22
Spring 2014
PACU Receives CNO Award,
continued from page 21.
In January and February, the PACU nursing staff participated in a survey to assess the relationship between compassion fatigue and unprofessional behavior. Trisha Klein is one of the research team members and a senior clinical nurse I in the PACU studying this important issue with colleagues, including Kathryn T. Von Rueden, MS, RN, ACNS-BC, FCCM. Nurses from the trauma side of the PACU were among the 523 Shock Trauma Center staff members surveyed for this study, which aims to assess how vicarious trauma relates to burnout and unprofessional behavior in a major trauma center. The team hopes to determine the staff’s perceptions of disruptive behavior, their compassion fatigue scores and whether staff reporting highcompassion fatigue also report high exposure to disruptive behavior. This study follows a previous one published in 2009 that measured compassion fatigue. The investigators hope to assess any differences in the overall scores that may have occurred since the first study, after interventions were enacted to attempt to mitigate the unfavorable effects of compassion fatigue on staff members at that time. Working on the trauma side of the PACU can offer emotional challenges for the staff members. They shared how well they know each other and can decompress together, processing events in a supportive and meaningful manner. Kristin Wojtowycz, BSN, RN, clinical nurse II, said, “Every day is different. We see everything from the routine to the unusual or extreme. In this PACU, the extraordinary can become typical. It’s not your average PACU.” When necessary, pastoral care chaplains are on site to help the staff through emotionally charged moments with patients and families experiencing acute trauma. The Integrative Therapy team regularly provides brief massages, Reiki and meditation for the staff, patients and families. A challenge noted by one of the nurses on the trauma side is “we need to treat every person respectfully, whether it is someone who committed a crime or someone’s 80 year old grandfather. Even
Elshadie Birratu, RRT, Respiratory Therapist
Julie Grahm, Patient Care Technician and Rob Rodriguez, BSN, RN, Clinical Nurse II
the 80 year old who awakens from anesthesia may be unintentionally rude or violent. All patients are treated with dignity and respect here.” Recognizing the need for an excellent hand-off from the OR to the PACU, a process improvement was implemented. The team used the Plan, Do, Study, Adjust rapid-improvement process to address hand-offs. (See page 24 for details.) The team’s high standards have led most of them to seek certification by a national board. Twenty-one PACU nurses are certified in specialties and hold credentials, including CCRN, CPAN, CNRN, and CEN. Recognizing the desire of the nurses to study together for the certification exam, Bea Hazzard leads a study group with a nursing leader from Mercy Medical Center. This group meets over the course of 12 weeks and is open to nurses across the city, with five UMMC nurses participating. As you can see, the PACU team does it all! For their expansive knowledge base, depth of skill sets, advancement of the profession of nursing through research and publishing, improvement of patient outcomes through translational practice, lean work, unbelievable flexibility, spirit of positivity, cohesion, teamwork, collaboration, and compassion for their patients and each other, the PACU team has been selected to receive the CNO Award for Team Excellence. When asked what they feel most proud of, most of the PACU nurses mentioned their team. Kristen Rouse, BSN, RN, senior clinical nurse I, said, “Our team is great.” Christa Arndt, RN, clinical nurse II, said, “We share the same goals and concerns about patient care. We all want to manage the patients as best and safely as possible.” “When appropriate, we use our senses of humor to help our patients and us through challenging times,” added Debrahe Rowland, BSN, MFA, MS, RN, clinical nurse II. “I love this team,” said Bea. “They are so incredibly flexible and willing to take on challenges. They say to continued on page 23. me, ‘We’ve got this, Bea.’”