RUSH Copley Nursing Annual Report 2022

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

TOGETHER

Caring is the essence of nursing.

— Jean Watson

Excellence and Compassionate Care

Throughout the year I have the privilege of interacting with many of our team members, including all of our new employees during their orientation. I tell them how fortunate they are to be working among the best nurses in the nation, and I mean this sincerely. I consistently am in awe and admiration of the dedication and commitment our nurses show to patients and their family members, as well as the collegiality and teamwork they display daily.

2022 hasn’t been without its challenges; however, RUSH Copley nurses continued to display the excellence needed to provide evidence-based care in a compassionate and engaged manner. These are all tenets of a Magnet community, and I am proud of what we accomplished together as a health care team.

• Our shared governance partnership continued to strengthen over the last year, and care delivery changes were implemented based on partnership suggestions.

• RUSH Copley nurses continued to exceed Magnet goals in advancing their nursing degrees and certifications.

• Our intensive care and intermediate care units both received Beacon Awards for Excellence, earning gold awards — considered the top honor in the field.

• A safety project led by our Physical Medicine Rehabilitation team resulted in decreased falls for patients with strokes.

• Nurses collaborated with RUSH Copley’s Workplace Safety Committee to implement new safety initiatives, resulting in decreased violence against nurses and creating a safer workplace.

You can read more about these accomplishments and others in this report.

As I look back over the year, I am proud of the invaluable contributions that our nurses make to ensure excellent patient care and outcomes while nurturing a healthy working environment. Together, we are moving forward, strengthening our excellence, our teamwork and outcomes.

Abby Hornbogen, MBA, MS, RN, NE-BC Vice President, Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer

Partnering to Improve Patient Outcomes and Nursing Wellness

Reflecting back on this past year, I can proudly say that it was one full of great accomplishments for the nursing community. Shared Governance here at RUSH Copley continued to focus on areas such as partnering to improve patient outcomes, enhancing nursing wellness initiatives and improving the work environment.

Our bedside nurse leaders played a big role in improving workplace environment and safety. The standardization of unit-specific staffing templates now allows for a more concise explanation of staffing on the units and clearly defines the role of each team member. At monthly meetings, we discussed staffing challenges and opportunities for improvement and encouraged our nurse leaders to provide insight and innovative solutions to alleviate these challenges. Additionally, with the goal of improving nurse retention and job satisfaction, partnership teams held brainstorming sessions to enhance current retention strategies to help achieve success in both areas.

Tanya Antal, MSN, CMSRN, SCRN Resource Team/Float Pool Chair of Nursing Executive Council (NEC)

Shared Governance also focused on nursing process improvement, including proper completion of patient consents, documentation of blood transfusions, and fall risk signage and alarm usage. Additionally, our wound care team shared best practices surrounding the reduction of pressure injuries to patients to help nurses identify early stages of wounds and improve clinical documentation through the addition of photography.

Last, and most exciting of all, was the work put into systemwide nursing wellness through the introduction of the Nursing Wellness Awards. These awards, made possible through a philanthropic gift to RUSH, allow nurses to assess unique ways in which their units could benefit from monetary gifts to improve wellness specific to their units’ needs. Furthermore, relaxation-promoting items were added to our very own Caritas room to continue to allow our nurses the opportunity to find moments of respite throughout their day.

Change comes about when we come together to voice the need for improvements and offer innovative solutions to make us stronger. It is through nursing’s partnership with leadership that all of the abovementioned successes were made possible. Nurses here truly do have a voice. We will continue to work together to further elevate the nursing profession here at RUSH Copley and foster an environment of teamwork, safety and wellness for us all.

Transformational Leadership

Nurses Help Design New Clinical Decision Unit

Throughout 2022, clinical nurses collaborated with nursing leadership, physicians, architects and facilities team members to help design the new Clinical Decision Unit. As staff of the current CDU, their input was key to creating a design that would meet the needs of patients and enhance workflow.

The purpose of a clinical decision unit is to further observe and care for patients brought in through the Emergency Department to determine if they should be admitted to the hospital. The new CDU is being built above the Emergency Department, allowing for easy movement of patients from one unit to the other.

The team brainstormed their ideal workspace to create a unique care model to best support the needs of these patients. They provided input on bed location and orientation, computer placement, headwall design and color schemes. With optimal workflow in mind, they determined the nurses station layout, providing input on seating and workspaces, computer stations, medication room location and utility room locations. Scheduled to open in 2023, the new unit will help improve patient experience. Moving patients who need additional observation out of the ER allows them to get the care they need while opening beds up sooner in the emergency department.

Clinical Nurses

Tom Brown, BSN, RN

Karina Sanchez, BSN, RN

Julie Wozniak, BSN, RN

Nursing Leaders

Harry Chan, BSN, CMSRN

Mary Applequist, BSN, RN, CNML

Judi Bonomi, MS, MSN, RN, OCN, NE-BC

Abby Hornbogen, MBA, MS, RN, NE-BC

Hospitalist

Vidya Mandiya, MD

Learning from One Another

Outpatient Cancer Center Clinical Coordinator

Danelle Conrad, BSN, RN, OCN, recognized the varying levels of experience within the department. To help team members learn from each other and share experiences, she created “Kaffeeklatsch.”

The oncology nurses (radiation, navigators, chemotherapy) meet to listen to an Oncology Nursing Society podcast, then participate in an open forum discussion. Each podcast can be submitted for continuing education credits.

This has become an opportunity for nurses to learn from each other around a central topic and share their professional experience with the subject. Kaffeklatsch is also offered virtually to allow nurses not working to participate.

The team meets before patients arrive and everyone is encouraged to bring their coffee (hence, coffee clutch). To date, more than 30 nurses have participated. Danelle’s idea has transformed participation in professional topics, resulting in productive, positive dialogue.

Student Nurse Assistant: A Pathway

To Becoming a START RN

RUSH Copley’s Student Nurse Assistant program helps feed the nursing pipeline while providing a rewarding way for a nurse to begin a career. A pathway to becoming a nurse in RUSH Copley’s START program for graduate nurses, the student nurse assistant program allows students to perform a variety of clinical and environmental tasks under the direction of a registered nurse. Working directly with the bedside nurses provides the students an opportunity to advance their clinical skills, participate as a team member during emergency situations and learn evidence-based nursing practice to provide safe, effective quality care.

Students working with the resource team see complex care, shadow nurses and follow patients through the care continuum. They support all of the inpatient care areas, including Critical Care and the Emergency Department. Nurse shadow opportunities are provided in OB, NICU and Labor and Delivery as well.

The program aims to prepare student nurses for the next step in their nursing career by providing the opportunity to transition to the START RN program after passing the National Council Licensure Exam and becoming RUSH nurses. Since its inception in 2021, 31 student nurses from partner colleges and universities have been hired into the program. Upon graduation, 40% have advanced into the START program.

Learning over coffee are Kelly Ward, BSN, RN, Nora Cazares, BSN, RN, CMSRN, Danelle Conrad, BSN, RN, OCN, and Erika Ramirez, BSN, RN.

Health Care Workforce Think Tank

In February, leadership representatives from RUSH Copley collaborated with nursing leadership from RUSH University Medical Center, RUSH Oak Park Hospital and RUSH University to re-imagine the health care workforce. Coming together in work groups, they addressed issues related to inpatient, ambulatory, education, and partnerships and pipeline.

• The inpatient work group prioritized solutions to ease the staffing and onboarding process, change compensation to increase competitiveness in the job market, and create environments that promote employee wellness.

• The ambulatory work group recommended more consistency across ambulatory sites within the Rush system. To maintain workforce stability, they suggested solutions to encourage applicants for entry level roles and to retain nurses.

• Addressing the challenges of staffing, the education work group focused on increasing teaching faculty and the number of ready-to-work nurses upon graduation.

• The pipeline and partnerships group identified partnering with nursing programs, creating multiple pathways into nursing, and alleviating the financial burden of nursing school as opportunities to cultivate the nursing workforce at RUSH.

During the Think Tank sessions, participants used visionary thinking to meet nursing challenges. They applied American Organization for Nursing Leadership competencies and generated transformative solutions for stabilizing the workforce, many of which are already being implemented.

These groups met throughout the year, supporting the system strategy, promoting engagement, retention and wellness, and fostering innovation, communication and accountability. They continue to put processes in place to standardize practice and maximize the use of technology, data solutions and financial resources.

Promoting the concept of “One RUSH Nurse,” the teams will continue to meet over the next year, joining together on programming and more.

Succession Planning Using 9-Box

Succession planning — an essential tool for filling leadership roles in the workforce — is a method for identifying future leaders by working with current talent to grow their skills and help them advance into higher roles.

The 9-Box methodology evaluates employees with regard to potential and performance. Leaders work with their individual team members to map their professional development, identify long-term goals, key skills needing to be developed, and actions to obtain these leadership skills.

In spring 2022, nursing leadership reviewed the 9-Box grid for succession planning of nursing leader roles. This exercise identified select staff as having high potential and performance and, with mentoring, they were promoted into nurse leader roles.

The 9-Box exercise will continue to be used to identify staff for succession planning activities.

Nurse Leaders Advance to New Roles

Tess Callanta, MBA, RN, CCRN-K, CNML, Clinical Manager, Nursing Operations

Christine Jewell, BSN, RN, CCRN, Magnet Program Coordinator, Nursing Professional Practice

Rebecca Kovack, MSN, MBA, RN, TNS, CEN, CPEN, TCRN, Clinical Nurse Manager, Emergency Department

Dana Kowalski, BSN, RNC-OB, Clinical Nurse Manager, Labor and Delivery

Judy Lopez, BSN, RN, PCCN, Clinical Coordinator, GI Lab

Kim Lipetzky, MSN, RN, CEN, Pediatric and Trauma Coordinator, Emergency Department

Molly Pretet, MSN, RN, CNL, CPPS, Coordinator, Stroke Program

Sarah Skattum, BSN, RN, CCRN, Coordinator, Heart Failure Program

Alissa Steines, BSN, RN, CEN, Clinical Nurse Manager, Vascular Services

Sara Widmer, BSN, RN, CNOR, Clinical Nurse Manager, Operating Room and Sterile Processing Department

Process Improvement: ICA Patient Leadership Rounding

Over the past two years, leadership of the Intermediate Care Area has worked on a process improvement project on patient leadership rounding. This improvement included having the clinical nurse manager and clinical coordinators round on at least 80% of patients daily.

Nurses Listen Carefully to You

In 2021 the procedure was revised to have the manager and clinical coordinator wear white lab coats and hand out business cards while rounding to help patients identify them as leaders. During rounds, the leader ensures that purposeful hourly rounding is completed and safety measures are in place. The leader also offers patients the opportunity to recognize staff members who deliver excellent care.

In 2022 the Intermediate Care Area achieved their highest communication scores in four years, receiving high marks for “nurses listen carefully to you.” Due to the improvements seen, ICA’s model for patient leadership rounding is being replicated throughout the nursing units to increase patient satisfaction, with rollout to all patient units in 2023.

Structural Empowerment

RUSH Copley Nurses Exceed Magnet Goals in Obtaining BSN Degrees, Certification

Lifelong learning is the cornerstone of successful professional growth and development. In 2022, the RUSH Copley nursing community continued to exceed Magnet goals of percentages for BSN and eligible certification rates.

Formal education and professional recognition in a national specialty are a few of the many ways to measure this learning. RUSH Copley is proud to recognize and support nurses in their continued professional development and applauds all nurses who achieved higher education this year.

Congratulations to the following registered nurses for obtaining their national specialty certification in 2022:

Mashal Adamjee, SCRN

Emily Arnett, RNC

Holly Brasfield, RNC

M. Alisha Fiore, CCM

Jeannine Fox, CRRN

Nicole Grobe, CNOR

Chevette Hardin, RNC

Paige Jacquez, RNC

Karoline Karbarz, RNC

Sandra Klimczak, CEN

Kimberly Lipetzky, CEN

Melissa Lopez, CMSRN

Andrea Paus, CMSRN

Annalese Pearson, CMSRN

Rachel Ports, CMSRN

Angela Pritchard, RNC

Natalie Proce, CNOR

Esmeralda Reveles, CMSRN

Isabella Sandoval, CMSRN

Martha Sellers, RNC

Audrey Stoppel, HCN

Lauren Townsend, C-EFM

Elissa Wagner, PCCN

June Young, CCRN

Future of Nursing Scholarship Recipients

Graduate-level Future of Nursing Scholarship recipients were each awarded a $4,000 meritbased scholarship to assist in funding their graduate-level nursing education. Congratulations to Ludyvina Acosta, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM; Rebecca Buttrum, BSN, RN, OCN; Kaitlyn Harmon, BSN, CMSRN; Amber Lackey, BA, RN; and Renee Middleton, BSN, RN.

BSN scholarship recipients are awarded a $2,000 merit-based scholarship to complete their undergraduate studies. The recipient for 2022 was Erika Urrutia, BS, ADN, RN.

New Graduate Nurses Get a Solid START

A transition to practice program is a planned, comprehensive period during which newly graduated registered nurses work to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to safely deliver nursing care in their clinical setting. RUSH Copley is very proud of the START program that has been in place since 2010. In April 2022, the American Nurses Credentialing Center reaccredited RUSH Copley’s START program as a transition to practice program. To date, 27 cohorts have been launched, with 335 RNs starting their careers in the START program.

Ludyvina Acosta, BSN, RNC-OB, C-EFM

Rebecca Buttrum, BSN, RN, OCN

Kaitlyn Harmon, BSN, CMSRN

Amber Lackey, BA, RN Renee Middleton, BSN, RN

Erika Urrutia, BS, ADN, RN

Celebrating the reaccreditation of the START program as a Practice Transition Program.

A Sweet Remembrance

Cookie Grams Benefit Bereavement Program

In March, the ICU Partnership Council wanted to do something fun for the team that would also benefit the department. After a collaborative brainstorming session, the Cookie Gram was born.

The concept quickly grew from a unit-based project to a hospitalwide effort. RUSH Copley Foundation supported the cost of the baked goods, and the baker, a family member of ICU nurse Elaina Stitt, graciously donated her time creating the cookies.

Members of the ICU team volunteered to help bake, decorate, take orders and deliver the delicious cookies to staff. The goal of the Cookie Grams was to say “thank you” to each other and recognize colleagues throughout the hospital.

The proceeds from this event went toward purchasing additional supplies for the ICU Bereavement Program, which began in 2018. This program supports families in their grief, giving them homemade cards signed by ICU caregivers and items that serve as remembrances of their family member. These items are either purchased by the department or by donations received to support grieving families, especially those with young children involved.

The Cookie Gram event sold more than 1,600 cookies and raised $4,500 for the Bereavement Program.

Leading the Way to Excellence

In March, RUSH Copley’s intensive care and intermediate care units received the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).

Granted at gold, silver and bronze levels, the three-year award honors excellence in critical care nursing and is regarded as the top honor in the field. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Intermediate Care Area (ICA) earned gold-level designations.

This is the ICU’s second consecutive gold-level award and third Beacon award overall. The unit received a silver award in 2015. With this year’s gold award, the ICU was recognized for three exemplars, or examples of best practice, reflecting significant milestones achieved. These were the creation of the Serenity Garden, establishment of the Bereavement Committee, and the COVID-19 Memorial held in collaboration with Paul Wucka, DO, Mary Applequist, BSN, RN, CNML, and Rev. Dan Sullivan, MA, MDiv.

Currently, the ICA is the only progressive care unit in Illinois — and one of only eight in the country — to have earned the gold award. In 2018, the ICA earned a silver award.

Beacon awards recognize unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with the AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. This award also signifies that effective policies, procedures and processes are in place and engage staff and key stakeholders.

To apply for the award, the units submitted three years of data to demonstrate they have sustainable processes in place for ongoing improvements in care. The ICU and ICA earned their Beacon awards by meeting the following criteria:

• Leadership structures and systems

• Appropriate staffing and staff engagement

• Effective communication, knowledge management and learning and development

• Evidence-based practice and processes

• Outcome measurement

A special thank you to the members of the ICU and ICA Beacon teams, who worked for months on the applications.

ICU Beacon Team

Marsha Helland, BSN, CCRN

Christine Jewell, BSN, CCRN

Dawn McQuality, BSN, RN, CNML

Rebekah Mendoza, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC-CMC

Andrea Schmitt, MSN, RN, CCRN-K

Sarah Skattum, BSN, RN, CCRN

Elaina Stitt, BSN, CCRN

Lisa VanMeter, ADN, CCRN

ICA Beacon Team

Tammy Allen, MSN, RN, CNML

Lupe Ayala, PCT, PCT II, Lead PCT

James George, MSN, RN

Erica Holmstrom, BSN, RN, PCCN

Lauren Najdzion, BSN, RN, PCCN

Lucy Olvera, PCT, PCT II, Lead PCT

Miriam “Mimi” Vejar Ramirez, MSN, RN, CEN

Maria Ramos, MSN, RN, PCCN

Isaura “Izzy” Valadez, BSN, RN, PCCN

Tiffy Maria Yelo, MSN, RN, PCC

Exemplary Professional Practice

Identifying and Helping Survivors of Trafficking

Since implementing the human trafficking response protocol in the Emergency Departments in Aurora and Yorkville and in the Family Birth Center in November 2021, the clinical staff (nurses and care managers) have used the screening tool when patients show signs of human trafficking. Between November 2021 and November 2022, three patients were identified as survivors of human trafficking.

The response protocol was activated in all three instances, which prompted patient evaluation by Aurora Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigations teams. One patient was a survivor of sex trafficking and two patients were survivors of labor trafficking.

As a result of the investigations during the patients’ visits to RUSH Copley, the sex trafficking survivor and one labor trafficking survivor were removed from their traffickers and placed in a shelter. The other labor trafficking survivor was discharged to community-provided housing after it was determined that the survivor and family would be safe.

Wound Care Team Focuses on Improving Patient Outcomes

2022 was a year for change in wound care at RUSH Copley. The team grew to enhance the program, provide additional coverage and support the nursing team with the goal of improving patient outcomes. This has allowed for daily rounding on additional patients, updated processes, investigation of new products and evidence-based care, and providing education for nursing staff in a timely manner.

In May, Skin Champions were implemented, with representation from almost every inpatient area. Skin champions provide education rollouts, assist peers with wound care issues and questions, and help complete quarterly skin prevalence studies.

Following a full assessment and the review of case outcomes, some products were changed. One change that should result in an annual cost savings of $45,000 was the removal of sacral dressings as a first line of defense for pressure injury prevention. These dressings were actually causing moisture-associated skin breakdown and not fully preventing pressure injuries as previously believed. The Wound Care team also streamlined the use of other skin care products, choosing one product line for skin protection, creating an algorithm for use, and focusing on more proven pressure injury prevention interventions such as turning and repositioning. Work will continue in 2023 to reduce hospital-acquired pressure injuries and improve patient outcomes.

Fall Prevention: Focus on Stroke Patients

The Physical Medicine Rehabilitation partnership team, led by nurses Taylor Stallworth, MSN, RN, and Holly Scheel, CRRN, identified falls in right-sided stroke patients as an issue in their unit. In fiscal year 2022, 89% of falls occurred in right-sided stroke patients.

After reviewing the literature for right brain stroke patients, the team implemented the “Stroke Fall Bundle,” which included posting a falling star sign outside of the patient's room, stop signs in the bathroom as a reminder to never leave the patient alone, a sign above the bed indicating which side of the body has a deficit, and a “fall contract” that the patient/family sign upon admission agreeing to always use the call light, not to try to pick anything up off of the floor, etc. Staff also document hourly rounding for this patient population.

This project has brought safety in the stroke patient to the forefront for staff. Through the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, the percentage of falls in right-sided stroke patients dropped by 14 %. Data will be collected throughout the year to determine the improvement.

Total Assault on Nursing

Workplace Safety a Top Priority

Workplace safety is a top concern for nurses throughout the country. At RUSH Copley, nurses joined forces with the Workplace Safety Committee to have their voices heard on concerns in the work environment. Together, they implemented initiatives and saw a decrease in total assault rates on nursing personnel, as reported through NDNQI.

One initiative updated signage regarding violence, making patients and visitors aware of the Zero Tolerance stance on violence against employees. The signs promote a safe and healing environment.

A safety alert was added within the Epic charting system to make staff aware of patients whose behavior or past behavior indicates they could create an unsafe situation.

This alert offers details of the past event, allowing providers to be vigilant while planning and preparing to provide care. This safety alert is visible to all care providers who access Epic, both in the inpatient and ambulatory environment. Safety alert reports are shared with all leaders on a daily basis.

Other initiatives implemented were installation of additional and upgraded safety cameras throughout the campus; placing of license plate readers at all entrances of campus; capture shields for the security staff; code silver training to prepare staff in the event of an armed intruder; and de-escalation education for key staff members.

Staff safety remains a top priority and the team will continue to make enhancements as needed based on input from the annual organizational survey, worksite analysis and staff feedback.

Bar Code Medication Administration Rates

Patient Safety Success

Bar Code Medication Administration Improves Safety

As part of a RUSH project to align the patient electronic health record, RUSH Copley Medical Center launched Bar Code Medication Administration in July 2019. The system goal to improve the medication safety process for both patients and nursing staff was set at 99% compliance for all medications given at the bedside.

Nursing, pharmacy and providers partnered to provide the safest practices across the medication process, which included ordering, dispensing and administering. Nursing staff and nursing leadership looked for opportunities to improve at the bedside. Pharmacy and the Epic Willow teams collaborated to ensure medications were mapped correctly so they would code correctly.

The RUSH Copley team met the goal of 99% in August and continued to meet or exceed that goal for the remainder of the year. This success can be attributed to the diligence of the cross-functional team in getting the information to the frontline users, learning what the barriers were and addressing system issues.

RUSH Copley was the first RUSH hospital to achieve 99% compliance. To end the year on a high, RUSH Copley was ranked by Epic in the top 5th percentile in the Epic community, winning a gold trophy. By focusing on medication safety, sharing best practices and successes, the team achieved goals to help keep patients safe.

Partnering Across the System To Deliver Excellent Care

Med/Surg II collaborated with surgeons from RUSH University Medical Center to expand bariatric services to RUSH Copley. In early 2022, all nursing and ancillary staff caring for patients on the unit participated in education and training to learn how to best care for these patients and to gain an understanding of the procedures performed. Post-operative specialty equipment was obtained.

The first patients were admitted in June, and nursing staff identified minor changes in the order sets once they were used on actual patients. The surgeries and post-op care were a success and the patients did well.

Med/Surg II staff are proud of their knowledge of this new patient population and their excellent outcomes. They look forward to becoming known for their excellent bariatric patient care.

New Knowledge, Innovations and Improvements

Determining Barriers to Participation in Cardiac Rehab

Mary Bouse, BSN, RN, CMSRN, Cardiac Diagnostics, was named the 2022 Rush Nurse Research Fellow. She is evaluating the content, delivery and enrollment of patients in Phase I and II Cardiac Rehab to determine patient barriers to participation.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a three-phase program for patients after a cardiac event such as myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous interventions, valve replacement or a new diagnosis of congestive heart failure. It is a medically supervised program that helps to improve heart health.

Cardiac patients who attend 36 sessions have a 47% lower risk of death and a 31% lower risk of heart attack than those who attend only one session. Health systems save $4,950 to $9,200 per person per year of life saved. Cardiac rehab participation also reduces hospital re-admissions (Million Hearts, 2020). Overall, the benefits of cardiac rehabilitation include decreased mortality, morbidity, disability and increased quality of life. Rehab patients also benefit from reduced hospitalizations. However, despite the benefits of rehab, participation rates remain low.

At RUSH Copley, the current rate of participation for cardiac rehabilitation phase II is between 20% and 30%. The number of patients with referrals was between 26 and 45 patients for the first quarter of 2022. Patients who receive these referrals have undergone cardiac procedures or have experienced a cardiac event.

The purpose of Mary’s pilot study is to 1) identify if follow-up phone calls to eligible patients increase enrollment into phase II rehabilitation; 2) identify and overcome barriers to participation; and 3) identify the value of follow-up telephone calls to eligible patients.

Mary Bouse, BSN, RN, CMSRN

Head and Neck Care for Patients

The head and neck cancer patient population is challenging to treat due to many underlying preexisting comorbidities.

The treatment regimen is typically complex, consisting of concomitant radiation and chemotherapy.

Head and Neck Patient Interventions

In 2021, the oncology interprofessional team, including radiation and chemotherapy nurses, speech therapy, and the oncology research coordinator, began reviewing data regarding head and neck cancer patients, working to identify commonalities in their care. They performed a literature review to identify best practices.

The data demonstrated a need to be more proactive in regard to symptom management and in educating the patient to manage symptoms.

A standardized team approach was developed to anticipate and proactively implement symptom management; reduce and/or manage long-term side effects with involvement of speech/occupational/physical therapies; and minimize or eliminate delays or early discontinuation of treatment.

Some of the interventions implemented during 2021 included:

• Quality of life questionnaire

• Creation of smart phrase with instructions to add to patient’s after-visit summary or added to letterhead

• Creation of a laminated sheet for patient home use with reminders for symptom prevention/management

• Creation of an order set including therapy consultations and IV hydration

The team has seen excellent results in 2022 in regard to delays in treatment for radiation therapy, speech/OT/PT referrals, emergency department visits, and admissions compared to the pre-intervention data.

RUSH Copley Projects Receive Funding

In 2022, RUSH received a donation of $100,000 a year for five years to focus on nursing wellness, and the Nursing Wellness Award was created. Three projects from RUSH Copley received funding.

• Cynthia Hays, PhD: Using the Arts to Improve Healthcare Workers’ Wellness. This project aims to improve the wellness of employees by specifically targeting the eight areas of wellness through a variety of art mediums and creative activities.

• Caitlin Placek, PT, DPT, and Kathy Ostrander, MSN, RN, CPN: All Work and No Play ... Is Not Our Way. This program will work to build social connections and fun as members of the interdepartmental teams of Ortho/Neuro/Peds, Physical Medicine Rehabilitation and therapy services participate.

• Karyn Tickle, ADN, RN, and Christine Jewell, BSN, CCRN: ICU Retreat Space. Project goal is to create a restful break space for ICU nurses to recharge while working.

Podiums, Posters and Publications

Mandy Bodinet Appointed to National Panel

Mandy Bodinet, MSN, RN, CPAN, clinical nurse educator for Day Surgery/PACU/ Vascular Services/VCU, was appointed to the American Board of Peri-Anesthesia Nursing Certification item writing review committee. As part of this seven-person national panel, Mandy collaborates to review, edit and vet new items for the CPAN national certification exam for 2023.

Presentation Wins Commissioners Choice Award

Maureen Lugod, MSN, RN, CEN, and Andrea Schmitt, MSN, RN, CCRN, presented “Surviving Patient Emergencies: Use of Gaming and Technology to Increase Nurse Residents

Knowledge and Comfort Levels When Responding to Emergency Situations” at the American Nurses Credentialing Center Practice Transition Accreditation Program Symposium on April 8, 2022.

The study assessed the impact of gaming and technology as teaching strategies on nurse residents’ perception of their knowledge and comfort levels related to responding to emergency situations in the adult acute care setting. Their podium presentation won the Commissioners Choice Award.

Using an Escape Room as a Teaching Tool

Andrea Schmitt, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, NPD-BC, Christine Jewell, BSN, RN, CCRN, and Lisa VanMeter, RN, CCRN, presented “Make Your Escape: Build an Escape Room to Enhance Critical Thinking and Promote Knowledge Retention” at the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses National Teaching Institute conference in Houston, Texas, on May 17, 2022. The purpose was to offer participants a stepwise process for designing, implementing and evaluating a critical care escape room as a method to increase learner satisfaction, stimulate critical thinking and promote knowledge retention. Clues were provided along with three years’ worth of nursing satisfaction data that validated the successful use of an escape room during annual competency assessment.

Mandy Bodinet, MSN, RN, CPAN,

Maureen Lugod, MSN, RN, CEN

Nurses in Action