Houston Methodist Nursing Magazine Fall 2016

HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE A Magazine for Nurses

FALL 2016

NURSES PUT FOCUS ON THEIR OWN HEALTH

Liisa Ortegon,

senior vice president and chief nursing executive – Houston Methodist Hospital

Becky Chalupa,

vice president and chief nursing officer – Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital

Janet Leatherwood, vice president and chief nursing officer – Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

Nancy Keenan,

vice president and chief nursing officer – Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital

Vicki Brownewell,

vice president and chief nursing officer – Houston Methodist West Hospital

PREVENT BURNOUT AND STAY ENGAGED As nurses, we always put our patients first. But we should not sacrifice our own health to do that. Burnout and fatigue commonly strike those in our profession, and we strive to make sure that doesn’t happen at Houston Methodist. Here are some tips that we find helpful to help you avoid burnout and keep you engaged while at work.

Liisa Ortegon •• Disengage from technology once a day at minimum and try to do this at least one hour prior to bedtime.

•• Do something nice for a random stranger at least once a day. Feels good to do a good deed!

Becky Chalupa •• Get and stay certified.

•• Attend conferences and continually take on more responsibility, learning new departments and service lines.

Janet Leatherwood •• Maintain a work/life balance and have time built in to your schedule to recharge.

•• Take part in activities such as prayer, dancing, exercising, spa, massages, and time with family and friends Nancy Keenan •• Have the right attitude and proper fitness to do your job.

•• Try to volunteer for activities for which you have passion and interest. These types of activities are renewing and allow you to use your creativity and share ideas

Vicki Brownewell •• Practice gratitude every morning. My husband and I tell each other three things we are grateful for. Thinking of all of our blessings takes my mind off of the negative.

•• Maintain your social network. My husband, grown sons and their wives try to get together frequently for a meal or outing. We always laugh a lot and my stress melts away.

Katherine Walsh •• Keep your sense of humor; find a trusted friend to laugh with.

•• Take time off on a scheduled, routine basis. If you wait until you need it, it is too late.

Kerrie Guerrero •• Travel with your family. Doing this helps me decompress, prevent burnout and stay engaged.

•• I also try to read a book a month to help stay in engaged and informed in the nursing and leadership profession.

Katherine Walsh,

Kerrie Guerrero,

vice president and chief nursing officer – Houston Methodist St. John Hospital

vice president and chief nursing officer – Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital

CONTENTS 3 OR cleaning project 4 Magnet 6 Center for Professional Excellence 8 In the Community 10 Cover story: Nurses Put Focus

on Own Health 14 Career Coaching , Haiti mission 15 Shared Governance 16 Epic 17 Breast Health Awareness 18 The Woodlands welcomes

new leaders 19 EBP Symposium 20 Awards 21 Accolades

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Rosario Alvarado Jessica Bright Simone DeMarco Rod Evans Sarah Fleming Shuntá Fletcher

Jackie Gendrich Beverley LaMoth Carlette Patterson Jessica Saavedra Serrano Joy Shiller Robyn Washington

MAGAZINE EDITOR Kelli Gifford

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jacquie Frazier

Of course, there are many ways to stay engaged and not burn out from your job, but what is most important is finding what works best for you. We want you to love your job, and we are here to help whenever you need it.

Front Cover: Nurses from Houston Methodist West Hospital take advantage of the hospital’s gym to get their workouts in.

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HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL

Project Focuses On OR Turnover

By Kelli Gifford

A team at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital recognized a problem with turning over operating rooms in between cases – it was taking too long, some areas weren’t getting cleaned and other areas were getting cleaned twice. So they decided to do something about it.

The first step was to observe and take notes on what was happening in this process.

The team, which included Elizabeth Trainor, RN, CPHQ, and Elaine Martin, MSN, RN, CNOR, among others, gathered references from AORN, which provided data and best practices about turning over ORs in the right manner.

“Then a group of people got together and went to two of our system hospitals (Sugar Land and West), which had already worked on this type of process,” says Trainor, PI specialist and infection control practitioner. “They were very willing to accommodate us. We found things we could use from both hospitals.”

Observations and interviews revealed that staff lacked role clarity. The number of staff involved in turnovers ranged from three to 10 people causing confusion. Tasks were being duplicated or missed during routine turnovers. The team’s main goal was to decrease time spent cleaning and increase efficiency. Because resources vary from OR to OR, as well as the layout, they had to be clear in defining roles.

“Parallel work flows were designed to maximize efficiency, limit rework and remove nonvalue-adding activities,” says Trainor.

They chose to define the roles using football positions “because people get hung up on ‘it’s not my job,’ so our goal was to identify by the work that had to be done,” says Martin, interim director of perioperative services. “The housekeeper is the quarterback, so if the housekeeper isn’t there, then it’s like ‘who is the quarterback?’”

“PARALLEL WORK FLOWS WERE DESIGNED TO MAXIMIZE EFFICIENCY, LIMIT REWORK AND REMOVE NONVALUE-ADDING ACTIVITIES,” SAYS TRAINOR. During trials, the first team took 19 minutes, then as the trials continued, they dropped the time to 14 minutes, says Trainor. They also have done trials with anywhere from two to five people assuming the roles.

Another change that was made was switching to microfiber cloths after receiving feedback from all different levels of the staff.

“We had to be organized in our approach to doing that to make sure we had clean towels so that after they’re used they are sent back through to be laundered,” Trainor says. “We would see how many towels each room needed and the housekeeper goes and drops towels in different areas so if the staff sees a clean towel on the equipment they know it hasn’t been cleaned. Then they clean it and then drop the towels into the laundry bag.”

The team started this project in April 2016 and did final training at the beginning of October.

Already they’re seeing better communication and collaboration and the elimination of double work, says Trainor.

From an efficiency standpoint, ORs are always trying to improve on-time starts and turnover time, she says. “I don’t care what OR you ever go to, those are always going to be things that are a work in progress. So this is helping with not only our efficiency but the effectiveness of the cleaning.”

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MAGNET

HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL ‘HEROES’ HOST MAGNET INTERPROFESSIONAL FAIR

By Mary L. Shepherd, RN, MS, NEA-BC, Magnet Program Director

Each year, the Magnet Interprofessional Fair provides staff an opportunity to continue to learn about a Magnet culture during the journey toward redesignation in 2020. This year, the Magnet Interprofessional Fair featured a superhero theme, which included a variety of characters and costumes and a photo booth. The Magnet in Motion Magnet Champion Leadership Group, Magnet Domain leads and housewide Shared Governance chairs hosted fun and educational games.

More than 225 staff members attended the event. Nurses and the interprofessional staff were invited to showcase their best practices through a poster exhibition. There were 22 posters submitted, including six interprofessional posters. Posters were judged by the Magnet Domain leads using specific criteria, in addition to a popular vote by the attendees.

The winners, listed below, received a certificate of recognition and prize.

• Transformational Leadership Domain: Mary Joseph, Catharine Hamilton, Yen Vo, Michelle Reyes, Dagmawit Habtemichael – Alkek 8 • Structural Empowerment Domain: Shunta Fletcher – Center for Professional Excellence • Exemplary Professional Practice Domain: Maria Boissonneault – M4NW • New Knowledge, Innovation and Improvement Domain: Jessica Renaudo, Sara White, San Pham and Andrew Carouth – Jones 9/IMU • Empirical Outcomes Domain: Holly Shui, Jane Ugochukwu, Sana-

Haj Khalil, Johnie Leonard and Gail Messner – Observation/Chest Pain and Inpatient Dialysis • Interprofessional Category: Rhonda Jacobson, Kristen Kizer and Asim Khan – Wellness Center and Outpatient Radiology • Overall Best Popular Poster: Maria Boissonneault – M4NW • Overall Best Popular Shared Governance Booth: Professional Development and Workplace Environment Council • Overall Best Domain Booth: Exemplary Professional Practice

HURRICANE MATTHEW DISRUPTS MAGNET CONFERENCE More than 80 nurses from Houston Methodist attended the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s annual Magnet Conference in Orlando in early October, but a surprise visitor caused an abrupt change in the event’s schedule.

On the second day of the conference Hurricane Matthew loomed close to the Florida coast, bringing a sudden end to the proceedings. Houston Methodist nursing leaders in Orlando and Houston worked together to charter buses and vans, while some attendees were able to get last-minute flights home.

The employees boarded buses headed west; they spent the night near Mobile, Ala., and continued the trip to Houston.

One of the buses carried nurses from Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital. At one point, freeway traffic slowed and the group saw an overturned vehicle. When they saw no first responders on the scene, the HMSJ nurses told their driver to stop so they could render aid if needed. The driver 4 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • FALL 2016

was out of the vehicle and the nurses determined he wasn’t injured, just a little disoriented. When EMS arrived, the group continued its trek home.

Becky Chalupa, CNO for Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital, said “I was very proud they didn’t hesitate to do whatever they could. That’s what makes Houston Methodist the great place it is.”

The conference featured several educational tracks (Evidence-Based Practice, Innovation, Leadership and Practice) and a poster exhibition and a welcome party at Universal Studios. Keynote speakers included Emmy Awardwinning television personality Montel Williams, and Simon T. Bailey, MA, CSP, CPAE, a critically acclaimed speaker, author and brilliance enabler. Houston Methodist Hospital had two presentations scheduled and was recognized in a celebration for its fourth Magnet redesignation, while Houston Methodist San Jacinto was honored for its first.

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK SHARED GOVERNANCE REALIGNS WITH MAGNET JOURNEY Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital has restructured its shared governance to align with Magnet’s new standards focusing on interprofessional collaboration.

“The primary reason for the restructure is that we are looking for innovative ways to pull away the silos around nursing and process development,” says Glenn Dennis, RN, MSN, ACNSBC, associate chief nursing officer at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital. “We want to do a better job at incorporating relationships and collaborating with other professions.”

The previous structure lacked the voice of the patient-side clinicians and was not proactive in addressing issues.

Many committees worked internally and created independent processes and policies, and then submitted them through Shared Governance to be implemented. This extended process often resulted in the new process or policy being antiquated upon implementation.

Dana Scott, BSN, RN, the Magnet program coordinator at Houston Methodist Willowbrook, explains how she facilitated the restructuring process, which started in 2015.

MAGNET

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND INTERPROFESSIONAL MAGNET FAIR:

‘Pokémon Go Magnet’ Participants at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital “Pokémon Go Magnet” attended an Interprofessional Fair designed to spotlight the teamwork that is critical to the Magnet journey.

Attendees learned about the qualities of transformational leaders; what structures and processes are in place at Sugar Land to promote shared governance, professional development and community involvement; how teamwork is the key to successfully implementing patient- and family-centered care; how new knowledge, innovations and improvements are implemented in units and departments to improve the quality of care, satisfaction and employee engagement; and the role of interprofessional partners in the Magnet journey.

They also saw how Houston Methodist Sugar Land compares to other hospitals in regards to patient falls with harm, hospital-acquired pressure ulcers stage 2 or greater, central line blood stream infections

and catheter associated urinary tract infections.

Shared Governance Councils presented posters highlighting council activities and recruiting new members for 2017. The Wound Care Council provided a demonstration of how the use of maggots can help with wound healing.

Chris Siebenaler, chief executive officer, Janet Leatherwood, vice president and chief nursing officer, and Sally Shen, associate chief nursing officer, made appearances as Pikachu and the Pokémon Go nurses.

“We saw an opportunity to incorporate partners so that we could streamline the flow of information and issues not only throughout the nursing profession but also with other established organization committees,” she says.

The new structure improves the overall business practice model when it comes to patient satisfaction, quality, and the organization in its entirety.

“Magnet requires we demonstrate constant evaluation and improvement of our business model,” continues Scott.

“We are proud and excited to have strategically worked toward an interprofessional model and those involved are fully embracing the model and look forward to its benefits.”

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CENTER FOR PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE: NURSING TAKING CARE OF NURSING

By Shannan Hamlin,PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, NE-BC Director, Center for Professional Excellence

As the health care climate changes, nursing must adapt as well. The best way to do this is to identify new and innovative solutions to caring for complex patient problems.

At Houston Methodist Hospital’s Center for Professional Excellence (CPE), is tackling that challenge by channeling our efforts into a threepronged approach built on the principles of science, education and practice.

CPE was created in 1999 with a goal to provide quality education to the hospital’s nursing staff. Since then CPE has made great strides in nursing education, including a nationally recognized and accredited nurse residency program, a student professional nurse program (MAPP) with more than 65 percent student nurse retention, and more than 300 continuing education programs.

But education is not enough: to meet the needs of today’s nurses as well as the demands of the health care market, CPE created an infrastructure on the foundation of the principles of science, education and practice. These principles, represented by three

departments, integrate and nourish each other to create a culture of nursing excellence.

These overarching principles steadfastly align with the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program for Excellence.

The five core components of the Magnet model include: transformational leadership (exemplified through CPE’s mission and vision), structural empowerment (education), exemplary professional practice (practice), new knowledge, innovations and improvements (science), and empirical outcomes (science).

Through steadfast commitment to excellence and the power of collective nursing, CPE will be key to advancing nursing practice at Houston Methodist Hospital. The nursing enterprise will serve as an example to other health care facilities both nationally and internationally as HMH leads in successfully achieving nurse-driven optimal patient care outcomes.

CPE Model of Excellence: The circular framing of the model demonstrates how Nursing Science informs Nursing Education to drive Nursing Practice to achieve excellence (i.e., excellence in professional practice, patient outcomes, etc.). The arrows are continuous intended to depict a collaborative, perpetual process which is at the heart of CPE’s foundation. The large outside Translational Practice circle indicates through demonstrated excellence, nursing will lead and drive a positive, continual transformation of nursing practice and patient outcomes at HMH. 6 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • FALL 2016

Here is a closer look at the three departments representing these key principles, along with a profile of our of Magnet department: Department of Nursing Practice

The Department of Nursing Practice, led

by Nnenna Emelogu, is focused on improvements in standardized, evidencebased nursing practice, efficiency and accountability. Specific attention will be placed on problem-solving and decision-making to influence the development, implementation and evaluation of patient, unit and organizational goals.

Department of Nursing Education

The Department of Nursing Education, led

by LaSandra Brown, has restructured education delivery, focus and processes by shifting to a decentralized, service-line model. Educators will continue to focus on curriculum development and continuing education but with a collaborative, service-line approach. In collaboration with CPE’s other departments, the focus is on advanced professional development and infusing evidence at the bedside to improve and standardize nursing practice and patient outcomes.

Department of Nursing Science

The Department of Nursing Science, led by Resa Labbe-Morris, bridges the gap between what is known scientifically and what is done clinically.

As a result, CPE creates, supports and encourages a culture of scientific inquiry in which best-practices are disseminated both internally and externally.

Magnet

The Magnet department, led by Mary Shepherd, advances the mission of CPE through integration of the Magnet standards, grounded in research and organized into five ANCC Magnet Domains. These domains fundamentally embrace the science of nursing, education and practice, which are consistent with the mission and vision of the CPE.

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IN THE COMMUNITY

THE WOODLANDS’ GUERRERO A PART OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISPANIC CHAMBER’S HEALTH SUMMIT

WOODLANDS TEAM TAKES PART IN DRAGON BOAT CHALLENGE

Kerrie Guerrero, chief nursing officer at Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital (above, center), was part of an expert panel at the Montgomery County Hispanic Chamber’s health care event, Health Summit “Access to Care” on Sept. 20.

Guerrero joined others from the local medical community and Charles Smith, executive commissioner of Texas Health and Human Services, to take questions from the audience about the current state of health care.

Audience members wanted to know how the state’s decision to not participate in the ACA Medicaid expansion affected access to care. They also wanted insight on how hospitals in The Woodlands plan to reach out to the Hispanic population and educate them about their services.

About 75 people attended the event at the Lone Star College Conference Center.

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A group of Houston Methodist The Woodlands employees experienced a day of team building and fun on Sept. 24 at the YMCA Dragon Boat Team Challenge 2016 at Northshore Park in The Woodlands. The team of 30 employees, including nine new directors, loaded into a 40foot long dragon-headed canoe and raced to the finish line. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Woodlands Family YMCA annual campaign.

IN THE COMMUNITY

LIGHT THE NIGHT WALK SUPPORTS LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night walk took place on Oct. 8 at dusk at the University of Houston. A number of Houston Methodist Hospital employees participated in the walk, including Stephani Villaloboz from Guest Relations, Sobhana Jacob from Main 8NW, Clotelle Bellamy from inpatient BMT, Torey Johnson, an oncology social worker, Phoebe Le, an oncology case manager, and Beverly Hughes, an oncology RN IV. Jacob, along with St. Thomas Orthodox Church, raised $5,000 for the walk this year. There were three types of walkers for this event – supporters, survivors and those walking in memory of a person lost to a hematologic malignancy – and each group carried a colored lantern signifying the type of walker.

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST SOCCER TEAM MAKES FINALS OF CORPORATE CUP Houston Methodist West soccer team made the finals in the Corporate Cup, but ultimately fell 3-2 to a team from Embassy Suites. The tournament was comprised of more than 15 teams from all different corporations from many industries in Houston. West’s team is a multidisciplinary group of nurses, physicians, patient liaisons and ER technicians.

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CREATING A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

Whether it’s losing weight or getting some rest, nurses are focusing on self-care

By Kelli Gifford 10 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • FALL 2016

Nurses are real-life superheroes, doing anything and everything they can to care for patients. The secret to their power is simple, but easily overlooked when things get busy.

When nurses fail to take care of their own health, the resulting power blackout affects their patient care.

Some struggle with their weight, others get fatigued after long shifts. For others, the strains of the job lead to physical, mental and emotional exhaustion.

According to the American Nurses Association, inadequate sleep and resulting fatigue has major implications on the health and safety of registered nurses and can compromise patient care. Fatigue and burnout can also cause increases in health care and workers’ compensation costs, early disability, recruitment and training costs, and legal fees.

Mona Cockerham, PhD, MSN, RN, nursing quality specialist at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, focused her doctoral research project on fatigue in nursing.

“One issue nurses have is they’re generally aware of attitudes and practices needed in order to have a healthy work environment, but a lot of times we don’t apply them to self-care,” Cockerham says. “So a lot needs to be done about nurses actually caring for themselves and seeing the value in caring for themselves. This has long been a problem for nurses.”

There are many aspects to a person, including psychosocial factors – stress, mindfulness – that affect the body, says Cockerham, so the way nurses think about work and stress and manage it affects the body’s response.

“Nurses, if they have strong support at work and strong support at home, tend to have less stress,” she says. “Even if you have the same work environment, it depends on what kind of social support you have.

Support makes a big difference, and then it influences your fatigue and any health outcome.”

The pace of the job is fast and furious, and because of that, nurses need to be reminded and encouraged to find time to decompress, sleep enough at night, eat regularly and exercise.

In order to fight off fatigue, “take some time off to do something you enjoy,” Cokerham continues. “You don’t always have to go on vacation, just step away long enough for it to matter.”

“Take some time off to do something you enjoy.”

Night shift nurse Arlene Delabajan, from Houston Methodist West Hospital, says when she feels fatigued, she tries to get more sleep on her days off and makes it a priority to exercise.

“I go to the gym after I sleep so that I don’t get physically burned out doing it on the days I work,” she says. “Cycling outdoors helps me, too, versus spinning in the gym. The green color in nature relaxes my mind and soul.”

Delabajan feels that night nurses tend to “eat more junk to keep us awake” and lack discipline in choosing what they eat and exercising.

“We literally need caffeine to stay awake, and for me, it affects my sleeping patterns when I sleep in the daytime.”

According to Becky Laird, a senior wellness coordinator at Houston Methodist West Hospital, nurses tend to put their own needs aside because it is in their nature to take care of others.

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“I tend to recommend that they make time for themselves,” says Laird. “Most people can find at least 30 minutes to exercise during their day or at least several 10-minute intervals. “(Nurses) also tend to have crazy eating schedules when they are at work. Again, this is due to the nature of the job. I think it is important that they pack healthy, easy grab-and-go snacks to bring with them to work. This can prevent them from getting overly hungry by the time they are able to eat a meal, which can lead to overeating.”

Laird trains several nurses at the gym at Houston Methodist West, including Delabajan. “(Laird) designed exercises personalized to my structure,” Delabajan says. “I push myself to the gym three times a week with my coworkers to increase the motivation between us.”

That’s when a friend told Austin about a dietitian at the Houston Methodist Hospital Wellness Center.

She reluctantly made an appointment and slowly started moving toward healthier eating habits while balancing a social life. Next, she added exercise.

“I used to be really good at making excuses for why I wasn’t a good runner, but I decided that was my best chance at losing weight.”

Austin went from struggling to finish two miles to running races, including 5Ks, 10Ks and a half marathon. Since she first met with the dietitian, she has lost almost 30 pounds and has dropped four pant sizes.

But most important, she says, “I am now comfortable in my own skin, and I am strong.”

Every Houston Methodist hospital offers wellness services to employees, and nurses are taking advantage of the resources.

“I am now comfortable in my own skin...”

Emily Nan Austin, a nurse in the Houston Methodist Hospital CVICU, reached her heaviest weight a few years ago. She says she couldn’t fit into her clothes and was embarrassed to have her picture taken.

Houston Methodist Hospital Program Director of Nursing Education LaSandra Brown also uses exercise to keep herself physically and mentally healthy.

Austin would be most comfortable sitting on her couch in sweatpants, eating fast food. She also says work was a big factor in her weight gain.

After having her second child in 2012 and gaining more than 60 pounds, Brown decided to make some life changes. This included finding a personal trainer.

“I would eat a lot very fast when our unit would have pot lucks or pizza parties,” Austin says. “My weight and my selfcontrol quickly spiraled out of my hands. I hated myself but didn’t know how to make any changes.”

Emily Nan Austin Before

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Emily Nan Austin After

“During our initial consultation appointment, I had to complete some paperwork and a fitness test. Oh boy, was I out of shape and breath!” says Brown.

Brown’s journey began with three sessions a week for three months with a commitment to do cardio on her own when she wasn’t at a session.

She then moved her sessions down to two a week, started eating six small meals a day and drinking plenty of water. She reached her goal of losing 30 pounds and getting back to her pre-pregnancy weight.

It’s important to use effective stress-reducing techniques, such as meditation, prayer, mindfulness, exercise, deep breathing, and work breaks, according to American Nurses Today.

“Not only has exercising been instrumental in my health, it is the best stress reliever I have ever had .”

“Not only has exercising been instrumental in my health, it is the best stress reliever I have ever had and I absolutely love working out now!”

Houston Methodist implements best practice in accordance with the American Nursing Association when it comes to scheduling to help avoid nurses getting fatigued, says Cockerham, but nurses also have to take it upon themselves to recognize the signs.

“Get away, get fresh air, get out in nature,” says Cockerham. “Also, reach down into your spiritual life. Ask yourself, why am I here? What is my purpose? It’s important to just slow down.”

LaSandra Brown Before

LaSandra Brown After

HOUSTON METHODIST WELLNESS SERVICES PROGRAMS The wellness programs and services offered

by Houston Methodist are the keys to helping you achieve and sustain the healthy lifestyle you desire.

For more information on Houston Methodist Wellness Services, call 713.363.7007 or email wellnessconsultant@houstonmethodist.org.

• Weight management and nutrition • Healthy lifestyle coaching • Fitness • Stress management • Managing health conditions • Health screenings, assessments and physical exams • Education LEADERS IN NURSING 13

CAREER COACH’S CORNER

‘WHILE ON THE ROAD TO EXPERT’

By Shunta Fletcher, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CVRN-BC

Tyechia Lavalais, RN IV, a clinical nurse expert in the Center for Professional Excellence, started at Houston Methodist Hospital in 2006 as a graduate nurse in the medical-surgical unit. After obtaining her RN II and RN III certifications, Lavalais began to wonder about her career options.

with her career coach, to determine if she wanted to work as an FNP or explore other opportunities at HMH. She was encouraged and decided to work toward a promotion to RN IV. Lavalais and her coach were able to develop the right plan to A career coach talked with Lavalais about her career move her to her current role. Her journey is not over, as goals. Once the conversation was over, Lavalais decided she told her coach she would like the road to continue to return to school for a master’s degree in nursing to toward a doctor of Nursing Practice in the near future. pursue family nurse practitioner (FNP). In 2014, Lavalais graduated and successfully passed boards while “Working with a career coach is a great opportunity continuing to work at the bedside. for growth and positive change in all areas of your life,” Lavalais said. “Additionally, I felt a sense of relief after She continued career coaching after school to consider sharing my concerns during career coaching.” a position to fit her new skills. Once again she consulted If you want greater career success or need help in solidifying your vision for the future coaching appointments are flexible and are conducted by face-face interview or telephone.

For more information please contact the Center for Professional Excellence at 713.441.4546 or email at cpecareercoaching@houstonmethodist.org.

HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL NURSE HELPS HAITIANS WITH HURRICANE RECOVERY Tasha Roberts, MS, MS, APRN, AGACNP-BC, cardiology/medicine/observation nurse practitioner watched on TV as Hurricane Matthew raked the island of Haiti in October. As soon as the storm had passed, she made plans to go there and help.

Roberts asked for resources from a church and from Houston Methodist Hospital to help Haitians hit hard by the hurricane. She delivered homemade dresses from Sugar Creek Baptist Church Sunday School class to needy children at the Bread of Life Orphanage. She also joined a medical team that was able to assess, treat and diagnose 287 patients.

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“I hope this is just the beginning of many medical missions to come,” Roberts says. “This was a lifechanging experience I will never forget.”

SHARED GOVERNANCE

SHARED GOVERNANCE CONFERENCE PUTS FOCUS ON ENGAGEMENT

More than 200 participants attended the annual Houston Regional Shared Governance Conference Nov. 2 at the Pelazzio Tuscany Ballroom in Houston.

The conference, led by Houston Methodist Hospital, was the result of a collaborative initiative, which included representation from the Houston Methodist hospitals, Texas Children’s Hospital, CHI Baylor St. Luke’s Hospital and MD Anderson Hospital.

The theme for the conference was “Engaging Employees for Success” and focused on the importance of employee engagement in

driving organizational outcomes and the role that employees play in advancing a culture of excellence. The conference featured a panel in which the chief nursing officers representing each hospital discussed their roles and strategies they use to engage employees.

Katherine Walsh, chief nursing officer at Houston Methodist St. John Hospital, was the keynote speaker. Her presentation, “The Case for Nurse Engagement,” discussed drivers of nurse engagement and the impact that disengaged employees have on an organization’s outcomes.

Additionally there were 16 evidence-based presentations and a poster exhibition.

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST NOMINATES CHAIR, CO-CHAIR OF SHARED GOVERNANCE COUNCIL After a restructuring of its Shared Governance in the spring, Houston Methodist West Hospital has nominated chair and co-chair Vanessa Dunn and Donna Gabaldon. Since the restructuring, Houston Methodist West has seen an all-time high attendance record at the meetings. With such outstanding participation, it has been able to implement and make a positive impact on patients and staff from the frontlines.

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EPIC GO-LIVE: SYSTEM NURSES HELPING OUT

By Kimberly A. Nichols, MLA

More than 200 super users, many of them system nurses participating in a pay-it-forward, pay-itback (PIF/PIB) super users program, descended upon Houston Methodist Hospital in May during the first inpatient Epic Go-Live.

Armed with additional training, a genuine willingness to help their colleagues and an abiding curiosity about Epic’s electronic health record, these nurse super users had a unique vantage point.

Working hands-on in Epic for nearly a year before their home hospitals’ go-live gave them opportunities to share knowledge with their colleagues.

EPIC NURSE BENEFITS Epic streamlines many functions for bedside nursing including:

• A checklist to track all patient care duties • Convenient charts on one patient record • Patient information available on clinical trials, demographics and allergies • Provides better communication between patient care team members • New and improved workstations on wheels • State-of-the-art 23-inch monitors in exam rooms/workstations • Access to all inpatient and outpatient encounters • BestPractice advisories to assist with decision-making and patient safety • SmartTools pulls in related documentation • Additional layer of patient safety with bar code scanning for medication, implants and blood administration 16 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • FALL 2016

Nurse Van Jaymar Mariano of Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital enjoyed his experience with the Houston Methodist Hospital Dunn 8 West surgical nurses. “MethOD was a mess, and now with Epic everything is streamlined and in one place,” he says.

“One of the things my nurse colleagues will definitely love is having a checklist to remind you what you need to do on your shift. It’s very nice,” said Cindy Theriot, HMSJ nurse champion. She worked to recruit many of the HMSJ nurses into the PIF/ PIB super-user program.

In addition to the current training regime, before their hospitals go live on Epic, all 2017 nurse super users will participate in organized shadow shifts in a HMH department for added system exposure, practice and training.

OUR EPIC JOURNEY:

2017 COMMUNITY HOSPITAL GO-LIVES Community hospital wave 1: Feb. 19, 2017 Houston Methodist St. Catherine (HMSTC): epic.houstonmethodist.org/hmstc Houston Methodist St. John (HMSTJ): epic.houstonmethodist.org/hmstj Houston Methodist West (HMW): epic.houstonmethodist.org/hmw

Community hospital wave 2: May 14, 2017 Houston Methodist San Jacinto (HMSJ): epic.houstonmethodist.org/hmsj Houston Methodist Sugar Land (HMSL): epic.houstonmethodist.org/hmsl Houston Methodist Willowbrook (HMWB): epic.houstonmethodist.org/hmwb

Community hospital wave 3: Targeted July 1, 2017 Houston Methodist The Woodlands (HMTW): epic.houstonmethodist.org/hmtw

FOCUS ON BREAST HEALTH

Pamper Me Pink:

A Breast Health Awareness Celebration Nearly 200 ladies were pampered and educated at Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at The Woodlands’ Pamper Me Pink event on Oct. 5. The event put a spotlight on breast health awareness and provided guests an opportunity to tour the breast care center and schedule their mammogram.

The program had a talk show format hosted by Debbie Sukin, chief executive officer of Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital, and regional senior vice president of Houston Methodist, which included Q&A with doctors and breast cancer survivors. Following the

presentation, the ladies enjoyed complimentary massages and mini makeovers from Nordstrom – The Woodlands. The event concluded with 28 women scheduling a mammogram.

Flamingos adorn Houston Methodist West Flamingos returned to Houston Methodist West Hospital in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Hundreds of flamingos covered the green areas of the hospital grounds, and various departments broke out their decorating skills for the annual flamingo decorating contest. There were 15 flamingos entered this year, and first place was awarded to Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.

Back Row: Ashley Carriage, RDMS, RVT, Sara Nickle, RT (M), Whitney Arriaga, RN, MBA Front Row: Dr. Magda Ghobashy, breast radiologist and director of Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at The Woodlands, Mischele Lolie, RT (M)(QA), Sandra McPeak, RN, BSN, Lauri Perrone RT (M),Noelia Reeves

Spotlight on Breast Cancer The lights were glowing pink in October at Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at The Woodlands, as well as on Houston Methodist’s billboards and Market Street panels, putting a spotlight on the importance of breast cancer detection.

LEADERS IN NURSING 17

Houston Methodist The Woodlands Welcomes New Leaders Houston Methodist The Woodlands welcomed nine new directors and an associate chief nursing officer to its staff at the end of September.

Front Row (L to R):

Back Row (L to R):

Anita Farr, MSHA Director, Laboratory Services

Pablo Vasquez, MBA, RN, NEA-BC Associate Chief Nursing Officer

Alisha Estay, RN, CCRN, NE-BC Director, ICU

Paula Karonika Director, Supply Chain

Elaine Maduzia, MSN MHA RN CPHQ Director, Quality

Elizabeth Barnett, RN, RNC-OB Director, Birthing Center

Nichole Lilley, MSHA Director, Patient Access Services

Georgia McCool, RN, NE-BC Director, Med/Surg

Cynthia Johnson, RN Director, Emergency Services

Taylor Thompson, RN Director, Cath Lab

Pablo Vasquez, MBA, RN, NEA-BC joined the team in September as associate chief nursing officer. Vasquez has served in nursing leadership roles for more than 10 years, with expertise in critical care. He spent four years, from 200812, as director of nursing at Houston Methodist Hospital before spending three years as director of critical care services at CHI St. Luke’s The Woodlands Hospital.

Vasquez earned an MBA in Healthcare Administration from the University of St. Thomas and is a member of several national nurses associations, including the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and Emergency Nurses Association. He is a lieutenant in the United States Navy Reserves and United States Navy Individual Ready Reserves.

Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital Renews Journal Club

Nurse Residency Program Welcomes 2016 Class

The Journal Club at Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital has been renewed, so nurses will continue to benefit from the exchange of ideas and information afforded them by this valuable resource. The Journal Club provides a forum for nurses and interprofessionals to review and appraise literature for evidence-based practices. The program calls for an article to be reviewed every other month by Journal Club members.

The program is under the direction of Houston Methodist San Jacinto Magnet Program Director Kathy Arthurs, PhD, MSN, RN-BC, RNC-OB.

The Houston Methodist Nurse Residency Program (NRP) ensures that nurses do not start their journey alone, but are instead nurtured every step of the way.

The NRP is designed to take new baccalaureate prepared nurse graduates beyond their formal education and offers practical solutions to dilemmas that nurses often face on the job.

18 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • FALL 2016

EBP SYMPOSIUM WELCOMES WELL-KNOWN SCHOLARS, SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS

HOUSTON METHODIST ST. JOHN HOSPITAL

The 2016 Evidence-Based Practice Symposium titled “Redefining Practice with Evidence,” was held on Sept.

23-24, at the John F. Bookout Auditorium in the Houston Methodist Research Institute.

A total of 135 clinicians participated in the conference, with more than 50 percent from Houston Methodist Hospital.

GO GREEN FOR PATIENT SATISFACTION

The conference had three major sessions, presentations, a poster demonstration and a vendor fair. This year, three well-known scholars, Dr. Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, Dr. Lynn Gallagher Ford and Dr. Ellen Fineout-Overholt, were the keynote speakers.

In addition, Dr. Gallagher Ford and Dr. Fineout-Overholt

provided hands-on skills workshops, which received positive feedback from the participants and speakers.

Competition for the scholarly poster presentations has become more rigorous, with 45 abstracts submitted and 23 selected through the peer review process.

Six institutions, UT Heath, Memorial Hermann, UTMB, MD Anderson, Texas Children’s and Baylor, judged the posters. This group of experts reviewed and scored the posters based on content and presentation. The poster titled “What Parents Can Tell Us about Patient Safety in the NICU” authored by Madeline J. Ottenson, PhD, RN, from UT Health, was awarded first place.

The cumulative patient satisfaction score for all nursing areas at Houston Methodist St. John Hospital for August 2016, was above “target.” To recognize this accomplishment, Chief Nursing Officer Katherine Walsh declared Sept. 20, as “Go Green” day. In celebration, nurses were encouraged to wear green, and the CNO and CEO distributed green cookies to the nursing units.

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST HOSTS RESEARCH FAIR Houston Methodist West Hospital celebrated its annual Research Fair with posters, prizes and fun. Each poster represented a research project that is currently ongoing or has been completed to help drive and improve care at West. Congratulations to winners: • 1st Place: Laura Espinosa and Marcia Ozdenvar: “NIPPV” • 2nd Place: Shannon Chase Weck, Shirley Tran, Alexis Rose and Elizabeth Gigliotti: “Methods for a Successful and Lasting Implementation: The SERRI Program” • 3rd Place: Rhonda Kallmeyer, Sarah Sheedy, Samantha Shepard, Stacey Silverman and Kathleen Thoede: Aspiration Pneumonia: Identifying Risk

Factors Influencing the Development of HospitalAcquired Aspiration Pneumonia” • Honorable Mention: Jimmy Do and Rhonda Kallmeyer: “Reducing Healthcare Acquired C. Difficile Infection

by Identifying a Predictive Risk Model” • Honorable Mention: Alma Martinez, Raegan Ney and Amy Sodolak: “Skin to Skin Contact in the Operating Room”

ST. JOHN CELEBRATES BEING CLABSI AND CAUTI FREE On Oct. 12, Houston Methodist St. John Hospital celebrated 500 days since the last CLABSI (CentralLine Associated Blood Stream Infection), and nine months since the last CAUTI (Cather-Associated Urinary Tract Infection). This great accomplishment was recognized with a cake and punch reception.

LEADERS IN NURSING 19

REBECA SPENCER, SLICU, NAMED BROWN FOUNDATION INC. OUTSTANDING NURSE

out by nursing students and new orientees, a self-starter and most importantly, an impassioned advocate for patients and families.

Congratulations also to the other finalist, Maria Boissonneault, RN III on Main 4 West, who received $3,500.

Rebeca Spencer, RN II, SLICU, has been awarded The Brown Foundation Inc. Outstanding Nurse Award for 2016, which This year, the Brown Foundation comes with a $15,000 prize. She also funded two Innovation Awards. began at HMH six years ago as a Past Outstanding summer MAPP Nurse Award student working winners were in the orthopedic encouraged to unit, then was submit proposals hired on Dunn for hospital 7 full time after initiatives that graduation. While advance a culture on Dunn 7, she of excellence. The was recognized two selected were by an orthopedic Fred Macapagal, educator for RN, BSN, CCRN, her leadership of the CCU, and qualities and her Myre Omega Sale, potential as a RN III, Dunn PACU. Rebeca Spencer and Maria Boissonneault nurse educator, who said “Rebeca has continuously Macapagal’s project aims to exhibited several stellar qualities show that end-stage heart failure which are critical characteristics patients needing heart transplants of a good nurse. I am honored to can benefit from a procedure that recommend Rebeca as a proficient, allows them to mobilize, rather compassionate nurse, one I would than be on bedrest, while waiting be very comfortable to have care for a transplant. Sale is working for my family, friends, or myself.” on two projects, one that utilizes technology and innovation to She then moved to Dunn 3 SLICU ensure Magnet readiness, and two years ago where she has another that focuses on using proven to be an outstanding critical technology to improve patient care clinician at the bedside, a satisfaction in the PACU. nurturing preceptor highly sought

HAMLIN RECEIVES RICHARD E. WAINERDI EMERGING NURSE LEADER AWARD Shannan K. Hamlin, PhD, RN, ACNP-BC, AGACNPBC, CCRN, NE-BC, director of the Center for Professional Excellence, received the third annual Texas Medical Center Richard E. Wainerdi Emerging Nurse Leader Award. This award was originally funded to 20 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • FALL 2016

recognize the contributions of an outstanding emerging nurse leader working in the Texas Medical Center. Hamlin has demonstrated care, innovation, transformation and collaboration that support Wainerdi’s vision for exemplary patient care, education and research.

HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL AND HOUSTON METHODIST WEST RECEIVE VIZIENT QUALITY AWARD Houston Methodist Hospital and Houston Methodist West Hospital both received the Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award at the Vizient (formerly UHC) annual conference in Dallas. The award is presented to top-performing academic and community hospitals that deliver safe and efficient care across a broad spectrum of patient care activity.

These hospitals were the only two in Texas to receive the honor.

HMH ranked No. 9 among more than 100 academic medical centers. This is the third year in a row HMH has received this award. Perhaps more significant, it is one of only five academic medical centers honored by Vizient and included on U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll.

This year, for the first time, Vizient also recognized outstanding community hospitals with a separate Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality Leadership Award.

Houston Methodist West Hospital was one of only 14 community hospitals nationally to receive this new honor out of 124 community hospitals included in the study.

Houston Methodist Sugar Land, St. John, and Willowbrook hospitals also performed very well in the survey, ranking in the top 20 to 30 percent. Houston Methodist and Mayo Clinic were the only two organizations in the country to have hospitals appear on both the academic and community hospital lists.

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

HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL Natasha S. Hyde, MSN, RN, nurse manager on Jones 11, passed her Nurse Executive certification.

Caspar Cordovez, BSN, RN, from SLICU, passed his CCRN certification.

John Gentle, RN in CVICU, received his CCRN certification.

Kelsey Crider, RN-BC, received her Psychiatric Mental Health Board certification.

Shezmine Noorani, RN, passed her Med-Surg certification.

Melanie Breitkreuz, Michelle Castro and Andrea Wursche achieved Inpatient OB Certification (RNC OB).

Dainy Jose, RN on Main 7N, won the Spirituality Award presented by the Institute for Spirituality & Health.

Joy Shiller, RN, BSN, MS, CAPA, Main 3 OR Pre-op, had an article on “Well Leg Compartment Syndrome” accepted for publication in the November Eyeopener, a quarterly publication by the Texas Association of Perianesthesia Nurses. Joy also was selected by ABPANC to serve on the national committee to write the CAPA certification examination. The meeting will be held in Dallas during the first week in November.

Rachell Matthews, PCA on D4W and D10E Transplant Units, earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Administration.

Brennan Parmelee, MSN, RN, CPN, CNE, Bone Marrow Transplant Coordinator in Cell & Gene Therapy, recently traveled to Austin to receive the 2016 Rising Star alumni award at the University of Texas School of Nursing.

Care Navigator Team Pharmacist Rafael Felippi was named “Preceptor of the Year” by the students of the Lebanese American University (LAU) School of Pharmacy.

Luke Manalo, BSN, RN from SLICU, for passing his CCRN certification.

Josh Davis, RN in the CVICU, received his CCRN certification.

Jose “Jef” Sala, RN, BSN, CCRNCSC, CCTN, night nurse manager, SLICU, received the 2017 AACN Circle of Excellence Award.

Christina Majors, manager FBOR, has passed her CNML. Suzanne Reagan, RN II on M8NW, passed the Oncology Certification Exam.

Dalila Brown (D10E), Brennan Parmalee (BMT), Rebecca Greenberg (Main ED), Allison Skrehart (M4), and Lindsey Lechler (J10) were promoted to RN III, and Kelly Fristensky (D6W) was promoted to RN II. Lea Madrid, RN (FBOR), passed her CNOR exam.

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL Amy Sebastian-Deutsch, DNP, APRN, CNS, AOCNS, was hired as the director of Oncology Services.

Tiffany Bell, RN, MS, CMSRN, was promoted to Director, Med/Surg Anifa Andrade, RN, MSN, CMSRN, was promoted to Nurse Manager, Brazos 5 Daisy Del Rosario, RN, BSN, CVRN, was promoted to Nurse Manager, 5 West Lee Cantos, BSN, RN, Main 5 West, won the Daisy Award.

PALS (Preceptor Award in Leadership Skills) Award recipients: • Medical Surgical: June Lute, MSN, RN,CMSRN • ICU: Noli Rivera, BSN, RN • Emergency Department: Jennifer Parker, BSN, RN • Perioperative Services: Paschale Dorismond, BSN, RN • Women’s Services: Yamuna Alex Mangaly, BSN, RN, RNC-OB System Quality & Patient Safety Champions Awards • Everyday Champion: Joy Fey, BSN, RN, OCN- Main 4 East • Hand Hygiene Champion: Michelle Smith, Secretary Birthing Center • I CARE for Safety: Stacie Stewart, Lead Ultrasound Technologist – Radiology, and Bianca Barrientos, Ultrasound Technologist – Radiology • Quality Improvement Champion: Diane McGraw, MSN, RN, CNSCH, CPHQ, CCM,– Director of Quality Management • Safety Champion: Joe Thekkanath, MRI Technologist – Radiology • Team High Reliability

Team Endoscopy

Debra Kendrick, RN, CGRN

Dana Lewis, BSN, RN

Jane Vogel, RN

Kenneth Isaac,

Endoscopy Technician

Max Mejia, Endoscopy Technician

Ivan Palacios,

Endoscopy Technician

Jigar Patel, Patient Care Associate

Wound Care Team

Bobbi Fink, ADN, RN

Flo Garza, ADN, RN

Liberty Ramas, BSN,

RN, CVRN LEADERS IN NURSING 21

NURSING NEWS ACCOLADES

Keesha Cook, Admitting Representative

Delores Davila,

Rehabilitation Office Coordinator

New Certifications PACU: Elvin Bermejo, BSN, RN, CCRN Main 4 West: • Perla Andaya, BSN, RN, CVRN • John Eric Fadera, BSN, RN ,CVRN • Ann Maguire, BSN, RN, CVRN • Alicia Pyles, BSN, RN, CVRN • Mathea Volesky, ADN, RN, CVRN

New Degrees Main 4 West: • Chad Garner, RN, has earned his MSN in family nurse practitioner • Ani Varughese, RN, has earned her MSN in family nurse practitioner Nurse Practitioners: • Rizwana Sunesra, RN has earned her MSN and is now an NP Operating Room: • Shelly Boyne, RN has earned her BSN Education: • Christine Fisher, RN Inpatient Diabetes Educator completed her MSN in Nursing Education

Evidence-Based Practice Projects and Poster Presentations Aromatherapy: A Non-Pharmacologic Intervention for Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting (Ronald Malit, BSN,RN, CPAN, CAPA & Paschale Dorismond Parks, BSN, RN, CPAN) was accepted in three local and national conferences: 1. O.R. Manager National Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada

22 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • FALL 2016

2. Texas Association of Peri Anesthesia Nurses Annual Conference in Lewisville, Texas

HOUSTON METHODIST SAN JACINTO HOSPITAL

3. Houston Methodist Research and Evidence Based Practice Symposium 2016 in Houston, Texas

Kevin Harris, MSN-HCSM, RN, manager of Nursing Resources and Informatics, was elected to the board of directors of the Texas Alliance for Patient Services (TAPS).

The Power of Education: Improving Surgical Site Infection Rates in an Obstetrical OR (Judy Jacob-Mathew, MSN, RNC, Yamuna Manglay, BSN, RNC, Tracy McManaman-Bridges, MSN, RNC Julianita Reyes, BSN, RNC, Lindsey Salazar, BSN, RNC) was accepted for the 2017 Kaleidoscope Perinatal Nursing Conference.

ED Blood Culture Contamination Rate Knockdown (Ike Akanu, BSN, RN; Vanessa Shepherd, BSN, RN; Ann Hernandez, RN; Rita Richards, BSN, RN, CEN; Scott Stover, MSN, MBA, RN, APRN, ACNS-BC, NEA-BC, CEN) presented at the 8th Annual EBP/Research Conference in New Orleans and won third place.

Creation and Implementation of the Houston Methodist Playbook for an Integrated and Sustainable Patient Experience (Doreen Singh, BSN, RN; Susan Teer, MSN, RN; Sally Shen, MSN, RN; Chris Siebenaler, Regional SVP & CEO; Thomas R. Vernon, RN, BSN, EdM, CPLP; Christina Barss, PhD., MS, Med; Edda Tinis, MA, PHR; Michael Liske, MBA; Velma R. Escamilla, MBA) presented at AHA’s Society of Healthcare Strategy and Marketing Development Connections 2016 in Chicago.

Kevyn Bieschke, RN, CEN, obtained her certification in emergency nursing.

Emily Rich, RN, earned NCC High Risk Neonatal certification.

Jacqueline James, RN, earned certification in NCC Inpatient OB.

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL Marian Skewes, RN, MSN, SCRN, stroke program clinical coordinator, passed the stroke certification exam.

Marian is the first registered nurse at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital to earn this credential.

Colleen McKay, BSN, RN was selected 2016 Nurse.com GEM Rising Star from the South and New GEM States region.

Mona Cockerham, PhD, MSN, RN, Nursing Quality Specialist, graduated with her PhD from the University Of Texas Health Science Center School Of Nursing Houston. Mona was also awarded the Vivian L. Smith Foundation Scholar, Accelerated PhD Student Award, Philanthropy Scholarship Award, Houston, TX. Lisa Jones, PACU, and Anh-dal Nguyen, pharmacy, were named Magnet Champion Award winners.

Jennifer Amedio, PACU, won the Magnet Champion poster contest and attended the 2016 Research Symposium.

Carmen Torres, RN, won the Daisy Award.

Latasha Broussard was promoted to Nurse Manager 6E. Zachary Armitage was promoted to Nurse Manager Observation.

Judith Njilefack was promoted to Nurse Manager 5W. New Certifications: Aldwin Bolongaita, CCRN Cerela Bolongaita, CCRN Jennifer Ricks, CCRN Cindi Thomas, CCRN David Yeamens, CCRN Alex de Mesa, CCRN Juianna Armuchelo, CMC and CSC Josefa Britt, CVRN Erika Williams, VA-BC

Presentations/Posters: Marcia Malone-Tedder, RN, MN, CCRN, VA-BC, 2nd place poster winner, “Introduction of Midlines: Preparing Staff for Practice Changes.”

Presented at the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) 2016 National Conference.

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST HOSPITAL Beri Bamnjo, 6 East Med/Surg, received her board certification in Medical -Surgical Nursing (CMS-RN).

Kevin Brashear, 6 East Med/Surg, received his board certification in Medical -Surgical Nursing (RN-BC).

Amber Dimuro, Birthing Center, received her board certification in Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB).

Arlene Galupo, Birthing Center, received her board certification in Neonatal Intensive Care (RNC-NIC).

Jeri Jobe, Birthing Center, graduated with her MSN. Kate Johnson, 6 East Med/Surg, graduated with her BSN. Laura Johnson, AOD, received her board certification in Perianesthesia Nursing (CPAN).

Emmanuel Kajoh, 5 East Med/Surg, graduated with his MSN. Marykutty Kuruvila, Operating Room, graduated with her BSN.

Medical-Surgical Nursing (RN-BC).

Sandra Turner, Birthing Center, graduated with her MSN. Jessie Ubokudom, Birthing Center, graduated with her BSN and received her board certification in Neonatal Intensive Care (RNC-NIC).

Ngozi Ude, 5 West Med/Surg, graduated with her BSN. Beverly White, Birthing Center, graduated with her BSN. Leticia Riley, Emergency Department, received her board certification in Emergency Nursing (CEN).

Erin Kibbey, Emergency Department, received her board certification in Emergency Nursing (CEN).

HOUSTON METHODIST ST. JOHN HOSPITAL Serenity Glazer and Susan DiSanto graduated from Western Governors University with an MSN in Nursing Education.

Newly certified nurses:

Jennifer Amedio, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, CCRN, PCCN, “Including Aroma Therapy for Management of PONV.” Presented at ASPAN’s 35th National Conference, Philadelphia.

Mary Labajo, Birthing Center, graduated with her MSN.

Denise Stage McNulty, MSN, MSHAS, “Improving Critical Thinking with Case Study Debate” poster. Presented at the 2016 Quality & Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) National Forum and 2016 Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) Annual Convention.

Tamara Mager, 6 West Med/Surg, received her board certification in Medical -Surgical Nursing (RN-BC).

Imelda Oca, Nursing Administration, graduated with her MSN.

Oluwafunso Olufemi, RN, MSRN (Medical-Surgical Nursing) – 4 Medical RN

Jamie Puspos, RN, BSN, CVRN, “TriBundles for PICC Insertion: Prevention of PICC Related Complications.”

Presented at the Association for Vascular Access (AVA) 2016 National Conference.

Ekenem Onyechefuna, Nursing Administration, graduated with his MSN.

Karen Wondra, RN, CVRN (Cardiovascular RN) – Cardiac Cath Lab Nurse Manager

Jissy Paul, Intensive Care, graduated with her BSN.

Amanda McElwee, RN, CCRN (Critical Care RN) – ED RN

Frances Lacayo, Birthing Center, received her board certification in Inpatient Obstetrics (RNC-OB).

Lynnette McPherson, Birthing Center, graduated with her MSN.

Michelle Antonopolous, RN-BC (Medical-Surgical Nursing) – 3 Surgical Nurse Manager David Carter, RN-BC (MedicalSurgical Nursing) – 3 Surgical RN Cynthia Broussard, RN, CHPN (Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Registered Nurse) – Director of Palliative Care

Dexter Rodriguez, 6 East Med/Surg, received his board certification in

LEADERS IN NURSING 23

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