Nursing Annual Report for 2009 - Children`s Hospital Los Angeles

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COMPASSION • EXPERT CARE
NURSING
ANNUAL
REPORT 2009
LEADERSHIP • COMMUNITY SERVICE
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C H I L D R E N S H O S P I TA L L O S A N G E L E S :
A 2009 Overview
O U R
H O S P I TA L :
286
● Average daily census: 244.6
● Annual patient admission: 11,069
● Annual outpatient surgery cases: 7,930
● Annual inpatient surgery cases: 6,035
● Patient days: 87,179
● Emergency and Trauma visits: 96,796
● Average number of days in the hospital: 8.72
● Annual Transport patients: 1,986
● Annual outpatient clinic visits: approximately 373,000
● Licensed patient beds:
● Patient visits at the community sites through the Department
of Adolescent Medicine:
7,843
● Patients under the age of 4: approximately
● Pediatric subspecialty services:
● Outpatient clinics:
O U R
50 percent
100
48
N U R S E S :
53.8 percent of our nurse leaders have a national certification
● 29.7 percent of our nurse leaders are certified as Advanced Practice Nurses
● We have 85 Nurse Practitioners
● We have 17 Clinical Nurse Specialists
● We have 7 Nurse Anesthetists
● Average length of CHLA tenure for our RNs: 10 years
● Our expert nurses taught approximately 1,000 nursing students in 2009
●
Cover Photo: Flora Yuen, RN, BSN
Lead RN, 6 East
Has worked at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for nine years
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In This Issue
Welcome
2
Celebrating Two Years of Magnet
3
Community Outreach: Disaster Olympix 2009
4
Community Outreach:
Adolescent Medicine
5
Professional Development: Certification
6-8
Dear Childrens Hospital Los Angeles,
We reached another milestone this past year as we
Professional Development:
Educational Advancement
9
Image of Nursing
10
celebrated our second anniversary of being a Magnet
hospital. We were honored to report the extraordinary
work that you do as we submitted the two-year Biennial
Report to the American Nurses Credentialing Center
(ANCC). Your commitment to excellence, as you care
Humanism
Employee of the Month
Lifetime Achievement
Advancing and Leading the Profession
Noche de Niños
for your patients and families, was evident in our report.
As we look to the future, we are gearing up for our
Magnet redesignation in 2012. It takes all of us to be a
Magnet organization, working as a team to demonstrate
our passion for the newborns, children and adolescents
that we care for. Please join us as our Magnet
Image of Nursing: The DAISY Awards
11
Organizational Structure:
12
Shared Governance
Quality Care: The PICU Receives the
13
Beacon Award
journey continues.
Education: Versant RN Residency
14-15
in Pediatrics
Sincerely,
Research: Posters, Publications, Lectures,
Margaux Chan, RN, BSN
Susan Crandall, RN, BSN
Magnet Program Managers
Research Fellowships
16-17
Keeping Track on Quality Outcomes
18
CHLA’s Nurse Essay Winner
19-20
Acknowledgments
21
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Welcome
As I walk the halls of Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles, I’m privy to
extraordinary moments. Some are
moments of pure joy, and some are
moments of profound anguish.
What continues to make me most
proud is consistently seeing
Childrens Hospital nurses not only
providing the most advanced level
of care, but also an unparalleled
level of dedication. In every unit of
our hospital, what I see is our new Magnet model thriving
through our visionary and passionate nurses.
Being a Magnet hospital is a great honor for us — an
honor that we do not take for granted. Our families are
entrusting us with a tremendous responsibility. Ensuring
that our young patients receive the absolute best care
possible is of paramount importance to us. We take every
opportunity to evaluate our systems of care and to
continually enhance our services. This year we have
embarked on developing a new management and
organizational structure. I’m so excited to have the
“Collaborative Governance Leadership Model” here at
Childrens Hospital.
I attend numerous meetings during the month, but I have
to say that my favorite is the Patient Care Services’ House
of Representatives meeting. The energy, intelligence and
commitment of these nurses are truly inspiring. Our
House of Representatives is a wonderful example of all
Patient Care Services staff, including bedside professionals
and managers of all disciplines, coming together to make
decisions that will enhance our ability to provide the
renowned care for which our hospital is recognized. This
model allows all employees to identify changes that need
to be made and to recommend and develop an action
plan to make these changes a reality.
As we develop our council structure, nurses and all Patient
Care Services professionals are empowered to achieve
optimal patient outcomes — not only within our hospital
walls, but throughout our local and global community.
We have built a foundation of excellence at Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles. Together, we will continue to build
on that foundation every single day.
Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA
Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services
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C H I L D R E N S
H O S P I TA L
L O S
A N G E L E S
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is
charged with a special mission –
making a difference in the lives
of children and their families by
providing the highest quality care
possible. Through our highly-skilled
nursing staff, we are able to deliver
on that promise, each and
every day.
For this reason, I am pleased to
offer my continued support and
congratulations to our nurses on the Magnet Hospital
recognition awarded by the American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC).
Two years ago, the ANCC made official what we already
knew – that our nurses work tirelessly to provide care that
is built on a foundation of evidence-based practices.
As we prepare to move into our New Hospital Building,
our nurses will become an even stronger asset. With more
family-friendly private rooms, the care our patients receive
from our nursing staff is critical for our continued success
and growth.
In addition to their complex patient care responsibilities,
many of our nurses have embraced the goal of becoming
leaders in research and education. Others are valued as
national and international consultants, while some serve
as faculty in nursing departments at local colleges and
universities. Many also volunteer throughout Los Angeles
and around the world.
These facts are only strengthened by the countless letters
and phone calls I receive from parents whose children
have been touched by our nurses. The stories come from
those whose children have recovered from serious illness
or injury, while others share their heartache over loss.
Regardless of the outcome, it is always apparent how
much our families value our nurses. They calm their fears.
They educate, and they equip families with the skills to
effectively care for their children.
To all of our nurses: Thank you for the support and
leadership you provide at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
My sincere congratulations to each of you for the
recognition you so proudly deserve.
Richard D. Cordova, FACHE
President and Chief Executive Officer
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Celebrating Two Years of Magnet
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles celebrated its second
anniversary of attaining Magnet Recognition on
March 18, 2010. The fun and educational event
attracted 500 employees, including Rich Cordova,
FACHE, president and chief executive officer of
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and Mary Dee
Hacker, RN, MBA, chief nursing officer and vice
president of Patient Care Services.
benefits of being a Magnet hospital and the process for
redesignation in 2012. A tribute to “Nurses Certification
Day” on March 19 also was created with a special display
of certification posters informing nurses about the benefits
and processes of being certified. “We also listed the
names of our extraordinary certified nurses, to further
demonstrate the hospital’s appreciation of their dedication,”
says Crandall.
The theme of this year’s party was: “Come and Take a
Journey on the Road to Magnet Success.” Magnet
Program Managers Susan Crandall and Margaux Chan
decorated the Page Conference Room with a “road trip”
motif, featuring scenic backgrounds of the beach, desert
and city. They also created a road with cars and traffic
signs. A wide variety of posters were displayed to better
educate hospital employees about the Magnet model, the
The Magnet anniversary celebration also featured a photo
slideshow, music and lots of delicious food contributed by
various interdisciplinary departments. “One of the most
exciting parts was seeing how the hospital came together
and the wonderful and generous involvement of all the
different divisions in our Magnet celebration,” Chan says.
“It really does take a team effort to keep up with the
Magnet standards.”
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Community Outreach: Disaster Olympix 2009
Nine multidisciplinary teams competed in the 2009
Disaster Olympix. Many of the competitors were nurses,
who serve as first-line care providers. For the second
straight year, the “PICU Power” team placed first in the
overall competition. Congratulations to team members
Sherry Cauley, RN; Monica Rice, RN; Corinne Costly,
RN; and Colleen Young, RN.
Participants of the 2009 Disaster Olympix:
As one of the largest pediatric hospitals in a
densely populated urban area, Childrens Hospital
Los Angeles is vigilant in its disaster preparedness
efforts. This preparation is particularly important
because children have unique needs during a
disaster, based on their physical size, physiology and
psychological development. For example, children
will react differently than adults to exposure to
infectious diseases or chemical, radiological and
biological agents.
The Pediatric Disaster Resource and Training Center
(PDRTC) at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles was created
in 2008 with funding from the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services. The purpose of the PDRTC is to
identify, communicate, train and address any knowledge
and resource deficiencies of emergency agencies within
Los Angeles County that would be responsible for the care
of 2.8 million children in a disaster.
To better prepare hospital staff for a devastating disaster,
the PDRTC, under the leadership of Jeffrey Upperman,
MD, created a series of interactive exercises. Representatives
from the hospital’s vast team of multidisciplinary experts,
including trauma surgeons, emergency department
physicians, nurse leaders and environmental and safety
officers came together to create the Disaster Olympix.
“This is a fun and friendly competitive event that tests
the knowledge, skills and resourcefulness in disaster
preparation,” says Ria Yeh, RN, BSN, one of the event
organizers. Each team participates in a series of physical
activities including evacuation simulation, carrying baby
dolls up and down stairs and correctly suiting up
hazardous material garments. The teams also compete
in “Disaster Jeopardy.”
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C H I L D R E N S
H O S P I TA L
L O S
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Chemosabies (4 East Multi-disciplinary)
Ted Chow
David Chavez
Jerrold Luber
Sonya Williams
Megan Rozsypal
The Incredibles (Engineering)
Mike Molin
David Mendrin
Edson Colmenares
Daniel Andrade
Manny Free
Rootbeer Floats (Nursing Float Team)
Gayle Luker
Ruth Klinsky
Rachel Jackson
Kathy Wafer
Michelle Dubois
PICU Power (PICU Nursing)
Colleen Young
Corinne Costley
Sherry Cauley
Monica Rice
Macho Nachos (6 East Nursing)
Eileen Duncan
May London
Alex Cardenas
Nicole Olsen-Garcia
If It’s Wet and Not Yours, Don’t Touch It! (PICU Nursing)
Linda Topper
Alejandra Briseno
Kimberly Lindstadt
Feri Kiani
Loni Chartan
Dumbledore’s Army (MDs Pediatrics)
Micky Heinrichs
Karineh Aboulian
Sharon Nagakawa
Raquel Fernandez
Divas of Disaster (6 West Nursing)
Lee Lacy
Brandi Bowen
Nickie Kost
Kay Gilmore
Maria Juarez
NICCU Babes (NICCU Nursing)
April Brewer-Salvosa
Rebecca Bomberger
Jessica Legge
Tiffany Thornton – Special Guest
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Community Outreach: Adolescent Medicine
post treatment care and medications. The team is skilled at
talking to teens, slowly gaining their trust so they can
eventually disclose the true reason for their visit. Respecting
the patients’ need for privacy, parents or guardians are not
present in the examination room. Once trust is attained,
“then they tell you everything!” Kenny says with a smile.
Services offered at the Teenage Health and Young Adult
Center include:
A hidden gem lies within the walls of Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles: the Division of Adolescent
Medicine. This Division has been serving youths
between the ages of 12 and 21 since 1963. Some of
these young patients have had to grow up with their
childhood disease and they rely on the Division to
manage their pubescent development. The goal is
to smoothly transition these patients from pediatric
to adult care. Our nurses are an integral part of this
highly skilled care team.
The Division of Adolescent Medicine offers the
following services:
●
●
Behavioral Health
Project NATEEN: Parenting classes, career
assistance for pregnant teens
● High Risk Youth Program
● Teenage and Young Adult Health Clinic
● Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment
● Risk Reduction
● Youth Violence and Gang Prevention Program
In addition to providing specialized physiological care, the
Division team members are very knowledgeable in how
to interact with teenagers based on their cognitive and
developmental stage. Bill Kenny, RN, BSN, CPN, Isabel
Phillips, LVN, and Francine Guzman, MA work as a
close-knit team at the Teenage and Young Adult Health
Center. “Communication is very important when dealing
with adolescents,” Guzman says.
Kenny, who is keenly aware of the critical need for effective
communication and trust, is responsible for patient triage
and educating the teens regarding their illness or disease,
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Pain management
Puberty and growth concerns
Dermatology
Pregnancy screening and referral to pre-natal care
Menstrual and gynecologic disorders
Eating disorders
HIV treatment and prevention
Chronic fatigue
Hormone therapy
Diabetic treatment
Treatment of STDs
The Division of Adolescent Medicine reaches out to
adolescents from all walks of life. “We see normal
teenagers for routine check-ups, HIV patients, transgender
youths, group home patients, foster kids, mental health
patients and homeless teens,” Phillips says.
Nanora Thompson, RN, MSN, PNP, in the High Risk
Youth Program, is part of the Mobile Health Team that
travels to various Los Angeles free clinics and drop-in
shelters to provide primary care for homeless adolescents.
Since most teens, even the homeless, typically have a
cell phone, the Mobile Health Team relies heavily on
establishing vital communication with the teens by
offering follow-up education via their cell phones. Diane
Tucker, RN, MSN, is the research nurse for the Risk
Reduction Program and is collaborating with four
other sites across the country to conduct a research study
on “HIV (+) Adolescent’s Adherence to their HIV
Medications.” The study focuses on contacting teens via
their cell phones to improve medication adherence.
“Adolescence is a time of transition,” Thompson says.
“It’s a time of searching for an identity and role in life.”
The Division of Adolescent Medicine provides a safe
place for teens, embraces their individuality, listens to
their needs and offers much needed guidance.
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Professional Development: Certification
Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN):
Virginia Culla
Cardiothoracic ICU
Elizabeth Suzanne Daley
Cardiothoracic ICU
Sylvia Gomez
Cardiothoracic ICU
Juliet Christine Goss
Cardiothoracic ICU
Mindy Michelle Layton
Cardiothoracic ICU
Kathleen Mc Intyre
Cardiothoracic ICU
Lisa Rizzi-Wagner
Cardiothoracic ICU
Sandra Shepard
Cardiothoracic ICU
Edwin Tadeo
Cardiothoracic ICU
Victoria Winter
Cardiothoracic ICU
Michelle Anne Costabile
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Nhu Tran
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Josephine Ellashek
Otolaryngology
(ENT)-Clinical
Nancy Aguirre
Pediatric ICU
Frances Blayney
Pediatric ICU
Alejandra Briseno
Pediatric ICU
Agnes Bundac
Pediatric ICU
Rebecca Cales
Pediatric ICU
Sherry Cauley
Pediatric ICU
Suzanne Chan
Pediatric ICU
Corinne Costley
Pediatric ICU
Gena Favero
Pediatric ICU
Heidi Geary
Pediatric ICU
Fereshteh Kiani
Pediatric ICU
Catherine Klatzker
Pediatric ICU
Sandra Lee
Pediatric ICU
Michelle Lent
Pediatric ICU
Louis Luminarias, III
Pediatric ICU
Katherine Meyer
Pediatric ICU
Joe Ng
Pediatric ICU
Monica Lee Rice
Pediatric ICU
Pacita Sangalang
Pediatric ICU
David Schmidt
Pediatric ICU
Diana Sepulveda
Pediatric ICU
Suzette Dee Sweeney
Pediatric ICU
Linda Topper
Pediatric ICU
Linda Young
Pediatric ICU
Nancy Ann Pike
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Nancy Blake
Critical Care Services
Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS):
Sherry Nolan
5 East
Certified Clinical Transplant Coordinator (CCTC):
Donna Guadiz
Cardiothoracic Transplant
Monica Horn
Cardiothoracic Transplant
Stephanie Johnson
Liver Transplant
Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE):
Anna Gastelum Bitting
Endocrinology
Louise Brancale
Endocrinology
Eulalia Carcelen
Endocrinology
Nancy Chang
Endocrinology
Barbara Hollen
Endocrinology
Mary McCarthy
Endocrinology
Certified Gastrostomy Nurse:
Valerie Gordon
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C H I L D R E N S
Urology - Clinical
H O S P I TA L
L O S
A N G E L E S
Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR):
Kristi Brandt
Operating Room
Melinda Dizon
Operating Room
Verzhine Fodolyan
Operating Room
Angela Hartley
Operating Room
Janet Quigley
Operating Room
Florence Rivera
Operating Room
Randall Cook
Peri-Operative Services
Nancy Bridges
Peri-Operative Services
Dawna Lee Willsey
Peri-Operative Services
Certified Neonatal & Pediatric Transport (C-NPT):
Susan Cesinger
Emergency Transport
Martha Martinez
Emergency Transport
Certified Pediatric Emergency Nurse (CPEN):
Sharon Noonan
Emergency Department
Nicole Sheppard
Emergency Department
Russ Gill
Emergency Transport
Jon McKinnon
Emergency Department
Denise Sherwood
Emergency Department
Certified Professional in Health Care
Risk Management (CPHRM):
Karen Prommer
Risk Management
Certified Pediatric Nurse (CPN):
Giuliana Fiore
Amy Jean Girguis
Michelle Karlu
Angela Adriana Madrid
Susan Martinez
Sherry Nolan
Sarah Ramirez
Abigail Barbara Shetland
Marcela Solorio
Lesley Navea Abcede
Sarah Duffy
Margaret-Ellen Frankel
Jeanette Goggins
Susan Gonzalez
Frances Guzek
Jennifer Huson
Cheryl Ann McCauley
Francis Mombay
Judith Tighe
Diana Vaughn
DeAnn Sabrina Campbell
Kristine Gawley
Lavonda Hoover
Christine Limann
Patricia Mueller
Caroline Kelton Sanborne
Flora Yuen
Lori Chan
Van Nga Nguyen
Julita Arceo Reyes
Gloria Verret
Kay Gilmore
Elysia Weiner
William Kenny
Annie Yeremian
5 East
5 East
5 East
5 East
5 East
5 East
5 East
5 East
5 East
5 West
5 West
5 West
5 West
5 West
5 West
5 West
5 West
5 West
5 West
5 West
6 East
6 East
6 East
6 East
6 East
6 East
6 East
6 North - Rehab
6 North - Rehab
6 North - Rehab
6 North - Rehab
6 West
6 West
Allergy/Immunology-Clinical
Allergy/Immunology-Clinical
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Inge Morton
Beth Christie Clark
Anabel Enriquez Costa
Magni Nicole
Vanessa Martinez
Jon McKinnon
Angela Quijada
Denise Sherwood
Judith Sherif
Terri Stambaugh
Julye Henley
Kathleen Elizabeth Kelts
Paul Ciriacks
Rachel Guinn-Jackson
Kim Hodge
Velma Leon Guerrero
Marisa Martinez
Christopher May
Kimberly Pandora Hodge
Cynthia Burrola
Erin Lowerhouse
Rica Morzov
Sheila Kun
Claudia McCullum
Yvonne Hughes-Ganzon
Darcey Lynn Diaz
Kathy Kelly
Martha Samuel
Allan Cresencia
Elisa Barrios
Emergency Department
Emergency Department
Emergency Department
Emergency Department
Emergency Department
Emergency Department
Emergency Department
Emergency Department
Emergency Transport
Emergency Transport
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Neurology
Nursing Resources
Nursing Resources
Nursing Resources
Nursing Resources
Nursing Resources
Nursing Resources
Nursing Resources
PACU
PACU
PACU
Pulmonary - Clinical
Radiology
6 North - Rehab
6 West
Nursing Resources
Nursing Resources
PACU/ Surgical Admitting
Care Coordination
Certified Pediatric Oncology Nurse (CPON):
Irene Aberin
4 East
Dania Marisa Bourque
4 East
Staci Castillo
4 East
Renee Flores-Garcia
4 East
Heather Joy Mehl
4 East
Johanna Navia
4 East
Marifel Pagkalinawan
4 East
Sacha Lauren Reis
4 East
Afshid Roozrokh
4 East
Gina Marie Santangelo
4 East
Kerry Vancura
4 East
Sonya Williams
4 East
Sona Daldumyan
4 West
Lizzele Dulay
4 West
Courtney Rogers
4 West
Laura Vasquez
4 West
Willow Voytko
4 West
Paula Ybarra
4 West
Jennifer Blaney
BMT
Vilma Evangelista
BMT
Dawn Landery
BMT
Paul Liehr
BMT
Mary Moses
BMT
Donna Quiroz
BMT
Dannielle Seluta
BMT
Shinyi Tang
BMT
Ngaire Wilson
BMT
Gwendolyn Kimball
Care Coordination
Margaret Bottcher
Hematology/Oncology
Armi Bui
Hematology/Oncology
Sherri Lynn Carcich
Hematology/Oncology
Shanna Christoffersen
Hematology/Oncology
Kei Yun Chung
Hematology/Oncology
Nancy Hart
Hematology/Oncology
Dee Imai
Hematology/Oncology
Maria-Theresa Lapinid
Hematology/Oncology
Alice Loo
Hematology/Oncology
Deborah Marino
Hematology/Oncology
Colleen McCarthy
Hematology/Oncology
Susanna Ruth Morelli
Hematology/Oncology
Maki Okada
Hematology/Oncology
Tina Patterson
Ma Luz Reyes
Patricia Rios
Meagan Elizabeth Schiavone
Anne Schwartz Nord
Belinda Sia
Karen Faith Sidi
Kathleen McGinty
Diane Grade
Kellie Loera
Maria Velasco
Debbie Reid
Rita Secola
Peggy Townsend
Hematology/Oncology
Hematology/Oncology
Hematology/Oncology
Hematology/Oncology
Hematology/Oncology
Hematology/Oncology
Hematology/Oncology
Hematology/Oncology
4 East
4 East
4 East
Patient Care Services/
Staff Development
4 West/BMT
4 West/BMT
Certified Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Nurse (CPHON):
Jamie Bacani
Hematology/Oncology
Anthony Opimo
Hematology/Oncology
Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN):
Rachel Blackburn
Care Coordination
Certified School Nurse:
Michele Paige
Medical Genetics
Certified Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse (CWOCN):
Beth Harrison
Nurse Consultant
Certification in Case Management:
Judy Ann Stephens
Care Coordination
Nurse Executive Board Certified (NAC):
Catherine Kissinger
Patient Care Services/
Medical Units
Certified Nurse Administration (NEA-BC):
Nancy Blake
Critical Care Services
Certified Nurse Administration (NE-BC):
Teresa Loera
Pediatric ICU
Orthopaedic Nurses Certification (ONC):
Ann Wakulich
Orthopaedics
Certified Nursing Professional Development (RN-BC):
Frances Blayney
Pediatric ICU
Suzanne Taylor
Patient Care Services
Certification in Med/Surg. Nursing (RNC):
Susan Benson
Endocrinology
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Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing (RNC-NIC):
Susan Cline
Emergency Department
Sonja Alli-Casella
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Susan Bugsch
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Sharon Fichera
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Nicole Ainsworth
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Cynthia Diane Atkinson
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Carol Cadaver
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Beverly Drummond
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Sandra Luz Espinosa
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Johanna Constance Gaeta
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Anne Gleeson
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Heather Ann Hackett
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Kyong Ran Kim
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Laura Klee
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Denise Navarro
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Lorie Pagado
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Diane Real
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Lisa Marie Rosik
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Suet Ching Sham
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Carolyn Waddell
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Robin White
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Holly Miller Whitworth
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Elsa Yedinak
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner (CANP):
Roy Villena Tatlonghari
Employee Health Services
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (CFNP):
Marilyn Harris
Adolescent Medicine
Carol Okuhara
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Nancy Ann Pike
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Lillian Vicky Rosu
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Caroline Kwong
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Melanie Moya
Employee Health Services
Vanessa Lizzet Mansilla
Endocrinology
Anthony Hernandez
Surgical Admitting
Constance Gallardo
Patient Care Services/
Medical Units
Primary Care Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (CFNP-BC):
Yvonne Olive
Surgical Admitting
Certified Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (CNNP):
Karen Elizabeth Helton
Rapoport Inst. Maternal &
Fetal Health
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C H I L D R E N S
H O S P I TA L
L O S
A N G E L E S
Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP):
Jennifer Huson
5 West
Lisa Oda
5 West
Cary Staat
5 West
Nanora Thompson
Adolescent Medicine
Kristen Ethridge
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Pamela Michelle Faire
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Kirsti Catton
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Janet Craig
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Susan Carson
Hematology/Oncology
Jennifer Donkin
Hematology/Oncology
Anna Christine Evans
Hematology/Oncology
Patricia McMahon Peterson
Hematology/Oncology
Maki Okada
Hematology/Oncology
Paola Pederzoli
Hematology/Oncology
Kasey Rangan
Hematology/Oncology
Yael Rosenthal
Hematology/Oncology
Kynna Nichole Wright
Hematology/Oncology
Tizita Amde-Michael
Mental Health Services/
Psychiatry
Catherine Goodhue
Pediatric Surgery
Donna Nowicki
Pediatric Surgery
Andrea Parker
Pediatric Surgery
Karla Aurine Haynes
Plastic & Maxillofacial
Surgery
Helen Lau
Plastic & Maxillofacial
Surgery
Patricia McKee
Plastic & Maxillofacial
Surgery
Maria Reyes
Pulmonary - Clinical
Margo Coon
Radiology
Mary Baron Nelson
Radiology/Anesthesia
Biancha Salvetti
Pediatric ICU
David Schmidt
Pediatric ICU
Gwen Green-Brown
Nephrology
Jennifer Murray
Pain Management
Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-AC):
Lillian Vicky Rosu
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Gina Zambetti
Pediatric Surgery
Andrea Lynne Parker
Surgical Admitting
Primary Care Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (CPNP-PC):
Mary Virgallito
Radiology
Leticia Boutros
Surgical Admitting
Beatrice Chun
Surgical Admitting
Debra Rannalli
Surgical Admitting
Margaret Bottcher
Hematology/Oncology
Primary Care and Acute Care Certified Pediatric Nurse
Practitioner (CPNP-PC/AC):
Melanie Green
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Deborah Harris
Hematology/Oncology
Deborah Jury
Pain Management
Meghan Sullivan Middleton
Pain Management
Karen Rodriguez
Pediatric Surgery/Trauma
Susanne Carvajal
Radiology
Denna Jung
Radiology
Primary Care Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP-BC):
Marlene Beranek
Inst. Maternal & Fetal Health
Pamela Lynn Costa
Inst. Maternal & Fetal Health
Emi Kotoh
Inst. Maternal & Fetal Health
Jessica Simpson
Newborn and Infant
Critical Care
Total number of certified nurses:
Total number of certified NPs:
Total number of all certified nurses:
223
62
285
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Professional Development:
Educational Advancement
Obtaining an advanced degree can help nurses
enhance their professionalism, bedside care and
excellence in nursing. The extensive time commitment
and rigors of academia can be daunting, but with
the support of their families and Childrens Hospital
Los Angeles, several of our nurses successfully
earned their advanced degrees in 2009.
“One of my goals after receiving my BSN was to
eventually get my master’s,” says Debbie Reid, RN, BSN,
CPON, MSN. “I waited until the timing seemed right
with my children and their activities, and then I jumped
right into a program at California State University, Los
Angeles, where I did my undergrad. Education is my
passion, so I chose the Nursing Education track of the
MSN program.”
Baccalaureate and master’s nursing programs utilize
nursing conceptual frameworks. These nursing theories
are templates to assist nurses in critical thinking. After
repetitive assignments and exercises utilizing nursing
models of care, students are able to integrate them into
their practice.
“My advanced degree has improved my practice by
giving me more confidence and allowing me to share the
knowledge I have gained in research and leadership skills,”
says Ani Yeremian, RN, BSN, CPON, a 2009 graduate of
the California State University, Fullerton, BSN program.
“Before my BSN, I was a charge nurse and did play a role
in leadership. But after my BSN, I felt I had more insight
and used my education in leadership and management
more effectively.”
The Nursing Department at Childrens Hospital strongly
supports and encourages nurses to earn advanced degrees.
In addition to offering financial support for education, the
hospital informs nurses of advanced degree opportunities
at local colleges and universities and allows for flexible
scheduling to accommodate schooling.
As more nurses advance their education, Childrens
Hospital will continue to enhance its commitment to
nursing excellence.
New Advanced Degrees in 2009
Nurse Leaders
1%
53%
Associate’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree
10%
36%
Master’s Degree:
Sandra Espinosa, RN
(Newborn and Infant Critical Care) – MSN, NNP
Elsa Yedinak, RN
(Newborn and Infant Critical Care) – MSN, PNP
Afshid Roozrokh, RN (4 East) – MSN
Debbie Reid, RN (PCS Staff Development) – MSN
Stacey Adler, RN (6 West) – MSN
Dania Bourque, RN (4 East) – MSN
Jessica Moller, RN (Bone Marrow Transplant) – MSN
Diane Altounji, RN (4 West) – MSN
Bianca Salvetti, RN
(Pediatric Intensive Care) – MSN, PNP, CNS
Sue Bugsch, RN
(Newborn and Infant Critical Care) – MSN, NNP
Bachelor’s Degree:
Amanda Johnson, RN
(Newborn and Infant Critical Care) – BSN
Maria (Suzy) Nuques, RN (Endocrinology) – BSN
Don Stewart, RN (4 West) – BSN
Agnes Son, RN (5 West) – BSN
Ani Yeremian, RN (Allergy/Immunology) – BSN
Ann Wakulich RN (Orthopaedics) – BSN
Man Tse, RN (6 East) – BSN
Monica Rice, RN (Pediatric Intensive Care) –BSN
Lizzelle Dulay, RN (4 West) – BSN
Laurie Irwin, RN (Emergency Department) – BSN
Marifel Pagkalinawan, RN (4 East) – BSN
Doctorate Degree
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Image of Nursing
Morris and Mary Press Humanism Awards
Tina Rufo, RN, Received the 2009 Morris and Mary
Press Humanism Award for Nursing. The Humanism
Awards are an annual event where Childrens Hospital
staff and colleagues nominate individuals or groups who
are excellent assets to the hospital and create a positive
rapport in their daily interactions.
Employee of the Month
The Employee of the Month recognizes individuals,
including nurses, who demonstrate the values of Childrens
Hospital: excellence, teamwork, service, respect and
knowledge. These are the values that make our hospital
one of the top hospitals in the nation. The nurses
honored in 2009 were Deborah Windus, RN, (September)
and Alice Loo, RN, MSN (October).
Deborah Windus, RN
Alice Loo, RN
NurseWeek Excellence Award
Kathy Ruccione, RN, MPH, CPON, FAAN, director
of Center Communication and co-director of the HOPE
Program, was a finalist in the category of “Advancing
and Leading the Profession” for the Annual NurseWeek
Magazine “Nursing Excellence Awards.”
Noche de Niños Honors Veteran Nurses
Twelve nurses who have worked at Childrens Hospital
for more than 35 years were honored at the hospital’s
star-studded gala, Noche de Niños. The gala was held at
the Beverly Hilton on May 9, 2009. It was an incredible
moment to have all 12 nurses on stage, representing a
combined 450 years of caring. The nurses honored were:
Nancy Bridges, RN, MBA, CNOR — 41 years
Phyllis D’Ambra, RN, MPA — 41 years
Tommy Covington, RN — 39 years
Rebecca Corpuz Agdeppa, RN, BSN — 38 years
Judy Wong, RN, BSN — 38 years
Wendy Christiana, RN — 37 years
Victoria Ferrer, RN — 37 years
Claudia Castellon, RN — 36 years
Cristine Ferrero, RN, MN — 36 years
Pat Gisler, RN — 36 years
Betty Reese, RN — 36 years
Kathleen Ruccione, MPH, RN, FAAN — 36 years
Lifetime Achievement Award
Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA, chief nursing officer and
vice president of Patient Care Services, was awarded the
“Diane F. Cooper Lifetime Achievement Award” at the
Annual NurseWeek Magazine “Nursing Excellence Awards”
ceremony held at the Garden Grove Hyatt Hotel on
Sept. 25, 2009. The award is presented to nurses who
reflect commitment, enthusiasm and advocacy for the
nursing profession.
(L-R): David Kruger, Nancy Blake, Charles Krozek, Scarlett Czarnecki,
Maki Okada, Mary Dee Hacker, Barbara Britt, Kathy Ruccione, Susan Carson,
Ann Nord, Suzie Reinsvold, Dee Imai.
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Image of Nursing: The Daisy Awards
The DAISY Awards, which recognize nurses who
exemplify excellence in patient care, have become
a celebrated tradition at Childrens Hospital
Los Angeles.
of the nurses who cared for their son, the DAISY Foundation
was established to honor nurses who positively impact the lives
of their ill patients and coping families.
Bonnie and J. Mark Barnes founded the DAISY (Diseases
Attacking the Immune System) Foundation in memory of
their son, J. Patrick Barnes, who died of complications
from his autoimmune disease (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura) at age 33. In tribute and appreciation
Childrens Hospital is one of more than 50 hospitals in the
United States that have partnered with the DAISY Foundation,
a nonprofit organization. Recipients of the DAISY Award
receive a certificate, a DAISY pin, Cinnabon® cinnamon rolls
and a unique hand-carved statue called “The Healer’s Touch,”
created by artisans in Zimbabwe.
January
February
March
April
Lisa Rizzi-Wagner, RN, BSN, CCRN
Camille Susca, RN
Sue Martinez, RN, BSN
Irene Klecha, RN, MSN
May
June
July
August
Ana Cabrales, RN, BSN
Karen Tsuchida, RN, BSN
Beth Nakamura, RN, BSN
Nancy Bridges, RN, MBA, CNOR
September
October
November
December
Faye Ong, RN, BSN
Elizabeth Martinez, RN
Latoya Wells, RN, BSN
Sophia Martin, RN
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Organizational Structure:
Shared Governance
In many organizations, decisions are made at the
top and passed down to employees. But Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles has adopted a different
leadership model — thanks to the vision of Mary Dee
Hacker, RN, MBA, chief nursing officer and vice
president of Patient Care Services, and the Patient
Care Services (PCS) nursing directors. Under this
new Collaborative Governance Leadership model,
employees identify necessary changes, research
causes of problems, investigate best practices
nationally and internationally, develop action plans
and follow up on the progress of those plans.
Managers and directors take a back seat, serving
as mentors, advisers and facilitators.
The two main goals of this transformation were to:
●
Continue down the path of Magnet re-designation
by establishing a collaborative governance model to
ensure decision making at the staff level.
●
Improve the efficiency, coordination and communication
among the PCS initiatives in progress.
The 4 PCS Councils (Clinical Practice Council;
Education, Research and Development Council; Quality
Council; and Recruitment and Retention Council), and
the PCS House of Representatives are all based on this
model. Council members are individuals from different
disciplines and departments within PCS. Childrens
Hospital is one of the few hospitals to implement a multidisciplinary collaborative governance structure, as most
other hospitals only include nursing. Our vision is based
on our strong belief that no department works alone.
It takes all disciplines, working together as a team, to
provide the best care for our patients and families.
The council meetings began Sept. 2, 2009, and the first
meeting of the House of Representatives took place
Sept. 23, 2009. Each council meets twice a month for
two hours, while the House of Representatives meets
once a month for four hours. The councils and House
of Representatives are comprised of employees from 30
different departments within PCS, along with nine
ad-hoc members. Each council has 33 to 46 employees
in attendance and the House of Representatives has
54 members.
The PCS Councils Mission: “To facilitate the provision of
quality pediatric patient-and family-centered care founded
in collaboration, cultural sensitivity and innovation, and
supported by research and evidenced-based practice.”
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The PCS Councils Vision: “The Patient Care Services
Councils will guide decision-making processes at
Childrens Hospital and facilitate active participation and
leadership by direct care staff members. Council
recommendations will support the provision of outstanding
family-centered care, cultural sensitivity, life-long learning,
collaboration and evidence-based practice.”
The Philosophy: “The PCS Councils will embody the
philosophy of collaborative governance, in that responsibility
for oversight of Patient Care initiatives will be shared
equally among the disciplines that comprise the departments.
The council model also will serve to standardize the
structure of the work groups at the unit/discipline level
to ensure consistent participation, as well as to encourage
active involvement from areas that are sometimes
underrepresented in department decision-making.”
The Purpose of the House of Representatives:
“To provide oversight, leadership and support for ongoing
innovation, integration, coordination and a foundation
for excellence for all PCS clinical, educational, quality
and R/R programs, systems and initiatives.”
Since their creation last fall, the councils’ accomplishments
have been extraordinary. The new collaborative
governance model also has empowered staff members to
take on new responsibilities and develop new skills. The
bar has been raised in terms of working together as a
collective and collaborative group, and the councils’ work
continues to exceed expectations. A transformation is
truly taking place thanks to the efforts of the staff and
management team. There is great pride in the work that
has been accomplished.
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Quality Care: The PICU Receives the
Beacon Award
The nurses in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
have long known about the unit’s dedication, compassion
and focus to provide the best possible care to patients.
Now the PICU has official confirmation that it is one of
the best pediatric critical care units in the country. In
December 2009, the American Association of CriticalCare Nurses honored the PICU with its 2009-2010
Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence, which
recognizes the nation’s top pediatric, progressive and adult
critical care units. The Beacon Award honors dedicated
critical care units that meet evidence-based high quality
standards of clinical excellence and patient safety, as well as
high quality exceptional care of patients and families.
Beacon Award hospitals must demonstrate high standards
for recruitment and retention, education, leadership,
organizational ethics, training, mentoring and a healthy
work environment. They also must demonstrate a
supportive work environment with greater collaboration,
higher morale and lower turnover. This is a prestigious
award and symbolizes better care, improved outcomes and
greater overall satisfaction. We are the sixth PICU in the
nation to receive this award. CHLA also is one of only
two pediatric hospitals in the nation that have received the
Beacon Award, Magnet status, the Leapfrog “Top Hospital”
Award and are listed in the U.S. News and World Report’s
ranking of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals.”
“As a nursing department dedicated to research, education,
leadership and clinical care, the Beacon Award validates
our intense commitment in the PICU to provide the best
possible care to our most fragile young patients and their
families,” says Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA, chief nursing
officer and vice president of Patient Care Services.
On this special occasion, PICU nurses and
their co-workers took a moment out of their
busy schedules to receive the Beacon
Award pins and celebrate the significance
of this award.
“It’s a huge honor,” says Teri Loera, RN, BSN,
CNA, operations manager in the PICU. “As
a hospital, we were quite proud to receive
Magnet designation. Now we’re especially
proud the PICU received the Beacon Award
for nursing excellence.”
Jen Huson, RN, MSN, CPNP, CNS, and Colleene Young, RN,
BSN, CCRN completed the 42-question application. “As
we were compiling all the data, we realized how much
the staff does and the knowledge they bring. Teamwork
and collaboration exist across all disciplines. We always
knew that the staff and unit were excellent, but it really
came to light when we put it down on paper.”
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Education: Versant RN Residency
in Pediatrics
The RN Residency Turns 10
(1999-2009)
Team Building
For the first time in 2009, residents were placed into
“houses” during the program to promote teamwork,
accountability and camaraderie. Residents in each house
created a house name, color, mascot and team leader.
They then earned points for their houses based on their
classroom performance and attendance of educational
presentations, including PCS grand rounds, education fairs
and in-services. Periodic prizes were given based on points
accumulated. At the end of the program, the house with
the most points won top honors.
The Versant RN Residency in Pediatrics celebrated a
historic milestone in 2009: its 10-year anniversary. This
highly successful program was created in 1999 to provide
a 22-week protected time for our nurses to develop
confidence and competence. Since then, more than 600
nurses have completed the program. Designed as a visionary
response to the challenges facing nursing as a profession
— including the high turnover of new graduates, the
preparation gap between nursing school and bedside
practice and the widespread nursing shortage — it has
since become a national model.
On July 30, 2009, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles reflected
on the evolution of the program and celebrate the
significant impact the RN Residency has had on nursing
practice and the hospital culture with a daylong event and
an anniversary dinner. The event featured:
●
Three large timelines that documented program
milestones with photos and RN Residency memorabilia
● Ribbons that staff could display on their badges to
show what roles they have played within the program
● A board with the past program logos signed by all
past residents
● A display of the RN Residency Program featured in
various media outlets
● Raffle prizes
● A pancake breakfast and other snacks
● Unit poster boards showcasing past residents
● A photo slideshow
● A slideshow displaying responses to the question:
“What does the RN Residency mean to you?”
Employees from throughout the hospital were able to
have fun, reminisce with old friends and learn a little
more about the Versant RN Residency Program. At the
celebratory dinner, many individuals who have been a
part of the residency staff and steering committee dined
together and recognized past residents from the
original July 1999 cohort.
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MARCH 2009 Cohort
House Name
Units
The Crabs
5W, 6N
The Fantastic 4th
BMT, 4E, 4W
The H.O.O.T.E.R.S.
CTICU, PICU
NICCED
NICCU, ED
Surg 7
6E, 6W
SEPTEMBER 2009 Cohort
House Name
Units
The Pertussis Prince and
the Phlegm Fairies
5W, 5E
4th Floor Phenomenons
BMT, 4E, 4W
Terrible Twos
CTICU, PICU
The Unstoppables
NICCU, OR
DEW
6W, ED
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Promoting Professionalism
Childrens Hospital added another innovative element to
the curriculum in 2009: requiring residents to present
posters on a unit-based issue. The poster projects
promoted RN residents’ awareness of their role as change
agents and their potentially significant impact on nursing
practice. Guided by project advisers and their own
observations of unit work flow and patterns, residents
selected topics related to improving safety, clinical practice
or performance. This allowed the new nurses to expand
their knowledge about nursing research, available resources
and ideas for teaching about their chosen topic. At the end
of the program, residents presented their findings at the
Versant RN Resident Poster Presentation.
MARCH 2009 Cohort
Presenters
Poster Topic
Irma Alvarez, Tintin Ty, Jacqueline Valladares (BMT)
“The First Hour on the BMT Unit”
Vertqunese Carr, Norma Dansak, Overly Hernandez (CTICU)
“The Berlin Heart”
Tom Cottrell, Armstrong Hao (ED)
“The Dangers of ED Boarding”
Crystal Chang, Sarah Daggett, Nicole Vanloon (NICCU)
“Don’t Pop the Top: Thermoregulation in the NICCU”
Natalia Briano, Jully Lee, Ing Lin, Kari Powers (PICU)
“Unplanned Extubation in the PICU”
Una Lee, Nicole Tillman, Veena Punyanussoranee (4 East)
“The first 48 Hours of a Newly Diagnosed Leukemic Patient/Family”
Lauren Ludlow, Rachel Medrano (4 West)
“Neuroblastoma”
Erika Dolezal, Julie Hoss, Gloria Lam, Jennifer Tejano (5West)
“Infection Control: Contact (MRSA) and Combined (TB) Precautions”
Teresa Archuleta, Jonathan Lengson, John Rutland, Man Tse (6 East)
“Basic Cast Care and Commonly Seen Complications”
Laura Ann Hughes, Kristen Owen (6 North)
“Hourly Rounding”
Elaine Law, Nubia Newsome, Tracy Ono (6 West)
“Communication Whiteboards in Patient Rooms”
SEPTEMBER 2009 Cohort
Presenters
Poster Topic
Rachel Aquino, Shabana Wadalawala (BMT)
“Discharge Teaching and Medication Calendars”
Charmaine Espiritu, Alex Ford, Emily Sear, Wendy Skitch (CTICU)
“Delayed Sternal Closures in the CTICU”
Joseph Yohanna (ED)
“Utilization of SBARQ in the ED to Ensure a Continuum of Patient Safety”
Andrea Alaniz, Megan McInnis, Leiannon Owen, Lauren Roos,
Emily Stewart (NICCU)
“Chill Out, Baby!: Neonatal Therapeutic Hypothermia Program”
Courtney Bolduc, Natalie Degnan, Caitlin Fitzgibbons (OR)
“Do You Know What’s in YOUR Freezer?: Improving the Usage
and Maintenance of the Surgical Tissue Bank”
Danielle Attanasio, Tiffany Laubhan, Misha McKinney,
Ashley Morris, Christopher Price (PICU)
“The use of ECMO in H1N1 Cases”
Melissa Putich, Jolene Reynolds, Allison Taylor (4 East)
“Therapeutic Phlebotomy 101”
Jaclyn Owen, Kirstin Coulter (4 West)
“Rotationplasty: Van Ness Procedure”
Aaron Bernardo, Sahar Vann (5 East)
“A Pilot Study: Increasing Compliance with PFTs”
Loida Barrera, Jennifer Bertoldo, Veronica Cortex, Mallory Ginsberg,
Taylor Lawrence, Kimberly Legind (5 West)
“Patient Identification: A Study on Policy Compliance with PFTs”
Bobby Briscoe, Hannah Geralo, Anne Haber,
Semhar Hailemichael (6 East)
“Craniosynostosis: What to Expect”
Allyson Migani Wall, Emy Lou Sayud, Lauren Windham (6 North)
“Standardizing Shift Hand-Off Reports in SBARQ”
Sarah Brodhead, Jamie Duly, Nicole Hetschel, Yvette Irizarry,
Erika Winn (6 West)
“Improving Nurse-Physician Communication”
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Research: Posters, Publications, Lectures,
Research Fellowships
Lectures
Catherine Goodhue, RN, MSN, CPNP, lectured on “Genetics and the
PNP” at UCLA on Jan. 21, 2009. Lectured on “Hospital Staff Personal
Preparedness Affects Willingness to Respond” at the Academic
Surgical Congress in Fort Myers, Fla., in February 2009.
Karla Haynes, RN, MSN, CPNP, MPH made a presentation at the 66th
Annual Meeting of the American Cleft Palate Association (ACPA) on
“Nablus Mask-like Facial Syndrome: an Emerging Micro Deletion
Syndrome Detected by Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization”
in Scottsdale, Ariz., in April 2009.
Meghan Middleton, RN, MSN, CPNP-PC/AC, lectured on “Pain
Management” to PNP students at the UCLA School of Nursing in
February 2009.
Brenda Barnum, RN, BSN, co-presented a breakout session, “When
the End of Life is at the Beginning – Pediatric and Neonatal Palliative
Care,” at the Annual Collaborative Ethic of Caring Conference at
UCLA in March 2009.
Sharee Anzaldo, RN, spoke at the Scientific Empowerment
Movement 3rd Annual Conference, Health Care Careers Panel, at
UC San Francisco in April 2009.
Debbie Jury, RN, MSN, CNS, CPNP-PC/AC, presented a lecture,
“Evidence-based Equianalgesia Conversions and Opioid/
Benzodiazepine Wean Guidelines,” to CHLA medical residents in
May 2009.
Donna Nowicki, RN, MSN, CPNP, had a lecture presentation,
“Defects of the Anterior Abdominal Wall in the Newborn,” at the
18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pediatric Surgical
Nurses Association in Puerto Rico in May 2009.
Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA, and Anne Marie Dazé Floyd, RN, gave
a guest lecture, “Keeping a Long-Term Hospital Project on Track,”
at the NACHRI Facilities Design Conference in Austin, Texas, in
May 2009.
Noreen Clarke, RN, and Helen Lau, RN, MSN, PNP, lectured on
“The Use of Care Notebooks as a Communication Tool for Care
Coordination,” at the 66th Annual Meeting for the American Cleft
Palate-Craniofacial Association in Scottsdale, Ariz., in April 2009.
Helen Lau, RN, MSN, PNP, and Karla Haynes, RN, MSN, CPNP, MPH,
presented a “Group Curriculum for Parents of Infants with Cleft
Diagnosed Prenatally or Neonatally” at the 66th Annual Meeting for
the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association in Scottsdale,
Ariz., in April 2009.
Sherry Nolan, RN, MSN, CPN, presented “Ethical Management of
End of Life Issues,” at the Burbank Career Fair in October 2009.
Mary Dee Hacker, RN, MBA, presented “Communicators and
Collaborators: Keeping a Long-term Development on Track” at the
Healthcare Facilities Symposium & Expo in Chicago in October 2009.
Shirley Hammers, RN, and Anne Gleeson, RN, BSN, RNC, presented
“All For One and One For All” at the Cerner Healthcare Conference
in Kansas City in October 2009. The presentation was about the
transition from CareVue to iView in the three ICUs at CHLA.
Suzanne Taylor, RN, MSN, RN-BC, presented “When Playing Around
is Serious Business: Instructional Games and Interactive Exercises for
Staff Development” at the National Nursing Staff Development
Organization (NNDSO) Conference in Philadelphia in July 2009, and
at the Versant RN Residency Client Conference in San Francisco in
August 2009.
Debbie Harris, RN, MSN, CPNP, was a guest speaker at the
SCAPHON conference on “The Sickle Cell Life: Choosing the Best
Path to Ensure Healthy Outcomes,” held in Dana Point in May 2009.
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Susan Carson, RN, MSN, CPNP, and Anne Nord, RN, BSN, CPON,
held a workshop titled “Treatment of Two Thalasemia Patients with
Longterm Rituximab Therapy for Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: a
Novel Approach” at the New York Academy of Science 9th Cooleys
Anemia Symposium in October 2009.
Cindy Rowlett, RN, BSN, had a concurrent podium presentation
titled, “Preceptor Liaison: Building a Bridge of Communication
Between Preceptors” at the Versant RN Residency Client
Conference in San Francisco in August 2009.
Melanie Arquero, RN, MSN, CCRN, and Edahrline Salas, RN, BSN,
MA, had a main podium presentation, “Bridging the Teaching
Preparation Gap: How to Support Versant RN Residency SMEs in
their Role” at the Versant RN Residency Client Conference in San
Francisco in August 2009.
Posters
Heather Hackett, RN, BSN, NCC, and Johanna Gaeta, RN, BSN, NCC,
had a poster on evidenced-based practice protocol for “Incubator
Humidity in the NICCU” displayed at the California Chapters of the
National Association of Neonatal Nurses conference, held in Santa
Monica in April 2009.
Sheila Kun, RN, MS, CPN, had a poster presentation, “Can CCHS
Young Adults Care for Their Respiratory Needs Outside the Family
Care?” at the 12th International Conference on Home Mechanical
Ventilation in Barcelona, Spain, in March 2009, and at the International
American Thoracic Society conference in San Diego in May 2009.
She also presented a poster, “Do Associated Conditions in CCHS
Young Adults Affect Their Ability to Live Outside the Family Care?”
at the American Thoracic Society International Conference in
San Diego in May 2009.
Sharee Anzaldo, RN, MSN, presented a poster, “The Older Filipino
American Adult with Depression: A Cultural Approach,” at the
National Coalition of Ethnic Minority Nurse Association 5th Annual
Conference in Albuquerque, NM in March 2009.
Catherine Goodhue, RN, MSN, CPNP, had a poster presentation at
the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality’s 8th Annual
Forum for Improving Children’s Healthcare in Grapevine, Texas, in
March 2009.
Lynn Fukushima, RN, MSN, MBA, CNS, FNP, presented a poster
discussion, “Response to Ursodeoxycholic Acid in Hispanic and NonHispanic Children with Cystic Fibrosis Liver Disease” at the American
Thoracic Society International Conference in San Diego in May 2009.
Nida Oriza, RN, BSN; Flerida Imperial Perez, RN, MSN, CNS; Lisa Rizzi
Wagner, RN, BSN, CCRN; Grace Kuyumjian, RN, BSN, and David
Moromisato, MD, did a poster presentation on “The Impact of
Evidence-Based Practices in Reducing Catheter-Related Blood
Stream Infections in a Pediatric CTICU,” at the National Teaching
Institute, American Association of Critical Care Nurses conference
in New Orleans in May 2009.
Gina Zambetti, RN, CPNP, had a poster presentation, “Mitochondrial
Disease and Muscle Biopsy; Not a Simple Procedure” at the 18th
Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Pediatric Surgical Nurses
Association in Puerto Rico in May 2009.
Helen Lau, MSN, PNP, presented a poster, “Promoting the Mental
Health of Early Adolescents: An Action Plan Focusing on Educating
Parents and Teachers,” at the 30th Annual Conference for the
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners in San Diego
in March 2009.
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Sue Martinez, RN, BSN; Jeri Fonacier, RN, BSN; and Sherry Nolan, RN,
MSN, CPN, presented a poster, “Improving the Culture of Patient
Safety and Satisfaction on an Inpatient Pediatric Unit,” at the SPN
conference in Atlanta, in April 2009.
Vertquenese Carr, RN; Norma Dansak, RN; and Overly Hernandez,
RN, had a poster presentation, “The Berlin Heart,” at the Versant RN
Residency in Pediatrics Client Conference in San Francisco, in
August 2009.
Laura Vasquez, RN, CPON, and Courtney Rogers, RN, BSN, CPON
presented a poster, “Developing a Nursing Educational Tool for
Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collections,” at the 33rd Annual
Conference for the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Nurses in Orlando, Fla., in September 2009.
Melanie Arquero, RN, MSN, and Jessica Klaristenfeld, RN, BSN, had a
poster presentation, “Transformational Leaders from the Start:
Professional Nurses Take it to the Next Level” at the Versant RN
Residency Client Conference in San Francisco in August 2009.
Laura Vasquez, RN, CPON, and Monica Grover, RN, presented a
poster, “An End of Life Program Project: Implementing a Pediatric
Oncology Hospice Cart,” at the 33rd Annual Conference for the
Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses in Orlando,
Fla., in September 2009.
Kristin Malicse, RN, BSN; Jennifer Blaney, RN, BSN; Hazel Kolpak, RN,
BSN; Jasmin Uy, RN, BSN, and Donna Quiroz, RN, BSN, presented a
poster, “The Psychosocial Impact of Childhood Cancer on Healthy
Siblings,” at the 33rd Annual Conference for the Association of
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses in Orlando, Fla., in
September 2009.
Jennifer Blaney, RN, BSN; Donna Quiroz, RN, BSN; Hazel Kolpak, RN,
BSN; Jasmin Uy, RN, BSN, and Donna Quiroz, RN, BSN, presented
a poster, “HHV 6: The Gateway Virus. A Retrospective Study,” at
the 33rd Annual Conference for the Association of Pediatric
Hematology Oncology Nurses in Orlando, Fla., in September 2009.
Karen Sidi, RN, BSN, CPON; Susanna Morelli, RN, BSN, CPON; and
Kerry Vancura, RN, CPON, presented a poster, “Facilitating ‘Hand
Off’ in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Transfer of Care,” at the
33rd Annual Conference for the Association of Pediatric Hematology
Oncology Nurses in Orlando, Fla., in September 2009.
Maria Velasco, RN, BSN, CPON, and Afshid Roozrokh, RN, BSN,
CPON, presented a poster, “Methods Utilized to Promote
Educational Opportunities for Pediatric Hematology/ Oncology
Nurses,” at the 33rd Annual Conference for the Association of
Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses in Orlando, Fla., in
September 2009.
Maria Velasco, RN, BSN, CPON, Afshid Roozrokh, RN, BSN, CPON and
Kerry Vancura, RN, CPON presented a poster, “A team approach in
Supporting Parents of Children with Cancer,” at the 33rd Annual
Conference for the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology
Nurses in Orlando, FL in September 2009.
Renee Flores, RN, CPON; Ted Chow, RN, BSN; Johanna Navia, RN,
BSN, CPON; and Kellie Loera, RN, MSN, CPON, presented a poster,
“Hands off Communication: A Performance Improvement Project,”
at the 33rd Annual Conference for the Association of Pediatric
Hematology Oncology Nurses held in Orlando, Fla., in September
2009.
Peggy Townsend, RN, MSM, CPON; Debbie Reid, RN, MSN, CPON;
Kellie Loera, RN; and Rita Secola, RN, MSN, CNS, CPON, presented
a poster, “Developing a Nursing Chemotherapy Biotherapy Course
for Pediatric Non-cancer Patients,” at the 33rd Annual Conference
for the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses in
Orlando, Fla., in September 2009.
Jessica Klaristenfeld, RN, BSN; Sherri D. Eskew, RN; Kate Hanlon, RN;
Natalie Jacobs, RN; Mona Marinel, RN; and Edahrline Salas, RN, BSN,
MA, had a poster presentation, “Poster Presentation Projects: A
Practical Tool for Dynamically Bridging an RN Resident’s Journey
from Student to Professional Nurse” at the Versant RN Residency
Client Conference in San Francisco, in August 2009.
Publications
Monica Horn, RN, CCTC, published an article about lung transplantation in the Winter 2009 issue of Pulmonary Hypertension
Association’s (PHA) Pulmonary Hypertension Resource Network's
newsletter.
Brenda Barnum, RN, BSN, had an article, “Benevolent Injustice: A
Neonatal Dilemma,” published in the June 2009 edition of Advances
in Neonatal Care.
Nancy Blake, RN, MN, CCRN, NEA-BC, and Kathleen Stevenson, RN,
BSN, published, “Pediatric Disaster Preparedness in the Medical
Setting: Integrating Mental Health,” in the May-June 2009 issue of
the American Journal of Disaster Medicine.
Nancy Blake, RN, MN, CCRN, NEA-BC, and Kathleen Stevenson, RN,
BSN, published “Reunification: Keeping Families Together in Crisis,” in
the August 2009 issue of the Journal of Trauma.
Victoria Winter, RN, MSN, CCRN, had two different chapters
published. She wrote the chapter on acute gastroenteritis in
“Pediatric Primary Care Case Studies,” published in September 2009.
She also wrote “Preserving Identity in a Residential Care Setting for
the Elderly” in “Glaserian Grounded Theory in Nursing Research:
Trusting Emergence,” published in August 2009.
Nurse Research Fellowship Program
Robin Wood, RN, BSN: “Effectiveness of Chloroprep Use on Infants
Less Than 2 Months of Age for Blood Culture Procurement.”
Victoria Winter, RN, MSN: “The Effect of the Patient’s Positioning
Under the Radiant Warmer on Rectal and Skin Temperature.”
Sandy Hall, RN: “Investigation of the Efficacy of Lingual Sucrose in
Reducing Benzodiazepine Use in Agitated Neonates.”
Sonya Williams, RN, BSN, CPON; Irene Aberin, RN, MSN, CPON;
Sacha Reis, RN, BSN, CPON; and Gina Santangelo, RN, BSN, CPON,
presented a poster, “Mock Code: On-The-Job Training for Pediatric
Hematology Oncology Nurses,” at the 33rd Annual Conference for
the Association of Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurses in
Orlando, Fla., in September 2009.
Niza Oriza, RN, BSN: “Investigation of the Knowledge and Practice
of Arterial line Monitoring Among CTICU RNs.”
Debbie Harris, RN, MSN, PNP; Trish Peterson, RN, MSN, PNP; Paola
Pederzoli, RN, MSN, CPNP; and Christina Smith, RN, BSN, had a
poster presentation, “Transfusions, Transfusions, Are They All the
Same? Knowledge and Understanding of Transfusions are Vital to
Provide Expert Care of the Patient with Sickle Cell Disease,” at the
33rd Annual Conference for the Association of Pediatric
Hematology Oncology Nurses Conference in Orlando, Fla., in
September 2009.
Suzanne Cuano, RN, BSN: “Investigation of the Effect of Topical
Anesthetic Prior to Venipuncture on NPASS Score.”
Van Nga Nguyen, RN: “Investigation of the Relationship Between
Physician Response Time to RN’s Call and Patient Outcomes and
RN Satisfaction.”
Jennifer Lord, RN, BSN: “Effect of Family Education at Discharge on
Repeat Admission and Complications.”
Susan Carson, RN, MSN, CPNP, and Anne Nord, RN, BSN, CPON, had
a poster presentation, “Treatment of Two Thalasemia Patients with
Longterm Rituximab Therapy for Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: a
Novel Approach,” at the New York Academy of Science 9th
Cooleys Anemia Symposium in October 2009.
N U R S I N G
A N N U A L
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Keeping Track on Quality Outcomes
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is committed to providing
excellent, quality patient care. Compliance with evidencebased practices, policies, procedures and protocols ensures
that caregivers will deliver safe patient care. It is education
that reinforces these methodologies of care so that
consistent practice is performed throughout the hospital.
There is comprehensive, unit-specific training for new
graduate nurses and newly employed experienced nurses.
Hospital-wide and unit-based educational events are held
to update and reinforce safe, efficient nursing practices.
However, as Childrens Hospital ventures into pioneering
novel evidence-based practices, use of innovative
equipment and advanced technology, policies and
procedures must adjust to change. Nursing practices and
patient outcomes are analyzed and evaluated through
quantitative measurements of performance, based on
surveys and studies conducted throughout the year. The
results of these studies provide insight into our daily
practices, areas for improvement and the development of
new policies to improve patient outcomes.
Quality Improvement studies conducted at
Childrens Hospital include:
Department
Improvement Study Conducted
PICU
1 2 3 4 5 8 9 14 15 16 17 18
1 2 3 4 5 14 15 16 17 18
4E
1 2 3 5 6 14 15 16 17 18
BMT
5E
2 VRE Bloodstream Infections (PIV)
5W
3 MRSA Bloodstream Infections (PIV)
6E
4 Ventilator Associated Pneumonia
5 Hand Hygiene
6 Laminar Flow Units
7 Blood Culture Contaminants
8 Catheter Associated Urinary Tract Infections
9 Central Line Maintenance
10 Alarm Audit
13 Universal Protocol
14 Hand-off Communication Audits
16 Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers
17 Restraints
18 RN Satisfaction
H O S P I TA L
L O S
A N G E L E S
1 2 3 5 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18
1 2 3 5 10 11 14 16 18
1 2 3 5 10 12 14 15 16 17 18
6N
1 2 3 5 10 14 16 18
OR
1 2 3 5 13 14 18
SA
1 2 3 5 13 14 18
PACU
1 2 3 5 13 14 18
Radiology
1 2 3 5 13 14 18
1 2 3 5 14 18
1 2 3 5 7 14 18
Hemodialysis
1 2 3 14 18
Neurology
1 2 3 14 18
Cardiology
15 Falls
1 2 3 5 14 16 18
1 2 3 5 10 11 12 14 16 18
Emergency
12 Pain Assessment
1 2 3 5 6 10 16 18
6W
Hem/Onc Clinic
11 Parent’s Knowledge of Caregiver
1 2 3 4 5 8 9 14 16 18
NICCU
4W
1 Catheter Associated Bloodstream Infections
C H I L D R E N S
Improvement Studies
CTICU
Improvement Studies
18
patient outcomes.
1 2 3 13 14 18
Orthopaedics
1 2 3 14 18
Pulmonary
1 2 3 14 18
Respiratory
1 2 3 14 18
Annual Report 4:Layout 1 9/23/10 8:17 AM Page 21
CHLA’s Nurse Essay Winner
Nursing at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles:
It’s What We Do
B y B o n n i e B re n n a n , R N, B S N – Pe d i a t r i c I n t e n s ive C a re U n i t
October 19th, 2005. I will never
forget the first time I walked
through the doors of Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles. I was a
nursing student, sent to
Childrens Hospital for my
pediatric rotation, and somewhat
nervous about what was in store.
You see, back in nursing school,
the general consensus was that
caring for sick and dying
children was just…too hard, and
most of my classmates made no
bones about it: Pediatrics was
the one area they couldn’t bring
themselves to work in. I, myself,
entertained no thoughts of becoming a pediatric nurse, so,
it never occurred to me that this day would change my life.
My assignment was the Pediatric ICU. Before I entered
the double doors, I noticed a wall filled with plaques,
revealing pictures of children who had been cared for in
the PICU. Occasionally there would be one celebrating a
child’s recovery, but most were in memoriam of those
whose journey ended here. As I stood there, my heart
filled with emotion, I reflected on my own life’s journey.
Indeed, my path here was an unexpected one.
Nursing was not my first career choice. Just two years
earlier, fully immersed in an entirely different line of
work, I received one of those phone calls no one ever
wants to get. My dad had been diagnosed with lung
cancer. I desperately wanted to confidently declare, “You’re
going to beat this dad.”…But, my father would have
sensed the hesitation in my voice. We had lost my mother
to lung cancer just a few years prior. The big challenge
was that I now resided in Los Angeles, while my dad still
lived in New York, where I grew up, and with family and
work commitments, sadly I could not relocate, so I spent
much of the next two years flying back and forth. Now,
there are times in life that one remembers vividly, and
while my memory of this period could very easily be
one of despair, it is instead one I remember with deep
gratitude…thanks to my dad’s home-healthcare nurse,
Roseanne. I knew Roseanne genuinely cared about my
dad’s well-being, and I was instantly put at ease just
knowing that she was his nurse. She would come by on
her days off just to see how my dad was doing; she would
stay longer than she was required to on the days she was
working; she even brought my dad Christmas and birthday
gifts and, when I was back in L.A., Roseanne would
call to update me on my dad’s condition and ask how I
was holding up. Roseanne was more than just my dad’s
nurse, she had become a part of our family. Perhaps
most importantly, every time I saw my dad interact with
Roseanne, he was laughing. My dad loved to laugh. I
remember the exact moment I had the thought: “If I
could give back to another family even one-tenth of what
Roseanne had done for my family, then I’d really feel
like I had done something truly worthwhile with my life.”
It was at that very moment that I decided to become a
nurse. When I told my dad of my decision, he proudly
declared, “I’ll be front and center at your nursing school
graduation.” As for the nurse who inspired me? Roseanne
cared for my father until the day he died: April 19th,
2005. Three weeks before I started nursing school.
As my thoughts returned to the present, I braced myself
for what I was about to encounter behind those steel
doors. Having already experienced the grim environment
of other local ICUs during nursing school rotations,
I expected much of the same, only this time the patients
would be…children. I took a deep breath, and walked
through the doors. I can only imagine that I must have
had the same look that Dorothy had as she emerged out
of the black and white environment of her fallen house
into the Technicolor world of Munchkinland, as I entered
into what I can only describe as a celebration of life and
an atmosphere of hope. In an environment where I
expected tears and sadness, I found smiles and laughter.
There were decorations, there was music, there was…joy.
I couldn’t understand it. I mean…sure, there were the
kids who were getting better, who were being discharged,
the happy stories…but amidst those kids were the kids
who were never going to leave the ICU, and I’m sure
their parents knew it, maybe even some of the patients
knew it too. But, they weren’t spending their time crying,
they weren’t mourning, and there wasn’t a focus on illness,
disease or death. It was clear that it was because the nurses
in the PICU insured that these kids and their families
spent their last days together doing what we should all be
doing – embracing every moment in life as if it were
our last, and spending that time loving and laughing, and
celebrating our lives. They embodied every characteristic
of Roseanne, the woman who inspired me and insured
that my dad’s last days were spent doing what he loved to
do most – laugh. Instantly, I knew that I had found home.
And so, at the relatively late age of forty, I began my
nursing career in the Pediatric ICU at Childrens Hospital
Los Angeles, humbled to be working side by side with
such compassionate and seasoned nurses, and amazed at
the level of knowledge and skills that these women and
men had acquired. Perhaps even more so, I was in awe of
Continued...
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the seemingly effortless ability with which my co-workers
practiced, and the pure instincts they possessed. Indeed,
I began to wonder if, at such a late starting age, I would
ever be able to practice at the same level, and more
importantly…if I would ever be able to give back to
another family what Roseanne had done for mine. I
wondered this for some time. Then…I met Shanna*.
Shanna was just two years old when she was diagnosed
with a neuroblastoma. A two year old with cancer. It
seemed unthinkable. Then, after months of chemotherapy
and radiation treatments, her family joyously received the
news that Shanna was in remission. The cancer was gone.
Even a year later, Shanna remained cancer-free, and this
family that had gone through so much, finally began to
believe that the worst was behind them. But, by the time
Shanna was approaching her 4th birthday, she began to
have problems with her breathing. Tragically, in a cruel
twist of fate, the very treatment that had cured her cancer,
had irreversibly destroyed her lungs. Shanna had pulmonary
fibrosis, and her only hope for survival would be a double
lung transplant.
When I first met Shanna, she was on a high frequency
ventilator called an oscillator…and wide awake! I couldn’t
believe it. I had never known a patient to be on an
oscillator and be so alert. She waved me over to her bed
and pointed at her Scooby Doo videos, signaling that she
would like to watch one. Shanna loved Scooby Doo. She
loved lady bugs, purses and hats. But mostly, Shanna loved
little sponges dipped in cool water to wet her dry mouth.
If Shanna was seriously ill, you’d never know it from her
attitude, behaving as if her present set of circumstances was
yet another inconvenience she had to get past in her short
little life. I marveled at how this four year old child was
poised beyond her years. But, once I met her grandmother,
it was easy to see where Shanna’s resolve came from.
Wilma was no ordinary guardian. She was determined to
do whatever she could to help her granddaughter survive,
whether it was spending hours on the internet educating
herself about Shanna’s condition, contacting specialists
around the country, or seeking out alternative treatments
for pulmonary fibrosis. Wilma was not about to sit idly by
and watch Shanna slip away without a fight. There was
something about the will and courage of this little four
year old girl and the determination of her grandmother
that touched my heart.
I was told that Shanna’s prognosis was grim. Although she
needed a lung transplant to survive, she was not a candidate
as long as she was on a ventilator. Shanna had already
failed three attempts to wean off the oscillator. It became
obvious to me that Shanna was going to be here for quite
some time, and even more likely, that she would never
leave the ICU.
I had never been a “primary nurse” for a patient before.
It seemed to me an assignment that only the more
experienced nurses took on. But after just one shift of
getting to know this little girl and her grandmother, I
sensed that they needed someone familiar in their corner…
someone who would listen, someone who would advocate
for them, someone who would be a steady presence
20
C H I L D R E N S
H O S P I TA L
L O S
A N G E L E S
during the most challenging time of their lives. Although
I knew I was likely going to be accompanying Shanna to
her final hours, I signed on to primary her.
Over the next month, Shanna continued to live her life
as best she could despite her circumstances, fighting her
pain every step of the way. We watched a lot of Scooby
Doo, we held hands often, and there were times when
I thought I had depleted all the sponges in the hospital.
Even though she was deteriorating, I felt I knew her
better than ever through the stories and pictures that
Wilma and Shanna’s aunt Lydia shared with me. We
laughed together, we cried together, we got angry together.
I thought about Shanna as I drove to work, when I was
driving home, and on my days off. Shanna had become
an important part of my life, and for the first time in my
nursing career, I felt, perhaps, I was close to achieving
what I had set out to do. Maybe, just maybe…I had done
for Shanna and her family what Roseanne had done
for mine.
Shanna died on October 19th, 2008…exactly three years
to the day that I first stepped foot in Childrens Hospital.
I wasn’t there that afternoon, but a co-worker called me
at home to let me know that she had passed. As I drove
to work that night, the sun was setting, and just on the
horizon, I saw a cloud. It was the silhouette of a little girl.
Perhaps it was just my mind playing tricks on me, but I
like to think it was Shanna’s way of telling me…she had
made it to the other side. She was finally safe. Maybe…
she’ll even run into my dad, and tell him, “That daughter
of yours…she did you proud.”
Caring for Shanna was a defining moment in my nursing
practice… and redefined what I thought nursing was
all about. Yes, nursing is a science – a skill – honed and
perfected with each passing year. But, perhaps more
so, nursing is an art…it is each individual’s creative
interpretation of compassion and the relentless need to
help those who are suffering. And, whether you’ve been
a nurse for twenty minutes, or twenty years, if you just
give yourself the chance, you can excel in your practice…
and truly change lives for the better.
I still have rough days…and if I ever start to doubt myself,
or question if I truly have what it takes to be here, I just
reach inside my knapsack and pull out a green folder.
Inside the front pocket is the memorial booklet from
Shanna’s funeral. For, though it was a nurse who inspired
me to try my hand at nursing…it was a patient – a little
four year old girl – who helped me reach deep inside
myself and acknowledge: Nursing is what I do.
In fact, being a nurse at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is
more than what I do… it’s who I am.
*Not the patient’s real name.
Annual Report 4:Layout 1 9/23/10 8:17 AM Page 23
We would like to thank the following
people for contributing to this report:
Jessica Klaristenfeld
Richard Cordova
Mary Dee Hacker
Carolyn Kendrick
Doris Lymbertos
Robin DeCapua
Leslie Neuman
Magnet Oath
Suzanne Taylor
Elaine Verdugo
Bonnie Brennan
As a member of this Magnet Hospital, I pledge
Catherine Goodhue
to uphold the CHLA culture of distinction. I will
William Kenny
advocate and support the further advancement of
Tracy Kumono
excellence in my practice. As an integral part of
the CHLA community, I will continue to promote
Margaux Chan, RN, and
Susan Crandall, RN
Magnet Program Managers
collegial interdisciplinary teamwork. Utilizing the
Forces of Magnetism, I will strive to provide even
higher quality family-centered care. I will constantly
endeavor to advance my expertise through life-long
Design:
Vince Rini Design
learning. Lastly, I do swear to do all in my power
to maintain the highest standards and practices of
my profession.
Editor:
Elena F. Epstein, MBA
Written on 5/7/08 by our nurses: Renee Garcia, Susan Crandall, Susan Cline, Chris
Lins, Shirley Hammers, Renee Flores and Mary Dee Hacker.
Annual Report 4:Layout 1 9/23/10 8:17 AM Page 24
Nursing Mission
We are committed to advancing the professional practice of Nursing by creating opportunities that
support an environment of excellent, integrated, innovative and evidence-based Nursing care for
children and their families in a diverse community.
Nursing Values
● At Childrens Hospital, we value advancement and innovation in Nursing practice, professionalism
and meaningful recognition for quality Nursing outcomes.
● We provide family-centered care involving multidisciplinary collaboration.
● We embrace the cultural diversity of families and staff in our practice of caring for children.
Nursing Guiding Principles
Childrens Hospital Nurses embody the principles of integrity, respect, leadership and advocacy in
our daily work.
Nursing Philosophy
We, the Nurses of Childrens Hospital, embody individualized family-centered care, research,
evidence-based practice and life-long learning as the foundations for our practice. Our Nursing
decisions integrate sound clinical judgment, ethical responsibility and compassion to optimize
patient outcomes.
Nursing Vision
Nursing care at Childrens Hospital is recognized internationally as a model for Nursing excellence.
By utilizing best practice, we provide outstanding family-centered care in an environment that
honors our diverse community. We strongly promote life-long learning and collaborative
interdisciplinary relationships. In addition, our emphasis on Nursing research, leadership and
professional development makes Childrens Hospital the organization of choice for a career in
pediatric nursing.