Houston Methodist Nursing Magazine Spring/Summer 2016

HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE A Magazine for Nurses

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

AN INSIDE LOOK AT MAGNET REDESIGNATION

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

Katherine Walsh,

Vicki Brownewell,

MAGNET EXCELLENCE AT HOUSTON METHODIST This has been an outstanding year for nursing throughout Houston Methodist. We are so proud to say that Houston Methodist Hospital received its fourth Magnet designation and Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital received its first – what amazing accomplishments!

We are so proud of these hospitals and the hard work the others are putting in to achieve this status. Back in April, Dr. Marc Boom addressed the importance of Magnet in his President’s Letter. Here is an excerpt: “Magnet designation shows patients they can count on nurses to provide the very best care and help deliver excellent outcomes. It’s important to nurses because they know they’re working in a hospital with a collaborative environment where their voices are heard and where they will be given every opportunity and the tools to succeed and grow professionally. It’s important to all other employees because – besides being a point of pride – it shows they work at a clinically superior hospital.

The best of the best.

The goal is for all of our hospitals to one day achieve Magnet designation. As Houston Methodist employees, we are committed to unparalleled safety, quality, service and innovation. To be unparalleled means to be exceptional – to have no equal. It should come as no surprise that eight out of the top 10 hospitals on the University HealthSystem Consortium’s Top Performers list in 2015 are Magnetdesignated hospitals – including HMH, which placed eighth.

Kerrie Guerrero,

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

vice president and chief nursing officer – Houston Methodist West Hospital

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

CONTENTS 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 14 22

HMSJ Magnet Designation March for Babies Q&A: Implementation of Epic 2016 Nurses Week Delirium Grant; Rothman Index CCNE Accreditation Cover Story: Anatomy of Magnet System Nurse Awards Accolades

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS Rosario Alvarado Jessica Bright Rod Evans Sarah Fleming Shuntá Fletcher Beverly Hughes

Beverley LaMoth Carlette Patterson Jessica Saavedra Serrano Joy Shiller Robyn Washington

MAGAZINE EDITOR Kelli Gifford

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hillary Brindell

Achieving Magnet status at each of our hospitals won’t be easy as the ANCC continues to raise the standards that ground the Magnet program. Then again, it’s not easy to be unparalleled. It’s a goal that I know we will one day achieve because we have of some of the best nurses and nurse leaders in the country working at Houston Methodist.”

We thank Dr. Boom for sharing with the system how important Magnet is and showcasing our journeys. Congratulations again to Houston Methodist Hospital and Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital on their incredible achievements. We are confident the other hospitals are not far behind!

Front Cover: Mary Shepherd, Magnet program director, works along with team members Alexa Calderon, Payal Patel and Everett Stafford to prepare documents for submission.

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HOUSTON METHODIST SAN JACINTO OBTAINS MAGNET DESIGNATION

Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital received its call from the ANCC on July 20: they received their first Magnet designation.

David Bernard, CEO, Becky Chalupa, CNO, and Pete Alfaro, former Baytown mayor and vice chair of Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital’s board, celebrate Magnet designation.

“This recognition is a tribute to each and every one of our team members who have dedicated themselves to our patients and their families,” said Becky Chalupa, chief nursing officer. “I would like to recognize the contributions of our Magnet program director, Kathy Arthurs, and would also like to thank our Magnet Steering Team and our Magnet Champions as well for all of their assistance along the way.”

The ANCC announced the achievement after Houston Methodist San Jacinto demonstrated it met or exceeded standards in the areas of nursing administration, education, clinical practice, research and quality. This is the highest level of recognition a hospital can receive from the ANCC for excellence in nursing services.

Chalupa and Arthurs were notified in March that Houston Methodist San Jacinto was granted a Magnet site visit, and the team prepared diligently for the event, Arthurs said.

On June 8-10, three ANCC Magnet appraisers were onsite for three days and met with numerous nurses, interprofessionals, leaders and community members to hear about the excellent quality patient care, collaboration, and innovative practices at Houston Methodist San Jacinto.

“During the site visit the energy and support of the Magnet journey was evident throughout the hospital,” Arthurs said.

“Everyone participated and showed their support. It was an exciting time.”

“Magnet recognition shows that our patients can count on our nurses to provide them with the very best care,” said Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital CEO David Bernard. “It is also important to our hospital because it helps us attract and retain top talent, improve safety, patient care and satisfaction and foster a collaborative culture.”

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Houston Methodist participated in the March for Babies event April 24 at the University of Houston.

The March for Babies is a fun noncompetitive 5-mile walk to support the March of Dimes’ mission to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality, and to provide resources and support for families affected by premature birth.

As a system, Houston Methodist raised $11,881 for March for Babies. Staff from all the hospital women’s health departments were joined by other employees from throughout the system, totaling more than 100 walkers.

Thank you to team captains Carol Cromer, RN (HMH), Tara Bell, RN (HMSJ), Sandra Turner, RN (HMW), Brigitte Tomek, RN (HMSL), Pam Sprague, RN (HMWB), and Scott Flowers, vice president of operations. Stephanie Jenkins, women’s health secretary, and Melissa Dover, RN, also assisted the teams by coordinating the walk day details.

A special thanks to Sharon Johnson, vice president of operations at HMH, and Susan Puls, DNP, MSHSA, RN, director of women’s health at HMH, for their support in bringing in new resources. This event truly was a demonstration of the Houston Methodist team spirit and the I CARE values.

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Q&A:

IMPLEMENTATION OF EPIC AT HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL Connie Lauw, HMH Epic Clinical Liaison, Process Optimization Specialist, Operations Integration & Optimization

The new Epic electronic records system went live at Houston Methodist Hospital on May 22. Nurse super-users played a critical role in the implementation of Epic, going through months of handson training to prepare for questions they’d receive during go-live.

What was it like on the first day of the Epic Go-Live?

We all started on Saturday morning at 6:45. The Epic team was already at OPC 3 to start the cutover and we had nurses coming in from the floors and from different hospitals to start the manual parts of moving from MethOD to Epic. We had two 12-hour shifts, a day shift and a night shift. Unfortunately it wasn’t quite ready when we got there – we had a bit of a lag time. So we kind of stumbled out of the block a little bit for the first couple hours. Once we got the information from registration, we came back through and started entering the information.

Once everyone got going, it was really good. The nurses were excellent about getting in there and getting the information put in. A lot of questions came up, but once we got into the process of cutover it went pretty smooth. It was a long day and it was as coordinated as it could be – the logistics were just mind-boggling.

Was there anything that stood out to you?

Teamwork. It was all about teamwork. Once we got going, each of the groups were just working together. Even those who came in from other hospitals. The teamwork was just phenomenal that whole weekend.

Early Sunday morning is when they went to the floors. MethOD went down at midnight and people went on to paper charts, and they needed to go on to the floor after that and enter the paper information into Epic. So everybody kind of paired up and went back to their home unit to get their floors ready to go.

assignments so they could be freed up to help. If they weren’t able to not be on assignment, then the directors and managers stepped up and became the super-users on the floor.

We had the “Pay it Forward, Pay it Back” program, which is using the nurses from the other hospitals. They came over and stepped in to help out. So if a floor was struggling more with staffing and didn’t have a super-user on a given day, then I’d try to put one there. Now they will be “super” super-users for their go-live. We are going to keep them in the loop of information and that they stay up to date with what’s going on.

How helpful was it to have nurses as part of the Epic planning team?

We had a core group of nurses from all the facilities, for the past two years, working on building the documentation part, which is the biggest piece. And seeing how well nursing adopted to Epic speaks to how well they put it together.

I talked with other places and other people who had come in as contractors about what we had done to Epic so far – a lot of times facilities will come in and do a little customization but for the most part they keep the foundation. They stick to what’s there, like “let’s just get it in then we’ll start working on customizing it.” We went straight into customization. We had to remind people that this wasn’t MethOD and that we needed to figure out how to do it better in Epic. If there was a chance to improve the process, we were like let’s go ahead and improve it. We went really far, and I think that speaks to how well it was adopted because we tried to think of it before it happened.

What kind of advice do you have for the other hospitals as they prepare to implement Epic?

We even had OR nurses come in, who don’t normally do this kind of work. Most of them worked on the night shift, and were so eager to help. Their go-live wasn’t until Monday when their patients came in, but we so desperately needed the help. It was very good to see.

Lessons learned – communication. Have more activities for superusers to keep them engaged while they’re waiting for go-live.

People got really anxious. Give the details of what cutover will look like a little sooner so people can wrap their heads around it — step by step, this is what we’re going to do. People were worried the week before. There wasn’t enough time for it all to sink in.

What value do you think it had for nurses to be a part of this process?

What has the overall response been?

When it came to training super-users, we all started out at square one. It didn’t matter if you’d been there two months or five years.

We made a really huge effort for the super-users to not have

I think overall it’s been well-received. They really like the fact that it’s all in one chart. It’s easier to find information.

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H O U STO N M E T H O D I ST C E L E B R AT E S I T S N U R S E S

2016 NURSES WEEK May 2–6, 2016

Each year, through the presentation of Nurses Week Awards, Houston Methodist recognizes nurses who demonstrate excellence in nursing care.

Nurses are chosen based on their willingness to advance nursing as a profession, seek additional education, demonstrate leadership, exhibit the I CARE values, and promote collegiality. Nurses are nominated by their peers and selected by a multidisciplinary committee from each hospital.

HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL Outstanding Graduate Nurse Outstanding Preceptor Outstanding Nurse Clinician Nursing Innovation Nursing Leadership Nursing Champion

Daniel Le Mark Alonso Rebeca Spencer Dana Hong Jane Ugochukwu Jeanette Jenkins

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST HOSPITAL Outstanding Graduate Nurse Shannon Duncan Outstanding Preceptor Gabi Lonzo Outstanding Nurse Clinician Tom Masha Nursing Innovation Andrea Cressy Nursing Leadership Nancy Jo Goldie Nursing Champion Dr. Carla Braxton

HOUSTON METHODIST SAN JACINTO HOSPITAL Outstanding Graduate Nurse Whitney Orsak Outstanding Preceptor Rhona Cabigquez Outstanding Nurse Clinician HoneyChile Benitez Nursing Innovation Ashton Kogut Nursing Leadership Kevin Harris Nursing Champion Heather Stanfill

HOUSTON METHODIST ST. JOHN HOSPITAL Outstanding Graduate Nurse Chelsea Pavlowich Outstanding Preceptor Linda Wiggins Outstanding Nurse Clinician Hannah Longoria Nursing Innovation Brandee Lovercheck Nursing Leadership Serenity Glazer Nursing Champion Linda Tolon

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL Outstanding Graduate Nurse John Eric Fadera Outstanding Preceptor Theresa Ng Outstanding Nurse Clinician Fatima Duterte Nursing Innovation Ronald Malit Nursing Leadership Ann Maguire Nursing Champion Donnie McGee

HOUSTON METHODIST ST. CATHERINE HOSPITAL Outstanding Graduate Nurse Joanna Ives Outstanding Preceptor Bianca Segovia Outstanding Nurse Clinician Sherry Diers Nursing Innovation Jennifer Cole Nursing Leadership Caroline Mascarenhas Nursing Champion Heather Ortega

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL Outstanding Graduate Nurse Miriam Nichols Outstanding Preceptor Melba Powell Outstanding Nurse Clinician Laura A. Connelly Nursing Innovation Kimberly D. Felt Nursing Leadership Christine Bradley Nursing Champion Julie Liska 6 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Delirium Grant Celebrates Champions Across System

By Dr. Katy Agarwal and Betty Clark, RN IV of the CMS Delirium Grant

June was a time of celebration and recognition for all champions who supported the delirium grant. The CMS Delirium Grant was initiated to improve recognition and to reduce the incidence of delirium in hospitalized elders in 2012.

Delirium is a state of acute confusion due to medical illness, infection or medications that is very common in hospitalized older adults. The delirium champion program started in spring 2013 to ensure that new nurses, staff and patients learn about monitoring for and preventing delirium. At Houston Methodist physicians, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and volunteers serve as unit-based champions.

Although the grant ended in June 2016, initiatives to reduce delirium in hospitalized elders will continue through the magnificent work of the champions. The delirium program transitioned to System Quality & Patient Safety starting July 1.

System-wide efforts to organize the early identification and prevention of delirium will be coordinated through the leadership of Dr. Kathryn Agarwal in System Quality & Patient Safety.

The 4AT Screen for Delirium in the nursing assessment will continue on all medical-surgical units at our hospitals. It was recently expanded to include patients admitted to observation status in the emergency department and observation units.

Nurses and therapists use the 4AT assessment to identify patients with delirium or those with cognitive impairment and risk for delirium who need additional support in the hospital and in transitions of care. Houston Methodist St. John Hospital will start the delirium components as it transitions to Epic. Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital will begin its initiatives when it opens.

ROTHMAN INDEX PeraTrend system helps in reducing mortality

For the past two years, Houston Methodist Hospital has been using an early warning system called PeraTrend and has seen significant reduction in mortality.

PeraTrend is an electronic system that resides with the electronic medical record. It captures 26 patient data elements from the chart such as vital signs, laboratory values and nursing assessments. Implementation of the PeraTrend EWS at Houston Methodist Hospital was a nurse-driven initiative following several years’ work with this system in reviewing cases postevent. In 2014, a team of clinicians, administrators, educators and project managers began implementing the system in 11 identified clinical units. Staff received education and support as they began using the system multiple times per day as an adjunct to their clinical assessments. Soon it will be used across Houston Methodist.

Over a nine-month time period, Houston Methodist Hospital saw a 30 percent reduction in mortality and a 32 percent reduction in the mortality index on the 11 units before and after the implementation of the system. The mortality index for other units remained unchanged during this time period.

Dr. Michael Rothman and his brother, Steven Rothman, developed the system following the untimely death of their mother. As they reviewed her case, subtle deterioration was noted for several days yet remained unrecognizable to

the clinical staff. They began studying the impact of subtle changes and found the nursing assessments were significant in the prediction of both in-hospital and one-year mortality rates.

The PeraTrend EWS stratifies patient data and designates a score, known as the Rothman Index. These Rothman Index scores are pictured graphically on a computer screen to identify trends over time.

One of the important selling points for the use of the Rothman Index is that it does not require any additional documentation or work as the system uses documentation already in the clinical record. Large-screen monitors were placed on each unit so anyone on the unit could visualize all the patients’ statuses at one time. As leaders rounded, they could immediately see the acuity and stability of each patient.

Three representatives from Houston Methodist — Katherine Walsh, DrPh, MS, RN, NEA-BC, Meredith Cowan, MS, RNBC, RNC-OB, and Nnenna Emelogu, MSN, RN, CVRN-BC, NEA-BC — traveled to New Haven, Conn., in April 2016 to participate in the annual Rothman Index Roundtable, where ideas for implementation, applications for various settings and outcomes were shared with attendees from across the country.

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Nurse Residency Program receives

CCNE ACCREDITATION The Houston Methodist Nurse Residency Program has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The CCNE is an autonomous accrediting agency that ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and residency programs in nursing. Only 21 hospital systems in the country have received national accreditation for the nurse residency program. The Houston Methodist Nurse Residency Program is the only nurse residency accredited program in Texas.

In 2004, Houston Methodist Hospital’s Department of Nursing supported the development of a postbaccalaureate nurse residency program (NRP) as part of a demonstration project conducted by the University HealthSystem Consortium. HMH established a partnership with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing in 2004 to create a relationship between the academic world and the hospital environment. This relationship continues and remains a foundational component of the NRP. The NRP has transitioned to a system approach, ensuring a stronger alliance between system hospitals, enhanced educational opportunities, increased access to resources, and support for the nurse resident. Guided by this system approach, Houston Methodist collaborated to build a solid team of NRP coordinators.

The initial NRP cohort was in the winter of 2013 and a substantive change related to the systematization of the program was submitted and accepted by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.

OVERALL STRUCTURE

CORE CURRICULUM DESCRIPTION

The Houston Methodist Nurse Residency Program has used the recommended curriculum designed by UHC and the AACN since the inception of the program. The delivery and the framework of the program have been individualized to align with the mission, vision, and values of Houston Methodist. The curriculum incorporates the following elements:

The work of Benner and Dreyfus as interpreted by the UHC/AACN Task Force is the foundation for the HM NRP curriculum. Benner’s research identified five levels of competency in clinical nursing practice. The graduate nurse enters the NRP as an advanced beginner. These nurses have theoretical knowledge yet lack the clinical experience to apply clinical judgment and knowledge to practice situations. The key elements of the NRP curriculum are as follows:

• General hospital orientation • Nursing-specific orientation comprising pertinent system and institutional protocols, procedures, technology, and equipment • Clinical unit orientation • Transition to practices classes; • Delivery of NRP core content • Monthly four-hour NRP sessions as a cohort

• Critical thinking • Leadership • Professional growth • Evidence-based practice • Safety • Patient outcomes

CCNE assesses and identifies programs that engage in effective educational practices. As a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation supports and encourages continuing self-assessment by nursing programs and supports continuing growth and improvement of collegiate professional education and nurse residency programs.

The process includes a written report showing the programs alignment with the standards for accreditation. Step two includes an on-site visit followed by the CCNE board’s review of the document and repost of site visit.

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ANATOMY OF MAGNET From Site Visit to Fourth Designation

By Kelli Gifford, Senior Editor

LEADERS IN NURSING 9

It all came down to one long-distance phone call. On the afternoon of May 17, a number of people gathered in the office of Liisa Ortegon, senior vice president and chief nursing executive at Houston Methodist Hospital, to learn the results of labor that consumed the past four years of their lives.

Everyone in the room invested those years to earn a fourth Magnet nursing designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Surveyors visited the hospital a few weeks before, and Ortegon received word she should gather her team for a phone call.

Christie Aguirre, a Magnet Champion and appraiser escort, was there. “I was nervous … anxious, excited,” she said. “My inner voice was telling me ‘we got this.’ I mean, we rocked the site visit.”

Mary Shepherd, the HMH Magnet program director, was also optimistic, because she witnessed the enthusiasm from the ANCC appraisers at the end of each day of their visit. One of the appraisers wrote a letter to Shepherd, saying “thank you for a well-organized, orchestrated and amazing site visit.”

The room was filled with anticipation. Many had their cell phones waiting, set to record the moment.

And then, the call.

“As a result of my final review, it is my honor to notify you that the Commission on Magnet unanimously voted to present Houston Methodist Hospital as a Magnet organization for the fourth time,” said the voice on the other end.

Cheers erupted and everyone started hugging. The room was so loud, the ANCC representative had to repeat what she said after the announcement because no one could hear her. The excitement was palpable.

This was, after all, HMH’s fourth Magnet accreditation since 2002. But the stakes were higher this time around – Magnet is a crown jewel in HMH’s national reputation, which has been glowing ever brighter in recent years. Not content to be in the shadow, Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital put together a Magnet designation effort of its own, and ultimately received its first designation. And with Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital working on its redesignation and the other community hospitals paving their way toward Magnet, the HMH staff ’s fresh memories of their Magnet experience would valuable insight into the anatomy of a Magnet site visit.

How the Visit Began It was 7 a.m. on March 28, and the crosswalk of Scurlock Tower

was jam-packed with Houston Methodist Hospital staff ready to give the Magnet appraisers a big Texas welcome.

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An appraiser takes a picture of the Nursing Wall in Dunn Tower.

The four women, accompanied by Magnet leaders Mary Shepherd and Mary Harris, turned the corner to loud cheers, handshakes and a rendition of “Sweet Magnet Time” to the tune of “Sweet Caroline.”

“It was electric,” said Harris. “I literally got tears in my eyes. I was just so grateful that people showed up and were willing to greet them that way. I couldn’t have imagined a better welcome.”

And the excitement carried on through the rest of the four-day visit, where the appraisers saw all the ins and outs of the workings of Houston Methodist Hospital.

The Escorts The appraisers were escorted by four Magnet Champion nurses during their stay — Rebeca Spencer, RN on SLICU, Christie Aguirre, RN on Main 3 AOD, Maria Boissonneault, RN on Main 4NW, and Everett Stafford, RN on MICU— each of whom was chosen about a year before the visit.

They each prepared by touring the units they would be visiting and giving them the run-down of what to expect.

“There was genuine excitement on their part,” said Stafford. “When you get the opportunity to talk about something you’re really proud of, you shine. They were really prepared.”

Though they each had hoped to be able to show off their own units, the escorts were told that new ANCC regulations stated that anyone actively involved in the redesignation process could not be physically involved other than escorting from one location to another.

“That was a huge letdown,” said Spencer. “That was something I was really looking forward to.”

other nurses were filled with “nervous excitement” as they awaited their appraiser, ready to give her the VIP treatment.

But they didn’t have to worry. According to Spencer, she spent more than a year as the lead Magnet Champion for the SICU and constantly engaged them. So when she found out before the site visit that she wasn’t going to be able to speak, she came up with a game plan.

Shiller also was among the randomly selected nurses chosen to have lunch with the appraisers. The selected nurses found out about a week ahead of time and were comprised of those with a lot of tenure, little tenure and all different areas of expertise.

“When we got to my unit, I introduced the staff and they just took over,” she said.

“It was an awesome experience. I just sat back and watched the magic unfold.”

Taking the appraisers all across the hospital was no easy feat.

They were long days with a lot of walking. One day Aguirre noticed that her appraiser was getting tired toward the end of the day and a little irritable. So the next day, she had a solution.

“I had a golf cart waiting for her at every stop,” she said. “She was so surprised and pleased. Her demeanor changed drastically. The whole day went a lot smoother!”

Everett, who was part of the preparation team that submitted the documents for redesignation, said that while he was with his appraiser standing outside the Dunn conference rooms he was approached by a young lady who said to him, “Hey, I know you.

You were my sister’s nurse in the MICU.” “It was one of those incidental things,” Everett said. “She gave me a hug and thanked me. She and her family were really grateful for the care, and that showed. And to have it witnessed by (the appraiser) was really special.”

The appraisers also spoke with patients, some who have been at the hospital a while.

“One patient said, ‘Do whatever you have to do to keep these people together. They’re lifesavers,’” Everett said.

“The outcome of having happy nurses is having happy, healthy patients,” he said. “If you’re looking, as an appraiser, and seeing happy, healthy patients, you have to make that connection backward.”

Spencer said she was so impressed with the entire hospital, saying she never felt the way they presented themselves was just for show.

“Everyone was on their game, people on every unit,” she said. “I was extremely proud to work here.”

Bedside Nurses Between the four appraisers, each nursing unit was visited and the nurses were given the chance to show off their projects.

“We do a lot of projects here, and we had all our posters out,” said Joy Shiller, RN on Main 3NW. “If anything we were overprepared.”Colleague Monica Jimenez, RN, said she and the

“It was really upbeat; no one was nervous,” Shiller said. “She put us at ease. Everybody was excited about working at Houston Methodist and talking about what was going on in their units.”

Shiller said that during their lunch, the appraiser had trouble with her contact lens, excused herself and went to the restroom. When she came back, she said that from the time she left until she got to the restroom, two people asked if they could help her.

“She was very impressed,” Shiller said.

Interdisciplinary Team Members Receiving Magnet designation is not just a job for nurses, it includes all areas of the hospital. Jared Pittsenbargar, senior clinical outcomes analyst in Radiology, also is a co-chair of the Magnet program and a co-chair for the Magnet in Motion council, a steering committee for Magnet Champions.

During the site visit, Pittsenbargar’s role was to help the Magnet Champions along their journey. He, along with colleague Toy Stewart, worked to educate the Radiology Department on Magnet.

“It was like rallying the troops,” Stewart said. “We have a lot of best practices, so when the appraiser would come to any random person on our unit, we wanted to make sure they knew everything going on in Radiology.”

Pittsenbargar described how their appraiser formed a connection with one of the young nurses in the department, and ultimately with the department.

“When the escort told her they were running low on time, she insisted she wanted to stay and hear more. It wasn’t just a surveyor coming by and checking boxes. It was an emotional connection about why we do what we do.”

Pittsenbargar and Stewart were part of one of the sit-down meetings the appraisers held with various departments, as was Courtenay Bruce, a clinical ethicist for Houston Methodist, who trains the ethics committee.

“For Magnet, I try really hard to show that we are above and beyond in terms of ethics support that most hospitals provide, in a sense that there are more of us, we’re trained better and you can reach out to people like myself all day every day,” said Bruce.

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She has been a part of four Magnet designations, not all at Houston Methodist, so she said she had a pretty good idea of what they were going to ask. Therefore, she was able to prepare her team by sending out potential questions ahead of time.

One of the staff members shared the story of a man whose daughter passed away at Houston Methodist Hospital, and he, too, suffers from a terminal illness. But he wanted the story of his daughter’s care shared with the appraisers and make an impact.

“That turned out to be the best preparation I could have done,” she said.

“There were so many tears,” Shepherd said.

One of the big topics the appraisers really care about, Bruce said, is moral distress of health care professionals. This is when a clinician identifies the ethically preferable course of action and cannot take it because of some sort of constraint. She says this very much impacts nurses and is something she has studied and tries to keep on top of.

“I try to know the best interventions for mitigating moral distress, and Magnet very much cares about that.”

Magnet Leadership Mary Shepherd, Magnet program director, and Mary Harris, who is now leading the Magnet team at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, spent the last four years tirelessly preparing the documents and narratives to submit to Magnet for the fourth designation. The two, along with team members Alexa Calderon and Payal Patel, coordinated the visit but weren’t allowed to accompany the appraisers to units or in department meetings.

“From a standpoint of being on the side of coordinating (the visit), getting the committees ready, coaching them and then standing back and letting go and watching them shine – that was the most gratifying,” Harris said. “To really validate what we wrote about in the Magnet narrative, and then to infinity and beyond. Because there is so much more going on at the hospital than what was in the narrative.”

Harris emphasized how Houston Methodist Hospital set the bar so high for itself because it is in a very small group of hospitals throughout the world to receive Magnet designation four times – 35 to be exact.

“Our sense of normal is so different from the rest of the world,” she said. “I really think the site visit was a chance for us to step back and go ‘we’re doing amazing things, but we can always do better.’ It renews our commitment to keep striving for the impossible.”

Shepherd said one of the most successful sessions was the one that included members of the community, former patients and staff, who shared their personal stories.

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Harris said the appraisers were blown away by every session, but were overwhelmed by the last one with the Magnet Champions.

There were more than 120 of them in the room – those who were the boots on the ground, really living the Magnet culture of excellence and helping others to understand it. Pittsenbargar was a part of that group.

“We all got to discuss the journey,” he said. “The appraiser stood the entire time asking for feedback, and we were all almost jumping over each other to talk about things.”

After word was received about the redesignation, Shepherd felt an overall since of excitement, accomplishment and relief. But most of all, pride.

“It’s a pride because of who we are – we are Houston Methodist.

You want to step up to the plate and put your best foot forward.”

THE MAGNET JOURNEY HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL First earned Magnet® designation in 2002.

Recently earned its

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK Received first Magnet® designation, working toward its

2ND DESIGNATION

430 Number of Magnet hospitals in

®

THE WORLD

33

Number of Magnet® hospitals in

TEXAS

FOURTH DESIGNATION HOUSTON METHODIST SAN JACINTO Received first Magnet® designation in

JUNE 2016

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND

JUNE 2017

ACCEPTED

Will submit Magnet® application in

HOUSTON METHODIST ST. JOHN & HOUSTON METHODIST ST. CATHERINE Working toward the Magnet precursor,

Magnet® application has been

PATHWAY TO EXCELLENCE

“It was easy for us to speak to the Magnet domains because that’s something we really do go by at Houston Methodist. We really do live that structure.”

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HOUSTON CHRONICLE’S

2016 SALUTE TO NURSES Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital nurses Ashton Kogut, RN, and Lisa Wagner, RN, who both work in the hospital’s Birthing Center, were among a total of 17 Houston Methodist nurses to make the “Top 150 Outstanding Nurses” list in the Houston Chronicle’s 2016 Salute to Nurses. They were honored during the Salute to Nurses Luncheon at the Crowne Plaza NRG Hotel in Houston. The program celebrates National Nurses Week and the role nurses play in delivering the highest level of care to their patients. Nurses are nominated by the public, with the nominations reviewed by a blue ribbon panel.

GOOD SAMARITAN WINNERS HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL Audrey Magtoto, RN, BSN, CCRN Karen Yvette Edwards, MBA, BSN, RN, CNOR

HOUSTON METHODIST SAN JACINTO HOSPITAL Kevin P. Harris, MSN-HCMS, RN

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL

Minimol Binny Manavalan, BSN, RN, CMSRN

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL

Sally Shen, MSN, RN, NEA-BC

Carol J. Jennings, BSN, CCRN

Siu Lim, BSN, RN

Colleen McKay, BSN

Tara Howden, RN, BSN

Gynna Chavez, RN, BSN

Theresa Ng, RN, BSN

Kimberly Felt, BSN, CVRN

Tracy Bridges-McManaman, RN, MSN, RNC-OB

Lourdes R. Deleon, RN, BSN, CVRN II-BC

Wanda Butaud, RN, BSN

Maria Jennilyn Salvador Lano, BSN, RN, RN-BC

Iana Philogene, RN

GOLD winner: Allison Damron, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST HOSPITAL

GOLD winner: Elizabeth Gonzales, DNP, RN, ACNP-BC, CCRN

Sherry Nelson, BSN, JD

Chung-Win Yuan Fey, RN, BSN, OCN

Andrea Cuneo, BSN, CCRN

Deion Cross, RN, BSN Gertrudes Swanson, RN Gilbert Barrera, RN, MSN Jackeline Herrera, BSN, RN, CMSRN Jessy Raju, RN, CVRN Linda Pitts, RN, BSN, MED Luz Malit, MSN, RN, CCRN Maria Socci, RN Melisa Luong, RN 14 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Nicolette McKenna, MSN, BSN, RN-BC Sheelu Joseph, MSN, RN,CCRN Zachary C. Armitage, BSN, RN-BC

HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL NEWS NEW MAPP STUDENTS, PCA EXTERNS JOIN HOUSTON METHODIST HOSPITAL

Houston Methodist Hospital offers 20 local and national baccalaureate nursing students an opportunity to have a paid precepted year-round or summer clinical experience with the Houston Methodist Advancement into Professional Practice (MAPP) program.

This hands-on training has led to improvement in students’ confidence and clinical skills and supports their transition from student to graduate nurse.

This is the tenth year that HMH, in collaboration with Communities in Schools, has offered high school graduates from local area schools an opportunity to participate in the eight-week patient care assistant externship. This program allows students to reflect on their future in health care by working as PCAs. This year HMH welcomes 15 externs.

THE RN IV CLINICAL EXPERT ROLE To promote excellence in nursing, the Center for Professional Excellence created the RN IV clinical expert role to collaborate and support lifelong learning of bedside nursing principles.

Supported by Nnenna Emelogu, MSN, RN, CVRNBC, NEA-BC, program director of the Department of Nursing Practice, the Center for Professional Excellence established nursing service lines to represent various hospital nursing units. The RN IVs now collaborate with nurse education specialists to promote best clinical practice at the bedside.

CELEBRATING THE IMPORTANCE OF CERTIFICATIONS Certified Nurses Day honors the contributions of board certified nurses to the advancement of the nursing profession and to excellence in patient care. A ceremony and luncheon took place March 21 in Dunn Rio Grande, welcoming and congratulating nurses who have earned certifications.

The Houston Methodist Nursing Professional Practice Model directly focuses on patient-centered care in each nursing service. Educators assess nursing educational needs, collaborating with RN IVs to develop an action plan for patients’ best clinical outcomes. Providing support together, the service line RN IV, the education specialist and the bedside nurse prevent the overlapping of work and build team support.

Using the framework of patient- and family-centered care through the foundational pillars, the RN IV role encompasses education, leadership, collaboration, research, evidence-based practice and preparing clinicians in mastering their clinical practice (Houston Methodist Hospital, n.d.). These attributes assist in advancing the professional development of the Houston Methodist Hospital nursing and ancillary staff.

NURSES PUBLISH SPECIAL EDITION OF JOURNAL A group of HMH nurses produced a special edition (Vol. 6, No. 6, June 2016) for the Journal of Nursing Education and Practice (JNEP). Their stories highlight just a snippet of the amazing work the nurses are involved in outside of caring for patients.

LEADERS IN NURSING 15

HOUSTON METHODIST SAN JACINTO NEWS

THE DAISY AWARD

Spring 2016 Daisy Award winners at Houston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital include Stephanie Hughes and Elsie George.

The nurses in the hospital’s Birthing Center shared the March award and both were praised for their diligence, patience, nursing skill and calm demeanor. Joan Metz, April’s winner from the 2 East unit, was praised for her work ethic and compassion and for assisting a patient concerned about the cost of her medical care buy groceries for her family. May’s winner, Maricela Valdez, who works on the 2 West unit, was recognized for her quick thinking and speedy response that potentially saved the life of a hospital visitor who showed signs of a stroke. The patient’s symptoms subsided after receiving inpatient treatment.

To nominate one of your outstanding peers who have gone above and beyond, visit houstonmethodist.org/the-daisy-award to submit electronically.

CERTIFIED NURSES CELEBRATION The staff of the QualHouston Methodist San Jacinto Hospital celebrated Certified Nurses Day by honoring its 152 board certified nurses with a special dinner. The nurses were recognized for their professionalism, leadership and commitment to excellence in patient care. National certification allows nurses to be recognized for expertise in their specialty and enhance the skills needed to provide superior care and compassion to their patients.

NURSE PRACTITIONER SERVICE GROWS

(left to right, front row) Mary Joy Daniel, Christine Mendez, Rizah Ouano; (back row) David Staten, Charyl Bell-Gordon, Amy Barker, Kristen Cone.

16 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Houston Methodist San Jacinto’s Nurse Practitioner Service welcomed five new members to the unit. Nurse practitioners are professionals who have completed a master’s degree program and have attained advanced clinical training beyond their initial registered nurse preparation. They are expertly trained in one of the following specialties: acute care, adult health or family health. Charyl Bell-Gordon is the administrative director of the service, in addition to serving as the director of the hospital’s Emergency Services Department. The five newest NP service members are Amy Barker, Christine Mendez, Jyothi Mepparambth, Rizah Ouano and David Staten, who join Kristen Cone and Mary Joy Daniel in the service.

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND NEWS After a three-hour flight to Guatemala City, the team made a four-hour trip by bus to Reu. The following day, the team arrived early at the hospital and were greeted by patients who had faces full of hope and expectation. The patients were triaged and the surgery schedule for the week was set.

GROUP ATTENDS MEDICAL MISSION IN GUATEMALA In February 2016, a group from Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital completed a medical mission trip to Retalhuleu (Reu), Guatemala, a remote area near the Pacific coast.

The majority of the Guatemalan population lives in extreme poverty and has virtually no access to medical care. Those who live in remote areas such as Reu are most in need of medical care.

Faith in Practice is a 501(c)(3) organization that is committed to serving the poor of Guatemala through short-term lifechanging medical mission trips. Each year, more than 1,200 volunteers from the United States work alongside Guatemalan volunteers to provide medical, surgical and dental care, as well as health-related education programs.

Volunteers from the U.S. provide care for more than 25,000 patients annually.

Nichelle set up and ran the pharmacy, while Reena, Regina and Teresa worked in pre-op, PACU, OR and the post-op floor. The team’s 77 surgical patients ranged in age from six to 84 years old and had their surgeries from Monday to Thursday, including hernia repairs, hysterectomies, lap cholecystectomies, and other procedures. Equipment and supplies were not as plentiful as in the United States, but the basic and most important equipment was available.

Translators were available to assist with charting, which had to be completed in Spanish. Patients were discharged on the first or second post-operative day, according to their condition.

Members of the HMSL team were particularly touched by a patient who waited for 23 years for a hysterectomy due to poor socio-economic conditions. It warmed their hearts to see her receive her surgery, knowing the impact it would have on her life. One young girl, who had a hernia repair surgery, told the team that she hoped to become a doctor one day to serve with Faith in Practice physicians to pay back the care she had received. The gratitude the patients showed was truly moving.

Faith in Practice Team 475, led by Dr. Gene Huebner, left on Feb. 20 to spend a week in Reu. There were 26 team members including four surgeons and three anesthesiologists, as well as nurses, surgical assistants, OR techs, a pharmacist, and other support personnel such as translators and a pastor. Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital was well-represented on the trip by Dr. Huebner (gynecologist); Nichelle Everett, R.Ph. (pharmacy); Reena Tharakan, RN, and Regina Wood, RN (birthing center); and Teresa Gill (OR scrub tech).

FIFTH ANNUAL WOUND CARE CONFERENCE Houston Methodist Sugar Land’s Wound Care Council hosted the Fifth Annual Wound Care Conference on April 23 with a focus on caring for bariatric patients.

The conference had a great turnout with more than 90 people in attendance. Attendees consisted of HMSL nurses, nurses from local rehabilitation facilities, as well as students from area schools.

A variety of speakers ranging from bariatric surgeons to certified wound care nurses presented on topics that focused on skills and techniques to help health care providers provide the best care for wound care patients, particularly bariatric patients.

Furthermore, vendors from different companies were present as well to speak about their products and how to use them to properly care for our bariatric patients. Attendees earned CEs from the HMSL education department.

LEADERS IN NURSING 17

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK NEWS FROEDGE HOLDS NATIONAL-LEVEL AACN SEAT Wendi Froedge, MSN, RN-BC, CCRN-K, RN IV, a critical care nurse at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, holds a national-level Board of Directors seat for the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). The entity is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world dedicated to providing members with knowledge and resources necessary to provide optimal care to critically ill patients.

At the annual National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition, Froedge worked with members to understand their specific bedside needs.

Based on knowledge she learned from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses’ ECCO program, Froedge created the Critical Steps Program, an individualized training geared to a learner’s experience level and education needs. The 12- to 16-week training program integrates face-to-face didactic and simulation training, online learning, bedside training and one-on-one time with an assigned preceptor.

ABC MEXICO VISITS HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital hosted a visit in June for representatives from ABC Mexico Medical Center, which has facilities near Mexico City. ABC Mexico Medical Center is affiliated with Houston Methodist Global Health Care Services.

Every month the team travels from Mexico to learn how to better engage members. In addition to visiting the HMW team to learn more about shared governance and the Magnet redesignation journey, the team also visited Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital and Houston Methodist Hospital.

During the visit, HMW team members shared information about the roles and responsibilities of unit-based Magnet Champions. Nurse Jennifer Amedio guided visitors through evidence-based practice processes by demonstrating her aromatherapy project. Charge nurse Sara Shaunfield discussed nursing practices and projects that are implemented on her unit and discussed the importance of achieving Magnet redesignation. The day ended with discussions about staff engagement in professional practice.

COMMUNITY STROKE AWARENESS FESTIVAL The 2016 Community Stroke Awareness Festival included a stroke seminar, kid-friendly education stations, including a photo booth, balloon and face paint artist, wellness screenings and stroke risk assessments, CPR training, ambulance tours, an inflatable brain exhibit and fitness fun with the YMCA. Teams also provided information about diabetes, brain imaging, sleep apnea, and FAST, the signs of stroke and rehabilitation options after a stroke.

18 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • SPRING/SUMMER 2016

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST NEWS SHARED GOVERNANCE RESTRUCTURES AND REVAMPS May 19 kicked off Houston Methodist West Hospital’s new, more efficient Shared Governance Committee. The existing structure consisted of four councils that served as a two-way channel of communication to and from their departments.

With the help of the Professional Nurse Advisory Council and other key stakeholders, HMW created a new structure.

The work group met with many key stakeholders to discuss proposed changes, answer questions and ask for their approval and support. They completely revised the structure of HMW’s shared governance as well as recruited employees that were excellent Shared Governance delegate candidates.

The new structure created a Shared Governance Day where the existing four council meetings will be embedded into a set, predetermined day each month.

This will allow frontline staff to coordinate with leadership to devote their undivided time and attention to Shared Governance Day. This structure also allows for consistent housewide participation and designated channels of communication to the delegate’s home unit. Having delegates be present for Shared Governance Day gives them the opportunity to become involved in decision-making for Houston Methodist West Hospital.

The kickoff proved to be extremely successful with more than 95 percent participation. The delegates learned about shared governance breakout councils, discussed important changes happening around the hospital, learned about presentations and Magnet and heard from CEO Wayne Voss. With continuous feedback from the leadership team and the delegates, HMW’s Shared Governance Day will continue to be a value added channel of communication for the departments in the hospital.

NEW CLINICAL DECISION UNIT OPENS Houston Methodist West recently opened a clinical decision unit for low-risk chest pain patients and other observation patients. The goal of the unit it to quickly see and triage patients and discharge if appropriate without utilizing an inpatient bed upstairs. In the first week since opening, the CDU has seen six patients with an average length of stay at 19 hours, 50 minutes. The unit reached capacity by the second day.

KATY GIRL SCOUTS VISIT HOUSTON METHODIST EMERGENCY CARE CENTER AT CINCO RANCH Houston Methodist Emergency Care Center at Cinco Ranch hosted 12 Girl Scouts from junior level troops 152015 and 152011, and nine parent chaperones.

The young women had the opportunity to tour the facility and receive hands-on lessons regarding blood pressure testing, various pediatric treatments, stroke, radiology and other emergency services.

Baystar EMS welcomed the girls to view the back of an ambulance, with one scout pretending to be a patient on a gurney.

“We were proud to guide the girls through this exciting and important exercise, and to be part of their journey to earn their First Aid Legacy Badge,” said Ike Akanu, nurse manager of the emergency care center. “Our facility is new to this community and we are honored to partner with our neighbors.”

LEADERS IN NURSING 19

HOUSTON METHODIST ST. JOHN NEWS

THE DAISY AWARD

Roxanne Rainey, RN in the ICU, was selected for the DAISY Award by a multidisciplinary team of managers and directors who thought she exemplifies the type of nurse that Houston Methodist St. John Hospital patients, families and staff recognize as an outstanding role model.

“Roxanne asked my mother (a patient in the ICU) what part of England we were from and my mother told her, ‘Just below Scarborough, the town in the song Scarborough Fair. While Roxanne started a new IV, she sang the song. I will never forget her beautiful voice singing to my mother, the song by Simon and Garfunkel.

My mother smiled and we quietly listened to her sing, it was a scene that will be forever etched in my memory — it was just beautiful!”

To nominate one of your outstanding peers who have gone above and beyond, visit houstonmethodist.org/the-daisy-award to submit electronically.

ED INCREASES THROUGHPUT

HOSPITAL CREATES NURSING EXCELLENCE FUND

The emergency department has been hard at work, in partnership with Blue Jay Consultants, to mitigate efficiency issues in relation to patient care and throughput.

With a focus on quick triage, direct bedding of patients to ED beds and more efficient assignment of inpatient beds, St. John has drastically reduced the amount of patients who leave the ED without being seen (LWOBS) from 31 in March to one in April and none in May. This has been a collaborative effort between staff, physicians and nursing leadership.

In May, Houston Methodist St. John Hospital rolled out its new Nursing Excellence Fund with an inaugural donation campaign sent to physicians and business leaders in the community. Along with money raised through on-site fundraisers during Nurses’ Week, one of the first donations to this fund was from our volunteer program.

Donations will go toward advancing the education of nursing staff by allowing them to attend training and other educational classes, conferences, etc.

HOUSTON METHODIST ST. CATHERINE NEWS NEW TALK BOX PROJECT INCREASES, IMPROVES COMMUNICATION WITH PATIENTS IN ISOLATION The Talk Box Project rolled out at Houston Methodist St. Catherine Hospital in May. It is an initiative based on the “Red Box” from the Trinity Regional Health System in Rock Island, Ill., aimed at creating a safe zone to facilitate communication with patients in isolation by measuring a three-foot square box in red duct tape at the entrance of patient rooms.

Conducted by the infection prevention team at the Trinity Medical Center in the Quad Cities on the Iowa/Illinois border, the study revealed that by utilizing this safe zone, their hospitals were able to save time, money in unused gowns and gloves, and that the quality and frequency of communication between health care professionals and isolated patients increased.

Many hospital workers who took part in this study reported fewer communication barriers with patients because of the Red Box. The extra few feet in the room separating them from patients meant that the staff were more likely to enter the room to engage and communicate with the patient and family. St. Catherine adopted the Talk Box Project for its contact and enteric isolation patients.

Although the hospital has only been using the Talk Box for a few months, the perception is that the project is going well.

20 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • SPRING/SUMMER 2016

HOUSTON METHODIST THE WOODLANDS NEWS BRANCHING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY Even before it opens, Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital is already an active and caring neighbor.

In its inaugural year as sponsor of The Woodlands Half Marathon, HMTWH staff welcomed colleagues from every hospital in the system. At the Health and Fitness Expo preceding the March race, athletic trainers, dietitians and massage therapists prepared athletes for the event. On race day, Houston Methodist was represented by more than 100 runners and almost as many volunteers who provided first aid in the marathon’s main medical tent and 22 first aid stations.

Together, Houston Methodist treated 84 people and let all 6,300 runners know we care.

FIRST FEMALE & FABULOUS HEALTH EVENT A SUCCESS The Breast Care Center welcomed more than 100 participants to its first Female and Fabulous Women’s Health Event in May. Taking a little “me” time, women enjoyed a strolling dinner and heard the latest health tips from Drs. Magda Ghobashy, Loren Rourke and Suzanne Stovall. The specialists encouraged and empowered women to take a proactive approach to their health.

In May, 35,000 golf enthusiasts attended the Insperity Invitational PGA Tournament and saw the HMTWH booth; 2,300 of them stopped by to visit. With and without medical tents, the hospital has participated in Montgomery County and Conroe’s American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, the American Heart Association’s Montgomery County Go Red for Women® luncheon and much more.

As Debbie Sukin, PhD, regional senior vice president and CEO of HMTWH, told marathon runners,

“Anything in relationship to health and wellness, we’ll be right there with you as a community partner.”

HOUSTON METHODIST BREAST CARE CENTER AT THE WOODLANDS OPENS The Houston Methodist Breast Care Center at The Woodlands, which opened in March, is caring for patients in a nurturing spa-like setting. The center is the eighth of its kind within Houston Methodist and the first outpatient clinic at HMTWH, scheduled to open in 2017. Nursing staff and technologists join Medical Director Dr. Magda Ghobashy, in providing patientcentered, cohesive breast care starting with the latest 3D mammography.

LEADERS IN NURSING 21

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

EGloria Govella, obtained her CCTC (Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator) certification.

HOUSTON METHODIST SUGAR LAND HOSPITAL

The following passed their MedicalSurgical Certification Board Exam:

Rita Ramos, RN (OPC 18 OR) was promoted to an RN II.

The following nurses received their Bachelor of Science in Nursing:

Donna Shaw, RN (Jones 8, Observation Unit) Anthony Aaron, BSN, RN-BC (Main 7SW) Tidoshia Opusunju-Wanogho, RN II (Fondren 12) Tatiana Belousova, ACDM Research Coordinator II (Cardiology Imaging Research) matched to the pathology program at University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston Medical School.

Michelle Prystash, RN, BSN, Clinical Research Nurse from the DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, was accepted into a graduate program at Loyola University New Orleans.

Nick Escobedo, RN, OCN, NE-BC, Clinical Manager (Cancer Center Infusion) was appointed to the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation’s Board of Directors.

Nicole Twine, Barbara L. Johnson, Jennifer R. Berry and Jane Ugochukwu successfully completed the Nursing Leadership Institute course.

Christen Ford, BSN, RN, OCN, passed the Oncology Certified Nurse exam.

Carolyn Samuels, RN (Psychiatric Unit), passed the Psychiatric – Mental Health Nursing Certification Examination.

Stephanie Tang, MSN, RN, CCRN, graduated from Nurse Practitioner School.

Patricia Simon, RN (Inpatient Dialysis) passed her Certified Dialysis Nurse exam.

Janet Ramundo, RN, has been nominated as chair of the Wound Treatment Associate Advisory Committee (WTAAC).

Kayla Butler, PT, NCS, and Nicole Slater, PT, NCS, achieved the ABPTS Neurologic Clinical Specialist Certification.

The following passed the CCRN Exam:

Morgan Medellin, RN III, ‘Olivia Kim, RN, Beryl Ogweno, RN, Ogechi Onyegbula Sallu, RN, and Ada Chien, RN, completed their MSN degrees.

Nita Maknojiya, RN (NICU) Jana Mock, RN (NICU) Briseidi Camarillo, RN II (CVICU) Kevin Martin Infante, RN, BSN, CCTN, CCRN, nurse manager (Dunn 8E) Marlena Jez-Gizeba, RN, BSN, CCRN, RN II (Dunn SLICU) Rebeca Spencer, RN, BSN (SLICU) Misty Mendoza, RN, BSN (Dunn SLICU)

Allie Millette, social worker (CVICU), was promoted to SW II. Nurse manager Nikki Washington was selected to run for national AORN office.

Teresa Biggs, RN, and Angie Cano, RN, passed their CEN certifications.

Soosan Jacob, RN (NICU), passed the CMSRN exam.

22 HOUSTON METHODIST NURSE • SPRING/SUMMER 2016

Rini George, RN (PACU) Grand Canyon University Mah Mekolle, RN (Endoscopy) Grand Canyon University Allison O’Brien, RN (SICU) University of Texas Medical Branch Stephanie Walleck, RN (5 West) University of Houston- Victoria Rizwana Sunesra Manasiya, RN, MSN- FNP (4 West), received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch.

Kumba Rogers, PCA (5 West) received her Bachelor of Science from Midwestern University.

The following nurses received certifications: Bernadette Eugenio, RN (PACU) PCCN (Progressive Care Certified Nurse) Debra Kendrick, RN (Endoscopy) CGRN (Certified Gastroenterology Registered Nurse) Kerri Sabo, RN (AOD) CAPA (Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia) Amy Cheng, RN (Birthing Center) RNC-LRN (Low Risk Neonatal Nursing) Jelsa Antu, RN (Birthing Center) RNC (Registered Nurse, Certified) Lisa Mach, RN (Operating Room) CNOR Iesha Monroe, RN (AOD) CAPA (Certified Ambulatory PeriAnesthesia)

Irene Abdo, RN (Operating Room) and Houston Minshew, BSN, RN (4 East) received DAISY Award

HOUSTON METHODIST WEST HOSPITAL

HOUSTON METHODIST SAN JACINTO HOSPITAL

Iesha Monroe, BSN, RN, CAPA, and Beth Kennedy, RN (Birthing Center) were I CARE Award Winners

Wendy Howard, (Med/Surg 6W), and Linda Meier, (NICU), won the DAISY Award.

Seliena Corrington, RN, became the first Trauma Certified Registered Nurse in the hospital’s ED.

Amy Cheng, RN (Birthing Center) promoted to NICU manager

NCC Credential in Inpatient Obstetric Nursing (RNC-OB):

The following nurses earned their Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) certification:

Esperance Bisangwa, BSN, RN, (4 East) 2016 National Compassion Caregiver of the Year Award Nominee Kumar Yesudoss, RN (Operating Room) passed Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner test Amalia (Rose) Gonzales, BSN, RN III, OCN (4 East) nominated

by Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) to be a subject matter expert for the ONCC Chemotherapy Biotherapy Initial and Renewal Certificate Courses

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL

Amber Dimuro Leslie Jones

Sarah Brown, RN

Vanessa Alinsub

Ma Janine Camaliga, RN

Medical/Surgical Certification: Kevin Brashear

Jessica Kaliel, RN

Dexter Rodriguez

Christine Reid, RN

Sue Ellen Bhayani Susan Magoka, RN, received her Orthopedic Nursing Certification.

Graduating Nurse Residents: Katrina Andal Bailee Brown Reginald Johnson Elise Mueller

Ruth Pruitt, RN, BSN, was named the new NICU Manager.

Edith Onuegbu

Marian Skewes, RN, MSN, SCRN, stroke program clinical coordinator, has passed the stroke certification exam, making her the first registered nurse at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital to earn this credential.

Amy Sodolak

Colleen McKay, RN (ICU and CVCU), has been selected as a 2016 Nurse.com GEM Rising Star.

Jennifer Cook, BSN, RN, CAPA, CPAN, passed her CPAN certification.

Certified Provider Credentialing Specialist: Colleen Hutson, CPSMS, CPCS Janet Linn, CPCS Terri Rodriguez, CPCS

Amir Ghamary, RN

Alice Pollard Kerby Barker Joanna Ives Alma Martinez Reagan Ney

The following nurses earned their RN-BC certification: Evangeline Santa Cruz, RN Mary Anne Janobas, RN Rachael McAllister, RN, earned her CCRN

HOUSTON METHODIST ST. JOHN HOSPITAL Nurse Certifications: George Thomas, RN, CVRN (Cath Lab) Hannah Longoria, RN, CEN (Emergency Dept.)

Bachelor’s Degree:

Kirsten Parker

Lisa Frankart, BSN, RN (3 Surgical)

Amritha Raveendran

Maria Diaz, BSN, RN (ICU)

Nicole Zolondek 6 East received the Sepsis Life Saver Award by achieving the highest Admission Sepsis Screening Compliance from January-April 2016.

New Nursing Directors: Rhonda Young, MBA, BSN, RN, CNOR, CNML (OR Services) Edna Ajayi, MBA-HCM, BSN, RN, (Women’s Health Services) Veronica Saxon, MSN, RN, NE-BC (Acute Care Services)

Shannon de la Riva, CPCS

LEADERS IN NURSING 23

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