Twelve nurses from UCHealth’s northern Colorado region were recently recognized for improving lives by providing the highest quality patient care and service.
Ten recipients received this year’s Magnet® Nurse Award and two nurses were honored with the Magnet Nurse Leader Award during a May 10 ceremony.
Poudre Valley Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies are among only eight Colorado hospitals — an elite group that also includes University of Colorado Hospital — to achieve the designation of Magnet, the gold standard in nursing.
“The Magnet designation is a representation of our culture of patient- and family-centered care, our quality outcomes and our practice standards and gives testament to our dedication to and compassion for our community,” said Ryan Rohman, MCR chief nursing officer.
Recognizing the Magnet RNs
The Magnet model focuses on five main principles: transformational leadership; structural empowerment; exemplary professional practice; new knowledge, innovations and improvements; and empirical outcomes.
To achieve designation, a hospital’s priorities must align with the model and be demonstrated through metrics and measurable outcomes. The same is true for the nurses who are nominated for and awarded the Magnet awards.
Each year, nurses are nominated by their colleagues in one of the categories, and through a selection committee of peers, a nurse is chosen for each. The winners are invited to attend the National Magnet Conference.
The 2016 winners are:
Transformational leadership: Nurses who convey a strong sense of advocacy and support on behalf of staff and patients.
Kellie White, resource services at MCR
White is a strong advocate for all nurses as a Magnet coordinator and leader of the Magnet Steering Committee at MCR, according to Rohman. She took on numerous tasks to prepare for the March 2016 Magnet site visit, organized the Magnet Fair, created Magnet binders specific to each nursing unit and attended numerous staff meeting to educate nurses on Magnet.
As described by her nominator, “Kellie is visible, accessible and communicates effectively, and this makes for a strong working relationship between the charge nurse and house supervisor. I know I can reach out to Kellie if I am ever uncomfortable in any situation.”
Kate Soholt, PVH float pool
Soholt advocates for staff and patients by creating documents outlining important information and educating staff on patient experience scores. She has improved staff satisfaction through initiatives that help employees get to know and appreciate one another.
One patient wrote that Soholt made her feel that all her needs would be met after coming out of surgery. “I have to say after 36 surgeries, she provided a level of care second to none,” the patient wrote.
Structural empowerment: Nurses who are involved in self-governance and decision-making structures and processes that establish standards of practice and address issues of concern.
Kathryn Glenn, wound clinic and hyperbaric medicine at PVH
“Kathryn is a quiet leader who possesses the clinical skills to be professionally respected and the communication skills to supportively convey her nursing standards to others. … This is all done while Kathryn has completed her (bachelor’s in nursing) and has now begun her nurse practitioner education,” said Donna Poduska, chief nursing officer of PVH.
Her most recent achievements include a launch of a unit-based council that combines enterostomal therapy/wound clinic and hyperbaric medicine staff in a unified process which improves the ability to effectively respond to patient needs as they move between the three areas.
Adele Morehead, trauma surgical unit at MCR
Morehead plays a lead role in the area of technology and communication on her unit and has been an excellent resource to physicians. Her knowledge has helped make technology easier and more beneficial to patient care, Rohman said.
She also is an active member of the Magnet Steering Committee and played a key role in preparing the surgical unit for the March 2016 Magnet site visit.
Exemplary professional practice: Nurses who practice autonomously and are accountable for clinical decisions and outcomes.
Kim Bedford, women and children unit at MCR
A nurse coordinator for the unit, Bedford provides staff clinical expertise and information about its patient population. For example, Bedford helped put together meetings with respiratory therapy to improve compliance with the pediatric asthma clinical pathway. She has helped work with management and staff to find a better balance of the types of patients who come to the women and children unit as a flex area.
“Kim goes above and beyond to help make the unit better, to make patient outcomes better, and to assist the staff to do better,” her nominator said.
Sadie Goering, PVH pediatrics plus unit
As a member of the Children’s Safety and Quality Committee and as chair of the Pediatric Practice and Quality Committee, Goering provided the foundation for the current Pediatric Unit Based Council.
She obtained her Pediatric American Nurses Credentialing Center Board Certification and achieved chemotherapy competency. She also serves as a registered nurse preceptor, helping newer nurses develop their skills and knowledge.
New knowledge, innovations and improvements: Nurses who are educated about evidence-based practice and research, enabling them to appropriately explore the safest and best practices for their patients.
Jenna Duetsch, labor and delivery at PVH
When the baby admits process needed a new definition and guidance as it transferred responsibility from nurses who worked in the neonatal intensive care unit to the birthing center nurses, Duetsch took charge and put an evidence-based system in place that focuses on patient safety.
“Jenna is a great role model and team player,” said one staff nurse, who had only taken care of mothers before and was losing sleep over adding babies to her nursing practice. “Her keen critical thinking and clinical skills help assist more than she knows with this new endeavor. Her detailed orientation and willingness to put in extra time to make this a success have benefited nurses and created the safest and most enjoyable journey for our families.”
Angela Jones, cardiac cath lab at MCR
Angela has led initiatives to develop safe and best practices to improve patient flow in the cath lab and throughout the facility. The implementation of these initiatives has resulted in improved turnover times between patients and has decreased patient delays in both scheduled and emergent procedures in the cath lab.
Empirical outcomes: Nurses who serve as mentors and lead the way in the provision of quality patient care and help create an environment that contributes to the well-being of the work force and the community-at-large.
Leanna Harpman, Air Link at MCR
In her nominator’s words, “Leanna is one of the smartest and most capable RNs I’ve ever worked with. Her judgment is keen and spot on, and these attributes, combined with her pleasant and calm demeanor, make her truly exceptional. She is willing to step up when needed, wants to make a difference for the betterment of nursing and really goes above and beyond.”
Robin Welsh, patient risk manager at PVH
Recently, when a potentially serious patient safety issue related to nurse-physician communications was revealed, Welsh collaborated with nursing and physician leadership to identify gaps in the current process and provided solutions to address these gaps. Not only have these changes enhanced patient safety, they also have improved nurse/physician relations and satisfaction.
Two additional nurses were recognized with the Magnet Nurse Leader Award, which is based on the concepts of transformational leadership, idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration.
The winners of the 2016 Magnet Nurse Leader Awards are:
Tonya Gilmore, nurse manager of the Cardiac Unit at PVH
Since arriving on the cardiac unit only a year ago, Gilmore has facilitated relationships between managers that have helped them align strategies within their areas. She supports professional growth among her staff and has developed her team so that they can effectively manage in her absence. She is the mark of a truly great nurse manager,” Poduska said.
Brenda Lynch, nurse manager of the GI Lab at MCR
Lynch empowers her staff to work autonomously, is vigilant in addressing concerns and supporting her staff. She has worked on numerous initiatives, including fecal transplants for treatment of C-difficile, a debilitating and often chronic infection.
“Brenda puts patients first and backs up her staff,” Rohman said. “She has strong clinical skills and keen administrative knowledge.”
Magnet RN Award nominees also included: Kellie Bock, Kathy Brown, Amy Calkins, Lisa Carlson, Michelle Carpenter, Teshia Cordia, Caitlin Culbertson, Michelle Davis, Hilary Doyle, Sue Duda, Kelli Dunn, Chris Eix, Mary Fitzgerald, Christine Foote, Patti Fuller, Dawn Gavaldon-Infante, Jean Geisick, Juli Germany, John Gerstenberger, Janet Hackleman, Barrie Harms, Shon Hernandez, Eileen Holden, Ashley Hord, Abby Kacena, Jenny Kaufman, Ryan Kennard, Kathy Kruse, Rebecca Kubala, Kate Livingston, Jenny Markotay, Amy Mitchell, Casey Newth, Kristine Oberhammer, KC Petersen, Leah Rodningen, Lizzie Rosgen, Stevie Silvers, Dianne Snell, Julie Stockburger, Helen Van Buskirk, Cindy Wangsvick, Robin Yearley.