a nursing narrative - St. Joseph Hospital

sacred
Encounters
INSIDE THIS
INSIDE
SUMMER 2009 ISSUE
w Courage in Action by
CNO Katie Skelton
w Magnet Journey
w Nursing Excellence
Award Winners
w Stroke Program’s
Major Strides
w CHOC Construction
w SJO Delivers County’s
First Baby-Friendly
Birth Facility
w SJO’s Certified Nurses
wValues in Action Award
Recipient Wendy Escobedo
wValues in Action Award
Recipient Debra Bolton
wSJO a Bariatric Center of
Excellence
wSJO’s New Chest Pain
Center Accreditation
wSummer 2009 Events
wSJO Nursing Authors
EDITORIAL BOARD:
Patti Aubé
Carmen Ferrell
Stacey Fischer
Sheila Holliday
Cathy Semar
Joanne Stermer
Carla Wilson
A Nursing Narrative
By Kathy Keener, R.N., CN IV
Ms. Z came to the outpatient clinic for a blood transfusion as a palliative
treatment for Acute Lymphoid Leukemia. This life-threatening illness
was diagnosed three months earlier and was resistant to even a partial
remission. The patient had just celebrated her 20th birthday three days
before I met her. She was a young and beautiful pre-law student, yet she
was weak, tired, bruised and ached all over. More importantly, she was
scared, emotionally distraught and spiritually broken.
As she entered the The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment lobby with her mother
at her side, she immediately began to cry. The receptionist, sensitive to her emotional distress,
promptly came to the clinic to get me. I took one look at her and could sense her despair. I put
my arm around her and quickly brought them to a private room in the clinic.
I did an assessment and I could see that her emotional, psycho-social and spiritual needs were much
greater than her physical ones at the moment. Based on her overall needs, I re-evaluated starting her
transfusion in a timely manner and adjusted my care-giving schedule. I knelt down beside her chair,
touched her arm, and asked her to tell me everything she was feeling. An outpouring of tears came as
she described her devastation over being given grim chances of surviving. She felt cheated that her life
was being cut short when she had so many dreams and plans for the future. She was full of questions,
ranging from: ‘How do I hang on to hope when I have been given so little?”and “Where is God and
why has He abandoned me?” to “Is there another young patient I can talk with to learn how to cope?”
These questions are tough for even a seasoned oncology nurse and I prayed God would guide me
in my response. I felt broken-hearted and I wept with her in her grief. I ministered to them and encouraged them not to give up hope. I explained God’s promise that He is with us always, even in our
deepest, darkest days. He sometimes uses people to come into our lives, just when we need them
the most, to answer our prayers. I told her God loves her more than she could ever comprehend.
Just then, the social worker and chaplain came to visit her. I shared a short video, “The Journey of Hope” with them by Dave Drevecy. He was a professional baseball player who had his
pitching arm amputated because of a sarcoma. His ministry, “Outreach of Hope,” reaches out
to cancer patients. We all watched this inspirational video and talked about what it meant to us.
Afterward, we prayed and took communion together. The patient and the mother expressed deep
gratitude for the extra time we spent with them. The patient said she felt a huge weight had been
lifted from her. Then I thought it was an appropriate time to start her transfusion.
After leaving the room I collaborated with the social worker and chaplain about potential referrals of another patient to talk to her, in addition to her plan of care. We hugged and supported
each other too. Facing the death of a patient is never easy.
That was the only day I spent with this patient. She died just one month later. Yet, the short amount
of time we spent together was so emotional and powerful I will never forget the interaction. I have
learned, after 25 years of being an oncology nurse, that I can’t control the final outcome of my
patients and we don’t have all the answers here on Earth. My purpose is to understand my patients’
needs in their stages of life, to administer the appropriate type of necessary care with as much love
and compassion as I can and to try and make a difference. That, to me, is the essence of nursing.
Courage in Action
Katie Skelton, R.N., CNAA, BC
Vice President of Patient Care Services
Chief Nursing Officer
On a recent Friday morning I had the incredible opportunity to watch
courage in action. As I sat in the Zoul Auditorium listening to the St.
Joseph Way teams report out on their Rapid Improvement Event work,
I was awestruck. I heard the Emergency Department team describe the
work they had done at “blowing up ED Triage” as we had all known
it for the last 12 years. I heard the Medical Pulmonary Team outline
how they were redesigning the key role of the unit secretary and were
crafting standard work that would enhance this position and allow it
to become even more effective. As I listened to these two teams, one
thing really struck me.
It was so clear that these people really get it! These two teams
understand that in today’s world and economic environment, we can
no longer rely on what has worked in the past. We must have the courage and fortitude to look within ourselves and be willing to change.
Whether it’s a long held belief or long held practice, we must be
willing to examine what we do and why, and test other ways of doing
things. These two teams approached their work from the perspective of
what is best for our patients. What will ensure rapid competent triage
by a clinician? What will minimize handoff and order transcription errors so that no harm is done? They embraced the challenge laid before
them and they excelled.
Are these two teams done with their work? Not exactly. They have
embarked on a continuous performance improvement journey that will
be full of temporary setbacks, frustrations and surprises. But this journey will also be filled with incredible satisfaction in knowing that care
was improved, important relationships were strengthened, and new
ideas were generated. This work is exciting, exacting, inspiring and
absolutely necessary for each of us to embrace. Courage in Action!!
Blessing of the Hands - To
acknowledge the noble
work of our nurses and
remind each other of the
importance of our ministry
of healing, a Blessing of
the Hands was held on May
6 during Nurses Week. Fr.
Basil Royston (background)
welcomed nurses to the
service and praised them
for “attentive, meticulous, reliable, hard-working hands.” More than 100
St. Joseph Hospital nurses and supportive staff members gathered in the
Healing Garden for the blessing. At the conclusion of the service ministers
placed in their palms a drop of oil - a base for medicine in ancient times,
a fragrant reminder of the work of our hands, and a symbol of the request
that God would bless each recipient with strength, health, joy and beauty.
Above, Director of Spiritual Care Marie Polhamus, MPC, BCC, extends
a blessing to Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing
Officer Katie Skelton, RN, CNAA, BC.
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
Journey to
Magnet
Excellence
Two years have already passed since St. Joseph Hospital
received its Magnet status. Since then we have continued
our focus on the forces of Magnet. Our ongoing efforts to
create and sustain a culture of excellence are also paving
the way for our Magnet redesignation survey in 2011.
Recognizing quality patient care, nursing excellence
and innovations in professional nursing practice, the
Magnet program provides our community with the
ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care that
they can expect to receive. For example, when U.S.
News & World Report publishes its annual showcase
of “America’s Best Hospitals” (which has included St.
Joseph Hospital’s Orthopedic Services for the past two
years), being a Magnet facility contributes to the total
score for quality of inpatient care.
St. Joseph Hospital has a new redesignation slogan to
remind us of our intention on our Magnet journey: Heart of
Excellence, submitted by Anne Marie Keefer-Lynch, R.N.,
MSN, FNP. It was chosen by the Nursing Councils at the
Magnet Kick Off this past spring. The Councils deliberately
chose a slogan without the word “Nursing” in it, realizing
that excellence is not achieved by Nursing alone, but in
collaboration with many others throughout the ministry who
share this vision.
Magnet status indicates nursing involvement in
data collection that leads to improved decision-making
in patient-care delivery. To this end the Magnet Steering
Committee has formed teams as follows:
Transformational Leadership:
Kathy Penzes, R.N.C., MN, NEA, BC, Executive Director
of Women’s Services and Nursing Administration
New Knowledge, Innovations and Improvements:
Renee Mazeroll, R.N., MSN, Executive Director of
Cardiac and Vascular Services
Exemplary Professional Practice:
Alexandra R. Wiggins, R.N., MSN, NEA, BC, Executive
Director of Medical/Surgical Services, and
Carmen Ferrell, R.N., MSN, CCRN, Executive Director
of Critical Care and Telemetry Services
Structural Empowerment:
Pat Brydges, R.N., BSN, MHA, ACM, Executive Director
of Case Management/Social Services/Admitting Services/
DSS/Beds, and John Senteno, R.N., MSN, CEN, BC,
Executive Director of Emergency Services
Each of these teams will have representatives from
every service line. The above leaders will decide how
often their teams will meet and how they divide their
groups for the data collection process.
SJO nurses interested in participating on one of
these teams or in any aspect of the Magnet redesignation
process are invited to contact Magnet Project Coordinator
Stacey Fischer, R.N., BSN, OCN, at (714) 734-6233.
Healthiest Communities & sacred Encounters
Nursing Excellence
Award-winning Stars
ROY FAMILY AWARDS
Jayne Ptacek
Aghdas Fallahi
(From Left) Jayne Ptacek, Women’s Services (MFT)
Rosalie Garde, Med Surg (General Surgery)
Sarah Asmine, Emergency Department
Roberta Gayer, Endoscopy / Pain Management
Aghdas Fallahi, Renal (Acute Dialysis)
Nicole Chua, Cardiac Renal
Kathy Brannan, BHS
Rosalie Garde
Nicole Chua
Kathy Brannan
Stephanie Hartford
Kristen Osland
Sarah Asmine
Kim Rossillo
Roberta Gayer
Jennifer Aguilera
NANCY BERARDINO CLINICAL NURSING
EXCELLENCE AWARD
Stephanie Harford Oncology
“Stephanie started as a new graduate on the Oncology unit nine years ago and has
since taken on every challenge given to her with enthusiasm and perseverence. She
is an excellent mentor, patient teacher and a leader on her unit.”
NURSE YEARLING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Kristen Osland
Emergency Department
“Kristen exemplifies the core values of SJO in so many ways. She works hard and
always remains positive in the stressful and hectic ED environment. Her bedside
manner is outstanding. She is friendly, kind, flexible and always a team player.”
NURSING LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD
Kim Rossillo
Medical Telemetry
“Kim comes to work every day with a smile and positive attitude. She is a wonderful
leader and role model and deserves the same recognition she bestows on her staff.”
NURSING ASSISTANT EXCELLENCE AWARD
Jennifer Aguilera
Mother Baby Unit
“Jennifer will seek out ways to learn. She is very self-motivated and all about Service.
She is so calm and caring that patients are comforted by her presence and helpfulness.”
FRIEND OF NURSING AWARD WINNERS - Supporting
the vital work of Nursing are: Bijal Mistry, Quality Outcomes
Analyst; Marty Jones and Julie Hernandez, Risk Department.
M.D. FRIEND OF NURSING HONOREES - Chief Nursing Officer
Katie Skelton and President and CEO Larry Ainsworth congratulate
Drs. Alejandro Ramirez, Anesthesiology, and Jairo Marin, Cardiology.
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
PERFECT CARE AND sACRED eNCOUNTERS
SJO Delivers County’s First Baby-Friendly Birth Facility
In May, Orange County gained its first “Baby-Friendly” birth facility. Following a rigorous on-site survey, St. Joseph Hospital was
awarded this coveted quality designation by Baby-Friendly USA,
a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization and
the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Although first in
the O.C., St. Joseph Hospital is one of 80 hospitals and birth centers nationwide and 19,000 worldwide to achieve Baby Friendly.
Designation came after four years of planning and action by SJO
Women’s Services, along with hospital-wide efforts.
Manager of Obstetrical Services Carol Suchy, R.N.,BSN,
IBCLC, explains that, “Baby Friendly tenets help babies receive
a healthy start by delivering in a safe environment and building immunity through breastfeeding. Our caregivers received
in-depth training to give new mothers immediate, skin-to-skin
bonding opportunities, and the information, confidence and
skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding
their infants.”
More than two decades of research has shown that breast
milk nourishes infants and protects them from illness. Breast-fed
infants have lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections,
diarrhea, rashes, allergies and other medical problems than bottlefed babies, says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
For Susan Dragoo, R.N.C.-OB, DNP, Baby Friendly is a
best practice that will benefit the
5,000+ babies delivered here each
year. “It shows we’re doing the
very best we can for our patients,
from start to finish,” she shares,
adding this example: “When one of
our high-risk moms recently came
in to deliver, the ICU and Women’s
Services came together to enable
the family to bond during what
we call the ‘golden hour.’ Even
Manager of Obstetrical
though mom had to go to the ICU,
Services Carol Suchy, R.N.,
we were able to tuck that baby onto
BSN, IBCLC, spearheaded
the hospital’s Baby Friendly
mommy’s chest during the first
initiative.
two hours of recovery. The parents
didn’t request or expect this, but they were pleasantly surprised.”
Veteran Labor and Delivery RN Debra Bolton also prefers
the immediate bonding aspects of Baby-Friendly practices.
“The baby is less stressed and calmer than with the traditional
method of taking the newborn from mom to warmer to bath.
And, parents like being the first ones to count all the fingers and
toes,” she says.
To learn more please visit www.sjo.org/BabyFriendly.
Healthiest Communities
Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment Welcomes Family Advocates
Beginning June 25, 2009, legal clinics are being held at
The Center for Cancer Prevention and Treatment the fourth
Thursday of every month, from 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm. The
Family Advocates service is a collaborative between the Public
Law Center (PLC), a pro bono law firm providing access
to justice for low-income residents, and St. Joseph Health
System. Its goal is to improve the health and welfare of lowincome families.
The medical-legal collaborative expands the focus of
health care beyond the medical condition to external factors
causing or exacerbating the condition, and adversely affecting the overall well-being of the individual. The concept was
originally introduced to California in 2004 when SJHS and the
Public Law Center implemented their first legal clinic at La
Amistad de Jose Family Health Center.
Patients of the Center may be referred by their providers
(physicians, nurses, social workers, office staff) for free legal
services as part of this collaborative effort designed to improve
the health of low-income clients by addressing the upstream
determinants of health. Referral forms will be made available to providers. The form should be given to the patient so
that they can make an appointment directly with PLC for the
monthly clinic.
Current cases that have been referred to PLC include:
• A breast cancer patient who was the victim of identity
theft and felt compelled to work overtime while continuwww.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
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ing her chemotherapy in order to pay off the debts incurred by the thief.
A cancer patient with a long-running dispute with her
private disability insurer and evaluation of the denial by
the health insurer of the recommended therapy for her
leukemia.
Restoration of private disability benefits to an individual
suffering from a chronic condition
Virtual elimination of a bill from the Franchise Tax Board
for past due taxes during a period of years when the individual was fully disabled.
Identification of and assistance for a victim of human trafficking who was brought in for care by her trafficker.
A clinical setting is ideal for the legal clinic because families
trust doctors more than lawyers, and need doctors’ encouragement to get help from the government. Family Advocates
educates healthcare professionals to identify poverty-based
barriers to a patients’ health, and provides direct, proactive,
English/Spanish/Vietnamese (other languages can be accommodated) legal assistance to families experiencing problems
relating to healthcare, housing, public benefits, domestic violence, guardianships, conservatorships, employment, education
and immigration matters, victim/witness situations and human
trafficking.
To refer a patient, please call (714) 541-1010, ext. 262.
Perfect Care & Growth
In the past year, St. Joseph Hospital Nursing certifications have increased by 15%. Board certification empowers nurses
within their professional sphere of activity, and contributes to improved patient outcomes. To encourage professional growth,
we continue to offer certification bonuses and on-site certification review courses. We also partnered with community-based
professional organizations to offer CCRN and PCCN certification review courses this past year, with an upcoming review
course in Med/Surg planned for August. The following SJO nurses and their certifications have been registered with Human
Resources. If you have a current certification and you are not listed here, please make a copy and submit it to Human Resources.
Corazon Aggabao, MICU.................................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Youngja Hwang, General Surgery Unit.....CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Mercedes Flores, Renal Ctr-Chronic.......CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Barbara Compean, Case Management.......CCM - Certified Case Manager
Catherine Skelton, Hospital Admin........ CNAA,BC-Nursing Admin, Adv
Josee Marcigliano, MICU.................................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Tamara Alvarez, Coronary Care.......................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Theresa Cimmarrusti, Med/Pulm Unit.......CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Mary Wright, Labor and Delivery.............. RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Connie Engel, Labor and Delivery............. RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Susan Yang, Renal Center-Acute.......... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Kathleen Penzes, Nursing Support......... CNAA,BC-Nursing Admin, Adv
Grace Poon, Renal Center-Acute.......... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Paula Gull, Kidney Transplant Ctr........ CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Elizabeth Winokur, Clinical Education...CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Jung Hae Kang, MICU.....................................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Eleanor Jamieson, MICU..................................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Elma Siacor, Cardiovascular ICU.....................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Adele Ford, Emergency Department................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Catherine Shinto, Cardio Short Stay Unit.........CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Rachna Thakur, Renal Center-Chronic.....CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Linda Fossell, Renal Center-Chronic.... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Carmen Ferrell, Coronary Care.........................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Kathryn Davies, Labor and Delivery.......... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Cheryl Pearce, Labor and Delivery............ CNM-Certified Nurse Midwife
Ann Flood, Labor and Delivery.................. RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Susan Duncan, Maternal Fetal Testing....... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Robin Uthus, Cardiac Rehab-Outpatient..........CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Lilia Knudtson, La Amistad.............. RNC WHNP-Womens Hlth Nrs Prct
Ma Cristina Perez, Pre Op-Main Hosp......CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Patricia Rudolph, Med/Pulm Unit..............CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Devie Gardner, Med/Surgical GYN Unit...CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
E’Lyn Houghton, Emergency Dept.........CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Vivian Sano, Renal Center-Chronic..................................... Dialysis Nurse
Hilda Gonzalez, Case Management...........CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Divinia Chua, Pre-Op-Outpatient............ CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
Alicia Leal, Post Anesthesia Care-Outpt....CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
Michelle Vasiloff, Post Anesth - Outpt.... CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
Amy Heerschap, Renal Center-Acute.........CPDN-Cert Peritineal Dialysis
Ann Duva, Medical Telemetry Unit...........CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Kelly Davenport, Emergency Dept.........CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Kathleen Yezarski, Case Management.......CCM - Certified Case Manager
Cynthia Paulsen, Case Management..........CCM - Certified Case Manager
Stella Infante, Medical Pulmonary Unit....CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Aileen Ingles, Cardiac/Renal Unit.......... PCCN-Progrssv Care Cert Nurse
Roberta Nelson, Oncology Unit..............OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Susan Hampton-Ash, Oncology Unit.....OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Deborah Spicer-Cadger, BHS-Inp........ RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Sharon Prime, Wound Care Center...CWOCN-Cert Wnd Ostmy Cont Nrs
Linda Buck, Infusion Ctr - Outpatient....OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Debra Bolton, Labor and Delivery.............. RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Ellen Gruwell, Labor and Delivery.... RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Jayne Ptacek, Maternal Fetal Testing.......... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Cynthia Aludino, OR-Main Hospital......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Robert Tolotta, OR-Main Hospital..........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Karen Truitt, OR-Main Hospital.............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Paul Rogers, OR-Main Hospital.............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Patricia Deck, OR-Main Hospital...........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Angela Higgins, OR-Main Hospital.......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Victoria Wright, OR-Main Hosp.............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Judy Bartone, OR-Main Hosp.................CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Lizette Mationg, OR-Main Hospital.......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Sharon Soloveoff, OR-Main Hosp..........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Virginia Burns, OR-Main Hosp..............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Donna Donley, Surgery Ctr-Outpt..........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Denise Navar, Surgery Ctrr-Outpatient...CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Annette Sherman, OR-Cardiovascular....CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Lorna Estiandan, Renal Center-Chronic................. Cert Hemodialysis RN
Mary Welly, Clinical Education.................CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Jaleh Akhavan, Clinical Education.........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Cynthia Morton, Clinical Education........... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Catherine De Guzman, OR-Main Hosp.... CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Debra Hanamoto, OR-Main Hospital.....CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Melody Ko, OR-Main Hospital..............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Mona Amland, OR-Main Hospital..........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Margaret Migaud, Post Anesth - Outpt.......ANP-BC-Adult Nrs Practitioner
Tina Retrosi, Quality Management........ CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Pennee Robertson, MICU................................ CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Mary Verma, Cardiac Cath Lab....................... CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Mary Gonzales, Interventional Radiology....... CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Ann Marie Keefer Lynch, La Amistad............. CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Lorna Estiandan, Renal Ctr-Chronic....... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Sherry Esguerra, Renal Ctr-Chronic....... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Jacqueline Woods, Mother Baby....... RNC LRN-Low-Risk Neonatal Nsg
Debra Pai, Emergency Department........ CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Gudrun Stark, Mother Baby Unit....... RNC LRN-Low-Risk Neonatal Nsg
April Pitts, Mother Baby Assmt Ctr.....RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Robin Underwood, Labor and Delivery......RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Peggy Chmiel, Rec Rm- Main Hospital..CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
Lucy Cubias, Rec Rm- Main Hospital.....CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
Marianne Golden, Emergency Dept...... CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
John Senteno, Emergency Dept............. CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Jocelyn Goss, Renal Center-Acute......................... Cert Hemodialysis RN
Amelinda Cruz, Med/Pulm Unit............... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Alma Araque, General Surgery Unit........RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Jaimie Browne, General Surgery Unit...... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Concepcion Landayan, General Surgery... RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Leila Balete, General Surgery Unit..........RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Grace Alonzo, Medical Surgical GYN........CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Mercedes Alojamiento, Med/Surg GYN.....CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Amylou Binosa, Rec Rm- Main Hosp.... PCCN-Progrssv Care Cert Nurse
Geraldine Westad, Nursing Support...........CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
Teresa Angcaco, Post Anesthesia Care - Outpatient...... CAPA-Cert Ambu
PeriAnes Nurse
Lupe Ramos, Cardiac Cath Lab........CCRN-CMC-Cert Cardiac Medicine
Kathleen Majeski, Oncology Unit......... OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Christine Marshall, Emergency Depart.. CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Krista Mills, Mother Baby Unit.........RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Paz Munoz-Remmel, CV ICU..................CCTN-Certified Transplant Nrs
Nita Patel, Cardiac/Renal Unit..................CCTN-Certified Transplant Nrs
Rhodora Apostol, Med/Pulm Unit......... OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Myrna Mendez, General Surgery Unit.....RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Leonida Quinal, Oncology Unit.............OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Janice Beatty, Oncology Unit...................ONC-Orthopaedic Nurse Certif
Erric Swallows, Oncology Unit.............OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Judith Doty, Mother Baby Unit..........RNC LRN-Low-Risk Neonatal Nsg
Kim Guth, Mother Baby Assmt Center........CLE-Cert Lactation Educator
Therese Rassier Carella, Infusion Ctr - Outpt.. OCN - Oncology Certified
Nurse
Kim Loh, Labor and Delivery.................... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Benita Deeley, Labor and Delivery............ RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Libby Schilling, Labor and Delivery......... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Mary Servais, Labor and Delivery............. RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Tanya Greer, Labor and Delivery............... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Jessica Laske, Labor and Delivery............. RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Cathleen Hjorth, OR-Main Hospital......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Meg Barton, OR-Main Hospital............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Melinda Nguyen, OR-Main Hospital.....CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Alona Glancey, OR-Cardiovascular.......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Jenny Takeda, Renal Ctr-Home Support... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Juliana Zhe, Endoscopy Center............... CGRN - Certif Gastroentero RN
Carol Martindale, Endoscopy Center...... CGRN - Certif Gastroentero RN
Pamela Riley, Clinical Education.............. RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Sherry Varley, Epidemiology and Safety... CIC-Certified Infection Contrl
Janet Cairney, Mother Baby Unit...... RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Ellen Gruwell, Labor and Delivery............ RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Vera Trone, Behavioral Health - Inpat....RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Diane Martinez, Clinical Education... RN-BC-Nursing Prof Development
Donna Rottschafer, Med/Pulm Unit..........CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Yvonne Shaver, Med/Pulm Unit.................CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Nora Parbo, General Surgery Unit...........RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Sharon Villasenor, General Surgery Unit..CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Rositza Petrova, General Surgery Unit.....CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Rommel Fernando, Genl Surgery Unit.....CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Richard Urgel, General Surgery Unit.......CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Shirley Mendoza, Med/Surg GYN Unit...CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Abigail Malig, Med/Surg GYN Unit........CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Vivian Advincula, Med/Surg GYN Unit...CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Celerine Villamor, Med/Surg GYN Unit..CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Susan Biel, Case Management................ ACM-Accredited Case Manager
Debra Barnes, Case Management.................... RN-BC-Case Mgmt Nurse
Debra Barnes, Case Management.............CCM - Certified Case Manager
Theresa Cimmarrusti, Med/Pulm Unit........RN-BC-Gerontological Nurse
Geraldine Jose, Med/Surg GYN Unit.......CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Kent Lee, Emergency Department.........CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Rachel Crook, Emergency Department..... CPN-Certified Pediatric Nurse
Michelle Schlueter, Occupational Med.... CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Geraldine Westad, Nursing Support............RN-BC-Gerontological Nurse
Moon Nguyen, Medical Pulmonary Unit..CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Wendy Mai, Medical Pulmonary Unit......CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Almaz Geberhiwot, Genl Surgery Unit...RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Shivi Dixit, OR-Main Hospital.................CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Christine Long, General Surgery Unit......CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Marion Castello, BHS - Inpatient......... RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Angela Acevedo, La Amistad................RN-BC-General Nursing Practice
Amber Willson, Emergency Dept...........CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Angela Bermudez, Endoscopy Center.....CGRN - Certif Gastroentero RN
Stephanie Harford, Oncology Unit.........OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Barbara Huggins, BHS - Inpatient........ RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Diane Hopkins, Mother Baby Assmt Ctr........ CLE-Cert Lactation Educator
Kathy Keener, Infusion Center - Outpt...OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Pamela Matten, Breast Center.................OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Kimberlee Moses, Breast Center............OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Kyung Kim, OR-Main Hospital..............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Bonnie Taylor, OR-Main Hospital..........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Suzanne Horta, OR-Main Hospital.........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Judy Handelsman, OR-Main Hospital....CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Tatiana Le, OR-Main Hospital................CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Susan Coto, OR-Main Hospital..............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Rene Darling, OR-Main Hospital...........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Wendy Ferro-Grant, Surg Ctr-Outpt......... CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Jeffrey Hagerman, Surg Ctr-Outpt.......... CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Elizabeth Dilsisian, Surg Ctr-Outpt......... CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Karen Frinzi, OR-Cardiovascular...........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Joanne Stermer, Surgical Svs Admin......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Lisa Villela, Mother Baby Assmt Ctr..... IBLCLC-Intl BdCt Lactation Cns
Robin Usher, Case Management..............ACM-Accredited Case Manager
Tho Leong, Medical Pulmonary Unit..........RN-BC-Gerontological Nurse
Norma Rodriguez, Emergency Dept.......CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Aurora Cortes, General Surgery Unit........CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Debra Kahle, General Surgery Unit...........CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Judith Emory, Interventional Radiology........ CRN-Cert Radiologic Nurse
Filomena Pahamotang, Ortho-Acute Unit... RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Darleen Nguyen, General Surgery Unit.....CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Liza Limpengco, General Surgery Unit.....CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Caroline Brandenburger, Medical Surgical GYN Unit..... RN-BC-Medical
Surgical Nurse
Sandra Lefevre, Case Management............CCM - Certified Case Manager
Youngja Hwang, General Surgery Unit........RN-BC-Gerontological Nurse
Hui Yong Fassihi, BHS - Inpatient........ RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Merri Lynn Anderson, Med/Pulm Unit.........RN-BC-Gerontological Nurse
Marvi Sanchez, Med/Surg GYN Unit........ CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Barrie Norton, Pre Op- Main Hospital....... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Patricia Aube, Clinical Education........RN-BC-Nursing Prof Development
Dawn Hyatt, Case Management.............RN-BC-General Nursing Practice
Jeannine Loucks, BHS - Inpatient......... RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Francisca Corteza, Wound Care Center... CWCN-Cert Wound & Cont Nrs
Irma Nery, OR-Main Hospital.................CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Remedios Encina, OR-Main Hospital......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Deborah Pettitt, OR-Main Hospital.........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Lynn Loftus, Surgery Center-Outpt.........CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Diana Zirschky, Surgery Center-Outpt....CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Susan Sepulveda, Surgery Center-Outpt..CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Roula Hattouni, Surgery Center-Outpt....CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Gianina Bennett, OR-Cardiovascular......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Betty Pugh, OR-Cardiovascular...............CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Shelly Aguilar, BHS - Inpatient............. RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Iluminada Dabu, General Surgery Unit..... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Muriel Morse, Orthopedics-Acute Unit..... ONC-Orthopaedic Nurse Certif
Donna Maggi, Orthopedics-Acute Unit..... ONC-Orthopaedic Nurse Certif
Anamaria Ferrer, Surgery Center-Outpt...CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Debbie Centeno, OR-Cardiovascular.......CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
Lynn Tamanaha, Bed Reservations...................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Margaret Walsh, General Surgery Unit...............CNA,BC-Nursing Admin
Gloria Albeg, BHS - Inpatient.............. RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Brenda Shah, BHS - Inpatient............... RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Rayann Belloise, BHS - Inpatient......... RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Larina Guarin, Mother Baby Unit...... RNC LRN-Low-Risk Neonatal Nsg
Teresa Sando, Mother Baby Unit....... RNC LRN-Low-Risk Neonatal Nsg
Diane Hopkins, Mother Baby Assmt Ctr.... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Cecilia Fernandez, Labor & Delivery.........RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Allison Charlesworth, Labor & Delivery....RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Young Sook Park, Renal Center-Home Support..................CNN-Certified
Nephrology Nurse
Kathy Dureault, Clinical Education................. CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Christine Pierce, BHS - Inpatient..........RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Marie Macam, General Surgery Unit.......RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Rebecca Kolb, Emergency Dept............ CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Lupe Ramos, Cardiac Cath Lab....................... CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Danielle Chopra, Cardiovascular ICU............. CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Paz Munoz-Remmel, Cardiovascular ICU...... CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Jodi Caggiano, Emergency Department.......... CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Lisa Runels, Cardiovascular ICU.................... CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Peggy Costello, Case Management........IBLCLC-Intl BdCt Lactation Cns
Teodora Frigillana, General Surgery Unit... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Elizabeth Kovacs, Ortho-Acute Unit.......... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
April Pitts, Mother Baby Assesment Center...CLE-Cert Lactation Educator
Sarah Slevkoff, Cardio Short Stay Unit.... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Diana Gilbert, Rec Rm- Main Hospital...CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
Patricia Mercure, Radiology-MRI-Outpt.......CRN-Cert Radiologic Nurse
Cynthia Dunning, Radiology-MRI-Outpt......CRN-Cert Radiologic Nurse
Sandy Chung, Cardiology Research..............CRN-Cert Radiologic Nurse
Amylou Binosa, Rec Rm- Main Hosp...CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurse
Maya Gang, Renal Center-Chronic......................... Cert Hemodialysis RN
Darcie Peterson, Enterostomal Therapy... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Cherri Salesky, Design For Perfect Care............CNA,BC-Nursing Admin
Patricia Brydges, Case Management...... ACM-Accredited Case Manager
Patricia Brydges, Case Management........ CCM - Certified Case Manager
Gale Galarza, MICU........................................ CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Maria Sonia Estuar, Med/Pulm Unit......... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Jae Kim, Med/Pulm Unit.......................... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Merri Lynn Anderson, Med/Pulm Unit....RN-BC-Medical Surgical Nurse
Esmeralda De Los Reyes, Genl Surg Unit....CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Denise Boyd, Oncology Unit................. OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Mirna Vargas, Oncology Unit................ OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Carmelita Belisario, Oncology Unit......... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Kristen Merkh, Oncology Unit.............. OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Susan Mabie, Oncology Unit................. OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Diane Fisher, Mother Baby................RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Kelli Yergler, Mother Baby................RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Karina Nguyen-Carlson, Mother Baby... RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Tina Tillman, Infusion Center - Outpt.......OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Stacey Fischer, Infusion Center - Outpt....OCN - Oncology Certified Nurse
Catherine De Guzman, OR-Main Hosp....CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Marcia Burner, OR-Main Hospital........ CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Christine Phipps, OR-Main Hospital..... CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Aiping Dai, OR-Main Hospital.............. CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Dorothy Baker, OR-Main Hospital........ CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Amelia Cuevas, Surgery Ctr-Outpt........ CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Patricia Tuqan, OR-Cardiovascular....... CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Judith Pence, Endoscopy Center............. CGRN - Certif Gastroentero RN
Rima Wehbe, Endoscopy Center............ CGRN - Certif Gastroentero RN
Sharon Miles, Endoscopy Center............ CGRN - Certif Gastroentero RN
Roberta Gayer, Endoscopy Center.......... CGRN - Certif Gastroentero RN
Sharon Kleinheinz, Clinical Education....CNOR- Certif Nurse Oper Room
Jamie Jolly, Epidemiology and Safety........CIC-Certified Infection Contrl
Marla Mc Bride, Emergency Dept......... CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Rachelle Pishney, Emergency Dept....... CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Katherine Bowden, Nursing Support..... CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Darlene Warren, Nursing Support.......... CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Aurora De Los Santos, CV ICU...................... CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
James D’Arcy, Renal Ctr-Home Sprt...... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Beverly Hatch, BHS - Inpatient............RN-BC-Psych & Mntl Hlth Nurse
Kim Guth, Mother Baby Assesment Ctr....CNM-Certified Nurse Midwife
Juliet Quizon, Renal Center-Chronic.... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Rosana Alvarez, Pre-Op-Outpatient.....CAPA-Cert Ambu PeriAnes Nurse
Cathleen Smith, Pre-Op-Outpatient.....CAPA-Cert Ambu PeriAnes Nurse
Meri Van Gorden, Quality Mgmt.............CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
Erlinda Arnedo, Renal Ctr-Chronic...... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Stephanie Lingren, Emergency Dept..... CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Stephanie Scott, Emergency Dept.......... CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Hathy Tran, Medical Pulmonary Unit....... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Stacy Bogin, Orthopedics-Acute Unit...... CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Eunice Kim, Renal Center-Chronic.....................................Dialysis Nurse
Maya Gang, Renal Center-Chronic......................................Dialysis Nurse
Yolanda Ojeda, Renal Center-Chronic.................................Dialysis Nurse
Elsie Granda, Renal Center-Chronic..... CNN-Certified Nephrology Nurse
Elizabeth Martinez, Case Management.... CCM - Certified Case Manager
Karen Zalewski, Cardiovascular ICU.............. CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Janet Ashlock, BHS - Inpatient................. CARN-Certified Addiction RN
Lisa Riggs, Mother Baby Unit.......... RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Susan Pack, Labor & Delivery................... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Julie Landicho, Labor & Delivery............. RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Lori Gilbertson, Labor & Delivery............ RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Rochelle Zimmermann, Labor & Delivery...RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Delores Chin, Maternal Fetal Testing........ RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Sabrina Valentine, Rec Ro- Main Hospital......CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Mary Williams, Cardiac/Renal Unit...... PCCN-Progrssv Care Cert Nurse
Estela Felix, MICU..........................................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Leslie Farrington, MICU.................................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Jennifer Morales, MICU..................................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Barbara Holmes, Med/Pulm Unit.............CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Chrisoula Kalogeropoulos, Mother Baby.......RNC MN-Maternal Newborn
Nurse
Bonnie Langell, Mother Baby........... RNC MN-Maternal Newborn Nurse
Aruel Libeta, Emergency Department...CEN-Certified Emergency Nurse
Rachael Ulman, Labor & Delivery............ RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Kari Wible-Hall, Labor & Delivery........... RNC INPT-Inpt Obstetric Nsg
Gina Napoli, Cardiac Cath Lab........................CCRN-Critical Care Nurse
Leonora De Guzman, Revenue Audit.....................Cert Hemodialysis RN
Ellen Dunlap, Mother Baby Assmt Ctr........CLE-Cert Lactation Educator
Carol Suchy, Perinatal Education................CLE-Cert Lactation Educator
Margaret Delmastro, Oncology Unit.....RN-BC-Pain Management Nurse
Lisa Wheadon, Med/Pulm Unit................CMSRN - Certif Med-Surg RN
Beth Villasenor, Rec Rm- Main Hosp....CAPA-Cert Ambu PeriAnes Nurse
Maria Jo-Ann Perucho-Ladrido, Pre Op- Main Hospital........ CAPA-Cert
Ambu PeriAnes Nurse
Christine Yeung, Post Anesth - Outpt.....CAPA-Cert Ambu PeriAnes Nurse
Jenny Cao, Post Anesth Care - Outpt.... CAPA-Cert Ambu PeriAnes Nurse
Karen Hoxworth, Clinical Education..... PCCN-Progrssv Care Cert Nurse
Beth Villasenor, Rec Rm- Main Hosp......CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
Sabrina Valentine, Rec Rm- Main Hosp.... CPAN - Certif Post Anesth Nurs
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
Wendy Escobedo, RN, CN IV
Values in Action Award Recipient for Service
When Wendy came to St. Joseph Hospital
in 2002 as a new graduate, she felt like she
“belonged here.” She began working on
the Cardiac Renal Unit (4E/W). Nursing
Manager Irma Najera recalls that from the
beginning Wendy has been “professional,
approachable and always willing to jump in
when help has been needed.”
Recognizing Wendy’s potential and the
need to improve processes, in 2003 the
then-new Renal Transplant Council approached Wendy about serving as a liaison
between the hospital-at-large, Cardiac
Renal nursing unit and the Transplant Center. She accepted the challenge, excelled in
what she calls an “often intense” role she
loves, and has greatly contributed to the
enormous success of St. Joseph Hospital’s
Kidney Transplant Program. For five years
in a row, the program has achieved 100
percent one-year graft survival. Even more
impressive, of the half dozen adult kidney
transplant centers in the U.S., St. Joseph
Hospital’s program has had the highest volume of transplants and has served patients
and transplant donors with risk factors that
are “statistically higher than expected.”
Service excellence comes naturally
to Wendy, who remarks, “I love people and
the interactions I have with them. I look at
them and think: what a miracle. I’ve been
entrusted by God to care for his most precious creation.”
Manager of Transplant Operations
Marlene Abe shared an example of how
Wendy excels in providing service. “We
had a patient who was having difficulties
in balancing his needs as a recent posttransplant patient and his life issues.
Wendy took on this patient with enthusiasm
and in the spirit of a nursing challenge.
She patiently reinforced the goals of his
transplant care, looked for opportunities
to provide care outside of the norm with
creativity, and inspired the patient by giving
him a challenge with an ultimate ‘prize’
to shoot for. When a new obstacle came,
Wendy never lost sight of her purpose to
serve her patient well. She elicited the aid
of her colleagues, she researched, she had
discussions, and she would “tweak” her
plans to achieve the best outcomes for her
patient. This patient recently achieved a
transplant milestone, his first year postwww.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
transplant with excellent kidney function.
I know without her dedication and true
service to this patient, he was at a very high
risk for non-compliance and rejection.”
Kidney transplant patients must buy into
a strict regimen, without deviation. When
this patient became non-compliant, Wendy
took a different approach: “Instead of calling him to say, ‘You’re not complying; you
could lose your kidney,’ I asked myself,
‘What’s important to this patient and how
can I allow him to achieve what he wants
to? What’s causing him to not be compliant? Is he depressed? How can I help him?’
I couldn’t just conclude he didn’t care. We
developed a trust relationship of patient and
nurse and collaborated on problem solving.
Whatever barriers he had, we’d solve them
together.”
The patient was a single father whose
20-year-old son was his donor. Wendy
described the gentleman as someone who
was very independent and didn’t have the
control that he was used to. She discovered
he wasn’t coming to his medical appointments because he didn’t have the money for
gas. He felt he needed to return to his job in
water delivery, lifting heavy bottles, in spite
of the risk of this type of work on his healing incision.
Upon learning this, Wendy offered to
get him a note for his employer so that he
could get a lighter route, which he did.
To convince him to do better, she made
a deal with him. A nice picture of the
patient and his son had been made into a
poster and displayed at the Donate Life run/
walk. The patient wanted that picture, and
Wendy promised to get it for him if he
could do better by following up regularly
with the dietitian and endocrinologist who
were working with him on his diabetes
management. The approach worked.
He became consistent in coming for his
weekly labs and adhering to his dietary
regimen. His blood sugar came down and
his depression began to lift as he regained
control. Wendy had expressed an interest in
seeing his grand baby, and a year after his
transplant he brought the baby by for a visit
with her. “I get genuine fulfillment when
people (like him) are happy and enjoying
life,” she concludes.
Wendy’s philosophy is that, “Every
patient is so unique in the way they deal
with the stress of their condition, and in
what their support system is. To meet their
needs I try to become attuned to them. I ask
myself, ‘Where do I best fit? In the role of
confidante? Supporter? Do I just observe
for awhile and allow them to ask for what
they need?’ I’m blessed to have that nurse’s
intuition you hear about. I’m always observing the patient and his or her body language.
I’ve learned to assess patients’ environment,
their feelings and the people around them.
We’re not just here to fix the body – healing
is much more. That’s why the Jean Watson
Theory of Human Caring we apply is so
perfect for our hospital. It’s sacred work
connecting us to the human soul.”
She continues, “Patients enrich me.
There can be challenging patients but if you
consider what is hurting that person, you
can escalate or deescalate conditions based
on your interaction with them. I consider
myself an advocate for patients.”
Irma adds, “Wendy is available whenever anyone has a question, even if it is
on weekends. She spends time educating the patients and staff so that they are
comfortable with the plan of care. If a new
transplant nurse is taking care of a transplant patient, Wendy will be present on the
floor to offer support and guidance. She
has developed tools that the nurse can use
to teach and deliver care to the transplant
patients… she did this by asking the nurses
what they need and obtaining feedback on
the final results. She is a great role model
for the nursing profession.”
Debra Bolton, RN, CN IV
Values in Action Award Recipient for Dignity
Throughout her 18 years as a Labor &
Delivery nurse, Debbie has thrived in
“making it a good and pleasant delivery”
for each family. While enjoying what she
calls “the heart-pumping excitement” of
delivery babies and not minding the screams
that often come from laboring mothers, her
ability to bring dignity to the experience
is not dependent upon a good outcome.
Six years ago when a perinatal hospice
began here, Debbie became the L&D
representative. She’s chosen to maintain that
role and has expanded it from serving as the
inpatient liaison to outpatient liaison as well.
As a Perinatal Comfort Care Program
team member, Debbie has been a pioneer
for one of the nation’s first perinatal hospice
programs. She has shared the components of
this dying-with-dignity program with nurses
nationally through Magnet and Association
of Women’s Health Obstetric and Neonatal
Nurses (AWHONN) conferences.
Mary states, “Debbie has provided
dignity to these families who will
experience a neonatal loss. She attends the
family conferences, which usually means
coming in on her day off. She helps them
plan the birth of their baby, who may only
live for a few precious moments. Once the
plan has been made by the family, Debbie
attaches this plan to the patient’s prenatal
instructions and makes sure appropriate
hospital staff members are aware of their
wishes. All this care is done to provide
a perfect delivery and is evidence of the
dignity Debbie strives to provide each
family as they celebrate this special birth.
Her interactions with this population are
too numerous to count and the success of
this program has been largely with Debbie’s
input and devotion to make the life and
ultimate death of a new birth filled with
dignity and beautiful memories for that
family.”
Debbie adds, “I have a heart for still
birth parents and want to help them find
ways to still celebrate that life during the
pregnancy. We can’t change the outcome,
but we can walk the path with them and
hold their hand through it. We don’t force
them into the program; we respect their
wishes and look at how we can best help
them. We follow their desires for photography, baptism and whether to involve siblings. A tour of the unit helps them decide
if the mom wants to recover on the unit or
would prefer to go to 2 South. When they
come in, they’re prepared.”
Perinatal Comfort Care Program Coordinator Suzanne Engelder, MSW, points out
that Debbie is gifted in all the core values
of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, and
relays how most of all she shines in displaying Dignity: “It was about 9:00 pm when I
entered the Labor and Delivery Department.
Debbie was coming out of a room where
one of our Perinatal Comfort Care Families was being cared for. Earlier they had
delivered a beautiful baby boy with Potter’s
Syndrome. Baby G had lived a few hours
and had just taken his last breath while in
the arms of his parents. Debbie was by their
side, accompanying them on this journey.
With love and tenderness in an atmosphere
of dignity and respect Debbie helped this
family welcome their precious baby and say
“hello” and “good-bye” in a very short period of time. She was present for this family allowing them to do what they needed to do
to celebrate, bond and remember their baby.
Later, together with the family she collected
mementos that they could treasure for years
to come. She gently clipped a small piece of
hair, made handprints, gathered his clothes
and blankets. Although Debbie’s shift was
over at 7 pm she had stayed to finish this
sacred journey with the family. But there
is more to this story. Out of respect to the
nurse coming after her, Debbie brought her
into the room and introduced her to the family. With a gentle hand on Baby G’s head,
a touch to mom’s brow and a kiss on her
cheek, Debbie lovingly placed her into the
capable hands of her co-worker, knowing
that this nurse would continue the perfect
care that she had started. In that moment,
Debbie demonstrated dignity for this family,
their newborn baby and the nurses that she
works with side by side every day.”
A Muslim family in the Perinatal Comfort Care Program experienced how Debbie
respects the dignity of diverse families in
all cultures while providing personalized
care. In the midst of their grief, they were
impressed and thankful that their wishes
were honored, from having dad whisper in
the baby’s ear to needing to bury the baby
within 24 hours of death.
Debbie elaborates, “I’ve learned that
we’re all different, and it’s okay to have
different thought processes. Each patient is
special and a being of worth. I look at this
as their time. I remove my own biases, even
if it means they want to deliver with few
interventions and in ways different from
how I would choose to deliver.”
Another example of how Debbie developed dignified care concerned pictures
taken of the fetal demise babies. Debbie felt
the pictures the nurses took did not reflect
the beauty of these babies. She contacted
Now I lay Me Down to Sleep (NLMDS), a
company with professional photographers
who donate their time and talent to come
in and take pictures of these infants. As a
result, families can have lifelong memories
that reflect the dignity and beauty of these
precious moments with their newborn.
Mary comments, “Communication is
a vital component in being a competent
leader in the L&D world. Debbie has been
complimented by many physicians for her
leadership style, and her direct and timely
communication as a (relief) charge nurse.
She understands the unique role that this
provides as being a peer and then leader.
She gives respect for those she is supervising. She is straightforward with difficult
conversations and looks for opportunities to
improve the care given to our patients.”
Some of the nurses are understandably
fearful of what to do and say to parents
delivering a dying baby. Debbie teaches a
demise class. She provides a list of things
to say. “I also tell them that sometimes,”
Debbie says, “it’s better to say nothing and
to just be present with them than to offer
clichés.”
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
Perfect Care & Healthiest Communities
Major Strides for Stroke Program
St. Joseph Hospital was surveyed in May for a “Certificate of Distinction for
Primary Stroke Centers” from the Joint Commission. Accreditation of St. Joseph
Hospital’s Stroke Center would signal that the hospital has met scrupulous criteria
for managing stroke care, and possesses the critical elements needed to achieve
long-term success in improving stroke outcomes. Notification from the Joint
Commission is pending.
“It’s important as a validation of the excellent stroke care we provide,” relays
Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner Amy Waunch, R.N., MSN, FNP, CEN,
who spearheaded the program’s development and is now the point person for stroke
in the Emergency Department. “We’ve had the technology and ability at St. Joseph
Hospital to care for stroke patients, but in the past couple of years we’ve had
more collaboration between the neurologists, interventional radiologists and the
Emergency Department. That, along with greater awareness by the Medical Staff
and Nursing of the treatment options, has enabled us to preserve brain function in
more patients.”
Also in May, the Orange County Health Care Agency announced a higher
standard of care for stroke patients by designating St. Joseph Hospital and five
other Orange County hospitals as Stroke-Neurology Receiving Centers. Care
includes 24-hour availability of neurologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, nursing
and emergency medicine physicians who are expert in managing stroke patients.
Earlier this year Jodi Caggiano, R.N., BSN, CCRN, became the Stroke Program Coordinator. She is raising awareness in our surrounding community and the
medical community about stroke prevention and early intervention, and about St.
Joseph Hospital as a trusted provider for stroke care. She manages outcomes data,
looking for opportunities to improve in keeping with our goal of Perfect Care.
“I’m excited about combining the teaching component, which nurses like me
love to do, with an analytical component. I like that I have many opportunities to
interact with patients, their families, and all disciplines in caring for stroke patients.
Having worked in Critical Care for 10 years I’ve been exposed to high-pressure
situations requiring critical responses, and it helps that I have established relationships with many of our physician groups.”
Jodi continues, “With
stroke we say, ‘Time is
brain.’ It’s vital to find the
area of insult and restore
blood flow as quickly as
possible to reverse or diminish the damage caused
by a stroke. At St. Joseph
Hospital we have vascular
and neurological specialists, partnering with the
stroke team, available to
stroke patients 24/7. HavAmy Waunch , R.N., MSN,
Stroke Program Coordinaing treated nearly 1,000
FNP, CEN, spearheaded
tor Jodi Caggiano, R.N.,
stroke patients in the past
development of the Stroke
BSN, CCRN, coordinated
three years, we have the
Program at St. Joseph
Joint Commission accrediexpertise, from the minute
Hospital, beginning in 2005.
tation efforts for the SJO
Stroke Program.
a stroke victim comes in
and is triaged by an ED
nurse, receives care by nurses on the Medical Telemetry and Critical Care units,
through rehabilitation by our physical, occupational and speech therapists.”
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
CHOC
Construction
Update
Demolition of CHOC’s two-story
parking structure and the 1201 medical
office building, as well as closure of
the pedestrian bridge, have been seen
and heard for the past month. In addition to the construction zone at La Veta
Avenue and Pepper Street, on June 1
the Community Education lot off Main
Street was closed to provide an area for
construction staging.
As of May 26, the west bound,
right hand lane on La Veta Avenue, from
Pepper Street to the five-story parking
structure, has been closed. This lane
closure is expected to last the duration
of construction.
Patients’ families and visitors may
park in the five-story parking structure
off of Providence Avenue. A shuttle
service for patients, families and visitors
is offered daily, 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Shuttle stops are located in front of the
CHOC main driveway and on Providence
Avenue in front of the parking structure.
This is the first phase of construction
of a seven-story CHOC patient care tower,
targeted for completion in Spring 2012.
Please visit CAREnet for further updates.
Nursing Recognized
for Excellence by
Medical Staff
The 2009 Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC), Perception Award
results are in, and St. Joseph Hospital
Nursing is among the areas recognized
for excellence with 5-Star awards.
PRC is a healthcare marketing
research company. Their data was
derived from physician surveys in the
2008 calendar year of 389 healthcare
facilities across the country. Those in
the 90th percentile and above received
5-Star awards.
SJO also received 5-Star Awards
for Emergency Services, Radiology,
Laboratory, Medical Records and As
a Place to Practice Medicine. Results
from the 75th to 89th percentile brought
4-Star Awards in Surgical Services,
Pathology and Anesthesia.
St. Joseph Hospital earns Chest Pain Center Accreditation
Department
Executive Director
John Senteno, R.N.,
MSN, CEN. “They
saw that our nurses
work closely with
the Emergency
Department doctors,
and are very astute
at reading 12-lead
electrocardiograms
and at knowing when
to initiate notification
of cardiologists
and the Cath Lab.
John Senteno, R.N., MSN, CEN
Elizabeth Hahn, R.N., MSN
They had glowing
Executive Director, Emergency
Manager, Chest Pain Center
Department & Chest Pain Center comments about how
well the process of
In June the St. Joseph Hospital
rapidly initiating intervention was working.
Chest Pain Center received its first full,
Chest Pain Center Manager Elizabeth (Liz)
three-year accreditation with PCI (PercuHahn, R.N., MSN, has given her heart and
taneous Coronary Intervention) from the
soul to ensure that our Chest Pain program
Society of Chest Pain Centers. The Chest
Pain team demonstrated expertise and com- routinely provides expert, timely care. We
are the second hospital in Orange County
mitment to quality patient care by meeting
or exceeding a wide set of stringent criteria and 12th in California accredited by the
Society for proven approaches to patient
and completing on-site evaluations by a
safety that benefit the cardiac patient.”
review team from the Society.
Liz adds, “In the past, the focus of the
“The surveyors appreciated that
chest
pain program was on the Emergency
we have dedicated, inhouse Chest Pain
Department and Cath Lab. With accreditanurses available 24 hours a day, along
tion we’re integrating the entire hospital,
with a Chest Pain tech,” states Emergency
Triage the SJO Way
Since launching a year and a half ago,
the St. Joseph Way has brought about a
cultural shift in the Cardiac Cath Lab and
Emergency Department at St. Joseph Hospital. So far, almost 200 employees have
been engaged in this performance improvement initiative.
Through several changes, the ED saw
early successes in patient flow. For example,
they discovered that patients were experiencing an extra 30 minute wait time due to
the paperwork process required for registration. Based on changes implemented, six
pages were reduced to one page, significantly reducing the wait time. More recently, the
ED improved its triage process.
“If you use a baseball analogy, most
of the improvements occurring are bunts,”
remarks SJO Way Facilitator Paul Pursell.
“The recent improvements made to triage
are a home run.”
Emergency Department Executive
Director John Senteno, R.N., MSN, CEN,
elaborates, “The challenge was to shift our
thinking from what was practical for us to
what’s value-added for patients. In the ED,
the patient’s overriding concern is ‘how
fast can I be seen by the doctor.’ Our team
mustered the courage to basically blow
up the triage system and start over. They
used creative approaches to make radical
changes. The triage nurse is now out from
behind the glass partition and right in the
waiting room. The time from patient arrival
to first contact with a nurse has dropped
dramatically. What was once 30 or so
minutes is now down to 5 minutes. This
rapid first contact is known to reassure
patients and family members that their
concern is taken seriously. Another huge
positive byproduct is that our elopement
rate (patients who leave before being
seen) dropped from 2.9 percent in 2008
to 1.6 percent. We truly believe that our
collective efforts will further reduce this
number in the months to come so overall,
we are very pleased with how this effort is
working out.”
from preventive
teaching for the
community on
lifestyle and recognizing and reacting
to a heart attack, to educating nurses on the
units and in Cardiac Rehab and discharge.
It’s truly a full continuum of care.”
A Chest Pain Center that undergoes accreditation demonstrates a commitment to:
• Improve quality outcomes
• Streamline processes improving quality
of cardiac care and reduces waste
• Reduce liability of misses through
a consistent approach to the acute
coronary syndrome patient based on
research and best practices
• Show the community the St. Joseph
Hospital’s dedication to providing exceptional cardiac care
• Examine/benchmark processes using the
latest “evidence-based” best practices
• Improve relationships and integrate
processes with EMS
• Create a team approach to treatment
• Receive an on-site review of processes
by a team of experts.
Heart attacks are the leading cause of
death in the U.S. Each year, more than five
million Americans enter a hospital with
chest pain.
Above, Triage Nurse Leon Vong, R.N.,
BSN, asks a patient with flu symptoms
about chest pain. A new triage system,
developed through the St. Joseph Way, has
brought the triage nurse out from behind
the glass to a desk set up in the ED lobby.
As a result, the waiting time for patients
has dropped from an average of 30 minutes
to less than 5 minutes. “I like it,” says
Leon of the new system. “We can assess
patients quicker and, if they’re critical,
get them to treatment right away.”
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
40 Years of Service for St. Joseph Hospital Nurses
and with the compassion
and tenderness of a mother
•
Lifesaver
•
A woman of character
•
A maestro who works
magic with her students
•
Humble and honest
•
Respectful and truthful
•
A gift to her department
•
A loyal Ohioan
•
Lives our core values on a
daily basis
Suzanne Holley, R.N.
Mary Welly, R.N., BC, BSN
“I came here from Ohio in 1968
and worked as a Med/Surg staff nurse,
For the past 40 years, Clinical Educator Mary
then
did
PM supervision,” recalls Mary. “I’ve
Welly, R.N.,BC, BSN, has had a profound
been
in
Clinical
Education since 1978. In this
impact at St. Joseph Hospital. Those who
position
I
enjoy
the
clinical aspect of working
have worked with her over the years had
with
the
nursing
staff
and providing needed
many wonderful things to say about Mary:
education.
The
staff
looks
to Clinical Educa• An exemplary educator who set the bar high
tion for support, and education is very valued
• Energetic, with great stamina
by this hospital.”
• The glue that held the Education departDuring the four decades Suzanne Holley,
ment together
R.N.,
has been at St. Joseph Hospital, she
• A friend and precious mentor
has
witnessed
incredible growth in the
• A teacher with a dedication to excellence
ASMBS Recognizes St. Joseph Hospital as
A Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence
Based on our demonstrated track record
of favorable outcomes in bariatric surgery,
the American Society for Metabolic and
Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) has named St.
Joseph Hospital a Bariatric Surgery Center
of Excellence.
In a report from the Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality, the number
of bariatric surgeries grew from 16,000
procedures in 1992 to 170,000 performed
in 2005. Faced with clinical evidence
that the most experienced and best-run
bariatric surgery programs have by far the
lowest rates of complications, the ASMBS
Centers of Excellence program was created
to recognize bariatric surgery centers that
perform well and to help surgeons and
hospitals continue to improve the quality and
safety of care provided.
To earn a Bariatric Center of Excellence
designation, St. Joseph Hospital underwent
a series of site inspections examining all
aspects of the program’s surgical processes
and data collected on health outcomes.
Hospitals receiving the designation agree
to continue to share information on clinical
pathways, protocols and outcomes data.
“Our program has achieved the Center
of Excellence designation because of the
outstanding work of our Bariatric Care
Center surgeons, Drs. Sami Hamamji,
Jeffrey Johnsrud and Eric Pham,” states
Vice President of Operations Kevin
Lundon. He adds, “Surgical Program
Manager Heidi Daniel diligently pursued
validation of excellence in our Bariatric
program. Her work showcases the entire
team’s efforts to promote health, prevent
injury, improve quality of life, save lives
and deliver optimum care to our Bariatric
surgical patients.”
According to the Centers for Disease
Control, 66 percent of U.S. adults are
overweight or obese. Morbid obesity closely
correlates to a number of serious conditions
undermining the health of patients, including
heart disease, high blood pressure and
diabetes. Bariatric surgery, when performed
correctly, can help obese patients manage
these conditions.
®
region, at St. Joseph Hospital, and in the
OR setting where she has served. Sue was
a vital member of the Ortho-Spine team for
many years. She was around when Orange
County’s first artificial hip, knee and elbow
replacement surgeries were performed, and
has been here through tens of thousands
more. In her role as a relief charge nurse,
in other supportive positions and in her
current role as “Lead Team Lead,” Sue has
earned the respect of hundreds of coworkers,
physicians and surgeons. She is known as
a highly skilled and extremely reliable OR
nurse who is a strong patient advocate.
Sue handles the stressful OR environmentit by doing her best and maintaining a great
sense of humor. As the person who coordinates staffing for 14 operating rooms, she can
tell you that the printed schedule is never the
same as the actual schedule, even with the
best of planning. Yet Sue knows enough about
each staff member’s competencies that she
can make the right assignments to the right
cases, all in the best interest of our patients.
Congratulations
to Bariatric Care
Center Manager
Heidi Daniel,
R.N., and the
entire Bariatric
Care Center
team, on this
important
achievement.
The Bariatric Care Center at St. Joseph
Hospital utilizes a multidisciplinary
approach to successful long-term weight
loss using the expertise of the surgeons,
program coordinator, psychiatrists,
registered dietitian, physical therapists,
exercise physiologist, meditation/spirituality
specialist, acute-care surgical and post-op
staff, and surgical office personnel. The
surgeons at St. Joseph Hospital’s Bariatric
Care Center have been trained by some
of the foremost physicians in the field.
Almost 100 percent of our gastric bypass
surgeries are performed laparoscopically
using the lap band technique.
For more information visit
www.sjo.org/Bariatric.
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence
Summer 2009 Events
Magnet Ambassador Meetings
July 6, 2009, 8-10 am, SJO SFD CRI
August 31, 2009, 8-10 am, SJO SFD CRI
Cut for a Cure
Sunday, July 12, Noon to 5 pm at
Armando - A Joshua Christopher Salon,
980 W. Coast Hwy, # 200, Newport Beach.
Come for a haircut, blow dry, eye brow
shaping, deep conditioning treatment
or pariffin hand treatment. Benefits
The Center for Cancer Prevention and
Treatment. www.sjo.org/Ways_to_Give
4th Annual Disneyland ½ Marathon
Sunday, September 6 - St. Joseph Hospital is the medical sponsor again this year.
Receive a one-day Disneyland pass, good
through 2009, for volunteering. Call Teri at
714-771-8000 ext. 17404.
SJO Nurses’ Abstracts Detailing Innovative Excellence
Selected for 2009 National Magnet Conference
Out of 1,000 abstracts submitted for the 2009 National Magnet Conference, two
of the 100 accepted are from St. Joseph Hospital nurses. They are:
Crash Course: Resuscitating the Code Blue Process – Beth Winokur, R.N., CEN,
and Reaching the Net Generation and Beyond: the Learnings of the World’s
First Nursing Research Blog – Dana Rutledge, R.N., Ph.D.
The conference is being held October 1-3 in Louisville, Kentucky. Attendees
will learn about innovations which demonstrate excellence in nursing practice;
how Transformational Leadership results in nursing excellence, and how evidencebased practice and research impact nursing outcomes.
St. Joseph Hospital Nurse Authors (2007 - 2009)
(When viewing this document online, click on the blue titles for links)
1. Secondary Trauma Stress in Oncology Staff
Leonida Quinal, R.N., OCN; Stephanie Harford, R.N., CN IV; Dana Rutledge, R.N., PhD
Cancer Nurs. 2009 May 13. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 19444086 PubMed
2. Memories that Heal: Helping Children Access Their Grief for Healing
Aurora De los Santos, R.N., CN IV
Advance for Nurses (California & Northern Nevada edition) 2009 Jan 6(6):22.
3. Medical Emergency Team Implementation: Experiences of a Mentor Hospital
Eleanor Jamieson, CN IV; Carmen Ferrell, R.N., MSN; Dana Rutledge, R.N., Ph.D.
Medsurg Nurs. 2008 Oct;17(5):312-6, 323.
PMID: 19051977 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
4. Uncovering and Recognizing Nurse Caring from Clinical Narratives
Vivian Norman, R.N., MSN, CCRN; Dana Rutledge, R.N., PhD;
Ann Marie Keefer-Lynch, R.N., MSN , FNP ; Gloria Albeg, R.N., CN II
Holist Nurs Pract. 2008 Nov-Dec;22(6):324-35.
PMID: 18981813 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5. Worldview 2008: A Global Nursing Perspective. Team Morocco: Nurses
Helping Nurses
Kim Guth, R.N., CN II
Reflections on Nursing Leadership, 2008 1st; 34 (1). (3p)
(journal article - anecdote) ISSN: 1527-6538 CINAHL AN: 2009934784
Healthiest Communities - Lynn Kadlec, R.N.,
Med/Tele, was one of 175 SJO volunteers tending to 13,000 Disney Half Marathon runners
last summer. Volunteers are again needed.
6. A New View: Changing Perspectives of Nursing Practice through Research
Victoria Morrison, R.N., MSN, FNP-BC; Dana Rutledge, R.N., Ph.D.
Advance for Nurses (California and Northern Nevada edition) 2008 5(23):20-21.
7. Amble On: A New Ambulation Program Gets Patients Up, Moving and Healing
Cherri Salesky, C. R.N., BSN, CNA, BC
Advance for Nurses (California and Northern Nevada edition) 2007 Nov 4(24):29-31.
1100 W. Stewart Dr. Orange, CA 92868
www.sjo.org/nursing_excellence