UMHS Nursing Department Site

UM Nursing in the News

nursing building - link to nursing homepage.

CREATE YOUR CAREER WITH US...

Welcome to "UM Nursing in the News". The nursing community at the University of Michigan Health System is active. As you follow these links, you will see the many contributions our nurses make to the profession as well as to the community.

View archives prior to 2006

Archived Stories:

Clare Walsh, Elvie Casper, and Deborah McCloskey presented “FES: New Hope for Spinal Cord Injury Patients”, a poster at the Congress of Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation in Kissimmee, Florida.

Carol Racine and Jill Seary participated in “Project Shunt” a program to provide surgical care to children with hydrocephalus and spina bifida in Guatemala.

The GYN team will again be presenting at the 2nd annual four-day GYN conference held in Rochester, MI. Topics under the heading, “Robotic Techniques and Applications in GYN Surgery,” are going to be discussed by several people. The GYN team will be presenting, ‘Maximizing OR Efficiency, (Tips and Tricks)'.

Michelle Aebersold, PhD, RN; Mary Jo Kocan, CNS (4D Neuro ICU); and Cathy Guerriero, RN (4A Neuro); presented "Last Call: Alcohol Withdrawal Treatment Protocol" at the Quest for Excellence Nursing and Staff Development Conference in Columbus. The results from using the alcohol withdrawal protocol were published in the August, 2008 Archives of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery.

Wendi Hamlin, RN, JD, ENC-ML, was selected to receive the Michigan Nurses' Association's 2008 Excellence in Nursing Practice Award. This award is presented to a single nurse member of the Michigan Nurses' Association in recognition of professional practice and achievements that exemplify excellence in nursing. Candidates must demonstrate excellence in nursing practice, commitment to the profession of nursing and leadership abilities in the practice of nursing. Candidates must also demonstrate effective interdisciplinary collaboration, patient advocacy and evidence-based nursing practice.

Marcia Leonard, NP (Team 4, Cancer Center), has been selected as Nursing Clinical Trials Subcommittee Co-Chair, Non-Therapeutic Protocol Participation and Survivorship.The Children’s Oncology Group Nursing Discipline Steering Committee found Marcia to be an exceptionally strong candidate and were impressed not only with her extensive experience in pediatric oncology clinical trials, non-therapeutic studies, and survivorship, but also with her vision for carrying this important work forward within the COG Nursing Discipline, and her willingness and proven ability to mentor others in this leadership capacity.

Denise O'Brien, CNS, UH PACU, presented a pre-conference workshop on "Nursing and the Healthcare Information Systems Lifecycle Process" at the Summer Institute for Nursing Informatics, in Baltimore, Maryland, with Marisa L. Wilson, DNSc., MHSc., RN-BC, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing; Lyn Stankiewicz Murphy, PhD, MBA, MS, RN, Director of Professional Development, Assistant Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing; and Donna Maddox, RN, GE Healthcare Integrated IT Solutions, Product Manager, Perioperative.

Denise O'Brien and Marisa Wilson were notified that their abstract entitled "Journey to a Computational Language for ASPAN: a Translational Information Project", has been accepted by the Scientific Program Committee for presentation at the conference for Information Technology and Communications in Health (ITCH) to be held in Victoria, British Columbia in February.

Linda Kulik CNS (PCTU), and Jennifer Laurin, RN (PCTU), had their poster, called "An Incremental Approach to Orientation of New Graduate Nurses in an ICU", accepted for a conference at the University of Notre Dame - Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Wednesday, October 22, 2008.

Opal Patricia Lesse, MSN, APRN, FNP, BC (Inpatient Urology Nurse Practitioner), was the recipient of the Michigan Nurse Corps Scholarship for the Certified Nurse Educator Program (all online) with Northern Michigan University. The degree will go toward the Doctorate program she has applied for with Oakland University and was awarded a stipend toward.

Julie Grunawalt, MS, RN ( CNS), Donna McClish, Nurse Manager, and Deby Evans, RN (5B) recently had their poster accepted to be presented at the AMSN's 17th Annual Convention to be held in October in Nashville, TN.

UMHS is a finalist in the AHA-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize, which recognizes hospitals that have made the greatest strides toward fulfilling six quality and safety goals laid out by the prestigious Institute of Medicine: that health care should be safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable. The judges mentioned that “the strong nursing leadership, the collaborative/teamwork approach, and the active engagement of residents and students in patient safety and quality improvement were also striking.”
Read more.

Eileen Myers RN; a nurse from the CSR Blue Team participated in a mission trip from her church wherein she was one of 45 people sent to Zambia Africa. She worked with the medical team which consisted of a physician and 2 other nurses. During their 6 day trip they saw 1400 patients in three different villages in the bush.

Return to top

Mary DeLisle-Berry, RN (Neuro/Onc Team 7, Cancer Center), has been notified by the editor at large for Kaplan Publishing that her story "Combing Her Hair" is among those that have been accepted for Final Moments: Reflections on Death. In addition, her story will be included as a "sneak preview" in a promotion for the anthology.

New national rankings of American hospitals, compiled by U.S.News & World Report magazine mark the 13th year in a row that U-M has been named to the honor roll of “America’s Best Hospitals.” See more.

Survival Flight shared 1st place in the 1st International AAMS Critical Care Simulator Competition in Prague with Team ORNGE from Toronto, Canada. Flight Nurses David Roberts and Michael Chesney competed against nine international medical flight teams for the coveted METI Cup. Roberts and Chesney won the opportunity to compete internationally when they took home the METI Cup at the 2007 Air Medical Transport Conference held in Tampa, Florida last September.

Return to top

Jay Hathaway and Leo Olivarez, both nurses in Trauma Burn, participated in the 6th Annual Kids Burn Camp. The camp, held in early June every year, is a partnership with U of M, Spectrum Health Center and Bronson Methodist Hospital. It allows children who have been burned a great experience with much laughter and fun. This is Jay's second year and Leo's first.

Peg Esper, MSN, RN, APRN-BC, AOCN®, received the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Publishing Division’s Susan Baird Excellence in Writing Award in Clinical Practice. The award recognizes her article, “What kind of rash is it? Deciphering the dermatologic toxicities of biologic and targeted therapies,” published in the ONS journal, Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, as an outstanding scholarly presentation in the area of clinical practice.

Denise Landis, RN, Nurse Manager, (Survival Flight and SWAT) received the Barbara A. Hess Award, which recognizes an individual who has significantly contributed to the enhancement, development and/or promotion of the emergency medical industry through his/her research and/or educational efforts.

Return to top

Huey-Ming Tzeng (Corresponding Author), PhD, RN, Associate Professor, (UMSON); Julie Grunawalt, MS, APRN, Clinical Nurse Specialist; and Chang-Yi Yin, MA, Professor, Chinese Culture University, Department of History, Taipei, Taiwan; have had their paper, "Effective assessment of use of sitters by nurses in inpatient care settings", accepted for publication by Journal of Advanced Nursing.

Candia Laughlin, Director of Nursing and Patient Care Services (Ambulatory Care); and Marie Beisel, Nurse Manager (Ambulatory Care); had their abstract "Redefining the Role of the Primary Care Reg. Nurse in the Chronic Care Model" accepted for the AAACN 2009 Conference.

Mila Sarsozo, RN (CSR) was selected to be a delegate to the ANA convention in Washington DC the week of June 27, 2008.

Juanita Parry, Director (Nurse Recruitment and Retention) has been asked to speak at the Nurse Recruiting Conference in Chicago, on July 24. Juanita will be discussing “National Nurses Week: Aligning Nurse Preferences and Nursing Strategic Goals”.

Return to top

Elizabeth Nolan, Director of Patient Education & Wellness Resource Center (CVC) announces that UMHS received an award from Robert Wood Johnson for work on SPEAKING TOGETHER, the language services quality initiative. The Inpatient part of the project was done on inpatient cardiology. 7BC-D UH created a standard process to assure interpreters were notified for LEP patients, and speaker phones were placed at their bedside for 24-7 real-time interpretation. They now incorporate over-the-phone-interpretation on a regular basis and document interpreter use in the discharge teaching. Iris Lagrou and Cathy Kendrick were invited to attend the final meeting in Washington DC with the ST UMHS lead team. Unit Champions for this project included: Iris Lagrou, Gina Chung, Evelyn Lamus, Mitzi Chenault, Kimberly Honan as well as former staff Marie Piehl, Anne Richter, Mary Ann Ntzouras and Kelly Hu. Lourdes Smedley of CSR also participated. Work is underway to spread the change through all of UMHS.

Carol Mills, RN, and Lisa Danielson, RN, both Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurses (CRRN) on 6A, submitted an abstract, "The Yin and Yang of Caregiving", for the Association of Rehabilitation Nurses 34th Annual Educational Conference (Oct. in San Francisco) that has been accepted for a paper presentation.

Doctoral student Lixin Song, RN (7B/C Cardiology) has just received notification that her application for an individual NRSA entitled "Couples' Communication and Quality of Life during Prostate Cancer Survivorship" will be funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research.

"Acute and Critical Care Clinical Nurse Specialists: Synergy for Best Practices", Mary G McKinley (Editor) won an AJN Book of the Year Award. Elizabeth (Elsie) Nolan, Director of Patient Education & Wellness Resource Center (CVC) wrote the chapter on Caring Practices.

UH PACU presented the following posters at the ASPAN National Conference, May 4-8, 2008 in Grapevine, Texas.

"PACU Rocks!! Cultivating a Nurturing Work Environment": Denise Magoon, RN; Nancy McCann, BSN, RN; Marlene Reyes, BSN, RN, CCRN, CPAN, CAPA; and Toni Szpara, BSN, RN, CCRN, CPAN, CAPA
"Postoperative Nausea/Vomiting- Postdischarge Nausea/Vomiting Guideline Implementation in an Academic Medical Center Perianesthesia Setting": Michael Snyder, RN, CCRN, CPAN, EMT-P; Brenda Hicks, BSN, RN; Denise O'Brien, MSN, RN, CNS-BC, CPAN, CAPA, FAAN
"Breathing Easier...Staffing Respiratory Therapy in PACU": Christine Carroll, BSN, RN, CAPA; Denise O'Brien, MSN, RN, CNS-BC, CPAN, CAPA, FAAN; and Janet Gilbert, BSN, RN, CPA

Mary DeGrandis, RN, presented a poster entitled, "Effect of parental Presence in the Recovery Room on Post-anesthesia Agitation and Parent Safisfaction" at the ASPAN National Conference, May 4-8, 2008 in Grapevine, Texas. Sally Stotcher, RN was selected to give the oral poster presentation; one of only four posters selected for oral presentation.

AAHN members Eleanor Herrmann and Mary Ann Cordeau were featured on a Martha Stewart Show honoring nurses which aired May 8, 2008. The six-minute segment highlighted student nurse uniforms of 1910, 1950, and 1970. It also included discussion of nursing artifacts such as invalid feeders, syringes, and bedpans from the 1700s and 1800s. The artifacts are from the Josephine A. Dolan Collection located at the school of nursing at the University of Connecticut.

Return to top

A poster entitled "Development of a Serial Sedation Protocol for Wound Care", a collaborative effort between Terri Kennedy, Anne Fast, Deb Reuter and Kori Pennington (Trauma Burn) to document evidence based outcomes for pain control in the burn/wound patient population, was presented at the American Burn Association national conference.

A poster entitled "The Key to Unlocking VAP: It takes a Village", authored by Jenny Cheney, Jay Hathaway, Terri Kennedy, Christy Zalewski, Infection Control, Kristin Brown, Jennifer Simons and Kori Pennington was presented at AACN's national NTI conference the first week of May. The poster highlights the evidence of decreasing ventilator associated pneumonia in the Trauma Burn unit using multidisciplinary evidence based interventions. There has been a significant decrease in the VAP rate since the interventions were initiated in 2004.

Elaine McIntosh, Clinical Instructor in Nursing and Assistant Director Academic Program, School of Nursing, was named runner up for the 2008 RN of the Year. The Detroit Free Press announced the nominations and award winners in the Sunday, May 11, 2008 paper. One of the nominators for Elaine said, “She has been a major force in the movement to independent nursing practice, in the structure for and provision of essential care for vulnerable populations, and in the education and mentorship of nurses who will carry on these crucial functions.”

Return to top

Paul Mazurek, Flight Nurse Specialist (Survival Flight) published an article on "Air Medical Transport - An Emergency of the Aortic Kind", on the EMS1.com website.

Denise O'Brien, CNS (UH PACU); recently presented at several venues: "Perianesthesia Care Complications" at the 27th American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses National Conference, held May 4-9 in Grapevine, TX. Also, with Dr. Marisa Wilson, DNSc, MHSc, RN, Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Nursing, she presented "Perianesthesia Data Elements: A Continuing Journey to Excellence in the Nursing Terminology World" and "The Information Systems Development Life Cycle….Where are you at that table?"

Denise was invited to present "Patient/Family Post Op Teaching: Prescription for Success" at the Perioperative Care Symposium Focusing on Safety for Optimal Patient Care: Improving Methods, Behaviors and Measures for Transforming Perioperative Care, convened by The Joint Commission; Joint Commission Resources, Inc and The Council on Surgical and Perioperative Safety, April 29-30, 2008, Chicago, IL.

The Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Patient Education committee received acceptance on an abstract for a poster presentation at the 17th Annual ITNS Symposium and General Assembly, St. Louis, Missouri - 9/25/08. The committee includes: Sandy Feldkamp, RN, Marcia Coll, RN, Marcia Fisher, Colleen Satarino, MSW, Sue Kraus, RN, Bernice Mathews, RN, Mary Thompson, RN, Mary Kruger and Dianne Sodt-Davitt, RN.

Sharon Lanzetta, MSN, RN, Nurse Manager Mott PACU was a contributor to a book recently published: Lanzetta, S. and Herbruck, L. (2008) Contributor to the 8th edition of Medical-Surgical Nursing: Clinical Management for Positive Outcomes, Chapter: Assessment of the Eyes and Ears, Black, J.M. & Hawks, J.H., (Eds.). Saunders Elsevier.

Juanita Parry, Barbara Hensinger, Marge Calarco and Sarah Fuhrmann recently published an article in the Journal of Nursing Administration, entitled "An Evidence-Based Approach to Nurses Week Celebrations", published this month.

Recently presented by our NICU staff at the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses Annual Meeting in Nashville were:

a poster entitled "Ventriculostomy - Addressing the Issue" by Lisa Chismar, RN, and Marget Smallwood, RN, BSN
a presentation entitled "Strokes in Women - Why Are They So Different?" by Mary Jo Kocan, RN, MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist
a workshop entitled "Managing Parkinson's When It's Not the Primary Diagnosis" by Susan Grube, RN, CNS

Return to top

Vickie Shieck, RN, BSN, CCTN, Pediatric Liver Transplant Clinical Care Coordinator, was Guest Editor of "The Immunology Report" Nurses' Edition/Winter 2008. This is a summary of selected reports from the 32nd Annual Meeting of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization and the 16th Annual Symposium and General Assembly of the International Transplant Nurses Society

Becky Schaedig, CNS (5West) and Mary Bloom, Level D RN (5West) attended the Society of Pediatric Nurses annual conference in Denver. They presented a poster session "Safer Patient Hand Off, The Shift-To-Shift-Report". It is about 5West’s change from taped to verbal, bedside report and the implementation of bedside safety checks.

"Meet five exceptional nurses, each with a unique story to share" in the Nursing Career Development website's new "Career Connections" page.

Return to top

A record-breaking 270 nurses attending the Nursing Recruitment's March Career Fair. Many UM nurses volunteered at the event, bringing their enthusiasm and knowledge to share with potential new employees.

On February 8, 2008, UMHS's 4A unit welcomed the Japanese TV production company, Office Kei, Inc., to North America to film a medical documentary entitled 'Brain Special Program' which will present 4 different subjects from around the world (North America, Russia, England, and Columbia, South America) that emphasize the amazing ability of the human brain. Segments of documentary will present Alzheimers Disease and Synesthesia. The North American story features 24 year-old Brandi Binders outstanding recovery following a hemispherectomy, a surgical removal of one cerebral hemisphere,18 yrs ago, and her extensive rehabilitation to overcome many obstacles. Brandis mother, Cindi Binder, an RN on 4A was filmed working with patients contemplating or recovery from brain surgery. Cindi became a nurse and embraced the field of neurology and neurosurgery nursing after her daughter’s radical brain surgery and miraculous recovery. While filming on 4A, the film crew captured the emotional struggle the University of Michigan patients face as they embark on the difficult decision of elective brain surgery to seek relief of intractable seizures as well as the difficulties patients face following brain surgery. The 2-hour special documentary will be broadcast nationwide in Japan late March 2008 during the primetime 9-11 pm slot. Brandi and her mother, Cindi, also were filmed with Dr. Lawrence Hudson, University of Michigan Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of Neurology clinic during a one-to-one interview.

Return to top

Meti-cup Take a look at our award-winning Survival Flight Nurses in action featured on the website for the Seventh Annual METI Cup Competition held at the Air Medical Transport Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Survival Flight won last year, and you can view the competetition in the video.

They will be attending this year to defend their title.

Catherine Balser and Lisa Sturm from Infection Control and Epidemiology (ICE); and Shawn Murphy, Associate Hospital Administrator and Director of Nursing; have been selected to present a poster at AORN Congress 2008. Their topic is from the ICE Task Force in UH OR that formed in 2006. The group focused on process improvements to reduce the risk of surgical site infection rates with many success stories.

Return to top

Peg Esper, RN, NP (Cancer Center) was notified that the article she had published in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (Oct. 2007) has won the: "2008 Susan Baird Oncology Excellence in Writing Award in Clinical Practice”. Award recipients will be recognized at the ONS Congress in May (Philadelphia).

Christy Zalewski (Infection Control), and Sharon Dickinson, RN, MS (CNS- SICU), had an article published in the February SCCM Critical Care Connections on Ventilator Associated Pneumonia. This article reviews the literature on VAP and then highlights the SICU experience.

Vascular Access Services Team (VAST) nurses Liz Holowasko, BSN, CRNI, and Sharon Baker, RN, received awards:

Both were awarded National Scholarships from the Infusion Nurses Society for their work at UMHS.

Liz Holowasko was one of two to receive the "Leslie Baranowski Scholarship for Professional Excellence" This scholarships purpose is "To support and recognize a commitment to improving and enhancing the quality of infusion care." The $2,500 scholarship criteria is based on how the applicant will use the scholarship award to demonstrate or facilitate leadership within the infusion community. Appropriate activities may include mentorship plans, department or chapter educational programs, or individual leadership skills development.

Sharon Baker was one of six to receive the "Sharing Expertise® Scholarship for CRNI® Certification" This purpose of this award is: "To support and encourage professional infusion therapy education by providing educational sponsorship funds to assist nurses in attaining their Certified Registered Nurse Infusion (CRNI®) designation." The $1,000 scholarship winner is based on a submitted summary of how the applicant will use the CRNI® education/designation to improve infusion therapy and patient care in their practice area.

Return to top

Sharon Dickinson, Kimberly Hickey, Cathy Lewis, and Denise O'Brien, all CNSs; presented the work on CNS Redesign at the National Association for Clinical Nurse Specialists in Atlanta in March. The group presented to a standing room only crowd.

Rho Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International, Honor Society of Nursing is proud to announce the recipients of 2008 Excellence in Nursing Awards:

Excellence in Nursing Leadership: Deanna Beyer, MS, RN (UMHS CSR)
Excellence in Education: Ann Kruszewski, PhD, RN (SON) and Carol Williams, MS, RN-BC (UMHS ESN)
Excellence in Nursing Practice: Susan Godell, MS, RN, ANP-BC (Ypsilanti Health Center) and Emily Meuleman, MS, RN, C (Michigan Visiting Nurses)
Rising Star: Martha L. Merkel, MS, RN (UMHS Holden)
Distinguished Service: Elaine McIntosh, MSN, RN (SON)
Friend of Nursing: Cecilia Sauter, MS, RD, CDE (Metabolism, Endo & Diabetes)
Excellence in Student Leadership: Jacqueline Dufek and Amanda Jones (U of M School of Nursing).

Candia Laughlin, Director of Nursing (Ambulatory Care) served as a reviewer of the ANA's newly published “Guide to the Code of Ethics for Nurses: Interpretation and Application.”

Stephen Strobbe, MS, RN, NP, CNS-BC, CARN, Clinical Director for the University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services (UMATS), co-authored a chapter on "Complementary and alternative medicine for alcohol misuse," in the recently published Cambridge Textbook of Effective Treatments in Psychiatry, (2008).

A poster, "Development of a Serial Sedation Protocol for Wound Care", was accepted for presentation to the American Burn Association's annual national conference in April. The poster discusses our conscious sedation practices for wound care in Trauma Burn and is authored by Anne Fast, Deb Reuter, Terri Kennedy and Kori Pennington.

Theresa Mottes, RN, Nurse Supervisor (Pediatric Dialysis) lectured on "Acute Renal Failure in Children" and "Complications of Chronic Dialysis" at the Perspectives on Pediatric Care 2006 conference. The organization, Nurses-Digest, audio-recorded Theresa’s presentation, and notified her that the lectures have been selected for online publication. Nurses-Digest audio programs are now conveniently available online at www.nursesdigest.org. Of the many lectures they audition from nursing conferences around the country, approximately 5 - 10% are selected for publication.

Lisa Kane Low, (Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Ped/Perinatal/Psych Nsg Adm) is a finalist for Ann Arbor Citizen of the Year due to her commitment to the community of childbearing women and their children.

Nick Montanaro, RN (5D SICU) has co-authored "Medications in Common Clinical Practice" in the General Surgery Review Book.

Linda Strodtman, CNS, and Associate Professor at the School of Nursing received the Distinguished ELNEC (End of Life Nursing Education Consortium)-Graduate trainer award. The film that Linda and Maureen Goode Giacomazza, RN, Adjunct Lecturer at the School of Nursing produced, Evan Mayday’s “Good Death”, is being used to train faculty across the country about end-of-life care. Linda's work is having a direct impact in the preparation of nurses specializing in palliative care.

SICU staff accomplishments:
Two abstracts have been accepted for poster presentation at AACN National Teaching Institute May 2008:

"Life in the Fast Lane: The Impact of Initiating Protocols on Staffing" Authors: C. Rickelmann., MA. Bettis., D. Lagrou., R. Horner., M. LaBeske., R. Wonnacott., M. Tobin and S. Dickinson.
"Looks Like we Made it! Utilizing Best Practice Bundles to Decrease Catheter Related BSI and VAP Rates in the SICU".Authors: S. Dickinson., C. Rickelmann., c. Zalewski., R. Horner., M. LaBsske., C. Meldrum., and the Nursing and Medical Staff of the SICU.

Accepted for Presentation at AACN NTI "The Ha, Ha, Ha's of the Sepsis bundles" By Nickalas Montanaro

Nursing, Physician and Infection Control collaboration: Surgical Infection Society May 2008. "Holding Hostile Organisms at Bay - The Cost of isolation". Authors: JR. Cherry Bukowiec., S. Dickinson., C. Meldrum., C. Zalewski., A. mallot., WB. Von Riedenauer., B. Knipp., M. Brunsvols., P. Park., L. Napolitano.

Article submitted to the Society of Critical Care Medicine for publication in February 2008 News letter. Oral Care During Mechanical Ventilation: "Critical for VAP Prevention!" Sharon Dickinson, MSN, RN, CNS BC; and Christy Ann Zalewski, MPH.

Society of Critical Care Medicine - Abstract for poster presentation: "Rapid Response Systems: Improved Outcome in Surgical Patients" Authors/Institutions: M.E. Brunsvold, M. Thompson, D. Campbell, S. Dickinson, L. Napolitano, Acute Care Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor , MI;

The UHPACU Nursing staff have had three (3) posters accepted for presentation at ASPAN (American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses) National Conference, May 4-8, 2008 in Dallas, Texas. All three (3) posters are in the Celebrating Successful Practices category:

PACU Rocks!! Cultivating a Nurturing Work Environment. Denise Magoon, RN; Nancy McCann, BSN, RN; Marlene Reyes, BSN, RN, CCRN, CPAN, CAPA; Toni Szpara, BSN, RN, CCRN, CPAN, CAPA
Postoperative Nausea/Vomiting- Postdischarge Nausea/Vomiting Guideline Implementation in an Academic Medical Center Perianesthesia Setting. Michael Snyder, RN, CCRN, CPAN, EMT-P; Brenda Hicks, BSN, RN; Denise O'Brien, MSN, RN, CNS-BC, CPAN, CAPA, FAAN
Breathing Easier...Staffing Respiratory Therapy in PACU. Christine Carroll, BSN, RN, CAPA; Denise O'Brien, MSN, RN, CNS-BC, CPAN, CAPA, FAAN; Janet Gilbert, BSN, RN, CPAN

Return to top

Stephen Strobbe, Clinical Director (University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services (UMATS) was interviewed by the Journal of Addictions Nursing (JAN) related to his "innovative role" in addictions nursing. The article was just published in the most recent issue of the journal.

Trauma Burn nurses, Jen Cheney, Jay Hathaway, Jen Simons, and Kristin Brown received notice that their research abstract on VAP's, "The Key to Unlocking VAP: It Takes a Village", has been accepted at the National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition. Last year more than 7000 critical care nurses attended this conference.

Judith Coucouvanis, MA, APRN, BC, (Department of Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Section); has published a new book: "The Potty Journey: Guide to Toilet Training Children with Special Needs, Including Autism and Related Disorders". You can view it on the Publisher's web site.

Janet Pund, RN, Ypsilanti Health Center, has been selected as an item writer for the American Nurses Credentialing Center's certification exam for Ambulatory care Nursing.

Zaleha (Zarr) Fuller, RN, Urology, was featured in the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates, Great Lakes Chapter web site as the spotlighted member of the month . Zarr is board certified in urologic nursing.

Return to top

DeAnn Vansickle, Clinical Outcomes Coordinator; Karla Stoermer Grossman, Clinical Care Coordinator; Patricia Lindsay-Carr, ENC; and Toni Henkemeyer, Program Development Manager; have had their abstract, "Multidisciplinary Improvement of Asthma Patient Outcomes and Provider Competence in a Large University Hospital" accepted for a poster presentation at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Health Care 2008 in Paris in April.

Sandra Merkel, MS, RN-BC; Terri Voepel-Lewis, MS, RN; and Shobha Malviya, MD will have their FLACC pain assessment tool in the "Battlefield and Disaster Nursing Pocket Guide" published by the US Military. This guide will be provided to over 7500 military nurses who will/may be deployed for both disaster and military operations. The FLACC pain assessment tool was developed here at C.S. Mott Hospital/University of Michigan. The initial validation and reliability studies and revisions for use in patients with cognitive impairment has resulted from the collaborative work of Sandra Merkel MS, RN-BC , Terri Voepel-Lewis, MS, RN and Dr. Shobha Malviya. Many nurses and university students in Mott Hospital have assisted in data collection and other aspects of the research associated with this pain assessment tool. The pain tool that we have been working on is utilized around the world.

Denise Reinke, APRN, BC, AOCN, Cancer Ctr.; co-authored the article, "A Review of Anemia Management in the Oncology Setting: A Focus on Implementing Standing Orders", in the Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 11 2007, Volume 11, Number 4.

Return to top

Peg Esper, RN, MSN, AOCN, APRN-BC, Cancer Ctr.; was featured in an article, "Targeted Therapies: Aiming for the Bull's Eye", in ONS Connect, July 2007. Peg also co-authored the article, "What Kind of Rash Is It? Deciphering the Dermatologic Toxicities of Biologic and Targeted Therapies," in Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, Vol. 11, No. 5.

Lita Smith, RN. APRN, Cancer Ctr.; presented on “Targeted Therapies in Breast Cancer: Challenging Questions From Oncology Nurses” on Tuesday, April 24, 2007, at the Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress in Las Vegas, NV.

Jeff Thomas, Flight Nurse Specialist, was featured in the University Record.

Iris Lagrou, Gina Chung, Evelyn Lamus and Marie Piehl, of 7BC, were noted in a Robert Wood Johnson issue brief entitled "Improving Quality of Health Care Relies on Effective Language Services" in October 2007. As Unit Champions for the RWJ Speaking Together Collaborative, these RNs have done staff education and implemented a process to assure inpatient cardiology patients have ready access to qualified interpreters.

Return to top

Linda Strodtman, PhD, RN ( CNS); Ken Pituch, MD; and Maureen Giacomazza, MA, RN (Palliative Care); received funding for their CRLT proposal "Teaching about Palliative and End-of-life Care: Interdisciplinary Health Professional Student Education Project". This funding will facilitate the production of film vignettes (clips) that can be used by anyone educating others about Palliative and End of Life Care.

Thea Picklesimer, RN, Nurse Case Manager (Heart Failure and Transplant), has had two stories published in the new Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, Second Dose.

Applause features Nursing Extern Program

Externs The Applause online magazine featured a story on the Nursing Extern Program, "in which 30 nursing students received hands-on learning at the bedside with guidance from UMHS nurse preceptors". The farewell luncheon took place on July 18th.

UMHS nurses present poster on palliative care referrals in pediatrics

Nurses from the unit-based Palliative care group of 5 West presented a poster entitled "Increasing Palliative Care Referrals on a Pediatric In-Patient Unit" at the Ohio Pediatric Palliative and End of Life Care Network conference on October 4-6th in Akron, Ohio. The presenters were: Teya Smashey and Laura Grace. The authors were Lori Barnett, Mary Buckner, Laura Grace, Angela Heckel, Nancy King, Rebecca Schaedig, Teya Smashey and Keri Spiker.

Return to top

Carpenter a busy nurse

Dean Carpenter, RN (CSR Ambulatory Care) accomplished the following:

He wrote a successful grant proposal to United Way for funding for the CEAP fee for a seminar in Detroit. The seminar is called "Shelter Health" for homeless shelter workers. United Way will fund $150.00 to pay the fee for CE credits for nurses who go to the seminar.
He wrote an article on trench foot that is being peer reviewed for publication in a second journal "The Journal of Health Care of the Poor and Underserved”.
He is organizing a sock drive for the homeless in Chelsea. You can read all about it in this week's Chelsea Standard.

Strobbe co-authors paper on web-based performance improvement in substance abuse

Stephen Strobbe, MS, RN, NP, Clinical Director at the University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services (UMATS), was recently listed as a co-author on a paper published in the Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment (JSAT, vol. 33, pp. 363-371) entitled, "A feasibility study of a web-based performance improvement system for substance abuse treatment providers." This project, for which Robert Forman, Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania) was the Principal Investigator, was part of a multi-site trial conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network (CTN), on which Stephen (along with Dr. Kirk Brower) was a local co-investigator and study coordinator.

Return to top

Caplan presents on smoking cessation

Deb Caplan, MS, NP-C (Central Staffing Resource, Telemetry cluster), presented "What's New in Smoking Cessation" at Specialty Issues in Primary Care 2007 hosted by The John D. Dingell VA Medical Center and the Metro Detroit Chapter of the Michigan Council of Nurse Practitioners.

UMHS nurses have chapters published in AACN manual

Sarah LeRoy, NP, Cynthia Smitka, RN (Transfusion/Apheresis), Sheryl Woloskie, ENC (Ambulatory Care) and Louise Callow, Manager (Peds Cardio/Thoracic ICU), have had chapters published in the first edition of AACN Pediatric Manuel for Pediatric Acute and Critical Care.

Return to top

UMHS Nursing mourns the loss of a leader

Cheryl Johnson, a founding member of the UMPNC and team member in the ICU/CCMU since 1972, passed away recently. In addition to the many lives Cheryl touched at UMHS, her leadership as President of the Michigan Nurses Association and the President of the United American Nurses enabled Cheryl to provide leadership to hundreds of thousands of nurses nationwide. Cheryl was known for her advocacy of nurses and nursing, her sense of humor, her passion and her candor.

Flu immunization

Flu Immunization Season: MVN will be holding 35 flu shot clinics at the health centers, open to al UMHS patients as well as members of the community. Ambulatory care Administration will offer several FluMist clinics at East Ann Arbor Health Center for health persons ages 2 - 49 (not covered by insurance).
For more information, go to www.med.umich.edu/flu.

Return to top

UMHS nurse goes on mission to Kyrgystan

7B/C/D donated money to buy mouth-to-mask devices and provide some women's vanity items that Betty Roon took on a recent mission to Kyrgystan. Betty taught First Aid, CPR and First Responder to community health workers in four locations around the country. Betty says they were "extremely focused, came early in the morning and got home late at night."

Strobbe wins administration/management award

Stephen Strobbe, RN, received the Administration/Management Award from the International Nurses Society on Addictions (IntNSA) "for outstanding contribution to administration/management in addictions nursing," in conjunction with his role as Clinical Director for the University of Michigan Addiction Treatment Services (UMATS).

Abbott presents on evaluating transplants

Chad Abbott, RN, (Transplant Coordinator, Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program) presented "Considerations for Transplant: A Coordinator's Viewpoint on Evaluation, Listing and Maintenance" at State of the Art: Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation Conference, 10/10/07 , Lansing, MI.

Return to top

Jargowsky presents on candidate selection

Tara Jargowsky, MSN, CRNP (Nurse Practitioner, Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program), presented "Candidate Selection, Medical and Surgical Considerations" at State of the Art: Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation Conference, 10/10/07, Lansing, MI.

Parry featured in Crains

Juanita Parry (Manager - Recruitment and Retention) was featured in the September issue of Crain’s Detroit Business.

Blakely publishes on newborn mock codes

Gail Blakely, MSN/ED, RNC, has an article "Implementing Newborn Mock Codes" in the July/Aug 2007 issue of MCN: The American Journal of Maternal Child Nurses. The article won the Clinical Practice Article of the Year award. There will be a short article in the January issue of The American Journal of Maternal Child Nurses. MCN and Lippincott give one award for the Research Article of the Year, and one for Clinical Practice.
View the article.

Return to top

UMHS nurses present poster on excellence in clinical education

Judy Sadler, PhD, RN; and Marilyn Svejda, PhD, RN; will be presenting on behalf of the entire Design Team for the Initiative for Clinical Education and Scholarship. The poster entitled, “Initiative for Excellence in Clinical Education, Practice, and Scholarship: An Idea Whose Time Has Come” will be presented at the Nurse Faculty - Nurse Executive Summit to be held in Scottsdale, Arizona.

UMHS nurses to present poster on home schooling

Juanita Parry, BSN, MSc, RN; Margaret M. Calarco, PhD, RN; Barbara Hensinger, BSN, RN; and Ann Kruszewski, PhD, RN; received notification that their poster, "Home Schooling: Hospital, University Nursing School and Community College", has been accepted to be presented at the Nurse Faculty/Nurse Executive Summit taking place on November 29 - December 1, 2007 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Return to top

Pediatric Asthma Disease Management Program receives Joint Commission Certification

The Pediatric Asthma Disease Management Program, also known as the Children's Asthma Wellness Program, recently became the only such program in the state to receive the Joint Commission Disease-specific Certification. It is one of eleven programs in the nation to receive certification in asthma and is one of only four programs in the nation that have received certification in Asthma-Pediatrics. Congratulations to Karla Stoermer Grossman, RN, Clinical Care Coordinator, and Dr. Manuel Arteta.

:Practice Management and Utilization Review awarded Quality award

At the recent 2007 Morrisey Associates User Conference in Chicago, the University of Michigan's Practice Management and Utilization Reviewwas awarded the Institutional Quest for Quality Award. The award is given based on innovative and/or expanded use of the software (MCCM). This award would not have been possible without the combined efforts of Practice Management Discharge Planning and Utilization Management Leadership and staff. Brian Kobylarz, Practice Management Coordinator, deserves special recognition for his work on the innovative use of the product.

Clark co-authors article on body mass index and infant and parental weight

Kathryn Clark, NP, Pediatric Endocrinology, was a co-author of the article, "Relationships among Body Mass Index, Parental Perceptions, Birthweight and Parental Weight after Referral to a Weight Clinic," in the Journal of the National Medical Association, Vol 99, No. 8, Aug 2007.

Landis receives 2007 President's Award at AMTC

Denise Landis, RN, (Nurse Manager - Survival Flight); was presented with the 2007 President's Award at the AMTC for the Association of Air Medical Services. . Ed Eroe, the former President, selected Denise as someone who deserved the award based on her work with MTLI and her overall support of AAMS. Denise was one of the original "designers" of the MTLI school and is the leader of the MTLI instructors.

Return to top

Chesney and Roberts win national "Crew Competition" at Air Medical Transport Conference

Mike Chesney and David Roberts of Survival Flight won the national "Crew Competition" at the annual Air Medical Transport Conference held in Tampa, Florida. They finished first ahead of seven other teams from the United States and Canada, and will represent North America at an international competition in Prague next spring.

Mazurek wins AAMS Crew Member of Year award

Paul Mazurek, Flight Nurse Specialist (Survival Flight), has won the AAMS award of 2007 Crew Member of the Year and was presented with that award at the AMTC in Tampa.

UMHS nurses present talk at surgical symposium

Rexanne Sprague, RN; Jan Barber, RN and Carol Hayes, RN ( UH Operating Rooms), are presenting “Cutting-Edge” at the upcoming conference Surgical Symposium in Ann Arbor in October.

Kocan writes chapter of book on neurological disorders; speaks on reducing ventriculitis

Mary Kocan, MS, RN (CNS - Neuro-ICU), wrote a chapter in a book recently published by Elsevier, entitled "Neurological Disorders and the Cardiovascular System" for the text Cardiac Nursing: A Companion to Braunwald's Heart Disease, edited by Debra Moser and Barbara Riegel.

Mary Kocan was also invited to speak at the Neuro Nursing Symposium sponsored by Emory University Hospital the weekend of September 8, in Atlanta. She presented "Reducing Ventriculitis in the Neuroscience ICU" and "The Brain-Heart Connection: Cardiovascular Effects of Neurologic Disorders".

Parry and Vano will talk on life/work planning of nurses over 50

Juanita Parry and Maria Vano will be attending Sigma Theta Tau’s International 39th Biennial Conference in November 2007 to assist Ed Coakley from MGH for a presentation entitled, “"The life/work planning processes of nurses who are age 50 or over and working: A multi-site study." This was a joint research project between Massachusetts General Hospital, the University of Michigan Health System and Shands.

Return to top

UMHS nurses highlighted in Ann Arbor News M-Edition

Many UMHS nurses highlighted in this year's Ann Arbor News M-Edition in a three-part special section. The rest of the photos, plus the ones from the printed paper, are available on the newspaper's Web site in five "online galleries".

Some of the Nursing links are as follows:

Patricia Burchett and Connie Myres, registered nurses, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital operating rooms
Jackie Lapinski, Loree Collett, Cathy Schorr and Michelle Nemshak, the Core Team for construction of the new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Women's Hospital
Angelina Jimenez, Jerryl Johnson, Aquilla Robinson and Tracy Smith, Patient Lift Team
Brian Kobylarz, registered nurse, discharge planner, University Hospital

Return to top

Rabe asked to join AORN national Committee of Education

Rudi Rabe, RN, Clinical Nurse Manager at East Ann Arbor Surgery Center who has been asked to join the AORN National Committee of Education. The charge of the Committee is to develop a Perioperative Curriculum for Nursing Schools. He will serve on this Committee for one year.

Carpenter publishes article on trench foot

Dean Carpenter, MSN, APRN, BC, (Central Staffing Resource), was published in the June 2007 issue of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Case Reports. The report is titled "On the Front Lines: A Case of Trench Foot in a Homeless Woman".

Delisle publishes article on laughter

Mary Delisle, RN (4A), has an article in the current issue of American Nurse Today, titled, "The Freeing Force of Laughter".

UMHS nurses to present at OSU Quest conference

Michelle Aebersold, Nurse Manager (4A/B /D), and Mary Jo Kocan (CNS - 4A/B/D), are presenting, "Extreme Makeover for Unit Leadership" at the upcoming OSU Quest Conference in Columbus in September.

Mazurek crew member of the year

Paul Mazurek, RN, Flight Nurse, was awarded Crew Member of the Year by the Association of Air Medical Services, and was featured in an article in the Detroit News.

Return to top

Norville accepted into leadership seminar

Janice Norville, Nurse Manager (Cardiology Administration), has been accepted into the 2007-08 Advanced Leadership Seminar at the Center for the Education of Women. She was selected from a large and highly competitive group of outstanding applicants to engage in an extended process of self-exploration, learning and change management.

Blakely publishes article on newborn mock codes

Gail Blakely, RN (Birth Center), had her article published in the July/August 2007 issue of MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, Volume 32 Number 4. Her article, "Implementing Newborn Mock Codes" is available online.

Zapor participates on OCN® task force

Cancer AnswerLine nurse Kim Zapor, RN, BSN, OCN, has been chosen as one of only 12 Oncology Certified Nurses (OCN®s) to participate on the OCN® Passing Score Task Force. The meeting of the task force will be held over several days at the end of October, at the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) National Headquarters in Pittsburgh. Kim along with the others on the committee, will have the task of setting the passing score for the OCN® Certification Examination. All travel-related expenses including flight, hotel, and meals will be funded by ONCC.

Hailes receives DAISY award for July

daisy Laura Hailes, RN received the DAISY award this month. The DAISY program is a nationally known program currently in place in over 80 hospitals around the country. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The awards are given by our patients and families. Laura works on 6 Mott and was nominated by a patient's father. In his nomination letter he noted, "Laura is a great nurse. She made our stay very comfortable. She treated my son like her own. She went beyond the call of duty.”

Return to top

Blondy publishes on andragogical assumptions

Laurie Blondy, MSN, JD, RN, (Educational Specialist), had her article “Evaluation and Application of Andragogical Assumptions to the Adult Online Learning Environment” published in the Journal of Interactive Online Learning.

O'Brien presents on terminology development in nursing

Denise O'Brien, MSN, RN, FAAN, Clinical Nurse Specialist (UMH - Postanesthesia Care Unit), attended the 17th Annual Summer Institute in Nursing Informatics, July 18-21, in Baltimore, MD. She presented, with Dr. Marisa Wilson, DNSc, MHSc, RN, Associate Professor, University of Maryland School of Nursing, on "Terminology Development within a Nursing Specialty Organization."

Carpenter publishes report on trench foot

Dean Carpenter, MSN, APRN, BC, (Central Staffing Resource), was published in the June 2007 issue of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council Case reports. The report is titled "On the Front Lines: A Case of Trench Foot in a Homeless Woman".

Evan Mayday's Good Death film released.

Our film "Evan Mayday's Good Death" is now ready for dissemination and we have the ordering information on our website The work was also highlighted this month in ELNEC Connections.
This project was lead by Linda Strodtman, CNS, and Maureen Giacomazza, CNS.

UMHS receives Michigan Breastfeeding award

The UMHS has been selected to receive the Michigan Breastfeeding Award for outstanding service to the health care community. Because of the position not to provide free formula-laden diaper bags, UMHHS has exemplified the goals of the Michigan Breastfeeding Network, the organizations they represent, and the families we serve. The award was presented during the 22nd Annual Michigan Health Mothers, health Babies Conference on June 7th-8th.

Dwyer selected as Robert Wood Johnson Fellow

Shon Dwyer, MBS, RN, (Project Director - Orders Management Project) who was selected as a 2008 Robert Wood Johnson Nurse Executive Fellow.

Marsh to speak on nursing recruitment, retention and mentoring

Valerie Marsh, RN, MSN, Nursing Career Coach, (Center for Professional Development and Mentoring) was accepted to be a presenter at the 2007 Michigan Nursing Summit Leading the Way to Excellence in Practice and Education. The Summit is being held at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, Michigan on August 9 & 10, 2007. She will be speaking on Building a Strong Nursing Workforce: Recruitment, Retention and Mentoring. The audience will include approximately 200 nurses from all over the state representing nursing administration, nursing education programs as well as staff developers from acute and long-term care.

Bates presents poster on ICU use of daily goals form

Laura Bates, BSN, RN (4D TICU), presented a poster ‘Improving Multidisciplinary Communication in ICU’s Using a Daily Goals Form’ at the 14th National Evidence-Based Practice Conference. Laura is a recent graduate of our RN-BSN program. She worked with Jole Mowry as her preceptor using a daily goals form to improve communication in the TICU. The presentation went very well and Laura received lots of interest and discussion around her poster.

Mazurek Air Medical Crew Member of the Year

Paul Mazurek, RN (Flight Nurse), was nominated and will be awarded the Air Medical Crew Member of the Year Award, in Florida at the national conference (AMTC) in September.

Deep speaks on nurses impact on stem cell and bone marrow transplantation

Amira Deep, BSN (8A's Ed Coordinator), spoke at the conference Current Practices and Future Trends in Oncology Care held in Bay City sponsored by the Bay Regional Medical Center this past May. The audience consisted of 70+ RN's. Amira's topic was "An overview and Nurses Impact on Stem Cell and Bone Marrow Transplantation".

Blondy presents on promoting communication online

Laurie Blondy, PhD(c), MSN, RN, of the ESN department, presented "Promoting Communication in the Online Environment" at the Drexel University Nursing Education Conference, Creating the Educational Environment of Tomorrow, June 7-10 in Miami, Florida.

Laughlin edits nursing reference for ANCC AC nursing certification

Candia Laughlin, Director of Nursing, Ambulatory Care, edited a reference for nurses studying for ANCC Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification, Ambulatory care Nursing Review Questions (published by the American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing). Candia also serves as one of the instructors for the certification review course, which she and two colleagues have taught in 8 locations across the country this past year.

Initiative for Excellence in Clinical Scholarship and Education web site launched

UM School of Nursing Dean Kathleen Potempa and Dr. Margaret Calarco (Chief of Nursing Services, UMHHC) announce a web site detailing the Initiative for Excellence in Clinical Scholarship and Education.
Through the Initiative, the School of Nursing and UMHHC Nursing seek to partner to transform clinical instruction for nursing students. See the web site for information, status updates, resource documents, and more!

UMHS presents "Perspectives on Pediatric Care"

The nursing conference “Perspectives on Pediatric Care” was re-initiated after many years with the goal of bring professionals who care for children together to learn through networking and collaboration. Renee Manworren, MS, CNS, from Dallas was the invited speaker. Many pediatric nursing staff participated in this endeavor.

Hanley runner-up for Michigan Nurse of the Year

Julie Hanley, RN, (Neuro ICU) was runner up for the 2007 Michigan Nurse of the Year. There was a write up in the career builder section of the Sunday Detroit Free Press/news on Sunday, May 6, 2007.

Klimek featured in Detroit Free Press article

Terri Klimek, RN, (CRNA) is featured in a story about Operation Smile.
Read the article in Detroit Free Press.

Cancer Center recent professional activities:

Marcia Leonard, RN, PNP, (Cancer Center) was invited to present on "Late Effects of Treatment" at the Children's Oncology Group (COG) Nursing Workshop Spring 2007 in Dallas TX in April. Marcia gave the Keynote Address at the Australian and New Zealand Children’s Haematology & Oncology Group Annual Scientific Meeting 24 - 27 May 2007, Amora Hotel Jamison, Sydney. Topic: Fertility Preservation for Children and Adolescents with Cancer. She also has received grant funding from the Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan to study the Emotional Effects of Sperm Banking, for designing and executing a focus-group study about the psychological impact of sperm banking in the context of a cancer diagnosis. She is working in collaboration with 2 investigators from the School of Public Health: K. Christensen and P. Wren.
G. Lita Smith, MS, RN, NP, (Cancer Center) gave two presentations at the 2007 Oncology Nursing Society Congress, on April 24, 2007, in Las Vega, NV:
- Targeted Therapies in Breast Cancer: Challenging Questions for Oncology Nurses and
- Individualizing Therapeutic Decision Making in Early Stage Breast Cancer
Anne Winters, MS, APRN, BC, AOCNP, (Cancer Center) presented a talk on Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer, at the local ACS chapter Reach for Recovery volunteer recertification dinner in May 2007.
Suzette Walker, MSN, RN, FNP, (Cancer Center) presented Capecitabine Therapy - Nursing Strategies During Oral Chemotherapy on May 9, 2007.
Colette Hodges, RN, CNP, (Cancer Center) was interviewed for an article on multidisciplinary lung clinics in Connect, a news magazine of the Oncology Nursing Society.

Return to top

Gold to present on inpatient psychiatry to home care transition

Kathy Gold, RN, MHA, (Director, Home Care Nursing) is presenting a Web conference for University HealthSystem Consortium on June 20. The topic, “Inpatient Psychiatry to Home Care Transition,” is part of the UHC’s 2007 Core Measures Networking Collaborative.

Kocan presents poster on neurologic disorders

Mary Jo Kocan, RN, MSN, Clinical Nurse Specialist (Neuro ICU and 4A) presented "The Brain-Heart Connection: Cardiovascular Effects of Neurologic Disorders" for the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL in April.

Loik presents poster on feedback

Cinda Loik, RN, CCRN, Clinical Nurse Supervisor (Neuro ICU and 4A) presented a poster "TOP Board: A Way to Give and Receive Real-Time Positive Feedback" for the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL in April.

The ECMO Program professional contributions

EXIT to ECMO Procedure Poster, created and presented by Elaine Cooley, LRT, RN; Jeanne Kreutzman, RN; and George Myalichska, MD at the 23rd Annual CNMC Symposium, at Keystone Colorado. in February 2007
ECMO Applications: Some History & What’s What. Presented by Howard Harrington at the 27th Annual Conferences at the Slopes, at Seven Springs Resort, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in March 2007.
A Case Series Describing the Use of Argatroban in Patients on Extracorporeal Circulation by
Timothy Cornell MD, and Polly Wyrick, RN, BSN, CCRN.

Merkel presents on comfort theory

Sandra Merkel gave an oral presentation, “Comfort Theory: A Framework for Pain Management Nursing Practice” at the American Society for Pain Management Nursing annual conference in Addison Texas, March 2007.

UH PACU Nursing Contributions 2006-2007:
Nurses from the UH PACU recently presented at the American Society of Perianesthesia Nurses’ 26th National Conference in Anaheim, California, April 15-19. Poster Presentations included:

“Precepting the Preceptor” by Cheryl Render, BSN, RN, CPAN; Denise O’Brien, MSN APRN-BC, CPAN, CAPA, FAAN, CNS; Helen Nabong, BSN, RN, CPAN, ENC;
Kim Porter, RN, ENC; and Toni Szpara, BSN, RN, CCRN, CPAN, CAPA, ENC
“Charge You’re It…Maximizing the Role Through Vigilant Orientation” by Toni Szpara, Denise O’Brien, Helen Nabong and Kim Porter
“Do It Yourself…How To Build Your Own Education Research Council” by Janet Gilbert, BSN, RN;
Denise O’Brien, Helen Nabong, Kim Porter, Toni Szpara, Cheryl Render, BSN, RN, CPAN; Allison Smith, RN; Pamela Maki, RN; Elizabeth Lopes, BS, RN and
Gigi McEachern, BSN, RN
Denise O'Brien presented lectures on “Perianesthesia Management of the Patient with Diabetes” and, with Dr. Marisa Wilson of the University of Maryland School of Nursing, presented “Perianesthesia Data Elements: Our Journey to Excellence in the Nursing Terminology World.”

In the past year, the following book chapters were contributed by UH PACU nurses:

Beverly A. Smith, UH PACU Nurse Manager; and
Denise O'Brien, UH PACU CNS, contributed Space Planning and Basic Equipment Systems in Drain: Perianesthesia Nursing: A Critical Care Approach, 5E.
Denise O'Brien also contributed chapters on Patient Education and Care of the Perianesthesia, Postanesthesia Care Complications, and Care of the Gastrointestinal, Abdominal, and Anorectal Surgical Patient.
Denise O'Brien, contributed a chapter in ASPAN’s Certification Review for Perianesthesia Nursing, ed. 2, titled Intraabdominal and Retroperitoneal Observations.

Return to top

Rho Chapter, Sigma Theta Tau International announces the 2007 awards:

Excellence in Research: Lisa Kane Low, PhD, CNM, FACNM (SON);
Excellence in Education: Desiree Denise Blake, MPH, RN (UMHS);
Excellence in Nursing Practice: Sheila Hay, BSN, RN (Arbor Hospice);
E