Nurses! We Salute You!

A dedicated assistant head nurse in the intensive care unit at North Ridge Medical Center in Ft.

Lauderdale, Eileen McLaughlin is best known for giving 100% to her patients. However, most people may not realize that twice a year, McLaughlin leaves South Florida and journeys deep into the jungles of Nicaragua to help provide basic medical care and food to villagers and orphaned children.

McLaughlin travels to Nicaragua by plane, truck and ponga boat as part of “Mission of Mercy,” a local non-profit humanitarian relief effort. The team treks into the village of San Carlos to supply the clinic there with 1,500 pounds of basic medicines and foods while helping treat the native residents.

Upon their arrival at the clinic, McLaughlin and the team are greeted by masses of villagers who have gathered and waited for several hours to obtain medical services. Typically, the clinic is empty of supplies prior to their arrival, devoid of even the most common, everyday medications such as Tylenol.

McLaughlin and the “Mission of Mercy” team usually treat 1,200 people over the course of three to four days. They teach mothers how to administer antibiotics to their children, demonstrate basic hygiene and discuss nutrition.

McLaughlin and her colleagues have even learned how to speak the local dialect in order to more effectively treat the villagers.

For each mission, McLaughlin must raise $750 and endure primitive accommodations – a wooden shack as a hotel, mosquito nets for sleeping, and 118 degree weather with no air conditioning. She took her first trip in 2002 and has been, as she says, “Hooked ever since.”

McLaughlin will depart on her latest mission this spring, bringing with her much-needed medical supplies donated by North Ridge Medical Center.

With enduring compassion and selfless generosity, Eileen McLaughlin’s humanitarian efforts show other nurses and the entire community how much difference one person can make.

For Madelyn Lliteras, interim chief nursing officer at North Ridge Medical Center, a life-changing personal experience led her to a successful and fulfilling medical career.

At the age of 15, Madelyn’s brother Javier nearly drowned in a scuba accident and was left in an irreversible coma. When he was transferred to North Ridge Medical Center, Madelyn spent every day there after school, learning the intricacies of hospital life. When Javier returned home, Madelyn assisted her mother by changing diapers, conducting routine trachea care and helping to ensure her brother received the best care possible. Unfortunately, Javier died in 1989, eight years after his accident. Madelyn used this experience as a calling. She attended nursing school and, in 1987, joined the staff of North Ridge Medical Center. From general nurse to secretary to nursing director of the medical/surgical unit on the same floor where her brother was treated, Madelyn has served in nearly every nursing position at the hospital.

As interim CNO at North Ridge Medical Center, Madelyn’s biggest concern is increasing the number of quality nurses in the field. Taking an active role in guiding new nurses, she participates in job fairs while spending limitless hours mentoring and leading by example.

Madelyn also assists in projects around the hospital, having led the formation and opening of its transitional rehab unit.

Serving as chair of North Ridge Medical Center’s Patient Satisfaction Target 100 team, Madelyn motivated several employees to join other Target 100 customer service teams, including the Awards and Recognition committee, which received national acclaim and an award from Tenet Healthcare Corporation.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Madelyn participates in various charitable events, such as the annual heart walk.

Inspired by a personal experience, Madelyn Lliteras joined the nursing field and never turned back. In one capacity or another, she has covered just about every area of North Ridge Medical Center, serving as a mentor in her field and inspiring those around her to provide the best patient care possible.

The efficiency of Madelyn’s busy unit is a direct result of her leadership, approachability and dedication to the promotion of team dynamics.

Madelyn married her husband Michael in 1987. The couple has two children, Morgan, 15, and Michael, 9.

Trauma ICU nurse Dorothy Martin is an invaluable asset to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach. Her commitment to helping others runs deep, so much that she founded her own organization for not only providing medical aid to the poor across the world, but also fostering relationship-building between fundamentally different segments of Palm Beach County.

In 1988, Martin founded ConEL (With HIM), a non-profit, non-denominational organization sponsored by the Diocese of Palm Beach. Its mission is to send volunteer health care professionals from the United States into third world countries where they improve health standards and exchange medical skills. Hospital Chuschieri in Cochabamba, Bolivia, is the beneficiary of ConEL’s medical expeditions. Volunteers visit the site to treat the ill and train local residents in medical techniques, as well as educate children at a local orphanage.

Martin’s volunteers come from all parts of Palm Beach County and comprise a diverse mix of ages, ethnicities and economic standing. Team members not only work together, but also gain a better understanding of different cultures and customs – many forming life-long friendships in the process. Volunteers commit to at least one trip each year, although many chose to take more depending on funding and opportunities. Martin travels as needed and maintains a focus on sustaining the program through organization, leadership and community outreach.

Martin helps arrange ConEL charity dinners and functions to fund the visits. Donations from individuals and organizations such as Tenet Healthcare ensure that anyone, regardless of financial status, can be a part of the team. Additionally, Martin structures ConEL to make the most of its resources. To qualify, all volunteers must demonstrate a useful skill or training.

Martin, who in addition to her nursing degree holds a master’s in business administration, also lends her expertise to non-profit organizations across the country. Through general word of mouth, these organizations learn of ConEL’s extraordinary success despite having no physical office or sizable expenditures. Martin travels from state-to-state teaching volunteer groups how to organize their own medical missions on small budgets.

Dorothy Martin excels in her mission to aid others, whether they are patients at St. Mary’s Medical Center, fellow Palm Beach County residents, charitable groups across the nation or disadvantaged villagers abroad. With a driven personality and unique blend of medical expertise and business savvy, Martin is a prime example of excellence in nursing.

Eva Francis has never shied away from a challenge. During her 22 year nursing career, the last three and a half of which were spent as a nursing director at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, she has worked in a variety of nurse manager positions. Presently, Eva oversees the medical center’s three Intensive Care Units and the Emergency Department. Working in an ever-changing healthcare environment has not deterred Eva’s resolve to always look for ways to improve operations, increase patient satisfaction and garner staff loyalty. Her most recent assignment was no small task: implement a system to better manage the hospital’s ER volume, improve department resources and, most importantly, decrease patient wait time.

As always, Eva met the challenge head on. She established a new Minor Care Unit within the ER with its own dedicated staff so that patients with minor emergencies or illnesses can be accessed, treated and discharged more quickly. She also implemented a “no wait” policy for pediatric patients and increased appropriate staffing during peak times. To help expedite the treatment process, Eva secured an X-ray machine to be used specifically for ER patients. Additionally, she worked with the patient relations representatives to reiterate the importance of tending to the non-medical needs of patients and their loved ones, such as keeping patients and family informed, offering food and drink, and making sure patients and their families are comfortable. Eva realizes these gestures of caring and compassion go a long way in ensuring that patients have a positive experience.

While undertaking this ER initiative, Eva asked for and valued staff input. Based on the feedback she received, she instituted an improved bed tracking board, an internal monthly newsletter, and a staff recognition board, all of which have improved communication and bolstered morale.

Brenda Forrest is passion and compassion personified. In her work at Mount Sinai Medical Center, she dedicates herself to mentoring and educating nurse graduates interested in critical care, giving them motivation and guidance to develop a rewarding career in healthcare and teaching them the essential skills needed to provide patients with the highest quality of care. Away from the job, she works tirelessly to bring crucial cardiac care to the children of the Caribbean Basin.

Brenda began her career in nursing in 1971 in her home country of Jamaica. She quickly began sharing her knowledge with others, working as a clinical instructor for student midwives in Zambia, Africa. In 1974, she came to the United States and began work in an intensive care unit and, over the years, continued to perfect her critical care skills.

In her years at Mount Sinai, she has been instrumental in educating and mentoring new nurses. As a clinical education liaison, she coordinates the hospital’s Preceptorship Program, a bi-monthly critical care internship that teaches new nurses the workplace skills they need to provide safe, compassionate care. She is also responsible for continuing educational opportunities in the critical care areas and served as an adjunct instructor in Miami-Dade College’s Nursing Program.

When her own daughter was born with a heart defect that required surgery, the veteran nurse embarked on a new journey. Brenda was inspired to bring cardiac care to pediatric patients in the Caribbean who don’t have access to essential medical services. In 1995, she founded the Caribbean Heart Menders Association. Under Brenda’s direction, the organization and its donors and volunteers have provided lifesaving heart surgeries for more than 185 children in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Dominica, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago. The group founded a pediatric cardiac center at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, Jamaica. In addition, they grant scholarships to medical students and provide caregivers in the Caribbean region with education and training in the field of pediatric heart surgery and cardiac intensive care.

When not championing her own foundation, she also volunteers with the Kiwanis Club of Lauderdale Lakes and West Sunrise to organize health fairs and provide community education programs.

Brenda models each day on one selfless motto: the greatest achievements are those that benefit others.

In recognition of nurse’s week we would like to acknowledge Perla Bueno, RN, MSN, CNS, of Coral Springs Medical Center for her outstanding clinical achievements. Perla started her nursing career in 1979 as an LPN and went on to become an RN in 1985. In 1991 she found her true nursing passion in the pediatric setting where she excelled. Her dedication to the profession fostered her desire to continue her education. She has since been awarded her Master’s of Nursing degree. With this accomplishment she has advanced to the position of Clinical Nurse Specialist.

In this new arena Perla has already succeeded in developing numerous education modules for staff. She has mentored new employees, while also maintaining competencies for current staff. She serves on diverse committees such as: Nurse Leadership, Patient Education, Pediatric Pain Management, Pediatric Asthma Pathway, and Pediatric Drowning Prevention Task Force. In addition to her clinical duties, Perla is an excellent role model and an outstanding patient advocate. Her motto is: “Whatever is best for the patient.” In keeping to this motto, Perla collaborates with any and all departments that could benefit from her pediatric expertise.

Rachelle Zahniser, nurse manager, emergency room, CSMC, was recognized as an Unsung Heroine during Broward County’s 2006 International Womens Day event. Broward County Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin acknowledged Zahniser along with eight other recipients during a reception titled Celebrating Womens Leadership: Honoring Women Leaders in Broward County – the Unsung Heroines. The public nominated these individuals and Zahnisers nomination was based on her initiative and efforts with CSMCs Drowning Prevention Task Force. Since the task forces inception in 2002, the city of Coral Springs has had a 72 percent decrease in near drownings – from 22 to six – and a 75 percent decrease in deaths – from four to one.

Two hundred guests attended the event held at the main library by the Broward County Library, Broward County Historical Commission and Partners for Women with presenting sponsorship the Miami Herald. “I felt humbled in the presence of so many influential women who have achieved so much,” Zahniser said. “The entire event was motivating and renewed my inspiration.”

Clinical Nurse Specialist Marlene Roman, RN, MSN, ARNP, CMSRN has an innate sense of nurturing and the desire to teach – she can’t escape it. And in her career as a Clinical Nurse Specialist at North Broward Medical Center, she wears many hats, almost all of which involve mentoring or assisting others with clinical tasks. But her work doesn’t stop there. In fact, it’s not unusual for Marlene to volunteer at a vast array of community outreach events – from conducting free health screenings for the elderly to inspiring students to embark upon careers in nursing to help alleviate a shortage in the field. Marlene not only volunteers, she recruits others to do so as well. She promotes the hospital’s Clinical Practice Recognition Program. Through the CPR, nurses are recognized for professional conduct and devotion to nursing. To achieve this, Marlene has become the Community Relations Department’s liaison to the nursing staff, training others in areas of health education so that they can also learn to make voluntary contributions in community-based settings just as she has done so admirably. In addition, she finds time to mentor nurses knew to the profession, guiding and supporting them. She also serves as editor of Med-Surg Matters, the professional newsletter for the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses, is a board member and regular contributor to the journal Med-Surg Nursing and serves as president of the Medical Surgical Nurses Certification Board (MSNCB). Marlene truly provides support to nurses in any setting – and always with a smile.

With just 18 months as a RN, Peta has truly upheld the values of nursing through Respect, Service and Excellence in patient care. She has successfully incorporated innovative and creative processes to improve patient care and support her colleagues.

Due to her commitment and dedication to nursing and patient care, Peta was selected to serve on the Nurse Practice Council. The primary goal of the Council is to improve patient care through interdisciplinary collaboration and decision making by caregivers at the bedside. Significant improvements in patient outcomes have been achieved as a result of Peta’s participation. Some of those accomplishments include:

The Mission of Aventura Hospital and Medical Center is to provide healthcare services responsive to the needs of our patients, in partnership with our physician, employees, volunteers and community, which promote continuous quality improvement and excellence in performance. Hannah Rabinowitz, ARNP as a member of the Department of Education epitomizes Aventura’s mission and goals.

Hannah sought to become an American Heart Association CPR Instructor because there was a need for additional trainers in the hospital. She not only regularly assists with the CPR classes for employees, but also is active in presenting the Family and Friends course for our community. Frequently, she comes into the hospital on what should be a day off to assist in instruction.

Hannah attends outside programs and brings the knowledge and information she has gained back to the hospital to share with others. She enjoys working with students and new nurses, and has made special presentations to high school and college students on the advantages and satisfaction being a nurse can bring. Hannah has also served as an adjunct instructor for Barry University. She assisted in the development of a Graduate Nurse Training program at the hospital in order to help new graduates transition to hospital based nursing practice.

As an ARNP specializing in geriatrics, Hannah exemplifies what it means to be a Nurse Educator in her chosen field. She consistently role models to those around her the special care that this group of patients can require and deserve.

Hannah is a true team member. Her peers, patients, and physicians respect her for her caring attitude, cheerful demeanor, and knowledge base. She is often called upon to assist with nursing procedures and to assess patient status. She is a resource person for our computer documentation systems and instills in nurses the importance of using these systems fully in order to maintain patient safety standards.

Hannah treats each patient and staff member as an individual and respects their many cultures and ethnic backgrounds. She is sensitive to the special needs of our patient population, taking the time to respond to any special requests or needs.

She is a well-rounded person, active in not only the hospital setting, but also in the roles of wife and mother. She is active in her community and is known for her willingness to help friends, neighbors and family members.

Submitted by Kathleen Blair-Harmon, Director of Education

I would like to take the opportunity to recognize a nurse at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center that has grown to achieve exceptional leadership abilities. I have observed Michelle Zimmerman RN come to exemplify these qualities in the five years that I have known her.

Michelle has worked at Aventura Hospital for seven years as a medical-surgical nurse She initially came to us as an LPN and returned to school to become an RN. Specializing in oncology, Michelle is certified in giving chemotherapy and is extremely knowledgeable in this field. As a charge nurse at our facility, she is very valuable in regards to her knowledge base and has earned the respect not only of her peers, but also the physicians.

Our mission at Aventura Hospital is to strive to surpass customer expectations, exceed performance standards of our competitors, and commit to continually improve the quality and efficiency of our process, services and clinical outcomes. Michelle has played an active role in this mission. As we have grown as a facility, Michelle has also grown and excelled as a healthcare provider. Because of her outstanding dedication and commitment, Michelle has been recently promoted to oversee our medical/surgical unit. She has taken on the duty wholeheartedly and I have seen her work to lead her team members in maintaining the unit to the standards set forth by Aventura Hospital.

In working with our team of healthcare providers, Michelle makes a continuous effort to promote the individualized and specialized treatment that each of our patients needs and deserves. She realizes the special needs required of many of our patients and works with her nurses so they get the well rounded care that they need.

At this time it is a pleasure to be working with Michelle on a leadership level. As the nursing department works to maintain and improve relationships between ancillary departments, Michelle has a lot to share and is serving on committees to improve relationships and maximize communications between departments. One committee for example is a pharmacy committee comprised of nursing staff, nursing directors and pharmacists in hopes of improving medication administration and processes.

Submitted by Kristina Geise, Interim Director of Telemetry/Diabetes

As an experienced leader, I believe that the best patient outcomes are derived from nurturing, mentoring and growing employees with the skills and talents to deliver competent and caring patient care.

Mila Villanueva has been an Intensive care nurse for years. She has been a charge nurse and preceptor to new ICU nurses. Her talents to help other employees grow and learn were highly recognized. She became the clinical educator of ICU in January 2005.

Mila took charge of orienting new hired ICU nurses. She follows them up in the clinical area, assisting them whenever there are new procedures that need to be done; answering their questions whenever they are in doubt; does one on one education whenever needed. Whatever the nurses; experienced or inexperienced need; Mila is there, available to help and give anybody the support they need.

Through Mila’s involvement with annual ICU competency; patient care noticeably improved. Again as a leader, I believe competency improves patient care. Mila plays a major role in making nurses function more autonomously, to think critically and provide the level of care that increase the nurses’ job and customer satisfaction.

Submitted by Flor Santos, BSN, CCRN, MSN, Director of Critical Care Services

Patricia Specian is the Coordinator of the Bariatric Program at Wellington Regional Medical Center. Patricia was hired as the Bariatric Program Coordinator two years ago. She has been instrumental in providing a life altering experience to members of the community. She developed a support group that meets bimonthly. This support group is attended by both pre and post surgical patients.

She provides educational seminars to the public and physicians on the topic of Bariatric Surgery. She is a true champion to those who are considering the procedure and to those who are experiencing the rewards of a healthier lifestyle post-surgery.

Patricia recognizes the needs and challenges this group of individuals face on a daily basis. She started the “Clothing Closet” program. This program enables the post-surgical patients to “trade in” their clothing as they loose weight and are in need of smaller sizes. Other community involvement includes organizing a group of staff members and patients to participate in the race to raise funds for “Project Lodge”. The camaraderie was evident as the team cheered each other to the finish –line. This is one example of how Patricia coordinates activities for a healthier lifestyle and a commitment to support the needs of the community. Through her leadership the members of the support group are developing a Bariatric Recipe Cookbook. This project will enable the patients to share with each other some of their favorite recipes. The program also has a newsletter that is developed by and for the patients of the Bariatric program. She also developed a mentoring program. Pre and post –op patients are matched up to offer emotional support. The common interests and personalities of the individuals are taken into consideration. The first patient of the program is now a Volunteer for the program. Patricia has also hired and trained another patient for a staff position in the program. Patricia has touched the lives and hearts of many. She is on call 24hours a day, seven days a week. Sometimes she receives calls related to medical care questions, but most are from someone needing a special someone to listen. Patricia is that someone special. Despite her busy professional schedule, Patricia finds the time to be her two son’s number one cheerleader. She volunteers as “Team Mom” for their community football program. She has also been an active member of Junior Achievement.

Patricia takes a photo of each patient pre and post procedure. The expression on the faces of these individuals is the true measure of the impact she has made in their lives.

Submitted by Mary Kattan, Director, Staff Development

Anja Hehmann is the Coordinator of the Orthopedic Surgical Unit at Wellington Regional Medical Center. She has created a cohesive unit dedicated to the care of the orthopedic patient using a collaborative approach among nurses, doctors and other healthcare staff. Anja has been in this role for three years. Her ability to mange the unit so well is evidenced by tremendous autonomy in her role, only consulting with Director, Surgical Services as needed. During this time she has grown in her capacity to lead the unit in a most caring, collaborative and fair manner, always putting the patient first while observing loyalty toward her staff. The Palm Health care Foundation C N A of the Year in 2005 was Marjorie Beman, a C N A on this unit. Marjorie attributes success in her role to Anja’s leadership. Anja graduated from nursing school in 1981 in South Africa. Since then she has lived in Canada and now in the US, and has a global perspective on healthcare as well as nursing.

Anja has made a special commitment as the first and only WRMC unit to host Medvance LPN students. When the first group completed their course, she hired a successful graduate who is now in orientation. Anja’s journey in nursing is one of many foreign nurses who come to this country with dream of a better life. She states she loves the USA and is thankful for being able to live and work here and provide a bright future for herself and her family.

Submitted by Mary Kattan, Director, Staff Development

Delray Medical Center proudly hosted a ceremony for adult registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) Candie Kokaram, during which she received the American Heart Association’s prestigious Heart Saver Award. Kokaram was honored for saving a neighbor’s life while off-duty at her apartment complex.

Learning her neighbor had collapsed, Kokaram performed CPR for 15 minutes until Boynton Beach emergency services arrived to administer shock treatment. EMS members say Kokaram’s efforts were responsible for her neighbor’s survival.

“Candie’s dedication to caring for those in need extends well beyond our hospital walls,” said Chief Nursing officer Karen Bibbo. “She provides the care and compassion that is so critical in nursing and has the clinical acumen that makes her one of the best. We are very fortunate to have Candie as part of our team.”

Delray Medical Center congratulates Nurse Practitioner Candie Kokaram (center) for receiving the American Heart Association’s prestigious Heart Saver Award. Among those at the recent recognition ceremony are (front row, l. to r.) Karen Bibbo, chief nursing officer; Melissa Durbin, director of trauma services; Candie Kokaram and hospital CEO Mitch Feldman. Members of Boynton Beach Emergency Medical Services joining them are (back row, l. to r.) Paramedic Cory Lewis, Lieutenant Ray Altman and Paramedic Christina Tamihi.

The Enterostomal Therapy (ET) nurses at Cleveland Clinic Florida balance their time in the clinic setting and the hospital. It is a very demanding position that requires careful coordination in order to deliver the best patient care possible. Helen Marquez and Mary Lou Boyer rotate their schedules so that one is in the hospital, while the other is in the clinic. When clinic hours are complete, they don’t go home. Instead, they go to the hospital to help their teammate complete the day’s tasks. According to their colleagues, it is this level of teamwork that helps Helen and Mary Lou deliver exceptional patient care every day.

The ET nurses are responsible for pre and post-operative teaching, marking the patient for surgery, and regular follow-up care for ostomy, as well as any other care the physicians may ask them to do. Often, there are three physicians working in the clinic each day and at some point one or all of them will require the expertise of an ET nurse, in addition to the nurse’s scheduled patients.

Helen and Mary Lou are often called upon to problem solve difficult pouching and skin problems. CCF physicians consider them to be specialists with a vast knowledge base. They are also instrumental in training new residents and fellows in the department.

Patients look to the ET nurses for their physical needs, but there are many emotional issues related to the change in body image common with this type of surgery. Helen and Mary Lou are always there to help. When patients come back to CCF, they often ask about Helen and Mary Lou and send them their best wishes. Frequently, hugs and smiles are shared in “hallway reunions,” as if they are greeting a beloved friend.

In addition to all the above, Helen and Mary Lou find time to:

• Provide community services by speaking for ostomy support groups annually
• Deliver poster and abstract presentations for national wound, ostomy and colorectal conferences
• Precept ET/WOCN nursing students
• Educate new clinic and hospital staff at CCF, as well as traveling to other countries
• Evaluate new products for ostomy and wound care
• Develop a reference tool for new fellows and residents

Helen and Mary Lou are consummate professionals whose extraordinary teamwork benefits patients, families, the nursing staff and physicians at Cleveland Clinic Florida.

For the past five years, Deborah Van Winkle has served as nurse manager of the Cardiac Catheterization & Electrophysiology Laboratory at Cleveland Clinic Hospital, where she directs a staff of approximately 15. Described as an outstanding leader by the hospital’s physicians, Deborah has been called fair, flexible and solution-minded. She leads by example and is never afraid to pitch in, say colleagues.

As nurse manager, Deborah directs day-to-day operations of the lab. She ensures the optimum functioning of its sophisticated equipment and is responsible for the oversight of patient care. Her management style has cultivated an efficient and effective team that enjoys very low attrition and high employee satisfaction.

Deborah also serves as part of the on-call team that rotates to cover emergencies. In fact, her guidance and responsiveness have been credited with helping Cleveland Clinic Hospital set industry standards by achieving the fastest door-to-balloon time in emergency angioplasty cases.

When asked about the success of the cath lab in terms of patient outcomes, Deborah believes it is the standard of care the cardiologists instill that guides the lab’s standards. She also values the training she received at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, and feels that South Florida patients benefit from the policies and procedures that were developed by the nation’s number one heart program, as ranked by U.S. News & World Report.

Deborah is a 22-year veteran of the nursing profession, nine of which have been with Cleveland Clinic Hospital. She has always enjoyed the challenges and rewards of critical care nursing and has proven to excel under pressure. Earlier in her career, Deborah was a nurse with an intensive care unit and ultimately earned the position of manager of the unit. Today, as a member of a leading heart care team, she is respected and appreciated by patients and staff, alike.

When Debra Hain set out on her career path in 1974 as a nursing assistant, she did not know that it would be a life-long educational journey, one that has brought her to the profession’s academic pinnacle. In April 2006, Debra earned her doctor of nursing science (DNS) degree from Florida Atlantic University. According to Debra, one of the best ways to affect change within the profession of nursing is through research, which is why she sought to earn her DNS.

As a geriatric nurse practitioner, Debra’s affinity for caring for older patients is embodied in her doctoral research, which focused on the cognition and adherence of older adults undergoing hemodialysis. Other research topics investigated by Debra included the use of story-path to explore the health challenges of hemodialysis patients, which she presented at the American Nephrology Nurses Association 37th National Symposium. Her research on shifting health outcomes through stories was also recently published in Storytelling Magazine.

During her pursuit of a master’s degree in nursing at Florida Atlantic University, Debra also served as a research assistant in a study entitled “Exercise Effect on Function of Residents with Alzheimer’s Disease Cognitive Retraining.” At the time, she was awarded the Clinical Excellence Award for a graduate student by the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.

Debra hopes to continue her research at Florida Atlantic University and apply the knowledge to clinical problems in order to create innovative solutions that will promote patient well-being. She strongly believes that advancing the profession of nursing will positively impact the quality of patient care.

Described by her colleagues as a passionate professional, Debra is seen by many as a mentor and an inspiration within the nursing profession. Her scholarly pursuits have been encouraged and applauded by Cleveland Clinic Florida where she has cared for patients for more than 11 years.

Vickie Boyett, R.N., is contagious. You can’t have a bad day when you’re around Vickie. Her incredible smile can set the mood for the whole unit. She’s the most positive person I’ve ever met.

Vickie, who has been with VITAS for about seven years, credits her grandmother with what she calls her “huggy personality.” Coincidently, it was her grandmother’s experience as a hospice patient that led Vickie to VITAS. “I had been a floor nurse for about 15 years, and I was impressed with the VITAS nurses’ ability to spend time with the patient and family. It was definitely not the chaotic hustle and bustle of floor nursing that I knew,” she recalls.

Because she is a single parent, Vickie works part time as a per-diem employee health nurse for Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale and part time in the VITAS unit at University Medical Center in Tamarac, giving her the flexibility to also be a parent. One day she may be doing annual physicals or educating nurses on injury prevention. The next, she’s tending to the sickest of the terminally ill and their distraught families. The one thing her jobs share, she finds, is listening. Whether it’s a hospital employee who’s looking for a sympathetic ear or a dying patient, everyone benefits from Vickie’s compassion. Her patients often arrive at the VITAS inpatient unit after being discharged from the hospital, and Vickie Boyett is their first brush with hospice. “When they get to us, they haven’t had this kind of care in so long,” she says. “Where the nurse-patient ration is 3- or 4-to-1. Where we’re doing comfort measures, not lab work and tests. Where we take time to feed them, make sure they’re not in pain, sit by the bed and talk.

“And the teamwork here is phenomenal. We have a 12-patient capacity, and we all listen to all the reports; we can say hello to all the families. I can call on a chaplain or a social worker or another nurse if I have a patient who needs additional support.

“Hospice nursing is truly holistic, caring for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient and the family,” Vickie says with that contagious smile. “I love it.”

Submitted by Gail Johnston, a patient care administrator for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care ® of Broward County, can be reached at 800-93VITAS.

VITAS is growing fast here in Palm Beach County. Sandra Calderin is the registered nurse on two teams right now. She sees more than her share of terminally ill patients. And each of them gets 100 percent of Sandra’s time, attention and expertise.

Because Sandra worked for years as a nurse in a nursing home, she knows how things should be done. She goes into a facility with humility. Sandra will instruct the aides directly rather than going through their supervisor. She knows that even though the family might not be at the nursing home, they need to be kept informed.

A director of nursing told me, “Sandra seeks me out to tell me what’s going on.” Other nurses view their work as routine and think the DON doesn’t want to know. Sandra just does things right.

Sandra has to be organized in order to get her work done. Before she goes to sleep she knows who she is going to see the next day and what the most efficient route will be. Yet her schedule always allows for the unexpected.

“I see five or six patients a day,” she says. “I see my Continuous Care patients every day until their crisis is over. But things happen. Maybe the family needs someone to listen. At that moment, that is the only patient I have. My patients need their problems solved today. We’re dealing with pain, with emotional and spiritual problems. Tomorrow may not be an option.

“People think I am always in a good mood and smiling,” Sandra says, “but I just try to give people my best. I came to this great country from Nicaragua 20 years ago, after the hospital where I worked was destroyed by war. But in this country it is always rush, rush, rush. We should be patient with everyone. It only takes a few minutes to show appreciation to another human being.

“That’s what attracted me to VITAS. When I called to ask about working here, they were very friendly on the phone. When I went to the office, it felt warm and caring. And we do wonderful work for our patients and their families. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Submitted by Raquel Searchwell, home care team manager at VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® of Palm Beach County, can be reached at 800-93VITAS.

When a hospice patient released from the hospital requires Continuous Care, Laurette Reid, RN, is the nurse we want in the home when the ambulance arrives. Her professionalism and compassion comfort the patient, calm the family and educate everyone.

Laurette is from Jamaica, and her voice has the gentle lilt of the islands. She is not easily ruffled. She is not distracted from her goal. She frequently finds herself surrounded by anxious family members, and that becomes her challenge. “My job is to make the family happy,” Laurette says, “because that makes my patient comfortable.”

Families of hospice patients look to their nurse for direction, assurance and knowledge. When those families have other problems as well, they often direct their anger and frustration at their hard-working hospice nurse. And that’s when Laurette really shines!

Laurette uses her voice and her demeanor to keep the focus on her patient. “I remember a patient who was in pain and actively dying, and the family was irate,” she says. “They called our general manager. They threatened to call Medicare. They threatened to call the governor.

“I was sent to get things under control. I was so calm. I made eye contact. I introduced myself, showed my badge, told them, ‘I am here for the patient.’

Once Laurette had alleviated the patient’s pain, she turned to the pain of the family, and discovered that its source was neither the impending death of the patient nor herself. Still angry, different factions of the family refused to occupy the same room, so Laurette went from her patient to various relatives, keeping everyone informed. She shared her lunch with one family member who wouldn’t leave the bedroom. In the end, the family did make that threatened phone call—to her supervisors, praising Laurette.

This letter is from another of Laurette’s families:

“When my husband was transported home from the hospital, Laurette Reid was already there awaiting his arrival. She took charge immediately, assessing what would be needed to make him comfortable. She busied herself with suctioning secretions, cleaning his mouth and attending to his needs.

“The change in his face and body was unbelievable. You could see the strain of three weeks in the hospital and the disease process fade, and he began to relax.

“Although he could not speak, Laurette encouraged me to tell him I would be all right and he could let go. It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, and I am grateful I had Laurette to help guide me through this time.”

Submitted by Kayci Maurer, Patient Care Administrator for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Miami-Dade, can be reached at 800-93VITAS.

For women diagnosed with breast cancer, learning how to fight the disease can be an emotional, frightening experience with more questions than answers.

To help combat those fears and provide as much information as possible to newly diagnosed patients, Martin Memorial Health Systems established the Breast Health Navigator Program in April 2005.

At the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center at Martin Memorial, a team of three nurses and a social worker are available to assist women who have been recently diagnosed, are already living with breast cancer or have had a recurrence of the disease.

“No one should go through cancer diagnosis alone,” said Debbie Lewandowski, RN, BSN, OCN, and director of oncology services at Martin Memorial. “It is our responsibility to ensure access to resources and services that might be needed along the way.”

Christina Dunn, RN, BSN, is a research coordinator and the point person for the breast health navigator program. Patients can be referred to her by a physician or on their own.

“The program educates and informs them about their treatment plans,” Dunn said. “We can help direct them and be another resource for them.”

Once in the program, Dunn and the rest of the team become critical advocates for breast cancer patients. They answer questions about the disease and treatment options, including potential clinical trials. They provide information on insurance or potential resources for patients who need financial assistance. They also try to get patients access to services as quickly as possible, often helping them get appointments in busy physician offices. After their initial meeting, the team follows up with patients periodically and is available whenever needed.

Dunn is also active in community education projects as well, spreading the message of early detection and letting people know Martin Memorial has a program that can help women get through a traumatic time in their lives.

“For the newly diagnosed person, there’s a fear of cancer,” said Wendy Ryzner, RN, BS, OCN, CCRC, clinical research program coordinator and a driving force behind creating the breast health navigator at Martin Memorial. “We try to alleviate that fear through education and by letting them know there are a lot of resources available, a lot of hope.”