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urse N Children’s 2013: A Year in Review

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urseN Children’s

2013: A Year in Review

As I reflect on 2013, I am struck by how much Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin nurses have focused on

developing professionally to provide high-quality care for our patients and families. We collaborated to align

our standard of nursing practice across our system – in Milwaukee, in Neenah, and at our Surgicenter. I am so

proud of the work that has been done to create an environment where professional practice flourishes and

partnerships are developed to improve the health of the children we serve.

Please enjoy our nursing publication and take time to reflect on the many ways nursing influences the

outcomes of patient care – through direct care, research, education, participation in decision-making, and by

being At Our Best. As nurses, we are part of an intraprofessional team, and our contributions are valued.

I personally want to thank every Children’s nurse for the difference you make in the life of every child and

family we encounter.

Nancy Korom, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN

Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

A note from Nancy

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Medical First ...............................................2

Special Needs ........................................... 6

A gift aimed at helping nurses ........10

Nurse of the Year ................................... 12

The Year in Research ............................ 15

Magnet®-Caliber Excellence ..............16

Excellence in nursing ............................18

Looking to the Future ........................ 20

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3

Jackson Radandt

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Jackson Radandt is a special young man under any circumstances, but he also holds a unique place in medical

history as the first single-ventricle patient ever to be discharged with a HeartWare® VAD (HVAD).

Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), in which the left ventricle is severely underdeveloped, Jackson

began experiencing heart failure at age 11 and his family was told he would need a transplant. Because of his

complex medical condition, he would have to spend that time far away from his Valders, Wis., home in a bed at

the Herma Heart Center at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

While he grew extremely close to the many staff members involved in his care – to the point where Jackson and

his mother, Missy Radandt, said they became like family – Jackson was understandably homesick.

“I was going insane,” he said. “I felt like I was in a tiny yellow box!”

Thankfully, there was a way out of that box. But like just about everything involved in his care, it wasn’t without risk.

Medical FirstChildren’s heart patient becomes first-ever sent home with new technology

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Andrea Bobke, MSN, CPNP-PC, APNP, helped the

Radandts as they prepared to take Jackson home.

“I was able to witness just how strong a family can be,”

Bobke said. “Not only has there never been a patient

like Jack, but there has never been a mother like Missy,

a father like Jason, sisters like Eden and Ella. No one

had ever taken home a child with one ventricle on

an HVAD. It was a bunch of firsts, and they all did an

amazing job.”

Seeing Jackson back at Children’s for a monthly

appointment, it’s apparent that the close relationships

have continued. They talk medical stuff, sure, but also

about his upcoming basketball games and other life

events.

“They were like family when I was here,” Jackson said.

“I got to know all of them very well. I was happy to not

have to be here, but I did miss them.”

Fischer and other Children’s nurses might be happy

to hear that all the trials and tribulations Jackson

endured might just have started him on his future

career path. He’s pretty sure he’d love to be a doctor,

and nobody has any doubts he can make it happen. u

5

Above: Andrea Bobke, MSN, CPNP-PC, APNP, visits with Jackson Radandt (right) during his monthly checkup at the Herma Heart Center in April.

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Making history

The HVAD is a mechanical

pump implanted in the

body to help blood flow

in people with weakened

hearts. The portable

version is carried much

like a laptop bag, with a

strap over the shoulder

and the case down by

the waist. Adults have

had success using them

at home, but it’s much

more rare in children. For

a pediatric patient with

HLHS, like Jackson, it had

never been done.

Being a medical pioneer might sound exciting, but

Missy Radandt said the uncertainty was “terrifying.”

She, her husband, Jason, and others would have to

be trained on how to care for Jackson on their own,

without the expertise of the Children’s staff and high-

tech equipment giving them that sense of security.

Despite their fears, the possible upside was too good

to ignore, and it turned out to be a great decision.

“We were able to live as a family again,” Missy said,

adding that the family’s two daughters, Eden and

Ella, were essentially living at their grandmother’s

house while she and Jason juggled work and making

the 90-minute drive back and forth to the hospital.

“Kids thrive being at home. Just being home for a

week, I thought he looked better, being in that natural

environment. His color looked better. His attitude.

There’s a difference.”

Jackson didn’t just sit at home, however. He flourished

and became incredibly active, running and playing,

and even taking up archery at school. “He was able

to remain a child and live a somewhat normal life,”

Missy said.

All told, Jackson was able to spend three months at

home before his transplant in May of last year. Since

then, he has been in good health. He just turned 13 and

has been delivering speeches about his experience to

groups like Wings of Angels and the American Heart

Association.

Like family

Jackson’s medical odyssey not only was transformative

for him and his family, but for the entire Children’s team

that worked with him.

“The Radandt family is amazing,” said Stacy Fischer,

MSN, RN, CPN, who saw Jackson in the ICU. “It was a

blessing that I was able to get to know them through

this whole journey and be a familiar face.”

Fischer called Missy a “rock star of a mom” in how

she handled not only being supportive for Jackson,

but also the extensive training required to do sterile

HVAD dressing changes. This aptitude was reflected in

Jackson, as well.

“I can’t say enough about how smart he is,” Fischer

said. “He is a very special kid. He is so in tune with his

body and knew every medication that he was on and

what it was for.”

Jackson Radandt carried his HVAD around for three months waiting for a heart transplant.

From left: Stacy Fischer, MSN, RN, CPN; Gail Stendahl, DNP, RN, CPNP; and Andrea Bobke, MSN, CPNP-PC, APNP, reunite with Jackson Radandt (front), during his monthly checkup at the Herma Heart Center in April.

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

7

Holly Owens has had much more time with her daughter Maya than was ever expected, and she knows it’s

because of the Special Needs Program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Holly adopted Maya from India at age 2, and it was just shortly afterward that her little girl started experiencing

health problems. She eventually received the shattering news that Maya had mitochondrial disease, and that the

life ahead of her would be short and full of pain. The focus then became making whatever time Maya had matter.

That’s hard to do when entire days, weeks and months are consumed by a series of doctor visits, hospital stays

and a constant, agonizing effort to keep it all coordinated. Holly remembers spending hours on the phone trying

to reach the right person for this or that appointment, the right specialist for this or that ailment, only to end up

having to do the whole thing over again the next day.

From their home in La Crosse, Wis., Maya frequently would have to be transported to Children’s – sometimes as

often as twice a week – when her medical needs could not be met locally. That also meant Holly having to rent a

Special NeedsProgram gives Maya and her mom a new, simpler life

Maya Owens (left) and Mary Krauthoefer, BSN, RN, CPN, share a moment during one of Maya’s recent visits to Children’s Hosptial of Wisconsin.

chw.org6 Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

9

“I have cried and laughed with them. I have worried when they worry, and I have been able to celebrate when they celebrate.”

– Mary Krauthoefer, BSN, RN, CPN, about her experience working with Maya Owens and her mother, Holly

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car to drive down. Though Maya was a fighter, and

Holly remained determined and vigilant as ever, it was

all beyond overwhelming.

There had to be a better way.

“I knew what I was looking for, but I couldn’t put it

into words,” Holly said. “I needed [a program] that

could look at my daughter outside of a textbook,

because she’s not a textbook. I needed people to

be looking at her beyond one organ system, looking

at her as a person, as a child, not as someone who

needs to live in the hospital. I was just at a loss where

to find this.”

Then, during one of Maya’s stints at Children’s, she

learned about the Special Needs Program.

The official description for the program says it helps

coordinate medical and nonmedical services for

children with medical complexity due to multiple

chronic conditions. For Holly, that’s a rather low-key

way of saying that she and Maya were headed toward

a whole new life.

All those doctors Maya had to see would now be

communicating with each other along with everyone

else involved in her care. No more conflicting medical

plans, no more frustrating phone calls, and no more

of that hopeless feeling of not knowing where to go.

“I know that if I had not come to Children’s and

become part of the Special Needs Program, Maya

wouldn’t be here,” Holly said. “I have no doubt in

my mind. It’s made that big of a difference.” The

year before joining the program, Holly said Maya

spent more than 200 days in the hospital. Now she

averages about four to six weeks per year, which still

sounds like a lot to most people, but Holly said it feels

like nothing compared with their old routine.

Four years ago, Holly and Maya moved closer to

Children’s, a decision made much easier by the help

she received from the Special Needs team.

Now 15, Maya still faces many challenges, but she

lives her life with a joy – and a smile – that brings

inspiration to her mom and everyone around her. For

Maya, the Special Needs Program has meant getting

more of a chance to be a normal kid. Part of that is

a more organized effort toward her health care, but

it also means having a mother who can focus on the

job of raising her.

“It gives me that much more time to be my

daughter’s mom,” Holly said. “I spent so much time

being my daughter’s nurse, her case manager, her

doctor, her case worker, that I just want to be her

mom. They’re able to take a lot of that time I was

spending inefficiently and let me focus on just being

her mom.” u

8

From left: John Gordon, MD, director of the Special Needs program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, visits with Maya Owens as Mary Krauthoefer, BSN, RN, CPN, looks on.

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

“Nurses have such a complex job today everywhere,

but especially in pediatric hospitals like Children’s,”

she said. “They have to play so many roles at one time.

They switch from an information technology role right

into a very technical role and then right into a deeply

human, emotional role of holding a patient’s hand. I just

have the utmost respect because they can transition

through these roles, and they embrace each of these

roles so beautifully. … I’ve just been so impressed at

Children’s that the nurses are well-trained in each of

those roles.”

Children’s was first designated a Magnet hospital in

2004, then again in 2009. A team of Magnet appraisers

made a site visit to Children’s in March of this year for a

possible third designation. (Learn more about Magnet

and what it means for Children’s on Page 16.)

“Medically complex”

At 6 years old, Beth’s son Mac has had to endure a

variety of health struggles, including respiratory, spinal,

gastrointestinal and cardiac issues. He’s certainly no

stranger to hospitals, having endured an incredible 36

surgeries – including open-heart surgery, spinal cord

surgery and, on the day he was born, a seven-hour

trachea esophageal procedure. He spent his first three

months in the NICU.

Then, just shy of Mac’s first birthday, the family moved

to Wisconsin, and Beth was understandably nervous

about how her “medically complex” son would fare in

the transition. She credits the Special Needs Program

(see story on Page 6) for making it as smooth as

possible.

“We’ve just been amazed at Children’s with the

continuity of his care and the ability for everybody to

come together and see the different parts of his care,”

she said. “We think an integral part of that continuity

is the nurse at the center really taking the time to get

to know us as a patient and get to know his history,

which is very complex, and being comfortable enough

with his history and their role on the medical team to

advocate for him and us.” u

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin was born 120 years

ago in Milwaukee, a city struggling to cope with

poverty so deep it was affecting the health of children.

So much has changed, and so much has not. In 1894,

the needs of children were met by the founders of the

new hospital, and by the support of the community.

Today, the need to provide dedicated pediatric care

is greater than ever, and our ability to provide the

best care for children as one of the nation’s leading

children’s hospitals (rated #4 by Parents magazine) is

only possible through the continued support of this

community.

It is our vision that Wisconsin’s children will be the

healthiest in the country. It is through the generous

support of individuals, family foundations, corporations

and others that our exceptional nurses, doctors and

other care providers in the hospital and throughout the

community are able to give kids the best care every

day. That same support will help us reach our goal.

How do we get there? Through offering the best

outcomes in the world for the most complex conditions

(Herma Heart Center), guiding new lifesaving

research breakthroughs (whole genome sequencing),

and delivering quality care to children in at-risk

neighborhoods, just as we did in 1894. Children’s

continues to set new standards of excellence in

pediatric health care – and we still do it with the

help of our community.

Your support helps fund our programs, from research

and critical care for the sickest kids and babies, to

community initiatives designed to keep kids healthy. To

learn more about how your gifts make a difference, call

us toll free (888) 543-7233 or visit chw.org/give.

11

How you can help

chw.org10

Beth Daley Ullem is on the board of directors for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, but when she brings her son

Mac in for treatment, she’s just like any other mom.

She’s in full “mom mode,” concerned about her son’s many medical needs and having to entrust so much of his

care to others. The good news is that she is continually inspired by what she has seen from the nurses, doctors

and staff at Children’s. She holds a special regard, though, for the nurses.

“We’ve gotten such fantastic nursing care at Children’s,” she said. “I really like how they’re a very integrated,

central part of the health care team, and they’re great advocates for us as patients.”

It is this personal experience mixed with the broader picture she gets from serving on the board that gives Beth

a unique perspective on all that Children’s is and does. It prompted Beth and her husband, Scott, to donate

$100,000 this year to the nursing program.

Magnet motivation

A key factor behind the Ullems’ gift was their desire to help Children’s maintain its prestigious designation as a

Magnet-recognized hospital. The Magnet program, administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center,

certifies every four years that a health organization offers the highest quality nursing care in all areas. At last

count, there are 401 Magnet hospitals worldwide.

Beth said all that she learned about the program, and how it promotes an environment where nurses are

encouraged to further their education and pursue advanced degrees, persuaded her that it was a worthy cause.

$100,000 A gift aimed at helping nurses advance their education

Beth Daley Ullem, seen here with her son Mac, donated $100,000 to the nursing program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

13

Heather Sanders, BSN, RN, CPNA look back on life as Nurse of the Year

Last April Fool’s Day was shaping up to be a real doozy for Heather Sanders BSN, RN, CPN. Someone was trying

to convince her that she had been named the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Nurse of the Year for 2013.

“I didn’t believe it at first,” said Sanders, thinking maybe she was being pranked. “I didn’t say much about it to

anyone until I got another call from the freelance writer who was going to write the article and I got an email from

work. Then I started to believe that it was real. I shared it with all my friends on Facebook and all my family, and I

was pretty excited from there on out.”

Yes, the honor was very real indeed. Sanders, who works in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital

of Wisconsin, was singled out by the family of a patient she had last cared for more than a year prior to being

nominated.

Caring for Cody

For four months, Sanders cheerfully and tirelessly worked with Cody, a 14-year-old who had been admitted for

heart-valve replacement surgery only to end up falling into a coma and being placed on a heart and lung machine.

chw.org12

Heather Sanders, BSN, RN, CPN

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

15

A lot of exciting research projects continue to be

conducted at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Here

are some highlights from 2013:

Children With Congenital Heart Disease: Kathleen A.

Mussatto, PhD, RN, co-authored a longitudinal study

that found that developmental delays in children with

congenital heart disease were much more common

than expected. Dr. Mussatto was nominated for the

Julie Lathrop Nursing Research Award.

The Infant Feeding Experience: Rosemary White-Traut,

PhD, RN, FAAN, is leading a study aimed at preventing

babies who cannot initially feed through their mouths

from developing oral feeding difficulty, the research

team conducts weekly visits with participating mothers

and babies to monitor feeding behaviors, how feeding

is progressing, growth, interaction during feeding, what

type of feeding the baby is having at time of discharge,

and the baby’s ability to suck on a nipple. The check-ins

continue after discharge at 2, 4, 6, and 12 months old.

Neonatal Pain Management: Michelle Czarnecki,

MSN, RN-BC, CPNP, and Keri Hainsworth, PhD, and

their team are leading a randomized controlled trial

to compare outcomes associated with continuous

opioid infusions with those associated with Parent

Nurse Controlled Analgesia (PNCA), in which a

parent or a nurse is able to administer small doses

to achieve comfort. Both methods were successful,

but the PNCA group used significantly less opioids.

This is an important step toward improving the safety

and efficiency of pain management in a vulnerable

population.

Solid Organ Transplant Care After Discharge: Stacee

Lerret, PhD, RN, CPNP-AC/PC, CCTC, is working on

an innovative study that promotes integrating mobile

health care technology (mHealth) to assist families in

the transition from hospital to home following a solid

organ transplant. u

2013The Year in Nursing Research

chw.org14

She kept him comfortable and was there when he

woke up, making sure he was warm – Cody was always

cold – and helping him go through dialysis.

Then there was the nonmedical care Sanders

provided: Washing Cody’s hair, singing to him and

forging a connection through their shared love of

Christian music.

“Cody was very special to me,” Sanders said. “Not

everyone is able to take care of the older patients.

Sometimes they’re more difficult to deal with … it

has to be just the right fit to find someone who can

connect with a teenager on that level. We had a lot

of fun together, and I’m on the weekend program, so

we always looked forward to spending our weekends

together. We would always have a little spa day, so it

was fun.”

Cody left the hospital only to return with a rare

infection. He was in a different area of the hospital this

time, but his favorite nurse still made time to visit him

after her 12-hour shifts, washing his hair when he asked

and singing with him. Sanders was one of his last

visitors, telling Cody what his family had been telling

him, that it was OK for him to let go. He passed away

in March 2012.

Nancy Rusch, Cody’s grandmother, never forgot

Sanders’ efforts and was moved to fill out a Nurse of

the Year nomination. She called Sanders “an angel,”

and marveled about how she always treated Cody

with “love, respect, compassion and grace.”

The gesture meant a lot to Sanders, especially given

how much time had passed.

“I had no idea that anyone had filled out the

nomination for me,” she said. “They hadn’t been in the

hospital for quite some time, so I had thought that of

all people it might have been somebody who was still

[here]. But it was someone for who the care I gave

still stuck with them a year later. It obviously meant

something to them, and that was very heartwarming

to me.”

Above and beyond

While Sanders said her day-to-day life on the job

hasn’t changed all that much, the award is a wonderful

validation for her career choice.

The Muskego native, who joined Children’s upon

graduating from Marquette University in 2008, said

she initially wanted to be a pediatrician, but shifted

into nursing when she learned she could be more

hands-on in that role. Her passion for the medical field

came from watching how nurses helped her mother

deal with multiple sclerosis, a disease that claimed her

life when Sanders was only 10.

“I look forward to waking up and going to work every

day,” she said. “I like the people I work with, and it

really is a well-rounded hospital. It’s not just about the

care of the kids. It’s about the family as a whole. I like

the opportunity to work with adults and children.”

Sanders also delights in the fact that her award helps

raise the hospital’s profile, alongside other distinctions

including Children’s being ranked No. 4 by Parents

magazine in its list of the nation’s best children’s

hospitals.

She does see herself pursuing an advanced nursing

degree, but right now she’s perfectly content

interacting with patients, as well as taking on the

responsibilities of becoming a certified lactation

consultant, serving on three hospital committees,

mentoring new nurses and participating in research

projects.

As a mother of two young boys, Nathan and Myles,

Sanders knows how important it is to make sure

quality care exists for children and their families.

“I give the kind of care that I would expect my son to

be given if he were in the hospital,” she said. “I try to

go above and beyond to give the care that I would

want for him.” u

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

17

with shared governance councils, leaders, physicians

and other team members, and reviewed outcomes

related to quality care, nurse satisfaction and patient

experience.

The feedback from the appraisers was extremely

positive, with words like “exemplary,” “extremely

nimble” and “impressive” included in their comments.

Nancy Korom, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, chief

nursing officer and vice president, called the visit a

transformative experience. “In our closing session,

they let us know how engaged we have been in this

process,” she said. “The appraisers told us they felt the

engagement at all levels. They were impressed with

how well our nurses, physicians, leaders and staff can

all articulate the Magnet work we do.”

The appraisers submit a report of their findings to the

Commission on Magnet, which is expected to make the

final decision on our designation in May or June. u

chw.org16

In 2013, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and Neenah, Wis., and Surgicenter embarked on the journey

toward Magnet designation. Awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, Magnet is the highest honor a

health care organization can receive for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in nursing practice.

Organizations apply for Magnet status every four years, and Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee has been Magnet-

designated since 2004. Given that less than 8 percent of the nation’s hospitals receive Magnet designation, this

makes Children’s part of an elite group!

Due to an organizational change in 2010, all three Children’s sites are now eligible to apply as part of this

designation — the third for Milwaukee, and the first for the Neenah hospital and Surgicenter. Our application

included evidence that reflects how nurses and team members in all areas demonstrate Magnet excellence. This

information was submitted to the Magnet office in April 2013. Three reviewers then evaluated the information and

determined that we met the standards to receive a site visit.

In March 2014, three appraisers visited all three locations to conduct the site visit. They were seeking to clarify,

verify and amplify the information submitted in the application. They spoke with nurses in all areas, held meetings

ExcellenceChildren’s Hospital of Wisconsin sites demostrate Magnet®-Caliber

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

19

Stacy Fischer,MSN, RN, CPNWest 3

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Cori Gibson,MSN, RN, CNL*Patient Care Services

Laurie Osborn,BSN, RN, CCM*MACC Fund Center

Karen Sherry,MS, RN, CPNP GI Clinic

Sheryl Cerniglia,BSN, RN, CPN* Center 7

Alyse Bartczak,BSN, RNClinical Resource Unit

Erin Lorenz,BSN, RN*West 5

Jane Sowinski,BSN, RNCardiology Clinic

* Indicates repeat REACH recipient

Rachel Grycan,BSN, RN, CPN*West 5

Jackie Blair,BSN, RN, CPN* East 8

Ashley Mathisen,BSN, RNWest 4

Lisa Van Dyken,BSN, RN, TNSTransport

Anne Mussatti,ADN, RN, CCRN* NICU

Patricia Dresen,BSN, RNClinical Resource Unit

Heather Menting,ADN, RNFox Valley-NICU

Andrea Vorpahl,BSN, RNClinical Resource Unit

Cynthia Rivera,BSN, RN, CCRN* West 3

Lisa Ettienne,BSN, RNWest 11

Amy Seiler,BSN, RNSurgicenter

Kristen Werginz,ADN, RN*West 5

Linda Wallenkamp,BSN, RN, CCRN* West 3

Genesee Hornung,BSN, RNNICU

Michelle Stampa,MSN, RNCenter 7

chw.org18

REACH is Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s professional advancement program for registered nurses practicing

in direct patient care roles. REACH stands for Recognizing Excellence, Expertise and Achievements at Children’s

Hospital. Nurses participating in the REACH program provide evidence of their work and related outcomes in four

areas: clinical practice, facilitation of learning, shared leadership and best practice. They can choose to apply at

one of three levels:

• Bronze: Reflecting outcomes that impact individual nursing practice

• Silver: Reflecting outcomes that impact the unit or department

• Gold: Reflecting outcomes that impact the organization or community

Each of the three levels has prerequisites, including years of experience, education and certification.

Applications are reviewed by the REACH Committee, which is made up of a group of nurses representing

different practice areas. Co-chaired by Linda Flannery, BSN, RN, and Deena Davis, BSN, RN, CCRN, the group

provides feedback and determines the REACH level demonstrated in the application.

REACH nurses are recognized in a variety of ways. Recipients receive a stipend that can be used to support

professional development, including certification renewal, professional organization dues, journal subscriptions

and conference fees. They also receive their REACH award pins at a dinner, where their accomplishments

are shared.

The 2013 REACH recipients include 23 nurses, representing inpatient and ambulatory services at Children’s in

Milwaukee and Fox Valley, as well as the Surgicenter.

“I am so proud of the accomplishments of our REACH nurses,” says Nancy Korom, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, vice

president and chief nursing officer. “They truly showcase Magnet-caliber excellence, and are role models for their

peers.” u

REACHRewarding excellence in nursing

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

20

Many exciting changes and improvements impacting Children’s nurses will occur in 2014.

Milwaukee campus

Patient Placement Plan: The new and expanded NICU,

which will be located on Center 7, Center 8 and West

8, will make necessary a series of patient placement

adjustments and physical unit moves throughout

Children’s Hospital-Milwaukee over the next three

years. Phase 1 will begin this summer, with Center 7

South Medical Unit moving patients to West 12 in June,

East 8 Acute Care Monitored Unit to Center 7 South

in July, and Center 7 North Newborn Progressive

Care Unit moving patients to West 8 in September.

To support these physical moves, the following

adjustments to patient placement will take effect in

summer 2014:

• West 12 (previously Center 7 South) will open as a

medical floor, focusing on patients under 1 year old

• West 10 will continue to care for surgical patients

over 1 year old and become the primary home for

hematology and viral oncology patients

• West 9 will continue to care for surgical patients,

and patients older than 1 with respiratory diagnoses

also may be placed here

• East 8 will temporarily move to Center 7 South in

July 2014, then move to its new permanent location

on Center 4 North in 2015. The unit will house acute

care monitored beds acute care monitored beds,

including patients from cardiology, hepatology,

nephrology, solid organ transplant, ingestions and

short stay infusions

• PICU (West 3, 4 and 5) patient placement won’t

change, except for placing acute care cardiac

patients on the acute care monitored floor

Fox Valley

Epic Refresh: Electronic health record documentation

enhancements support increased alignment between

Fox Valley and Milwaukee’s Epic documentation

NICU: A clinical practice group focused on aligning

practice between Fox Valley and Milwaukee has

formed, and exciting synergies have been identified.

Both units will be sharing best practices and

leveraging each other’s strengths to improve care for

neonatal patients.

Bar-coded medication: Implementation planned for

April, which will support enhanced safety and patient

identification practices.

Cardiology clinic: The rapid-improvement project will

standardize workflow for medical assistants and RNs,

with the goal of creating a more consistent patient

family experience and improve safety. u

FutureLooking to the

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin