Honoring our frontline heroes in Central Texas SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2020
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Nurses at Ascension Texas stand next to a sign that reads “Heroes Work Here.” People across the country are thankful for the nurses and healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines during the pandemic, and this is one way they can show their appreciation. PHOTO COURTESY OF ASCENSION TEXAS
RISING TO THE OCCASION A
By Patrick Dorsey, Publisher
t the start of this year, during a call for nominations for the 2020 Recognizing Nurses event, I praised Central Texas nurses as being exceptional professionals deserving of recognition. Several months later, I cannot praise them enough. During this pandemic, our community of nurses has risen to the occasion. They’ve been on the front lines and responded with bravery and compassion. They’ve shown poise and control when we needed it most. They’ve helped ground our community and guide us forward. I also said at the start of the year that they care for us when we’re at our most vulnerable. I am greatly moved picturing the kindness they showed our family members or neighbors, even ourselves. While we can’t ever thank them enough, we do hope that our now-virtual Recognizing Nurses event on Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. will convey the gratitude we feel in our hearts for them. The celebration, which will stream on recog-
nizingnurses.com, is made possible because of our presenting sponsor, Roger Beasley Mazda, whose commitment to the nursing community is unmatched, and our supporting sponsors, Ascension Seton, St. David’s, Baylor Scott & White Health and WellMed. Finally, if you are a nurse reading this, you have my deepest thanks and greatest admiration.
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Nurses at forefront as healthcare is transformed by new virus By Amy Roberts
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urses, on the front line of medical care, have faced challenges and embraced opportunities amidst the pandemic of 2020. As COVID-19 alters even routine healthcare, Austin nurses have showcased their resiliency, professionalism and commitment in innovative and heartfelt ways. Patient care this year has required increasing flexibility to facilitate efficiency and effectiveness. “The system, leaders and staff have all learned to be more flexible,” said Sheila Fata, RN, BSN, MBA, NEA-BC. Fata, Chief Nursing Executive at St. David’s HealthCare, shared some ways daily life for nurses evolved quickly as the novel coronavirus took hold. To help limit the spread of infectious disease, nurses now engage in continual self-health monitoring and assessment. There are daily temperature checks and health screenings upon arrival for shifts. According to Fata, nurses, who have training and background in safety practices, have expanded such expertise to new applications during the pandemic. One obvious safety enhancement is the omnipresent use of protective gear, including masks. Steven Brockman-Weber, Chief Nursing Officer for Ascension Texas, noted increased use of protective equipment has, unfortunately, negatively impacted communication, an essential component of the caregiver-patient relationship. “Facial expressions are an important part of communication,” Brockman-Weber said. “A caregiver’s face is
Masks help promote safety, but can create communication challenges. PHOTO COURTESY ST. DAVID’S HEALTHCARE
now covered and that impacts interaction.” Nurses have, however, found ways to reinforce communication. Brockman-Weber shared that nurses employ written communication and use white boards when possible. He added that repetition and visual cues aid interaction and understanding. Finding new ways to reintroduce the person behind the mask helps, too. “Many Ascension Seton nurses who are caring for COVID patients have chosen to wear a photo of herself/himself so that patients can see the friendly
face that may be hidden under the PPE,” shared Brockman-Weber. Communication is not the only nursing task undergoing growth. For safety, patients face limits on who can accompany them to appointments and procedures. Such limitations have heightened the role nurses plays in supporting patients. “Nursing staff has to be an advocate for those they care for even more,” noted Brockman-Weber.
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RECOGNIZING NURSES Administrator Leader Charles McCoy Debra Rodriguez Debra Seamans Donna Beecroft Elizabeth Ross Erin Deaton Frank Delatorre Jonabel Mata Jonna Jenkins Karen Kate McAfee Campbell Katie Cook Krista Baty Patricia Coindreau Patricia Gagnon Tami Taylor Tana Bennie Teresa Stanley Veronica Buitron-Camacho Behavioral Health Alyssa Aikman Chelsea Taylor Fungni Ciowono June Nicholas Justin Foss Kelsey Sheppard Lisa Perron Nancy Miller Patrick Okoye Sean Whisner Shannon Skolaut Sheila Borna Stephanie Brandt Emergency Room Abby Duvall Harrison Agustin Alba Allyn (Leslie) Izzard Amanda Flex Amelia Cline Anna Dittrich April Burge Brenda Vega
Camille Compton David Cole Rich Denise Kilbane Erica Barraza Eugene Martir Heather Lucas Heidi Erwin Hillary Pennington Jacob Rogerson Jennifer Leatham Jessica Griesel Joseph Demapan Kaitlyn Scott Karena Woo Kathy Mayberry Kyle Dorwart Laura Hernandez Lucas Wahl Luisa Orozco Mark Schertz Matthew Lowery Molly Hundley-Levine Rachael Bussell Robert Gillespie Shannon Strock Smith Stacy White Tatiana Guertin Tonia McKenzie Hospice Brian King Crystal Davis Hannah Traskos Jon Godby Koreana Chanterelle Nikki Fulker Pamela Kier Patricia Smith Patsy Keef Sarah Templeton Shelly Robichaux Stephen Figures Tania Watkins
ICU/CCU Alison Guthrie Aly Quiambao Andy Hairell Ann Francis-Scott Anna Baez Anne Hanley Annie Steinhauser Ashley Hall Bernie Gomez Brian Yeasley Casey Clapp Charlsie Wolfe Cheryl Wagas Christine McIver Davika Reid Delia Padilla Emily Ranando Gabriel Ramos Gail Caven Genevieve Freeborn Ineke Widjaja Ivan Park Jennifer “Jenn” Keily Jennifer Gravett Jennifer Rhea Jonabel Mata Joseph “Joey” Denni Joyce Hales Joyce Harris Kathryn Criner Kelly Fontana Kishonna Thomas Lacy Eynon Lorena Buehler Maria Lisa Vargas Mary Helen Tijerina Megan Landon Megan Meier Meghann Johnson Mollie Stanley Nanci Moon Nancy Sisk Nicole Foree Olivia Moreno Phillip Quintanilla
Rachelle Tan Rebecca Ford Robyn Delmastro Sasha Thew Shae Clark SoonCha Sherman Steph Bonzek Valerie Danesh Yasmin Horlador Labor & Delivery Ali Yarnell Annalisa Guevara Chyna Fisher Denise Oswald Freida Miller Kerri Schneider Lindsey Wagner Tamara Herrera LPN/LVN Amber Phillips Anna Rosa Beth Gottner Courtney Colacino Debra Grieger Debra Martinez Elizabeth Rodriguez Jason (Kyle) Francia Jennifer Lewis Jodi Broxton Mandy Ortega Megan Diggins Mike Benson Patricia Wilson Raquel Long Shiri N Selby Stephanie Matthews Suzanne Marie Jones Tina Storey Nonprofit Jan Watson Jennifer DeMarco Karena Woo Katrina Harris
Kimberly Lewis Sandra Guidry Sharon Mize Steve Paris Nurse Educator Ana Todd Alexandra Garcia Dr. Shalonda Horton Elise Williams Jan Fox Jennifer Downing Hale Jody Gautier Jorge Garza Kari McDonald Katherine Bookout Kimberly Belcik Krystle Ramon Lauren Hagen Linda Copenhaver Lynda Schoppe Monica Hughes Noelle Clark Rachel Westervelt Regina Jillapalli Stephanie Creech Tara Buck Nurse Practicioner Amanda Marek Ashley Martin Cindy Kumar David Ray Knight Donna Gaona Erika Ramirez Justin Henne Megan Gingrich Melanie Dayal Paula Coop Wood Shawn AgenbroadElander Shawn Hart Stacye Hansen Dick Continued on Page 9
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2020 NOMINEES Oncology Angela Salvatore Becky Gregory Cara Miller Mayte Silva-Juarez Stacey Hayden Jeremy Pierce Lily Jockers Lori Williamson Ernst Taylor Kathie Blount Luke Gregg Anne Raines Denika Espinoza Margarita Schroeder Pediatrics Alicia Warren Aubri Jordan Candice Frisbie Catherine Beal Charlsie Lechner Christi Dodd Elena Daguer Florisel Stailey Karina Kalmbach Liana Gowens Michelle Bender Monica Herrera Monica Lane Reagan Duncan Rebecca Orozco Sandra Vega Sunny Wong Regina Sorkin Kristina De Leon Kim Talamantez Janice Grantelam Anna Barnaby Jaren Lothringer Stacey Hayden Kathleen Bailey Kelly Breazile
Kelly Hudson Sarah McGee Kassie Ransopher Registered Nurse (RN) Ryan Murry Sara Shannon Sandra Simoneau Sarah Akroosh Scotty Barnett Shelby Hollis Shoufeng Wang Stephanie Bage Stephanie Creighton Susan (Susie) Lindsay Tammi Holland Taylor Tyler Thania Silva Theresa Stabenos Tracy Hanner Violeta Pestrada Zoila Jereb Adelaida (Lila) Jaimes Alex Respress Amber Durda Amy Zavala Ana Todd Brenda Welch Cassandra Ashe Chelsea Ellsworth Denise Levesque Elizabeth Martin Elizabeth Strong Genevieve Angeles Genevieve Freeborn Hilary Koprivnikar Jennefer Christine Jordan Mary Helen Reedy Melinda McKeever
Michele Holder Renee Lindstedt Savannah Bowens Sheryl Bartek Sheyla Ortuno Stephanie Riding Tina L. Williams Kimberly Lewis Alfred Bazaldua Amanda Espinosa Amanda Estrada Amanda Kestrada Amelia Yap Angel Vattakunnel Anne Barnaby Ashley Mikulenka Audrey Shepard Brandi Harris Callie Hulsey Carlos Flores Carol Marshall Christopher Arms Cristina M Lozano Crystal Delagarza Cynthia Barsch Deanna Doering Deidra Holland Ellice Christina Brown Emily Ranando Felipa Salinas Francis Aguillon Grace Kimbell Grace Prindle Hannah Traskos Hannah Whelan Heather Shields Hillary Pennington Hillary Richter Jennifer Baxter Jennifer De Marco Jeremy Rich Jessica Burgos
Jessica Prince Johanna Ruppanner Jona Fatima Santiago Justin Henne Katherine Alden Katie Black Katie Castle Kelly Breazile Kelly Jones Kelly Simmons Kevin Gluch Koreana Chanterelle Kristin Kay Laurel Griffin Lisa Dial Lisa Perron Lynne Baugh Marieclaire Scroggin Martha Cendan Mary Billups Mary Collins Megan Ward Melisa De La Scurain Michael Holman Miranda Rhea Monica Rivera Natalie Coburn Omoyele Isola Paige Cardiel Paula Valdez Rachel Vernon Regina “Gina� Reeves Renilla Abraham Rocio Cespedes Rehab Deidra Holland Elizabeth Pari Justin Henne Teresa Yap Anne Barnaby
Janice Grant-Elam Samuel Burwell Rhonda Marshall Rookie Katarzyna Banasik Lilly Balsamo Meagan Jean Drew Sharmila Maharjan Ashley Miskin Brittany Adams Kathleen Bailey Priyanka Patel School Nurse Courtney Shelnutt Jennifer Gregg Lindsey Love Mary Ellen Umstattd Patty Adams Trisha Krogstad Carol Sweetman Elizabeth Milliner Kelly Jones Laurie Landers Surgery Bob Wuest Chihye Kim Deborah Kohrt Emily Sandoval Jenna Hill Jessie Halley Kelsey Milliken Lauren Courtney Freeman Teresa Cantwell Zetta Hackleman Abby Fuller Janet Groner Rebecca Oliver Holly Lorka
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Administrator Leader FINALISTS
BEST IN CLASS
Tami Taylor
Karen Kate McAfee Campbell Karen is a gold standard for compassionate, high quality and innovative nursing. She maintains high standards for all of her staff while providing the flexibility and support that allows them to obtain advanced certification and additional education. Her compassion for her patients is boundless. She has made home visits, visited our patients in the hospital and nursing home, written grants for low-income patients to get needed Diabetes supplies, healthy groceries and even a crock pot for a pregnant woman without access to a stove. She is the last person to leave at night. She is the first to volunteer for a community outreach effort. Because of her amazing guidance for her team, we have won countless accolades. She has served the Austin community as a dedicated nurse, inspirational leader and nurse mentor for over 39 years, and we can’t think of anyone who more deserves this award.
Behavioral Health
FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Compassionate • Innovative • Energetic
Teresa Stanley FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Leadership • Team work • Mentorship
SPONSORED BY
BEST IN CLASS Chelsea Taylor Chelsea is an amazing nurse and person. She is known to many patients as a personal confidant, someone they can tell things they’re scared to tell anyone else. Working with pediatric psychiatric patients is a physically and emotionally draining task, and yet she devotes herself to her patients and always makes time if they need to talk. Chelsea has saved many lives by helping young people remember that life can be worth holding onto. She spends real, 1:1 face time with them to listen, to comfort, and to problem solve. She is a fantastic and passionate nurse with nothing but positive feedback from patients and families. She works to build resiliency in these kids so that they are able to recover from their illnesses.
FINALISTS
Shannon Skolaut FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Creative • Comforting • Caring
Justin Foss FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Knowledgeable • Collaborative • Tireless
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Emergency Room (ER) BEST IN CLASS Molly Hundley-Levine Molly Hundley-Levine is a volunteer member of a task force that provides bedside care to COVID-19 patients. During their time on this mission, Molly helped develop new policies, procedures, and protocols to protect patient and nurse safety, used their expertise in PPE to prevent the spread of the disease, and supported the State of Texas’s response — all while providing excellent patient care. They have truly gone above and beyond to serve patients and our state as a nurse.
FINALISTS
Brenda Vega FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Compassionate • Attentive • Proactive
Lucas Wahl
FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Brave • Humble • Selfless
Hospice BEST IN CLASS Brian King Brian King has served as an on-call nurse and as a nurse practitioner for Hospice Austin for almost two decades. In all that time he has been the gold standard for what outstanding, compassionate, comprehensive nursing care looks and feels like. In addition to being bright and kind, Brian is exceptionally skilled at what he does and has a gift for making people feel at ease and calm during what for most is a very anxious and uncertain time. There are countless stories of the exquisite, personalized, attentive care Brian King provides to each and every patient he serves. He is truly a treasure in our organization and in this community, and we can think of no other individual who deserves this recognition more than he does.
SPONSORED BY
FINALISTS
Koreana Chanterelle FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Intuitive • Compassionate • Respectful
Tania Watkins FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Professional • Honest • Kind
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ICU/CCU BEST IN CLASS Jennifer “Jenn” Keily
FINALISTS
I met Jennifer “Jenn” Keily after an agonizing wait following a surgery that did not go as planned. Jenn calmly explained to me that my husband was on life support in a medically-induced coma. She made it sound so normal and routine that I actually felt comfortable with the frightening situation. Over the course of a lengthy hospital stay, Jenn demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and reassured us during even the most difficult moments that everything was under control. Jenn uses tough love to push her patients beyond their comfort zone, while stretching them within their limits. She enabled my husband to regain his strength and achieve milestones that amazed other members of his medical team. She took steps to make sure I could take part in other life events during my husband’s treatment. I credit her and her collaboration with the whole ICU team with my husband’s smooth recovery.
Christine Mclver FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Innovative • Excellent • Dedicated
Sasha Thew
FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Hard-Working • Determined • Professional
Labor & Delivery BEST IN CLASS Tamara Herrera
BEST IN CLASS Annalisa Guevara
Tamara Herrera is a passionate, engaged, expert clinical staff nurse in labor and delivery at Ascension Seton Williamson. Tamara provides excellent care to her patients and she is frequently mentioned during nurse leader rounds for her excellent care and compassion. Tamara always has a smile on her face and is consistently welcoming to staff, physicians, patients and visitors. She has been able to consistently plan and implement monthly simulations that bring value and are organized and relevant. Her reviews have been excellent by all members of the multidisciplinary team. Her portfolios have been recognized the last two years as exemplary.
Annalisa is self-motivated, adaptable, a team player, and a patient advocate. She works in the busiest and most complex labor and delivery unit in the Ascension Seton network and yet, always has a smile, no matter what. In addition to her demanding work, she leads a team called Room Readiness, that ensures all mothers and infants have the equipment needed for delivery. Through her work on this team, she has identified missing necessary equipment and coordinated with unit managers to adapt. We appreciate her dedication to her unit and to all the patients she serves.
FINALIST Ali Yarnell FROM THE NOMINATOR:
• Kind • Encouraging • Selfless
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LPN/LVN FINALISTS
BEST IN CLASS Raquel Long As a case manager in the Emergency Department at Dell Children’s Ascension, Raquel has completed many projects for the department. She is always willing to go above and beyond her duties. She believes in the organization and dedicates her time and effort to ensuring we can provide the best experience and care for patients across the board. For example, she recently helped implement a huge project to improve the process and workflow for mental health patients in the department. This is technically not in her purview as a case manager, but as always, she identified a need and was willing to step in with her ideas and follow through to get this process up and running. Raquel basically created a process from the ground up to follow up on every single abnormal lab result received after discharge for patients in the ED. Every patient receives a phone call and follow up instructions by our case managers. Her process is so seamless and effective, inpatient units are seeking to implement a similar process. She is graciously lending her time and expertise to help develop this process hospital-wide to help improve the safety and quality of care for all patients. She manages to do this additional work while still completing the case manager load for which she is responsible.
Nonprofit BEST IN CLASS Jan Watson
Jan has more than earned recognition for all her hard work She has been with the NICU team for upwards of 40 years. She is such a rock for our unit. Jan typically comes in by 7 a.m., leaves around 6 p.m. and spends her days managing patients’ care. She communicates with insurance companies to get the most coverage for patients, and she is in constant communication with the often very anxious parents of these babies to make sure they have all of their questions answered. She works hard to make sure every baby has exactly what they need to go home safely. She is also a wonderful resource for fellow nurses.
Tina Storey FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Compassionate • Approachable • Knowledgeable
Jennifer Lewis FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Flexible • Selfless • Dedicated
SPONSORED BY
BEST IN CLASS Sharon Mize
Sharon Mize is truly an exceptional nurse, and we are proud to call her one of our own. She has a positive, caring attitude and is always full of energy. She pushes us to maximize our resources to help patients manage their health. She is constantly adapting and evolving and follows up with us to make sure we are doing right by the patients and each other. Even in her free time, she volunteers helping single mothers, Habitat for Humanity, homeless shelters, and retirement communities. She is the first to arrive and the last to leave and has a spirit of joy and fun. She is a dedicated hard worker and Community Care is a better place because she works here.
FINALIST
Steve Paris FROM THE NOMINATOR:
• Compassionate • Empathetic • Advocate
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Nurse Educator BEST IN CLASS Stephanie Creech Stephanie is the first face that many new and scared nurses encounter when starting a practice that can be intimidating. However, when Stephanie is there, she alleviates the fear while presenting the reality in a way that produces courage and confidence to get the job done! Stephanie is an educator to many and a friend to all. She is so kind when faced with questions, doubt, emotions, and challenges as her task is to educate, schedule, and place new nurses in the best learning environment possible. She takes her job seriously and everyone who has had the privilege to work with her knows it and feels it. We are lucky to have her as an educator!
Nurse Practitioner BEST IN CLASS Donna Gaona It’s very hard to summarize in words how wonderful of a nurse Donna Gaona is to the WellMed at Cedar Park family. Donna has devoted her time with not just our unique and complex patients but patients at other clinics. She does everything in her power to support low-income senior patients in their time of need, including calling companies to enable free scans and tests. She has never turned down a patient. She has great team spirit and is always there to pick up a shift or travel to other locations to help. Donna’s knowledge and family-centered approach has shaped and impacted our clinic, our patients and their families as a whole. We fervently believe that Donna is one of the most selfless and passionate nurses in Austin and cannot think of anyone more deserving of a nursing excellence award.
SPONSORED BY
FINALISTS
Elise Williams FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Supportive • Innovative • Educator
Ana Todd
FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Devoted • Leadership • Dedicated
SPONSORED BY
FINALISTS
Amanda Marek FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Dedicated • Experienced • Reliable
Justin Henne FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Hard working • Caring • Dedicated
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Oncology BEST IN CLASS Luke Gregg When I think of a role model and mentor, Luke Gregg comes to mind. From watching him sit with a dementia patient when they couldn’t sleep to helping him give a patient in restraints a spa day to make them feel comfortable, I have gotten to witness Luke go above and beyond the call of nursing many a time. Luke has tried learning Spanish to make a Latinx patient feel more comfortable. He really emulates Seton’s mission of human care. When I have made nursing practice mistakes, he has never put me down and has always praised my integrity. I am writing this nomination with my entire floor’s enthusiastic support. I could not think of a more deserving nurse for this honor.
FINALISTS
Anne Raines FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Passionate • Supportive • Thorough
Jeremy Pierce FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Empathetic • Compassionate • Exceptional
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Pediatrics FINALISTS
Rebecca Orozco
SPONSORED BY
BEST IN CLASS Kristina De Leon
FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Compassionate • Devoted • Visionary
Elena Daguer FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Dedicated • Skilled • Passionate
Our 4-year-old son was kicked in the head by horse and taken to Dell Children’s. Our normally happy-go-lucky little boy was depressed. Kristina took it upon herself to come up with wonderful things to take his mind off what he was going through, such as making it her mission to find out his favorite foods when his feeding tube was removed and using her day off to go to a fire station and request they visit our son. They tried to delay, but she convinced them this little boy was special and brave, and ultimately arranged eight firefighters and three fire trucks to visit with him in the hospital parking lot. It was his first smile in weeks. My family can never properly express our gratitude to Kristina for her professionalism, responsibility and kindness during an extremely frightening and difficult time for all of us.
Registered Nurse (RN) BEST IN CLASS Sheryl Bartek Sheryl Bartek has been a dedicated and faithful nurse with Seton for over 34 years. She embodies the care and compassion of the Daughters of Charity both in and outside of the hospital walls. Growing up as her child, I always remember people coming up to her at soccer games, church, and other community events thanking her for the compassionate and exceptional care she gave them in the hospital. Her coworkers describe her as passionate, dedicated, working a double shift with a smile before going home to take care of her four children, someone who refreshes others by the way she loves her job. My mother has exemplified what it means to live out the art of nursing with her life. She inspired my brother and me, and we both followed in her footsteps as nurses because of her resiliency, triumph, strength, and determination through the darkest times.
SPONSORED BY
FINALISTS
Rocio Cespedes FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Compassionate • Organized • Helpful
Natalie Coburn FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Humble • Caring • Warm
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Rehab BEST IN CLASS Anne Barnaby Anne has over 36 years of nursing experience, and she has continued to amaze us with her nursing practice. As nurses at a children’s hospital, sometimes we act as a surrogate parent because some parents must work or take care of their other children. Anne is not only a nurse, but treats the children like they are her own grandchildren. She can frequently be found snuggling with a patient, reading them a book. Nursing is an art and a science. Anne teaches the science to the nurses, and she lives the art with the gentleness of a grandmother. As a manager, I usually say that I want people to be an extension of me and the organization. Instead, I wish that we could all be an extension of the care that Anne gives.
FINALISTS
Samuel Burwell FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Communicative • Effective • Compassionate
Elizabeth Pari
FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Dedicated • Leadership • Knowledgeable
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Rookie BEST IN CLASS Priyanka Patel During Priyanka’s first year, she has grown tremendously to a nurse that patients consistently respect and acknowledge. In February 2020, Priyanka was awarded the Daisy Award by a patient who was thankful for her compassionate nature. Priyanka is a nurse on the unit that staff have begun to rely on. She knows her limitations and understands that asking for help only helps her grow as a nurse. Her instincts once had her keep pushing for extra attention to a patient who was then found to have a serious condition and transferred to the ICU for urgent care. Priyanka is always professional and ensures that the job gets done, while providing for the highest possible patient care she can. Her coworkers love working with her.
FINALISTS
Kathleen Bailey FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Thorough • Knowledgeable • Positive
Katarzyna Banasik FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Compassion • Dedication • Kindness
School Nurse BEST IN CLASS Kelly Jones It’s impossible to list all the things Kelly Jones has done above and beyond her job description. She works harder after work for her job than most people I know work at their job. The parents of the children she works with regularly thank her for her dedication and endless love for their children. Kelly is working towards completing her BSN along with an LNC degree all while working a high needs campus and writing a grant proposal! Kelly spends her personal hard-earned money for supplies for the health room. I have never met a more caring, loving, hardworking, or passionate person in my life than Kelly.
FINALISTS
Mary Ellen Umstattd FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Dedicated • Thorough • Supportive
Patty Adams FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Communicative • Driven • Dedicated
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Surgery BEST IN CLASS Lauren Freeman Lauren Freeman has a passion for helping patients, not just in surgery but in every phase of care. She became a nurse because she wanted to help patients feel more relaxed when experiencing difficult life events. Through her animal volunteering, she created a dog therapy program from scratch to calm her patients — despite great health, safety, and legal hurdles — spending constant hours over two years researching policies and procedures to bring her vision to life. And she is not stopping. Now, she aims to grow animal-assisted therapy programs to other units and, eventually, other hospitals. Lauren’s drive and leadership should be an example to us all-to always follow your path and what you are passionate about.
FINALISTS
Janet Groner FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Professional • Organized • Interpersonal
Zetta Hackleman FROM THE NOMINATOR:
Intelligent • Resourceful • Role Model
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Nurses are key to the success of value-based healthcare initiatives
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By April Bamburg
alue-based healthcare isn’t new. Some explain it as emphasizing higher quality care over seeing as many patients as possible. The shift started in 2008 and 2010, according to Rasmussen College, a private forprofit college with campuses across the country. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) notes that there are several value-based health programs: End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program; Hospital Value-Based Purchasing; Hospital Readmission Reduction Program; Value Modifier Program; Hospital Acquired Conditions Reduction Program; Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Program; and Home Health Value-Based Program. These programs are meant to limit the number of tests and procedures that patients go through. They aim to get patients back to pre-admission status as quickly as possible, and to strengthen the connections and communication between members of a patient’s healthcare team. Patient education is a focal point of value-based care as well — when nurses are able to help patients understand how healthy lifestyle choices and self-care can prevent medical crises in the future — the patient theoretically goes home feeling more empowered and with fewer issues in the future.
A NURSE’S ROLE IN VALUE-BASED CARE Nurses, like other healthcare professionals, are often seen as advocates for their patients. They may also be the person who gets to know the patient and family best, because they spend more time with those individuals. When nurses are able to develop a relationship with their patients, they can help people to feel heard and to help create a personalized healthcare plan with their doctor. That plan can take a patient’s concerns, perspective and goals into account and look at more than just the medical treatment. When nurses and patients work together to manage an individual’s concerns for their health, it may lead to better outcomes and fewer hospitalizations. In a value-based healthcare system, nurses play a bigger role outside of the traditional hospital setting, providing more personalized, hands-on care over
time, according to an article in Med City News. With larger portions of the population needing care for one or more chronic conditions, the demand for nurses will grow, possibly in home healthcare settings. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the field of nursing will grow by 221,900 jobs between 2019 and 2029 (an increase of 7%). HFMA.org notes that in healthcare settings, some providers have allowed for nurse-only patient visits that require nurses to document patient histories, order lab work and testing, conducting physical examinations and presenting patient cases to practitioners. This has shown to be more efficient and has also shown some decreases in hospital stays and admission to the emergency departments. In order to allow nurses to take the leadership role, adoption of technology helps – like communication technology that allows nurses to communicate with care team members who are not on-site. Video conferencing allows for video visits and can help others in a patient’s life to get more involved in their care. The shift, though, may cause nurses stress, including in the urgency to keep up with electronic health records, according to Rasmussen College. Some say the value-based care model may fall short with executives focusing on documentation, instead of the care provided. VALUE-BASED CARE AND HEALTHCARE According to Mississippi College, a national study in 2019 conducted by Change Healthcare and ORC International, the answers of 120 payers revealed several key trends: • Almost 80% of those who responded reported that the quality of their healthcare had improved, and 64% saw better relationships with healthcare providers. Seventy three percent saw more patient engagement. • Medical costs are declining with value-based care strategies, down 5.6% on average, although almost one quarter of payers are seeing a savings of 7.5%; and • Providers are embracing value-based care, more quickly than expected. Fee-for-service care is 37.2% of healthcare reimbursements and could be under 26% by 2021.
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The role of technology in nursing now and in the future A By Carrie Bradon
s science evolves and develops, so too does the medical world, which relies heavily upon advancements and innovations. This has always been true — from the development of vaccines to the introduction of electronic health records — and the future will continue to hold important innovations that will improve the nursing profession and the outcomes for patients. Among some of the most pivotal recent technological advancements in the nursing profession were the introductions of the portable defibrillator, sonograms/ultrasounds and patient remote monitoring, each which allows the medical teams to deliver precise and timely care to the patient. Some of the most game-changing emerging technologies available for nurses include automated IV pumps, which allow for greater accuracy and less concern when it comes to getting dosing correct. Smart beds are yet another innovation which will allow for patients to have a higher degree of comfort and save nurses the time of having to adjust beds for individuals. Higher-end smart beds even have the ability to track movement, weigh patients and check vitals. The emergence of COVID-19 forced the widespread use of tele-health and other remote modes of checking in on patients, but it is likely that this innovation is here to stay. Tele-health will provide nurses, doctors and patients alike with more flexibility without having to sacrifice the one-on-one benefits of check-ups. As with all innovations, there are pros and cons to be considered. Perhaps one of the technologies that has the highest potential for changing the nursing industry is the implementation of artificial intelligence. According to a survey conducted by LinkedIn, 82% of over 600 nurses answered that technology was having a positive impact on patient care — while in the same breath stating that some new tools have added more task work to their plates. Artificial intelligence (AI) carries with it many connotations — some positive and some very negative — and as such, 25% of respondents on the survey stated that AI would likely have the big-
gest negative impact on patient care. In its application, though, the introduction of AI may mean technologies such as monitoring to anticipate complications that threaten patients. Amanda Walter, an Atlanta metro nurse, uses AI software in her sepsis team and has attested to the usefulness of the software in prediction outcomes of certain patients. Similarly, Google’s DeepMind has helped to formulate AI to identify breast cancer analysis, which has been more accurate in diagnosis than human radiologists by an average 11.5%. While many innovations are being introduced to the nursing industry, there is still limitless space for improvement and more implementation of such advancements. In November 2019, Texas A&M College of Nursing’s Dean, Nancy Fahrenwald, testified about technological advancements in academic nursing before a U.S. House committee, stating that the introduction of technology with conventional nursing was needed if the industry is going to keep up. “These types of high-tech innovations, once dreamed up in science novels, are now cutting-edge tools that provide students an immersive learning experience without the fear of harming a live patient,” Fahrenwald stated in her address to the committee. While the introduction of new technology and advancements in the nursing profession may bring with it a steep learning curve or require some more paperwork, the potential for benefits is high, such as speedier communication, better diagnoses, faster results from labs, safer staffing and safer care for patients. Ersilia Pompilio, RN, wrote that the introduction of more AI will certainly bring sizable changes to the industry but many of these growing pains can be averted with the correct preparation from educational institutions. “Nursing schools and healthcare facilities will have to meet the educational needs and challenges that technology pose with proper education, coaching and leadership,” Pompilio wrote, stating that nurses will always be instrumental in providing a human perspective for their patients.
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Group is a voice for Texas nurses
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ppreciation for nurses has been on the rise since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. Yard signs thanking our heroes in scrubs are a rare unifying symbol in our divided time. Restaurants in the area have been offering nurses free or discounted meals after long shifts. The Texas Nurses Association (TNA) is a statewide, membership-based association of licensed nurses that has been protecting and promoting the interests of nurses and their patients since 1907. All aspects of the profession — including professional development, policy, and administration — are covered by the TNA. The TNA’s About webpage says that the common purpose that brings its members together is to “Advancing excellence in nursing. It’s a pursuit that requires commitment, involvement and leadership. Fortunately, these are inherent traits of nurses.” Since the pandemic began, the area’s nurses quickly devised and implemented new safety standards to complement their high standard of care and attention. Nurses never faltered through the many challenges, including new personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements and visitor rules. Many even chose to go to “hot spots” to support communities in need. District 5 — the local TNA chapter — covers Travis, Williamson, Hays and the surrounding capital counties.
By Derick Gomez
The Texas Nurses Association is a membership-based organization that protects and promotes the interests of nurses. COURTESY OF UNSPLASH
TEXAS NURSES ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS The Austin Rotary Foundation Belisa Barrier Betty Richardson Fernando Aldaz Laxmi Prashad Ehhetri Leah May, the outgoing president of the chapter, said: “Just like the rest of the work world, we moved to a virtual format over the summer.” Their duties at hospitals and clinics remained in-person, but all TNA workshops, presentations and the preparation of their legislative slate for the 2021 session were done online. One popular event was the “Nursing Through the
Texas Nurses Association Emma Cho Heather Ray Jones Madeline Gregory Patrick Kennedy Andi Kate McMillin Decades” panel that opened a dialogue about how nursing has evolved over the years and its increasing importance in the healthcare field. May, who also serves as a registered nurse covering nursing practice and clinical standards at Ascension Texas, believes that her successor Terry Long is well equipped to lead the chapter. “Terry Long is knowledgeable and very committed to nurses in our
districts.” The pandemic is not the only hardship that the TNA District 5 and its members have been grappling with in recent months. The association has taken the lead in educating and influencing the community around the recent spate of police violence against the black community. “The Texas Nurses Association District 5 unequivocally denounces systemic racism and oppression, and the violent acts that took the lives of many Americans,” according to a statement published on their chapter’s website. “We support our black nurses as well as black clients/patients/ students and their families. We stand with these individuals to help their communities, protect their families, and fight for their children’s opportunities.” The last couple of months have been a timely reminder of the many ways that our lives are interconnected. One person’s decision to host a party could have a cascading effect that results in the death of someone else’s parent. Amid this upheaval, nurses hold communities together. When a vaccine is discovered and the restrictions that the pandemic has put on everyday life are finally lifted, all Texans must be sure to honor the bravery and sacrifices from nurses that allowed us to overcome during this difficult time. “Our organization really stepped up,” May said. “I am proud of how nurses in this community responded.”
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Traveling nurses see the world while caring for patients A By April Bamburg
travel nurse has a career similar to a registered nurse who works in a specific hospital or doctor’s office. These professionals have a variety of clinical backgrounds and work as contract employees, taking on short-term jobs through healthcare staffing agencies, or working with recruiters to iron out details. They move from community to community to provide care when their skills and specialties are in demand. Often, they are called to work when there are seasonal shortages, or to supplement clinical support during flu season and other times when medical care is in demand. To become a travel nurse, one must have at the very least, an associate degree in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing. A valid license to work as a registered nurse and often, two years’ experience are needed to get into the field. Travel nurses may be placed in different positions based on their specialties, and often, those specialties require different certifications, like advanced cardiac life support, critical care nursing, telemetry certification, or other credentials. Assignments are typically short-term in nature, lasting a number of weeks or months.
TRAVEL NURSE DUTIES A traveling nurse works directly with patients in hospital and clinical settings. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to ensure that each patient’s needs are taken care of, to the best of their abilities. During each visit, they may discuss a patient’s concerns and health history to build each patient’s medical file. They may administer medication and draw blood when necessary. In some institutions, traveling nurses may assist in research.
WORKING BENEFITS Those who jump into careers as travel nurses have flexibility in their careers. They may use the same skills in each job, but there’s freedom in this job, because they have the ability choose when and where they work. As nurses who work with healthcare staffing agencies, they have the opportunity to accept the assignments that they are interested in and turn down the ones that don’t quite fit. Traveling nurses can see different parts of the country and meet new people too. For some, there’s opportunity to extend contracts if they enjoy working in a specific location. And, when an assignment is up, there’s also flexibility that allows for downtime and exploration between assignments. When on assignment, a traveling nurse will need housing, of course. That’s something that a healthcare staffing agency may take care of for the travel nurse. That’s one less thing to worry about and it allows these healthcare professionals to focus on their patients. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the field of nursing to grow 7% between 2019 and 2029, with an increase of 221,900 jobs, and noted that the median annual wage for a registered nurse in May 2019 was $73,300. According to Nurse.org, the pay of a travel nurse is not typically influenced by how much experience they have, or what their educational background is. Location, specialty, and the specific shift a travel nurse works may affect their pay level though. According to Nurse.org, the pay for a travel nurse is determined differently than a staff nurse’s pay might be. Travel nurses may find that they receive non-taxable stipends for housing and other incidentals, as well as pay by the hour, which is taxable.
Helping patients worldwide is the job of a travel nurse. ZACH VESSELS / UNSPLASH
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Continued from Page 6 Expanding use of technology is another measure nurses have helped facilitate during the pandemic. According to Sally Gillam, DNP, MAHS, RN, NEA-BC, social distancing and safety precautions have accelerated the use of technology that has been available yet under-utilized. Gillam noted some conveniences have resulted including increased tele-medicine, televisits and web meetings. “Easy access to healthcare, I believe, is one of the best things that has come out of this horrific pandemic,” said Gillam, Regional Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, Austin-Round Rock/Hill Country Baylor Scott & White Health. She added that working in non-traditional ways has boosted efficiencies. “More work can be achieved without lengthy commutes or downtime,” Gillam said. Texas Health Action’s KIND Clinic has increasingly used tele-medicine to serve patients from traditionally marginalized communities. “That we have been able to significantly expand our clinical services and community outreach in the middle of the most chaotic year of all our lifetimes is impressive,” said Steve Paris, ARPN, FNP-C. “Our operations team expanded our TeleKIND (tele-medicine) program from seeing about 10 people per week to 150 per day in less than a week.” Advanced use of technology in healthcare is but one silver lining wrought by COVID-19. The flexibility crafted in recent novel situations could benefit nursing into the future. Fata noted that hospital systems including St. David’s developed or expanded processes to make it more efficient to share staff. “Nurses can now more seamlessly move to other hospitals within the system based on where help is needed,” she said. Brockman-Weber noted such adaptability is especially helpful for Ascension Texas as part of a national ministry.
Despite many changes to the work environment, nurses have remained committed to patient care. PHOTO COURTESY ST. DAVID’S HEALTHCARE
“More nurses from Ascension Texas opted to travel to hot spots,” said Brockman-Weber, adding this kindness was reciprocated when Texas needed support. Some positive outcomes do not negate the challenges healthcare experienced this year. Nurses have taken on more work while worrying about personal safety and endeavoring to maintain their mental health. “Nurses have even changed their own social behavior in the workplace, such as limiting numbers in a break room for meals,” said Fata. “Many things have changed in my daily work life. The one that I think has impacted my work the most is how prominent mental health concerns have become for my patients, my coworkers, my circle of friends and even me,” said Paris. “It feels like we are living in a collective state of trauma this year.”
Yet, nursing has collectively faced the vagaries of 2020 head on and emerged with increasing admiration from those they serve. Brockman-Weber shared that, although nursing has a long history of being one of the most trusted professions, he has witnessed increased appreciation of nurses’ skills, dedication and work throughout the pandemic. “Most nurses don’t feel like they should be called heroes, but they are thankful that the nursing profession is receiving recognition for the work they do,” said Fata. Gillam, Brockman-Weber, Fata and Paris may not call themselves heroes, but they are all proud to be part of a centuries-old profession. They remain committed to making human life better in every capacity possible, no what future changes COVID-19 brings.
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Nursing remains a high-demand job with great growth potential
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s both a high-demand and high-stress job, the role of nurses in the healthcare industry is integral to the care of millions of patients every day. According to the Health Resources & Services Administration, the nursing workforce has been steadily growing for some time. Between 2004 and 2008, the number of nurses had reached 3.1 million, whereas in 2020 it represents the employment of roughly 4 million individuals within the category of Registered Nurses (RNs). Nurses within the U.S. make up the largest group of healthcare professionals, though appreciation for nurses is often lacking. According to Texas’ Department of Health and Human Services, there were 251,253 registered nurses in September 2019, which is a significant increase from 2017 when there were just 234,027 nurses in the state. While nurses all share a passion for caring for those who are unwell and providing vital support to patients, there are a number of degrees and types of nurses, each possessing their own unique strengths and demands.
By April Bamburg
Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) have non-degree diplomas and provide basic healthcare services, offering the quickest entry into the nursing field. Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are also non-degree diploma positions, but offers a more robust level of expertise and knowledge in the field. Associate’s degrees in nursing can demand a higher pay and allow the individual to work in more environments than non-degree programs. A Bachelor of Science in nursing permits the individual to work in a wide array of environments and still demand a reasonable salary. For those interested in achieving more career-wise, a Master of Science in nursing, Joint Master of Science in nursing or Doctoral degree in nursing each provide a good deal of leverage in terms of pay and position. Delivering a great sense of fulfillment to those who practice and providing superb job security, the nursing profession is projected to continue rising steadily in the future.
The role of nurses in the healthcare industry is integral to the care of millions of patients. ADOBE STOCK
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