore level knowledge andpsychomotor skills associatedwith the delivery of nursingcare to trauma and criticallyill patients. Upon successfulcompletion of the course,certification is awarded bythe Emergency NursesAssociation and is valid forfour years. Upon completionof this course, participantsshould be able to:Demonstrate knowledge ofpathophysiology as a focusfor the signs and symptoms ofinjury. Demonstrateappropriate psychomotorskills related to the care ofthe trauma patient includingairway management, spinalimmobilization, andresuscitation of the traumavictim. 19 CEU hours areawarded by the EmergencyNurses Association for coursecompletion, regardless ofperformance on the writtenexam and skills stations.Contact: Starlight Wagner at303-861-6336 or

Open

July

Neonatal ResuscitationProgram (NRP) Renewal

[email protected].

Check out our banner ads atwww.denversnursingstar.com!

For special banner ad rates, simply email yourrequest to [email protected].


07/27/09 IntravenousTechniques

This 8 hour seminar willprepare the MA, RT and otherhealth care professionals toperform peripheral IV accessand limited intravenous fluidtreatment, utilizing knowledge,skills and competenciesrequired to safely perform suchtechniques under thesupervision of a physician orregistered nurse. This seminarwill provide lots of hands onpractice to allow participants tobecome familiar andcomfortable with equipmentinvolved in IV therapy. Coursecontent based on current INS,AVA and CDC standards.Registration: $245.00\Objectives - Discuss legalimplications of venipunctureand infusion therapy;Demonstrate understanding ofthe general anatomy andphysiology of the adultcirculatory system; Name andlocate the peripheral veins andarteries of the upper extremities;Demonstrate awareness of thecharacteristics, whichdifferentiate arteries from veins;Identify approaches to deal withthe physiological changesresulting from the agingprocess; Identify peripheralveins appropriate forvenipuncture; Demonstrate theproper ways of vein distention;List the factors affecting siteselection; Demonstrate thecorrect steps in initiating IVtherapy; Demonstrate thesecuring of the IV site;Demonstrate the correctprocedure for proper infectioncontrol and blood bornepathogen safety measures; Listand describe the signs andsymptoms as well asinterventions for complicationsof IV therapy; Calculate theflow rate for a gravity infusion;Demonstrate removal of anperipheral IV. IntravenousTechniques Visitwww.cassuttconsulting.com.

September

09/30/09 RN IV RefresherSeminar

This is an excellent course fornurses reentering the healthcare field! This course isdesigned for the RN who

would like an update on theirIV skills. Content to includethe current standards of care,new technologies, tips andtricks for successful venipunc-ture, central line identification,indications, and care as well asidentification, prevention andmanagement of complications.Seminar will provide lots ofhands on practice! Coursecontent is based on the INS2006 Standards of Practice aswell as guidelines from theCDC and AVA. Location:Garcia’s Mexican Restaurantin the DTC, 5050 S SyracuseStreet, Denver, CO 80237.$245.00. Lunch included.Contact Hours: 8-ContactHours For additional informa-tion contact Carolynn CassuttConsulting, Inc at (303) 680-2243 or visit our web site at:www.CassuttConsulting.com.

NEW!

Gero 580-95

The University of Louisiana atMonroe is offering a newonline graduate course thisspring for professionals whoprovide long-term and acutecare to persons sufferingconditions of dementia. Thelong-term care concentrationin the university’s gerontologygraduate program is the first inthe nation to be accredited.Gerontologists, nurses, counse-lors and other professionalcaregivers may benefit fromthe valuable informationprovided in the course, a classwhich will raise questionsabout many commonly heldassumptions about Alzheimer’sand related conditions.Thecourse considers theories thatneurodegenerative conditionsshould not claim the elderly,nor should they dominate themor degrade their humanity.Visit the ULM GOLD websiteat www.ulm.edu/onlinedegrees. For moreinformation about the course,contact Chris Johnson at (318)342-1465 or [email protected].

Course

The NRP Renewal Course, aprogram of the AmericanAcademy of Pediatrics andthe American HeartAssociation, is designed as aself-study for MDs, RNs,RTs, PAs and EMTs who wishto renew their training everytwo years as an NRP Providerand it is shorter than thestandard-length ProviderCourse. Upon successfulcompletion of the renewalcourse an NRP coursecompletion card will beissued. Contact: Susan Clarkeat 720-777-6875 or emailSusan [email protected]

09/23/09 – 09/24/09Emergency Nursing

NEW!

Pediatric Course (ENPC)

The Emergency NursingPediatric Course (ENPC), acourse designed by theEmergency Nurses Association,teaches a core level knowledgeand psychomotor skillsassociated with the delivery ofpediatric nursing care to traumaand critically ill patients.Students will be required to testout of 2 psychomotor skillsstations and complete a multiplechoice written exam. Uponsuccessful completion of thecourse, certification is awardedby the Emergency NursesAssociation and is valid for fouryears. Participants are requiredto have read the ENPC 2004course manual prior to thecourse. You must have the 2004course manual for the entireduration of the course. Thecourse population is primarilynurses; however other healthcare providers can audit thecourse for a small fee. Uponcompletion of the courseparticipants will be able to: *Demonstrate knowledge ofpathophysiology as a focus forthe signs and symptoms ofinjury for pediatric patient. *Demonstrate appropriatepsychomotor skills related tothe care of a ill or injuredpediatric patient includingairway management, spinalimmobilization, andresuscitation of the pediatricpatient. The Emergency NursesAssociation is accredited as aprovider of continuing nursingeducation by the AmericanNurses Credentialing Center’sCommission on Accreditation.Individuals completing thiscourse will be provided with15.33 continuing educationnursing contact hours. For moreinformation, visit http://www1.thechildrenshospital.org.

OPINION


Denver’s Nursing StarBoard of Commentary

Andrea Arnold, RN, BC Linda Mundorff(Rener), RN, MPH, MSN, NDc

Deresa Claybrook, MS, RHITLicia McCurdy, LPN

Angela Lash, RN, CM

Vickie Jenkins

Opinions expressed in columns and lettersto the editor are not necessarily theopinions of employees, ownership of thisnewspaper or the publishing company.

Virginia Gillispie, RN, ND

Vicki L. Mayfield, M.Ed., RN, LMFT

Sherry L. Ray, CPCC

Colleen FolschEileen Doherty

Elizabeth Sowdal, RN

Making the Most of anAudit ExperienceOn the Record...Commentary by Deresa Claybrook, MS,RHIT

DerDerDerDerDeresa Claesa Claesa Claesa Claesa Claybrybrybrybrybrook,ook,ook,ook,ook, MS MS MS MS MS,,,,,RHITRHITRHITRHITRHIT

I loved to watchFlip Wilson ontelevision when Iwas younger.

For some ofyou, you mightnot know whoFlip Wilson was.He was a verye n t e r t a i n i n gcomedian thatwas featured onthe Ed Sullivan

show and later went on to have his owncomedy show.

He was a comedian similar to BillCosby. “Here comes the judge, Herecomes,” the judge was one of his popularsayings. He would do skits and be dressedup as a judge and it was quite amusing.

Even though Flip Wilson made lightof a serious situation of capturing thatmoment when a judge comes into a room,we all can relate to how intense it canbe to have an authority figure in ourpresence. Those same intense feelings run

high when an auditor or inspector walksthrough the door of a health careorganization.

As a health care nurse or a healthcare administrator, having an auditconducted within your organization isnot that uncommon in today’s workplace.We are all probably use to having safetyinspections and state health departmentreviews. If you have worked in a hospitalfor any length of time you are familiarwith Joint Commission reviews or audits.

There is a great deal of anxiety withthe thought of an upcoming audit orwhen the auditors or inspectors walkthrough the doors. It really doesn’t haveto feel like the moment when a judgewalks in the room. To lessen the fear ofthe nurses or the staff that is beingaudited follow these simple rules.�� Communicate to everyone involved

the goals of the process. The morecommunication about what is expectedcan definitely lessen the fears and anxietyof all parties involved.�� Use the audit as an educational

tool. The audit itself can be an eye-openerand can be used to save money, timeand point out small issues before theybecome large ones.�� Let the results of the audit drive

education for each person on the unit.Do not place the audit findings on a

shelf until next year’s review. The resultsneed to be implemented.�� If you are the nurse or

administrator involved in assisting theauditor, then remind the staff that noone is perfect.�� Use the audit to set individual

performance goals. You can even use thefindings in the evaluation process.�� Establish an appeals process or at

least know what it is and how it works.Yes, sometimes things need to beappealed.

It is also very important to explainto the staff the process of audit or areview. Most reviews follow a certainformat. First there is a preparation stage.Some hospital prepare for joint commissionwith a mock survey from an outsideagency. Some clinics prepare for areimbursement audit by auditing theirstaff quarterly. None the less, there shouldbe a preparation stage. During this stageyou should set clear goals, engageexecutive support and prepare the staff.It is also a good idea to have severalmeetings and let the staff discusssituations that could be improved upon.For nurses they might have a particularcase that they know did not go well andthey could discuss better solutions for abetter outcome.

During the auditing phase, it is bestto have one person as the designatedcontact person throughout the processin a clinic setting. For the hospital setting,the Joint Commission process can bedifferent; they may eventually meet witha several different people since they are

looking at all the different departmentsin a hospital. Keep in mind clear channelsof communication need to be sought outahead of time to make the reviewsuccessful. The key is here is tocommunicate and coordinate.

After the audit, there is still work tobe done. Most of the time there is anexit interview. The exit interview istypically a time to reflect. Most of thetime, the auditor will not give the site acomplete summary of findings. That willcome at a later date. Usually there isenough information given to shed somelight on any concerns though. Usually aformal final report will come and this isconsidered a dashboard for correctiveaction. The report will be set up withthree major headings. Information or whatwas actually reviewed,findings andrecommendations. Read everythingcarefully and share appropriately.

The final step is to share thisinformation with everyone involved andwork on effectively implementing therecommendations. The key here is to workon it slowly but consistently. This is reallythe best approach to lessening the anxiety.

Deresa Claybrook, MS, RHIT has over 25years in the health care industry. She isthe president of Positive Resource, whichspecializes in Human Resource (HR)Management and Health InformationManagement (HIM). She fills her days withassisting health care organizations with theirmanagement concerns.

Don't Let The EconomyAffect Your WaistlineThe Counseling Corner...Commentary by The American Counsel-ing Association

The currenteconomic crisishas done a greatdeal to increasestress across thecountry. Fromaverage folksworrying abouttheir next

paycheck, to top financial executivesworrying about their next bailout, ourcurrent economic problems have mostof us feeling more anxious.

Unfortunately, many people reactto high stress levels by turning moreto something we all find comforting -food. It’s called “stress eating” because

it feeds an emotional rather than aphysical hunger.

We do it because food, especiallysweet things, trigger emotional andchemical reactions in our bodies thatdo make us feel better, though onlyfor a sort time (then it’s time for anothersnack).

Stress eating is a problem becauseit’s one of the most common sources ofexcessive weight gain, something thatcan directly impact our self-image andhealth.

So instead of reaching for that donutthe next time the stock market istumbling, look for alternative ways tohandle the stress.

Start by being more aware of what’striggering your eating. Are you snackingbecause you’re physically hungry, orsimply because you’re stressed or boredor unhappy?

If it’s emotions that have you eating,try to find activities besides eating that

can help calm you. Exercise, for example,can be very effective. From gymworkouts to quick walks around theblock, exercise boosts the action of feel-good neurotransmitters in your body.Plus it burns calories and actually makesyou physically healthier.

Other stress busters, like reading abook or listening to music or calling afriend, can also be alternatives to foodyou don’t really need. But if you reallycan’t survive without a snack, make itone that’s good for you.

Foods high in sugar and caloriesmay quickly elevate good feelings, butalso lead to a sharp emotional crash assugar levels drop. Fight that with apiece of fruit instead of a donut. Trysnacking on veggie sticks with lowcalorie dressing. Have them handy forwhen hunger strikes. And, instead ofthat high sugar, high calorie soda orenergy drink, have a glass of water.

Eating in response to stress is acommon problem, but one that’s fixable.Think about why you’re eating andwhat you could do instead to help youfeel calmer and more relaxed withoutresorting to food. Sometimes just being

more aware of stress eating can do agreat deal to minimize the problem.

The Counseling Corner is provided as apublic service by the American CounselingAssociation, the nation’s largest organizationof counseling professionals.

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