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.