Profiles of Nurses

As director of the Department of Staff Development and Education at Cleveland Clinic in Florida, Cathy Chang Martinez, R.N., has been instrumental in establishing the department, providing opportunities for the nursing staff to further their professional, personal and leadership development. According to Cathy, her perseverance, determination and collaboration allow her to strengthen and advance each nurse to the next level.

Since Cathy joined Cleveland Clinic two years ago, she has seen the hospital change ownership, thus bringing the hospital and clinic under one roof. With this change, Cathy expanded her role and was able to grow the Staff Development and Education Department from a group of one to a department of six clinical educators and two coordinators thus meeting the needs of the staff. She now oversees the education of non-clinical, clinical and nursing personnel and clinical students, and also leads the charge with regulatory education and training.

With the collaboration of the clinic and hospital, Cathy has fully integrated all Cleveland Clinic specialties into nursing education, so that students are able to learn about the different specialties and medical advancements from the experts in each field. By encouraging staff involvement in the education program, Cathy sees that the organization as a whole, including current staff, students and patients, will benefit.

Cathy’s efforts go beyond the doors of Cleveland Clinic as she has spearheaded the formation of relationships with nursing schools in the community, resulting in multiple student and faculty affiliations. As her peers have noted, these relationships have promoted an environment that instills energy and enthusiasm among the nursing staff.

With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing under her belt, Cathy is now pursuing a Ph.D. in public health at Florida International University. With this degree, she hopes to apply the knowledge towards patient well-being and the advancement of her students. She strongly believes that advancing the profession of nursing will positively impact the quality of patient care.

Since she joined Cleveland Clinic four years ago, Bonnie Carter, R.N., has steadily risen through the ranks from staff nurse to nurse coordinator. In her most recent role as charge nurse for the Urology Service’s Operating Room, Bonnie is challenged with coordinating the “Robotic Prostatectomy” Program for Cleveland Clinic in Florida. While this innovative surgical procedure has provided an opportunity to showcase the excellent peri-operative skills of the surgical team, it has also enabled Bonnie to display her skills as a caring and diligent nurse.

Bonnie has led the team efforts in providing in-services and in the development of a comprehensive orientation for the OR staff. Because robotic prostatectomy is a rather recent and cutting-edge advancement, Bonnie must work with patients and their families, making sure they understand the process. Throughout the five hour surgery, Bonnie not only monitors the patient, but continually updates the patient’s family members in order to lessen their anxiety.

According to Bonnie, her history as a cancer survivor makes her understanding and care for the prostatectomy patients, many of whom are cancer patients themselves, even more valuable. Additionally, Bonnie’s role as a mother allows her to effectively communicate and provide the direct care needed by her patients and their family members. Having a strong family connection, Bonnie continually reminds herself and her fellow employees to treat each patient as if they were a member of their own family.

Bonnie’s peers note her high standards and expectations, which allow her team to work together and provide the maximum level of care required by each patient. As the charge nurse, Bonnie’s peers see her as a great resource, providing positive professional advice, while always remembering one of Cleveland Clinic’s founding principles to always respect the patients’ and their families’ need for support.

In the one year since she joined Cleveland Clinic in Florida, Sonia Wright has made a huge impact as the first and only admission nurse. Sonia’s role is unique in that she is focused on crafting an exceptional experience for patients, which has been propelled by her dedication to the “Patient First” philosophy.

As admission nurse in the Telemetry Unit, Sonia is charged with admitting patients. However, Sonia’s innovation and creativity enable her to assume many roles. According to her peers, Sonia is the perfect RN, displaying complete satisfaction with her role. They also mention that Sonia is adept at patient satisfaction and critical thinking, finding a solution to any difficult situation.

According to Sonia, her specific approach is driven by effective patient communication and her ultimate objective to achieve and maintain her patients’ satisfaction. Her motto to always look on the “bright side” has proven useful in this role, where her upbeat energy, happy face, and problem-solving skills enable her to turn any seemingly negative situation into a positive learning experience.

The respect for her patients is reflected in the way she treats her fellow employees, who note her incredible personality and work ethic. Sonia believes that everyone, from cleaning staff to directors, is a vital contributor to her “team.” Due to this belief, all members of the staff are able to look at Sonia as a role model, who they respect and confide in regarding any challenging situation.

Sonia also finds it important to stay on top of the latest advancements in her field. On a daily basis, she works with other staff nurses, managers and directors, looking at the systems and how the staff can improve conditions. Always reading, researching and observing, Sonia continues to search for new and innovative ways to assist her patients and fellow employees. Overall, Sonia is a passionate team player, hoping her time at Cleveland Clinic will be both a learning and teaching experience, as she is always willing to share her knowledge and experience with colleagues.

Betty Davis, R.N., an experienced nurse of more than 33 years, consistently demonstrates a dynamic leadership style and a passion and commitment to her fellow nurses. On staff with Cleveland Clinic since 1988, Betty is a charge nurse in the Acute Care Surgical Services Unit, where she regularly leads a team of some 20 nurses, patient care technicians, and administrative personnel. It is Betty’s responsibility to set the standards for the unit, prepare nursing assignments, and maintain a positive work environment.

Betty has many years of leadership experience to draw from in the daily management of her unit. The oldest sibling of seven, her role as a leader and caregiver began as a teenager, when she helped her grandparents raise her sisters and brothers. It is her grandmother that Betty credits with helping establish her personal work ethic with a simple motto – “No matter what you choose to do in life, do it right the first time.”

Betty is highly respected and frequently modeled by other nurses at Cleveland Clinic. No matter how stressful the day or how busy she is in her role on the unit, she always has time to advise those who seek her out and those who she observes needing assistance. It is her ability to lend heart, mind and hand to a situation that has set Betty apart.

Illustrating her leadership style, whenever Betty is finishing her shift, she ends her day by thanking all of the staff for their hard work and commitment to putting Cleveland Clinic patients first. She also ends with a motivational quote or saying, which both staff and patients look forward to hearing.

According to her managers, Betty’s dedication to the organization and her staff is unwavering. Physicians and nurses alike see her as a strong clinical and leadership resource and role model, and Betty truly lives up to that reputation. But, like a true leader, if you ask Betty her secret to success, she’ll say “You’re only as good as the people you work with, and my team is the best!”

Portia Collins, R.N., a staff nurse in the Critical Care Unit at Cleveland Clinic, has been a nurse for 36 years. A graduate of the University of Miami School of Nursing and with a master’s in health education from Nova Southeastern University, Portia has plenty of experience and life lessons to share with her colleagues. That is one reason she was chosen to be a preceptor, charged with guiding new nurses during their first six to eight weeks of clinical assignment.

Identified by her managers as an outstanding mentor, Portia credits her success to three key factors: 1) love of teaching and watching new nurses expand their knowledge and excel as primary care nurses in the critical care unit; 2) the ability to develop mutual trust with a preceptee; and 3) honoring both the age and experience of new nurses, because they all bring a unique skill-set to the job.

According to Portia, “I’ve gained so much knowledge from the entire medical team at Cleveland Clinic. The standard of care we practice and the policies we have in place make it easy to pass it on.”

Her managers know, however, that it is Portia’s sincere desire to help her colleagues and foster their professional growth and development that has earned her the respect of both the medical and nursing staff at Cleveland Clinic. She is self-directed and always takes the initiative to identify opportunities for the betterment of the staff and ultimately the quality of patient care provided at Cleveland Clinic.

Gabriella “Gaby” Joffe, R.N., certified in MedSurg, is a 38-year veteran of the nursing profession, nearly 20 of those with Cleveland Clinic. Gaby exemplifies nursing going above and beyond to advocate for patients. Patient advocacy, a core value to nursing, is also a core value to Gaby.

In her role as a charge nurse in the Acute Care Surgical Services Unit, Gaby is often in situations that require advocacy on a patient’s behalf. Her drive to put patients first and attend to their needs is evident in her daily practice, and it epitomizes the Cleveland Clinic motto of “Patients First.”

On patient rounds, Gaby makes a point of asking the patients what they need and how she can help. Even when she is not asked, she goes out of her way to make inquiries, consult with other members of the healthcare team, and gather resources to meet the needs of patients. Gaby doesn’t just concern herself with a patient’s physical wellbeing; she also understands that they are often in emotional or psychological pain.

When asked if she has a personal philosophy that drives her, Gaby says it’s “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That principle guides Gaby as she goes the extra mile for her patients and her colleagues.

She has many times used her personal resources to help her patients, which is received with much gratitude. Gaby has gone so far as to call patients from home to make sure they are doing well and to reassure them. On one occasion, a patient was being discharged but they had no clothing. Gaby made sure that the patient had all the necessities and a means of transportation prior leaving her care.

Gaby’s even known for cooking and baking special dishes and bringing them in on the weekend as a treat for her floor. Her love for the nursing profession and her patients is exemplary and truly an inspiration for her colleagues at Cleveland Clinic.

Diana Gracey, R.N., the assistant nurse manager of ACU/PACU and the Pre-Op Clinic at Cleveland Clinic, is a critical care registered nurse. Born in Jamaica, where she earned her nursing degree, Diana has lived in South Florida for 28 years and has been on staff with Cleveland Clinic since the opening of the Weston campus in 2001.

According to her managers, Diana provides a positive environment for the development and continued growth of the nurses in her department. She manages the day-to-day operations of the recovery room, where she works closely with a team of 25 employees. Part of her responsibilities is providing ongoing guidance to her fellow nurses and to ensure that quality, cost-effective patient care is delivered daily.

Diana believes in developing and applying strong critical thinking skills to patient care. She urges her nurses to attend continuing education courses and to stay current with change and development in perianesthesia nursing. Diana mentors her staff by sharing her knowledge and experience. She also encourages them to have open dialogue to ensure that patient needs are met. This includes communication with all members of the hospital team as well as family members. Diana states “Quality patient care can only be achieved by putting the patient first.”

It is Diana’s approachability, patience and nurturing demeanor that make her such an effective teacher, say her colleagues. She demonstrates a positive professional influence in all of her endeavors and exemplifies what can be achieved with team work, one of the founding principles of Cleveland Clinic’s model of medicine. Under Diana’s guidance and support, the nurses gain self-confidence that leads to the enhancement of the nursing profession.

Betsy Corrigan walked into an office on the cardiovascular patient care unit at Martin Memorial, pointed to a platter of sandwiches and offered one to a guest.

“They’re from a patient,” she said with a grin. “He was very grateful for the care he received and wanted to thank us.”

Since the Frances Langford Heart Center at Martin Memorial opened in August 2006, Corrigan has seen a number of patients come back to offer their appreciation. That is, in part, what drew her to caring for heart patients after years of treating patients with kidney disease. Seeing her kidney patients continue to decline in health was difficult, so she switched to caring for heart patients – a move she has enjoyed thoroughly.

“Patients can be very sick, they progress and then they come back in and thank us,” she said. “It’s nice to know people can come in and get better.”

Corrigan has played a big role in people’s progress from illness to recovery – and it’s not just the patients who’ve noticed. This year, Corrigan was named a nurse excellence award winner by her colleagues at Martin Memorial.

Corrigan became interested in nursing in high school, when a school nurse took her under her wing. Corrigan is returning the favor now, acting as a preceptor for other nurses. She is expecting to earn her bachelor’s degree this spring and wants to eventually become a nurse educator.

“Part of the fundamentals of nursing is to apply the knowledge you’ve obtained and then give it back, to help potential nurses have success in the field,” she said. “It’s rewarding. You have to teach them it’s not all ‘ER’ and ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ You’re taking care of somebody’s life and getting them through that crisis.”

The day before the first patients were scheduled to arrive at the new Frances Langford Heart Center in August 2006, Nick Borello was there helping make sure the rooms were ready for their arrival.

It was his day off but Borello, a registered nurse who works in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU), was there anyway. With the long-awaited heart center set to open its doors for the first time, making sure everything was ready to go was a team effort. From the very beginning, Borello has played a significant role in making sure that cohesiveness was in place.

“Everybody knows what’s expected of them,” he said last fall. “We’re the heart team at Martin Memorial.”

That team atmosphere has been critical to the success of the heart center in its first year, and Borello has played a significant role. As charge nurse during the days, Borello often acts as coordinator of patients coming from the operating room to the CVICU, from the CVICU to the step-down unit, and for patients coming from the cardiac catheterization lab as well.

“He integrates all of the care between those areas,” said Cynthia Silva, RN, CCRN, and manager and clinical coordinator of the Frances Langford Heart Center CVICU and CVPCU. “He makes sure the priorities are taken care of and that all the patients get to the right place.”

Borello, who worked for four years in the heart center at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center before joining the Martin Memorial staff, has become a valuable resource for everyone in the heart center. This year he has been honored for his work by being named a nursing excellence award winner by his peers at Martin Memorial.

“He is a mentor to the staff, he is a resource and he is our go-to guy,” Silva said. “Nick is able to flow between all of our units, which enhances our ability to communicate with each other. That means each unit isn’t on its own island, we’re all on the same island.”

Whitney Parker was in nursing school when her grandmother underwent knee replacement surgery. That was more than 15 years ago and now Parker, a registered nurse at the Martin Memorial Center for Joint Replacement, is taking care of people like her grandmother who seek a solution to the pain that affects their daily lives.

She knows from experience what the patients and their families are going through and uses that knowledge to care for people.

“I approach every patient as if they were a family member,” Parker says. “I take that with me every time I go into the room. This isn’t just a job. You truly care about the patients and how things are going.”

That devotion to patients is noticed by her peers. In 2006, Parker was selected by colleagues as a nursing excellence award winner at Martin Memorial, who cited her ability to make patients laugh and put them at ease.

For the past six years, Parker has helped patients at the Center for Joint Replacement recover from surgery to replace knees or hips. They arrive in pain, the result of crippling arthritis or injuries that affect their daily activities. When they leave three to four days later, patients are already feeling better, anxious to return to their normal lives pain-free.

“Almost all the patients I have say the surgery can be painful, but it’s nothing compared to the pain they live with day to day,” Parker says. “Patients say they can’t believe how much better they feel, even a day or two after the surgeries. That’s why I do it.”

In a small office tucked away on the second floor of the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center, Wendy Ryzner searches for answers.

The war against cancer has many fronts and Ryzner fights it most every day from her desk overlooking the St. Lucie River. As the clinical research program coordinator at Martin Memorial, Ryzner is responsible for finding patients who might benefit both themselves and science by participating in clinical cancer trials.

“What I love is it’s always changing,” Ryzner said. “There are drugs that are now on the market that were trials we had here. It’s exciting because you can see your efforts come to fruition. And while we help our patients, we help everybody in the world, not just on the Treasure Coast.”

As an affiliate of the prestigious H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Martin Memorial often takes part in national cooperative group trials. In January 2006, Martin Memorial, through its affiliation with Moffitt, joined the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG). Prior to that Martin Memorial was a member of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), taking part in several national trials.

“The trials offer newer treatments that aren’t on the market yet,” Ryzner said. “In some diseases, which don’t have much of a cure rate, it can present some hope.”

Ryzner coordinates the trials on Martin Memorial’s end. She screens patients to ensure they meet criteria, obtains their consent for treatment, makes sure they follow protocol and orders experimental drugs. She also has to get the trials authorized by Martin Memorial’s institutional review board – a committee of physicians, Associates and community members who study proposed trials to ensure they meet stringent criteria.

Ryzner – whose credentials include an RN, BSN, CCRC and OCN – appears to be doing her job well. In 2005 she was selected by her peers as one of 20 Nursing Excellence Award Winners at Martin Memorial.

“People think working with people who have cancer can be depressing, because not everyone makes it,” Ryzner said. “But you’re always hopeful something better can come out of it. And we try to let them know how much they’ve helped others.”

Diane John is a faculty member in the Nova Southeastern University Nursing Department. She teaches a variety of courses for both entry level and RN to BSN students. She has recently relocated to Orlando to begin an RN to BSN cohort for Nova Southeastern University at Health Central Hospital. In addition to a full-time faculty position, she is also a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Diane has presented on topics of Risk Reduction associated with LBW and Preterm Infants, The use of Technology in the classroom, and Evidence-based practice. She also serves as faculty advisor for the Black Student Nurses Association at NSU. She is currently enrolled in a PHD program with an interest in factors associated with persistence among RN-BSN students. Diane is admired by both faculty and students. Her calm, caring demeanor and strong commitment to nursing education are outstanding qualities. As an educator she deserves an A+!!

Linda Strommen, MSN, RN, serves as program director for the RN to BSN program at Nova Southeastern University. She provides support and guidance for the students in the online program as well as the satellite sites in Orlando and Fort Myers. Linda joined NSU after a very successful career in home health care. Linda exemplifies leadership qualities that make others want to follow her. Her passion for nursing and nursing education comes through in all her actions. She is committed to helping students succeed. She listens and communicates with caring and competence. She is truly a visionary leader and a wonderful asset to Nova Southeastern University Nursing Department.

Hospital Director Makes Special Delivery

Hialeah Hospital is known for its advanced Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and state-of-the-art Motherhood Center, but when Maria Sanchez, 37, of Miami, gave birth there on Feb. 1, she didn’t have time to utilize either. In fact, she didn’t even have time for her obstetrician to oversee the delivery.

That’s because the moment Sanchez walked into the lobby of Hialeah Hospital she immediately went into labor.

(from left to right): Maria Sanchez and her baby Gustavo Daniel Sandoval reunite with Maria Perez, director of education at Hialeah Hospital, in the hospital lobby where Perez delivered baby Gustavo two months earlier.

“I heard screaming coming from down the hallway in the lobby so I went to see what was going on,” explains Maria Perez, R.N.C., new head of the hospital’s educational department, who was on her second day on the job. “When I arrived, the mother was on the floor and the baby’s head was already half-way out. There was no time to take her upstairs.”

That’s when Perez’s 19 years as an obstetrics nurse took over. “It was just like riding a bike,” remembers Perez who had not delivered a baby in several years.

Sanchez’s baby boy was unresponsive following delivery, so Perez used resuscitative techniques to stimulate blood flow and breathing until Maternity and Emergency teams arrived on the scene. At that point, Sanchez and baby Gustavo were transferred to the Motherhood Center to recuperate. The mother of five notes that her four previous births were not nearly as eventful.

“This was definitely a unique experience,” says Sanchez of Perez. “I don’t know what we would have done had Maria not been there.”

Mother and baby are now doing fine – and Perez notes that she now keeps clamps in her office.

“You never know when you’re going to need them,” she says.

Lawyer is the Clinical Nurse Specialist for the ICUs, Cardiac Catherization Lab, Short Stay Unit, Dialysis, and Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). She is responsible for the orientation and mentoring for 85 staff members. The units have diverse skill requirements that include critical nursing skills, surgical skills, and dialysis.

Lawyer develops practice guidelines for practices such as telemetry monitoring and central lines. Lawyer then works with staff to complete necessary training. She is available to staff as a clinical resource. Each week she schedules one evening tour to help work with the off shift staff and complete training and needed competencies.

Recently, the Medical Center decided to construct a new Telemetry Monitoring Center. Lawyer took the lead for the education needed to have the nursing Health Technicians trained to become Monitor Techs in the new Telemetry Monitoring Room. She made herself available around the clock to assist the new Telemetry Monitoring Technicians in their new roles and to help build their confidence of their monitoring skills. The project has been very successful and much of the credit is due to her teaching and support of these new roles within nursing.

After obtaining her masters, Lawyer has continued to develop guidelines regarding Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT). She researched this procedure and developed an educational PowerPoint. In addition, Lawyer wrote an article and submitted it for publication. Lawyer was recognized by the Florida Initiative for Nursing Specialties (FINS) for her continued work to develop guidelines regarding Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT). Lawyer also submitted her write-up and PowerPoint to Florida International University for inclusion in their Nursing Program.

Lawyer is a strong supporter of continuous learning. She often works side by side with staff to help with skill development. Lawyer is an energetic and dedicated nursing educator and clinician. She is willing to be involved in care first hand, and works side by side with staff when new processes are introduced, to be sure that all variables/issues have been considered. She then follows-up with changes as appropriate.

Beverly Robinson works in what is essentially a “step-down unit” at the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital. The patients in this 40-bed unit include some who were previously ventilator-dependent, those with serious wound-care needs, and other individuals with high level of acuity needs. Beverly thrives in this challenging environment, and finds that she is naturally drawn to the role of patient advocate. Going above and beyond to provide for her patients means Beverly covers a lot of ground, as she makes sure they have everything they need – from equipment to medical tests to accurate, complete information. As Beverly says, “I’ve even gone to WalMart on my own time to get them personal items. Many of them have no family close by, so we are their family.” Beverly’s passion for her profession began when her brother died from a gunshot wound when she was in high school. In the aftermath, Beverly’s need to understand what happened ignited a desire to become a nurse, which started her on the path from CNA to LPN to RN. Her role as a patient advocate is grounded in that tragedy, which made her realize that empathy and caring – traits shared by all the best nurses – is a “gift from God.”

Ruth Alexandre works in the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital’s vent care unit, a 40-bed floor filled with people of all ages – from 30 to 90 and everything in between. They are the victims of motor vehicle accidents, strokes, coronaries, even gunshot wounds, and before they came to the Home, many languished for months, even years, in hospital ICUs. Because of the nature of the patients they work with, Ruth explains, the CNAs on this unit work in teams of two and everyone must be on their toes at all times. “Everything can change in an instant,” Ruth says, “and that’s why training is intense and clinical skills are top notch on this floor.” Ruth is proud of the team of nurses she works with and likes to share their successes, stories about patients who get off their vents and are able to go home or be discharged to a different floor. One such story is about a 48-year-old man who had suffered a massive heart attack and spent six months on the unit getting weaned off his ventilator. As Ruth says, it’s a long process, but the staff takes it one step at a time – first getting the patient sitting up, then into a chair, then outside in the gardens for fresh air, and so on. With pride she says, “We bring these people back to life.”

Ronald Leitter is an expert when it comes to placing IV lines. In fact, he’s had patients who wouldn’t let anyone else put in their IVs – they would wait for Ronald. When the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital opened their special unit for ventilator-dependent patients in 2004, Ronald – who had just come on board – took on a mentoring role to those nurses who were used to caring for long-term care patients and facing the new challenges of a more clinically complex population. One task that he welcomed was teaching some of the staff how to place IVs swiftly, accurately and gently. As Ronald puts it, “Some of the nurses were not IV confident,” so he became the “go to guy” for all things IV-related. He quickly got used to being paged no matter where he was in the facility and rather than resent it, he enjoyed the camaraderie that grew among the nursing staff as they learned their new responsibilities. Perhaps the best testament to Ronald’s mentoring skills is found in this statement: “I certainly don’t play that role anymore,” he says. “Our nursing staff is so good at placing IVs now that none of the patients request me anymore. I guess I should feel a little hurt . . .”

Joanne is an exceptional clinician. She possesses excellent clinical skills, is kind and caring. She takes the time to educate her patients and comfort them when they are frightened. Joanne has been known to go to other units to help out when she was not that busy, just to lend a helping hand. She always puts the patient first.

Beth always sees the glass as half full. She leads her staff with a firm hand and a hug. Beth prides herself on the diversity of her unit and takes every opportunity to celebrate the 17 different cultures her staff represents. Beth is well loved and respected by her staff. She coaches them through the difficult times and they manage to get through with the same positive attitude Beth has.

Don acts as a resource to all staff. He always has a positive attitude and coach’s staff through difficult situations. When faced with a task they don’t know how to do, Don takes the time to educate and instruct the staff. He is always researching for better ways to do things to make it better for the patients and for the staff.

Maryellen is the point person for staff for all Bioethical issues. She is very involved in Organ donation and assists with Bioethics Consults as they arise. She is a coach and mentor to the staff with these difficult issues.

These nurses all came together to create a New Graduate Preceptor program that was creative and innovate that exposed the New Graduate to all areas of the hospital, policies and procedures and allowed for hands on experience prior to precepting on the unit.

Susan M. Beidler, PhD, MBE, APRN, BC, is a nurse practitioner with a mission. As a teenager, she dreamed about becoming a medical missionary and helping disadvantaged populations around the world gain access to health care. She has dedicated her distinguished, 30 career to achieving those goals. Her leadership and contributions as a family nurse practitioner and educator are the reasons why she was recently named “Nurse Practitioner of the Year” by the Nurse Practitioner Council of Palm Beach County.

Catherine (Kate) Branton, ARNP, Assistant Nurse Manager of the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) at Imperial Point Medical Center (IPMC), a facility of the North Broward Hospital District (NBHD) has excelled as a mentor during her tenure at IPMC.

Under Kate’s leadership the clinical staff has effectively improved patient outcomes with measurable improvements observed in patient satisfaction and fall rates. In addition, the RN vacancy/turnover rate has substantially declined. While she accepts the occasional assignment as the facility’s Relief Supervisor on nights, her exceptional clinical and leadership skills have earned her a position as the Chair of the Patient Education Committee and role on the Nurse Practice Council, as well as the NBHD Policy and Procedure Committee, and the Regional Standardization and Clinical On-line Documentation Task Force. In these roles, she touches many nursing lives and is a positive role model to all she encounters.

Kate maintains a hands-on style with her nurses taking an active role in orientation and on-going training, guiding our new and experienced nurses to improve nursing professionalism, competencies and critical thinking in all areas. She is an advocate of higher professional education and has been instrumental in organizing RN study groups within her department with a goal to achieve 100% PCCN (Progressive Care Certified Nurse) certifications over the next year.

Kate has also been a long-term supporter of the Medical Surgical Certification Board (MSNCB), a partner organization with the Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and the credentialing board for CMSRN certification. She was recently appointed as chair of the Item Writing Committee for the MSNCB. The role of the Item Writing Committee includes developing test items, as needed and reviewing the item bank at designated intervals. Kate wrote test items for the original exam and continues to travel at frequent intervals to MSNCB headquarters in Pitman, N.J. meeting with the item writers to generate new test items on her own time.

Call her mentor, role model, advisor, or friend, Kate is an asset that any organization would be proud to have as a member of their team!

Rose Medina-Shepherd has been full time faculty at Barry University’s nursing program since 2002, and a volunteer nurse practitioner at Light of the World Clinic, a primary care clinic for indigent patients in Broward County, since August 1998.

In August 1998, Medina-Shepherd received a postgraduate certificate as a family nurse practitioner from Florida Atlantic University. She most recently completed the acute nurse practitioner certificate in order to expand both experience and practice. She is also currently a PhD candidate at Barry University’s nursing program, with plans to graduate later this year.

“I have dedicated my professional life in enhancing the health care needs of the under-privileged and under-served populations, from working in major New York City hospitals, to South Florida’s teaching medical centers,” Medina-Shepherd said. “Presently, there are not sufficient ethnic role models who are doctorate prepared and who can influence health care policy, students or patients. As a Hispanic professional woman, I have a moral obligation in assisting the profession’s development of research in areas of disparity., The degree will assist my serving the profession as enthusiastically as I have for the past 24 years. I have been fortunate to practice what I love and, as a result, I exude a genuine passion for my profession.”

Can Do Makes for a Win Win

It was a defining moment for Jennifer Kast that would ultimately improve access to care for Hospice of Palm Beach County patients and their families. “There was a case at Boca Community Hospital where a patient was obviously going to die. She needed hospice care, but her condition was complicated. She was on a ventilator, and her mom was having a very difficult time dealing with the situation. Another provider might have said,

‘We can’t take this patient.’ Hospice of Palm Beach County did. I believe in always finding a way.”

It’s that can do attitude and a passion for ensuring that everyone who needs hospice care gets it, that inspire Kast to think outside of the box. She joined Hospice of Palm Beach County in 2000 to help develop and market LATIS, Hospice of Pam Beach County’s web-based software system. She took on her role as Director of Admissions two years ago. Since then, yearly admissions have increased from 5,250 to 6,002. Under Kast’s leadership, the number of patients admitted has remained above the goals for the organization.

“Jenn is committed to open access and meeting patient and family needs,” says Terri Guzman, Chief Operations Officer at Hospice of Palm Beach County. “I count on her to make decisions that are in the best interests of patients and families. During the past two years, Jenn has grown significantly in her role as the Director of the Admissions Department by confronting problems, resolving them and moving forward. Her greatest strength is her passion, drive and care for the work we do and for her employees. She has succeeded in building a team that understands and supports the mission of Hospice of Palm Beach County,” Guzman says.

Kast believes that “operating in the gray” and with more initiative means Hospice of Palm Beach County is able to respond in the same day or hour that it receives a call. “If a referral comes in, and the patient is in a nursing home at the north end of the county, but the family is down south, we get to all of them right away. Physicians are so busy and often can’t respond as quickly as they’d like, so we go beyond the barriers,” she says. In contrast, if a patient is not eligible for hospice services, her team helps them find the resources they need to get proper treatment.

As a director, Kast is known for motivating her 50-plus staff to do whatever it takes for patients and families. Her Administrative Assistant, Tamekia Graham, said, “A lot of people say, ‘We can’t’ or ‘We won’t.’ We say, ‘We can’ and ‘We will.’ We’re constantly striving to reach new and better levels of customer service.”

The goal for this year is to have an even faster response time for patients, families and referral sources. “I want to be more customer-service-oriented and put the small details into the up-front admission process, so that patients receive hospice services sooner,” Kast said.

People often assume that because Hospice of Palm Beach County cares for the dying that Jennifer’s job is depressing. Kast says, “Seriously, how can it be depressing to know that every day at work you’re helping at least one person? I put my head on the pillow at night knowing that I truly make a difference.”

Despite her successes, Kast’s proudest accomplishment is Alexis, her six year old daughter. “She is the love of my life.” Jennifer Kast holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Florida Atlantic University. She has participated as a speaker at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization’s Management and Leadership Conference and at the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

As a leader in one of the largest not-for-profit hospice programs in the country and committed to meeting the end-of-life care needs of the community, Terri Guzman has earned the admiration and respect of her peers, her staff, and the patients and families with whom she interacts. She has been responsible for innovations that are responsive to the needs of those under hospice care as well as programs that offer growth to an expanding staff of nursing professionals. She has made significant contributions to the success of an organization that serves the growing needs of our community.

When Terri Guzman joined Hospice of Palm Beach County in 1997 as Director of Patient Care, she brought 18 years of leadership experience in nursing and healthcare, as well as professional knowledge and skills with her BSN, MSM, certification in nursing administration, and Advanced Hospice Administrator Certificate. In recognition of her work at Hospice of Palm Beach County, she was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2001 and assumed responsibility for all aspects of patient care services and operations. Since then, Hospice of Palm Beach County’s average daily census rose from 200 to more than 1,000. Further, Hospice of Palm Beach County’s Preventable Turnover Rate for 2006-2007 was 11.85% well below national average for nursing.

As a member of Hospice of Palm Beach County’s senior management team, Guzman spearheaded several new initiatives to improve the care for patients and families and to promote hospice nursing. These include a preceptor program for nurses, CNAs and other clinical disciplines; she trained and rewarded the staff who became involved as leaders for the program. She initiated an externship program for recent RN graduates to mentor them into nursing positions in hospice. Her focus on education resulted in the development of advanced modules for nursing staff as well as other interdisciplinary team members and includes encouraging and assisting RNs and CNAs to earn their CHPN and CHPNA (national accreditation in hospice and palliative care). Interdisciplinary Care Teams were restructured to better meet the needs of patients in their homes, nursing homes, assisted living facilities or inpatients units. She created a Hispanic Team with bilingual staff sensitive to Hispanic cultural traditions. A triage team was added to expand nursing coverage for patients and families to address their questions or crisis situations after hours, thus eliminating all answering services.

Guzman effectively manages the challenges of maintaining efficient operations as well as supporting and promoting access to care, patient advocacy and meeting the needs of the patients, families and her staff. At the same time, she has taken an active role in the community and served for three years as co-chair of the Northern Palm Beaches Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Committee, volunteered at Artigras and other community events, serves as a member of the Palm Healthcare Foundation Nursing Leadership Forum and the National Hospice Workgroup Clinical Director Forum.

Guzman effectively manages what is most important to her: her family which includes two children, her management responsibilities, her staff’s needs and their professional growth, and contributions towards the advancement of the nursing profession, Hospice of Palm Beach County’s patients, families and the community.

Registered Nurse Sharon Heckett loves being an emergency room nurse at North Broward Medical Center, and it shows every day. Whether caring for the critically ill, or simply holding a frightened hand, her skill and caring shines bright. Despite a sometimes overwhelming emergency department with multiple tasks to complete she smiles throughout the shift offering comfort and caring to all. Throughout her career at North Broward Medical Center, Sharon has always been chosen as a mentor in the Emergency Department as she enjoys sharing her knowledge and years of experience with genuine guidance and support. Sharon also actively promotes the North Broward Medical Center Customer Service Initiatives and plays an active role in the Emergency Department achieving high quality care outcomes and customer satisfaction. Creating an atmosphere of smiles, dignity and respect, Sharon shines in the world of nursing brighter than the stars.

Danielle Orr, RN, C, ONC, MHA is extremely passionate about patient care and pain management. In 2000, when the Joint Commission on Accreditation Hospital Organizations (JCAHO) published the new pain standards, she took up the cause. She would say, “if you have a question about pain management, give me a call and I will help.” She is always willing to speak to physicians about pain managements and was a driving force behind the pain management program at North Broward Medical Center. She has spoken locally as well as nationally on pain management and is a guest faculty member at Broward Community College where she presents on pain assessment and management to nursing students. Recently she successfully passed the pain certification examination and is now only one of twenty-four nurses in Florida who hold Pain Management Certification. Danielle has done all of this because she feels very strongly about minimizing the amount of pain a patient experiences. We feel very fortunate to have Danielle as a member of our staff to help fight for best practice in pain management.

Agnes has been with Aventura Hospital and Medical Center for seven years. She is a Registered Nurse at the 8th North Inpatient Tele Diabetes Unit. Agnes has been a preceptor and resource as well in the last two years. Agnes remains a true asset to the unit. She is truly a patient advocate. She was Nurse of the Month this past January selected by patients and the Medical Executive Committee.

Agnes is respected by her peers, patients, and physicians for her caring attitude. She is a well-rounded person and is an excellent nurse.

Clive is the Inpatient Wound Care Coordinator at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center. Clive provides significant professional contribution to our hospital and for our community. Clive has a foundation of excellence and integrity. He is a role model as an educator and is committed to quality care. He is a patient advocate to assure they get the best possible care available. Clive is a great resource to all staff members. A great listener will provide the necessary feedback and follow-up that is needed with confidence.

Clive is very creative and applies his creativity into graphic arts into the PUP Program which is our Prevention Ulcer Program at Aventura Hospital. He is also the editor of the monthly Pressure Newsletter that is provided to the staff to educate them on the latest on Wound Care. Clive has traveled extensive as a nurse and has worked in various areas of nursing including Pediatrics, Neonatal, Renal Transplant and Dermatology. However, Clive has found Wound Care to be his passion. Clive is a valued team member of the Wound Healing Center at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center and has gained the respect of patients, physicians, and his peers.

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. Isabel Fernandez, known as Bing has been with HCA for 28 years; and with Aventura Hospital and Medical Center for 3 years and signifies excellence in nursing at Aventura Hospital.

Isabel is a true team member in the ICU department. Her peers, patients, and physicians respect her for her caring attitude, cheerful demeanor, and knowledge base. She is often called upon to assist her co-workers with nursing procedures and to assess patient status. She is a resource person for other ICU nurses and she instill in them to always do the right thing and maintain patient safety standards. She gives her co-workers the feeling of security that somebody will be there to assist them whenever they need help or assistance.

Isabel treats each patient and staff member as an individual and respects their many cultures and ethnic backgrounds. She is sensitive and attentive to the needs of our patients and co-workers, taking the time to respond to any special requests or needs. She is loved by her patients and their families.

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

Ruby is a Charge Nurse in the Stepdown Unit. She has been with Aventura Hospital for five years and is currently working on her Masters in Nursing. She worked in the development of the Clinical Ladder Committee and is a member of the Nurse/Physician Steering Committee at the hospital. She is very active in collaborative physician practices. She was the recipient of the Nursing Excellence Award for the fourth quarter of 2006.

Ruby is extremely competent, dedicated, and compassionate. She excels in outstanding customer service. She is caring to her patients and their families. Because of nurses like Ruby, Aventura Hospital provides excellence in patient care.

Julie is a Registered Nurse at the 8th North Tower Inpatient Tele Diabetes Unit and has been nominated as Nurse of the Month in February for her excellence in providing quality care and leadership. She has been at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center for 13 years. Julie has worked in the G.I. Suite. She also has experience in Med/Surg, Wound Care Clinical Patient Educator, has been a physician liaison and patient and family educator. She also worked in England in the Renal and Transplant and Dialysis unit. Julie worked in South Africa as a Nursing Comprehensive Cancer Center Physician and Patient Liaison. Her certifications include Legal Nurse Consultant, Mentoring Preceptor Certification. Julie brings a vast experience in the nursing professional and excels as an excellent clinician.

Julie has been promoted to permanent Charge Nurse on the day shift and continues to show great leadership and resource skills. Julie is extremely competent, dedicated and compassionate. Julie provides consistent quality to all customers. Julie is an asset to Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.

Maggie has been a Registered Nurse for four years with Aventura Hospital and Medical Center. She works in the Telemetry Department. Maggie is extremely motivated and a team player. She is loved and respected by her peers. She is a member of the Nurse/Physician Steering Committee at the hospital.

Maggie was recently nominated as Nurse of the Month. She always assists with PI, hourly rounding, DC call backs. She is always receiving compliments for the excellence care she provides to her patients and family members. Maggie is an asset to patient care at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.

Michelle is a Charge Nurse in the Med/Surg Unit and has been with Aventura Hospital and Medical Center since 1999. Michelle is an excellent clinician, great patient advocate, flexible, functions in many roles and is always willing to go the extra mile. Michelle has received many complimentary letters from her patients. Many of them say she is always willing to listen, very helpful and makes them feel comfortable during a stressful time. She is an asset to Aventura Hospital.

Michelle is specialized in Oncology and is certified in chemotherapy and is extremely knowledgeable in her field. 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 our mission. As we have grown as a facility, Michelle has grown and excelled as a healthcare provider.

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 need 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.

Julianne Burgos, R.N., is the Educator and Performance Improvement Coordinator for Cardiovascular Services. Julianne was instrumental in the creation of all orientation manuals for the different skilled level positions in cardiovascular services. She is responsible for the Orientation Program of all new cardiovascular employees, continuing education of multi-disciplinary team, documentation of competency checklists, patient teaching and follow-up. She is also responsible for coordinating the Performance Improvement program and Cardiovascular Registry within the department. Julianne is extremely motivated and has extensive experience in Critical Care, Post Anesthesia Recovery, and Medical Surgical training. Her interests include advancing in the area of Management and Education in healthcare. She was previously nominated for the Nursing Excellence of the Quarter Award.

Julianne makes a continuous effort to promote the individualized and specialized treatment that each of our patients need and deserves. She realizes the special needs required of many of our patients and works with their families under very stressful times. Julianne has worked in the nursing development area, is a mentor and has grown and excelled as a healthcare provider. Julianne is an asset to Cardiovascular Services at Aventura Hospital and Medical Center.

Maureen Luebbers has been a Director at University Hospital and Medical Center for 18 years. In addition to her current role, Maureen has been the Director of the Arthritis Unit and Endoscopy Suite earlier in her career at University Hospital.

Maureen is an enthusiastic and compassionate nurse who leads by example. Her attitude and level of engagement greatly impact the nurses in her units, as she consistently ensures her patients are treated with great compassion, empathy and quality care.

When it comes to education, Maureen knows how to communicate with people at all levels. She keeps constant communication with her patients both before and after surgical procedures and works diligently to keep all appropria

About The Author

Dorron Blumberg

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