May 19, 2006

Commitment, excellence celebrated during MGH Nurse Recognition Week

Not only does the annual Nurse Recognition Week, held this year May 7 to 12, give MGH nurses an opportunity to reflect upon their accomplishments, but it also gives the entire MGH community a chance to honor these clinicians and the impact they have on the lives of patients and families every day.

The week began with two breakfast celebrations for staff nurses held May 7 and 8, providing an opportunity to network and celebrate with one another. The week's first educational session May 8 focused on how effective communication can help improve patient safety and was presented by Suzanne Graham, RN, PhD, director of Patient Safety for Kaiser Permanente. The next morning, MGHers were invited to the panel presentation "The Making of 'The Making of an ICU Nurse,'" in which reporter Scott Allen and photographer Michele McDonald described their intense seven-month journey following MGH nurses Michelle "MJ" Pender, RN, and Julia Zelixon, RN, that was chronicled as a four-part Boston Globe series. Later that day, the O'Keeffe Auditorium was filled to capacity as Joyce Clifford, RN, PhD, FAAN, discussed clinical nursing practice and the importance of creating an environment that supports care delivery and promotes the nurse-patient relationship.


Ives Erickson, left, with the Yvonne Munn Nursing Research Award winners

An integral component of nursing practice — research — was the focus of MGH Nursing Research Day May 10 as scientific posters were displayed throughout the hospital and several presentations were given about research studies conducted by MGH nurses. The 12th annual Yvonne L. Munn Nursing Research Lecture, "The Nurse Scientist: Blazing New Trails in Health Promotion," was presented by Loretta Sweet Jemmott, RN, PhD, co-director of the Center for Health Disparities Research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. The 2006 Yvonne L. Munn Nursing Research Award was presented to Kelly Trecartin, RN, and Nicole Spano-Niedereirer, RN, both staff nurses in the MGH Cardiac Catheterization Lab; and the Yvonne Munn postdoctoral fellowship was presented to Lynda Tyer-Viola, RN, PhD, a clinical nurse specialist in Obstetrics.

"Professional Nursing: MGH at its Best" was the spotlight of the week, as Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nurse, congratulated MGH nurses for their exquisite practice. Using videoclips, she highlighted the components of nursing professionalism in everyday work and the priorities for MGH nurses in the coming year.

"It is my belief that during the past 10 years, we have transformed MGH Nursing and have influenced the delivery of care here and elsewhere," she said. "Our agenda for the next decade must be multifaceted and hold dear the core of professionalism, bringing together those attributes and behaviors that serve to maintain the patient's interests. As nurses we must ask ourselves if we are living up to our roles as leaders, teachers, care providers and citizens."

To highlight her point that patients are truly at the center of professional nursing
practice, Ives Erickson introduced a special former patient, New England Patriots defensive lineman, Jarvis Green, who shared his experience being cared for by MGH nurses.

Jarvis Green, center, poses with MGH nurses.