a monthly publication of the nursing departments april 2020 · nursing news, mary greeley medical...

NursiNg NewsA MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF THE NURSING DEPARTMENTS May 2020

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Nurses Week Update.....................................6

Nursing Council Highlights..............................6

Virtual Education Fair.....................................7

Keep Current with Practice Updates............8-12

Recognizing Professional Development..........13

In This Issue

2020-2025 Nursing Strategic Plan...........................1

Cory’s Column........................................................2

The Listen Project...................................................3

Stroke Awareness Month.........................................4

COVID-19 Nurse Resources....................................5

“The nurses and PCTs took very good care of me. I could not have received better care anywhere! Please tell them how much I appreciate their excellent care of me!!”

-4A Patient Survey

Comment of the Month

KEY DIRECTIVES: Key directive notations are at the end of articles.

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Coming Soon: 2020-2025 Nursing Strategic Plan Amy Stark, MSN, RN-BC, NE-BC, CENP

DIRECTOR OF NURSING PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Cory Geffre, MSMSL, BSN, RN, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), is a knowledgeable, transformational leader who is developing a nursing strategic plan in leading nursing services. A strategic plan is a plan resulting from a process of reviewing the mission, environmental surveillance, and previous planning decisions used to establish major goals and non-recurring resource allocation decisions. Cory communicates expectations, develops leaders, and evolves the organization to meet current and anticipated needs and strategic priorities.

As CNO, Cory leads the Nursing Strategy and Innovation Council, made up of council chairs, co-chairs, and advisors, who have been meeting for several months to develop the 2020-2025 Nursing Strategic Plan.

The team consulted with Karen Kiel-Rosser, MHA, LSSGB, Vice President of Quality, to work through the strategic planning process by challenging the team to think about what we are most passionate about and what fuels our energy to improve the future. The team is highly engaged and enthusiastic about the plan. Kristen Myers, PhD, MSN, MPH, RN, CNE, CPH, Chair of the Nursing Research Council shares, “It’s spectacular. I am so excited to be a part of this.”

The Nursing Strategic Plan aligns with Mary Greeley’s priorities to improve the organization’s performance. It is a living, breathing document to guide the nursing division for the next 5 years. The Nursing Strategic Plan serves as our roadmap for the future. The Nursing Strategy and Innovation Council is excited to share the 2020-2025 Nursing Strategic Plan with you soon.

Spoiler Alert: You are going to love it.

KEY DIRECTIVE: LEADERSHIP: Nurses stimulate, inspire, empower, influence, motivate, encourage and challenge each other and our colleagues to be the best.

2NURSING NEWS, Mary Greeley Medical Center, May 2020

When will it end?That is the question I get asked the most these days . . . both at work and at home. My answer is always the same, “Never.” I really believe that. In almost anything there is never really a return to normal or an official end. There is only a new normal. So, if you ask me, “When will we find our new normal?” I have a little better answer, “We are finding it a little bit each day.” Now to some of you those may sound like the answers of a politician. I am not trying to use platitudes or non-specifics. I am trying to be completely honest.As someone who loves change, this COVID-19 Pandemic has had a different effect on me. I have enjoyed parts of it immensely. I have enjoyed the daily planning. I have enjoyed finding new solutions to new rules every day. I have enjoyed running at a thousand miles per hour. Yet, even as a change agent, I have days when I am ready for it to be over.I know that you, too, have days when you are struggling. Can you imagine the way our patients and community members are feeling? They are getting their information only from the mainstream media. Much of that information we know is not true or is really blown out of proportion. They are not receiving the fact-based information that we are from the ever reliable Amber Deardorff, Vice President, Clinical and Support Services. She has been the constant and reliable source of information for Mary Greeley and our regional partners. Not to mention, Amber was also an amazing front line Intensive Care Unit Registered Nurse here at Mary Greeley.We are all learning and adapting to what the new normal looks like for us. As I am writing this, we are opening up the new Surgical Unit located on the 6th floor. The first patient showed up there just a few minutes ago. This was one of the first elective inpatient surgeries in nearly two months. This was as important step. We need to find the balance between continuing to serve patients who need surgery and the ones who are needing our help due to COVID19.It will be a series of little steps that help us find our new normal. Remember, there is no playbook for this. Everyone is trying to figure it out - big hospitals and little hospitals. It is a brave new world, and those who are brave will lead the way. Mary Greeley as an organization is prepared for this. We haven’t mentioned this in a while, but a large part of the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award revolves around readiness and planning. We are proving that we earned that award every day during this crisis.Yet, it is the people that will make this all feel normal again. I, too, long for the days when our patients can have visitors, when we can meet in person again, when we can go places and see each other’s uncovered faces. Those days will return, but let’s not rush it. Let’s return to normal slowly and steadily. Let’s embrace where we are today. These are historic times. We will get to tell those who come after us what we learned. Enjoy the moment.This will never end, but it will find a new normal. Thanks for going on this journey. I am thankful for you. Thanks for all you do.

CoryGCory Geffre, MS, BSN, RN Vice President / Chief Nursing Officer

Cory’s Column a conversation with Mary Greeley CNO, Cory Geffre


KEY DIRECTIVE: ADVOCACY: Nurses advocate for patient quality and safety.

Dr. Kristen Myers, PhD, MSN/MPH, RN, CNE, CPH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, CRISIS NURSE

“Crazy. Psycho. Liar. Dangerous. Lazy. Attention-seeking.”

“They’re just a drunk. They did this to themselves.”

“If the parents would actually discipline them for once, maybe they wouldn’t be like this.”

“I don’t like psych patients. I’m not a psych nurse.”

When you find out your patient has suicidal thoughts, intentionally overdosed on pills, is withdrawing from alcohol, is seeing demons flying around their room, or believes they work for the FBI, some of the words and phrases I just mentioned may go through your head. They used to go through my head too. That is, until my personal and professional journey in mental health led me to discover how misunderstood and stigmatized children, adolescents, and adults with mental illness are. May is Mental Health Awareness month and I am excited to have this opportunity to share a few words of wisdom about psychiatric-mental health nursing with all of you.

Before I do that, you might be wondering who this person is writing this article for you to read. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Dr. Kristen Myers and I am one of the behavioral health crisis nurses at Mary Greeley. You might have seen me down in the ED or up on the behavioral health unit. Before coming to Mary Greeley, I was a nursing professor and taught in the classroom and clinical for 7 years. I finished my PhD in Nursing last year and recently came to Mary Greeley full-time for the opportunity to conduct research and help build our nursing research program for Magnet designation. Public health and psych-mental health are my areas of clinical expertise and I love being able to combine all of my interests and talents into one place at MGMC.

As someone who personally has mental illness and has a child with autism, I am a huge advocate for mental health. The two biggest things I have gathered from my experiences as a patient, a parent, and a professional are that everyone matters, and we can do better. Mental illness happens. No one chooses it. It happens for a variety of reasons, many of which the person has no control over. The American Psychiatric Nurses Association says there are nearly 58 million people in America right now that experienced mental illness or a substance use disorder in any given year. That’s a lot of people, and this means psychiatric-mental health is no longer isolated to psychiatric units. It transcends all areas of nursing practice, and we, as a nursing profession, must rise to the challenge to care for these complex patients regardless of personal preferences and opinions.

How can we let our patients experiencing mental illness know that they matter? By listening to them. How can we listen to them better? That’s where The LISTEN Project comes in. The LISTEN Project is my program of nursing research and it aims to improve the quality of care provided to persons with mental illness by transforming negative perceptions, stereotype attitudes, and prejudices of non-psychiatric nurses and health care providers.

You will hear more about The LISTEN Project in the future, once we get a handle on COVID and things begin to return to normal. One of the first activities I will do under this program of research is to offer a series of educational sessions on how to provide the best care to patients experiencing various mental illnesses on non-psychiatric medical units. I hope you will attend!

In closing, I want to challenge you all to stay committed to the reason why we joined this profession: to help people. It doesn’t matter whether it’s mental illness or medical illness; we have a responsibility to care for our patients with compassion and without judgment. Psychiatric-mental health does not have to be your area of expertise or your passion to be able to provide high quality, compassionate care to patients experiencing mental illness. All you need is your heart. Always remember that #EveryoneMatters and #WeCanDoBetter.


Stroke Facts:80% of strokes are preventable.A person is at a 30% greater risk for having a stroke after a TIA. 33% of strokes are caused by Atrial FibrillationModifiable Risk Factors for Stroke include:

• Atrial Fibrillation• Diabetes• Hyperlipidemia • Obesity• Inactivity• Sleep Apnea• Drug/alcohol abuse• Smoking/Vaping

Non-modifiable Risk Factors are:• Age• Previous stroke• Family history of stroke• Gender

Would you be able to recognize a stroke if it happened to you or someone you are with? Hopefully we all recall the mnemonic FAST: F=FaceA=ArmsS=SpeechT=Time

There’s a new mnemonic as FAST does not identify about 40% of strokes. The new mnemonic that staff are being encouraged to use is: BEFAST: B=BalanceE=EyesF=FaceA=ArmsS=SpeechT=Time

Balance and vision are controlled by the posterior portion of the brain and are not recognized with the FAST mnemonic. Stroke prevention activities include:

• 30 minutes/day 5 days a week aerobic exercise

• Blood pressure control within guidelines (130/80 or lower)

• Maintain a healthy weight• Control blood sugars if diabetic• Low fat, low sodium diet• Alcohol in moderation• Stop smoking: E-cigs are as harmful if not

more harmful

STROKE IS A BRAIN ATTACK and should be treated emergently. Call 911 if in the community, call ACT team if inpatient or call a STROKE CODE if in ICCU or ED.

May is Stroke Awareness Month


COVID-19 Self-Care PackageThe American Nurses Association is offering a COVID-19 Self Care Package that includes five online courses for nurses to support them through this pandemic and beyond. The courses are free of charge, and available any time of the day. The courses also include nursing continuing education credit. To register, click here.

Nurse to Nurse Support LineThe Iowa Nurses Association (INA) has created a new Nurse to Nurse support line for all nurses across the state.The INA’s COVID-19 Task Force created the “warmline” to focus on providing support for nurses’ mental health and well-being during the coronavirus pandemic.With daily challenges to a global healthcare system because of the pandemic, and new information emerging rapidly, nurses are experiencing higher than normal levels of stress and anxiety. The warm line is not about giving advice, critiquing any policies or decisions, but expressly for the purpose of providing a safe and confidential listening ear, acknowledging the stress and anxiety this pandemic creates and encouraging nurse self-care while supporting and affirming Iowa nurses.The line is staffed by volunteer nurses and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.by calling (515) 650-2295.

https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/work-environment/health-safety/disaster-preparedness/coronavirus/education/anas-covid-19-self-care-package-for-nurses/



Nursing Research Council• Check out the new and improved

Research page on SharePoint.• Nursing Grand Rounds: Poking and Prying

with a Purpose on July 21.• Contact NRC Chair, Kristen Myers, PhD,

MSN/MPH, RN, CNE, CPH, Behavioral Health, with questions.

Nursing Practice Council• Reviewed and approved Standard Work

documents:• Chest Tube Placement• MIC-KEY Tube Bolus Administration

• Contact NPC Chair Amy Olson, BSN, RN, PCCN, ICCU, with questions.

Nursing Quality Council• Please reference the 3M dressing

video for key education on how to reduce leaking from IV loop tubing.

• Contact Kat Remes, BSN, RN, VA-BC, Radiology, with MRN and details if a patient has bleeding or oozing from newly placed port site.

• Contact NQC Chair, Jacque Hollingshead, MSN, RN, CCRN, Education, with questions.

Nursing Night Shift Council• Night Resource Nurses begin on May

24. Their primary role is to support novice nurses on night shift.

• Planning NIGHTingale Award to engage and recognize night shift staff.

• Contact Night Council Chair, Jill Joslin, BSN, RN, Oncology, with questions.

NEAT Council• Sign up for your Nurse/Tech Week gift

selection – deadline extended to May 31.

• Buy a Year of the Nurse t-shirt to support nursing scholarships –deadline extended to May 31. Proceeds go to COVID-19 fund.

• Nurse/Tech Week celebration activities postponed to fall due to COVID-19.

• Contact NEAT Chair Monica Bohnert, BSN, RN, ICCU, with questions.

Nursing Education Council• Update: Nellcor Pulse Oximetry• Taking 5: Malignant Hyperthermia• Contact NEC Chair Danielle Ruben,

BSN, RN, PCCN, ICCU, with questions.

May 2020 MGMC Nursing Council Highlights

We haven’t forgotten Nurses/Tech Week!With current restrictions due to COVID-19, our Nurses/Tech Week celebration will be delayed until we are able to safely celebrate all of you! The Softball Tournament and 5K have been cancelled for this year. Stay safe, and we will let you know when our awesome celebration will be.

Additionally, since staff schedules have been impacted, we are extending the deadline to order your Nurses/Tech Week gift and t-shirt until May 31.

Order your Nurses/Tech Week t-shirts by clicking here. T-shirts are $15 and payments may be put in the drop box in the Cafeteria or given to Shelly Nagel, Medical Telemetry. Please make sure to include your name and department with your payment!

Click here to make your gift selection. Choose between a $6 Burgie’s gift card, a $6 donation to the Nursing Scholarship Fund or a heather gray lunch box (pictured).

https://form.jotform.com/90804501403950


Virtual Education FairBummed we didn’t have

an education fair this year? No worries! We’re bringing the fair directly to you!Many of the schools planning to attend provided us with information on the programs they offer and this information is now available to you!

Click the button below for the Staff Development Resources on the Human Resources Intranet page. Information by School is a newly added link for you to review programs offered by school.

Questions? Contact Tammy Stegman, Mary Greeley’s new Student and School Affiliation Coordinator at ext. 2486 or via email at [email protected].

Educate YourselfEducate Yourself

https://mgmclive/departments/Educ/StaffDevelopmentResources/_layouts/15/start.aspx#/


Keep Current with Practice UpdatesBy Nicole Stupp, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NURSING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

KEY DIRECTIVE: INNOVATION: Nurses use data, research, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and new ideas to improve outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

NURSING NEWS, Mary Greeley Medical Center, May 2020 9

Keep Current with Practice Updates





To provide development opportunities to our staff during the COVID-19 period, a total of 39 courses (73.5 credit hours) are now available for open enrollment in NetLearning. The list of these courses can be found on the MGMC Intranet under NetLearning Online ANCC Approved CEU courses.

Topics include:

• Change Management

• Communication Skills

• ConflictResolutionandTeam-BuildingSkills

• Preceptor, Mentor, Coach

• Diagnosis, Assessment, Education

Staff may enroll in as many modules as they wish by typing the desired course name under “Learning Opportunities (Enroll).” (see screenshot)

These courses are valid for one year after they are launched by the learner. Staff must obtain a copy of their completion certificateinordertoclaimthesecreditstowardlicenserenewal.

Free Nursing CE Opportunities

KEY DIRECTIVE: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Nurses participate in learning activities to develop competence needed to support the needs of MGMC, our patients and our community.

https://mgmclive/departments/Educ/default.aspx



Keep Current with Practice UpdatesPressure Injuries Hospital WideThe Nursing Quality Council (NQC) tracks house-wide HAPI incidence.

There were no pressure injuries

through the month of April!

Key Directives

Advocacy: Nurses advocate for patient quality and safety.

Teamwork: Nurses trust, respect, support and communicate with each other and our colleagues.

Service to Our Community: Nurses maintain a strong community presence in a variety of outreach programs.

Leadership: Nurses stimulate, inspire, empower, influence, motivate, encourage and challenge each other and our colleagues to be the best.

Shared Decision-Making: Nurses make autonomous decisions about nursing practice standards, quality improvement, professional development and professional image.

Compassion: Nurses care for our patients, colleagues, and community.

Professional Development: Nurses participate in learning activities to develop competence needed to support the needs of MGMC, our patients and our community.

Innovation: Nurses use data, research, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and new ideas to improve outcomes and cost-effectiveness.


The Nursing Certification Program is supported by gifts made to the Mary Greeley Medical Center Foundation.

Congratulations to Julie Hull, BSN, RN, RNC-OB,

Birthways, who recently recertified as an Obstetrics nurse. Julie shares, “I enjoy the challenge of being certified in my area of practice because it enables me to research, study, and increase my knowledge in content that’s important in my job.”

Julie Hull

Recognizing Professional DevelopmentBy Cory Geffre, MS, BSN, CHIEF NURSING OFFICER

KEY DIRECTIVE: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Nurses participate in learning activities to develop competence needed to support the needs of MGMC, our patients and our community.

NURSING NEWS Staff

Nursing Administration: Cory Geffre, MS, BSN, Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer

Editor: Nicole Stupp, MSN, RN, CMSRN Nursing Staff Development Coordinator

To contact Nursing News with questions about a story or to contribute an original article call Nicole Stupp at ext. 2434 or e-mail [email protected].

Congratulations to Candace Flakoll, BSN,

RN, C-EFM, RNC-OB, Birthways, who recently recertified as an Obstetrics nurse. Candace writes, “This helps me maintain competence in my area of nursing to be able to teach the most recent evidence-based practice to staff on Birthways.””

Candace Flakoll

Congratulations to Beth Rich, BSN, RN, RNC-OB,

Birthways, who recently recertified as an Obstetrics nurse. Beth shares, “Being certified requires me to do a lot of continuing education which benefits my practice. It keeps me updated on current practice.”

Beth Rich

Congratulations Kris Franken, RN, CAPA, ACS,

who recent recertified as a Perianesthesia nurse. Kris writes, “Being CAPA certified allows me to focus on my commitment to lifelong learning. It enhances employer confidence and improves patient care and safety.”

Kris Franken

Congratulations to Michelle Utley, BSN, RN,

CCDS, Case Management, who recent recertified as a Clinical Documentation Specialist. Michelle writes, “It helps me promote documentation and medical records integrity and helps me stay current on compliant documentation.”

Michelle Utley

Congratulations Brianne Wessels, BSN, RN, CEN,

ED, who recently recertifed as an Emergency nurse. Brianne shares, “Certification allows me to keep current with the latest evidence based care in emergency nursing.”

Brianne Wessels

Congratulations to Simone Peterson, BSN, RN, CLC,

Birthways, who recently recertified as a Lactation Consultant. Simone shares, “I have a passion for the area of lactation and am always excited to learn more about it. Being certified in this area allows me time in a field I enjoy which is healthy for me, while at the same time being able to share what I learn with breastfeeding families and those considering breastfeeding which in turn can be healthy for them.”

Simone Peterson

Congratulations to Kristin Myers, MPH, MSN, RN,

CIC, CNE, CPH, Behavioral Health, who recently recertified in Public Health. Kristen shares, “Public health is one of my areas of expertise for which I have master degrees. Having a community/public health perspective is important when caring for behavioral health patients because mental illness is life-long and requires strong community support. As a nurse educator, I am able to offer my expertise to the nurse residency program and nursing professional development.”

Kristen Myers

a monthly publication of the nursing departments april 2020 · nursing news, mary greeley medical...

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