TEAMWORK

David Moore, R.N., M.S.N., B.C.:

New Jersey Behavioral Health Planning Council and Mental Health Citizens Advisory Board Member

Sami Abate, Ph.D., M.S.H.S., M.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N., C.N.M.L..:

Stockton University Board Member

Wilmington University Board Member

Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative (SNJPC) Board Members:

Karin Abbey, B.S.N.

Elizabeth Baldwin, M.S.N., R.N.C.

Christl Dooley, B.S.N., R.N.C.-O.B.

Dawn Goffredo, M.S.N., R.N.C.

Peggy Stecklair, B.S.N., R.N.C.

Donna Volpe, D.N.P.

SHARED GOVERNANCE HIGHLIGHT: NETWORK PRACTICE COUNCIL

The Network Practice Council is an interprofessional team including nursing and representatives from numerous disciplines including pharmacy, cardiopulmonary, dietary, rehabilitation services and informatics. The council focuses on all areas of our patient care practice with an emphasis on nursing care and how that care intersects with other departments including food and nutrition services. Collectively, the team seeks to ensure Inspira’s policies and procedures are developed collaboratively and are based on the latest evidence-based best practices.

For example, in 2022, the team began transitioning toward the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI) Framework, which is standardized international diet terminology. This transition establishes consistent language among disciplines and providers to ensure safe nutritional plans for patients with compromised swallowing ability. As Inspira seeks to expand the care offered via our neuroscience program and continually improve the care provided to stroke patients, this initiative was especially timely and relevant.

Discharge Lounge

In August 2022, Mullica Hill implemented a discharge lounge to improve patient flow and discharge efficiency. The lounge is staffed by a nurse, who conducts the discharge paperwork and education; a pharmacist, who completes the discharge medication recommendations and education; and ancillary staff. Along with its implementation, we began institutional review board (IRB)-approved research to study its impact on operational outcomes, including patient throughput times and medication reconciliation discrepancy rates. The research is also observing the impact on technology utilization, the adoption by staff and patient experience.

Addressing Concerns About Delays In Patient Care

In 2022, Cindy Rodriguez, B.S.N., R.N., C.N., a direct care nurse in the Mullica Hill Dialysis Unit, collaborated with Food and Nutrition after identifying a concern about delays in patient care, specifically related to meals for dialysis patients. Through interdepartmental teamwork, breakfast trays were expedited, allowing patients to begin treatment on time and improving overall patient satisfaction.

New Safety Feature For Pharmacy Search

This year, Nursing and Pharmacy partnered to institute a new safety feature: a 5-character search for Omnicell. This was a guideline recommended by the Institute for Safe Medication Practice (ISMP) that prevents nurses from accidentally accessing incorrect medication.

Enhanced Respiratory Isolation

Inspira implemented a new isolation precaution titled “Enhanced Respiratory Isolation,” which includes the use of an isolation gown, hand hygiene and gloves, a fit-tested N95 mask and a face shield or goggles. This precaution covers respiratory diseases like mpox.

Rcsj Partnership

We announced a new partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) in April 2022 designed to educate and retain future health care professionals within the community. Inspira gifted $2 million to the college to support scholarships and the future development of the health care education program. RCSJ nursing students will study and train in the Inspira Health Nursing and Health Professions Center, and Inspira employees will benefit from a 50 percent discount on tuition.

Avp Roles

As we continued to work on executing our strategic plan, Inspira identified ways in which the Nursing department can better align with each of the five strategic domains. As a result, we promoted a number of nursing leaders to drive improved outcomes through tactics rooted in high reliability principles. The nursing leaders in new AVP roles include:

INSPIRA NETWORK: VINELAND:

Sami Abate, Ph.D., M.S.H.S., M.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N., C.N.M.L.., Assistant Vice President, Nursing Excellence and Clinical Research

Sherry Remy, M.S.N., R.N., C.E.N., Assistant Vice President, Emergency and Nursing Operational Services

Dawn Goffredo, M.S.N., R.N.C., F.A.B.C., Assistant Vice President, Maternal Child Health Services

Sharon Slavic, M.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., Assistant Vice President, Perioperative, Acute Care Services and Wound Care Services

Samantha Harrington, M.S.N., R.N., P.M.H.-B.C., V.A.-B.C., Assistant Vice President, Inpatient Behavioral Health Services

Michele Zucconi, M.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N., Assistant Vice President, Critical Care, Interventional Services, Palliative Care and Dialysis

Emily Turnure, M.S.N., R.N., N.E.A.-B.C., Assistant Vice President, Nursing Education and Professional Development

MULLICA HILL:

Tina McCormick, B.S.N., R.N., Assistant Vice President, Perioperative and Interventional Services

Julia Powers, M.S.N., R.N., P.C.C.N., C.C.R.N.-K., N.E.-B.C., Assistant Vice President, Nursing Operations and Adult Patient Care Services