Background
How long have you worked at Swedish Covenant Hospital?
I have worked at SCH for 6 years. Four and one-half in acute hospital and 1 1/2 in home care.
Has your position changed throughout your employment here? If yes, what positions have you held?
My position at SCH has changed multiple times. When I started here I was a staff nurse working in home care. I then received my wound, ostomy, continence certification and transferred to the hospital. I became the WOC nurse. Now I have completed my Nurse Practitioner training and practice independently.
Have you earned any certifications or made progress on the Clinical Ladder? If yes, how so?
Certifications are CWOCN and ANP-C
Involvement
Are you involved in any professional nursing organizations or activities? If so, are they at the local, state, national or international levels?
I am a member of the WOCN Society, American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Illinois State Society of Advanced Nurses. I hope to increase my involvement since I have graduated from formal schooling.
Magnet
What does the Magnet Journey mean to you?
The Magnet journey is important to me because I am a great believer in nursing professionalism and autonomy. Nurses need to be recognized in order to strive to their greatest potential.
Why is it important to work in a hospital that is on the Magnet Journey?
A Magnet Hospital recognizes the importance of nurses and what nurses do. Historically nurses have lacked importance in their roles and have often been thought of as physician's helpers. Magnet dispels this thinking because it supports professionalism, evidence based nursing practice, shared governance and nursing research.
Is there a particular Magnet Force you identify with, or have witnessed in your workplace?
The Magnet Force I rely on is one that promotes relationships between nursing, therapy, physicians and patients.
Are you a member of a Division of Nursing Team (i.e. Heart Connection, Trans4mers, Transitional Turtles, Team Spirit, The Outsiders or Team Vida)?
My team is the Transitional Turtles. A turtle, to our group indicates slow but steady improvements and clinical gains. Our clinical fields include rehabilitation medicine, long term care and wound care, all of which take time.
Do you have any stories from your unit of how Swedish Covenant Hospital nurses created a positive experience for a patient or another employee?
I have one magnet story. A patient, AL, came to the wound clinic as an out patient several weeks ago. He had severe lymphedema in his left leg with wounds and large venous ulcers on his right leg. Over the past few years he had been to four different hospitals and another out patient wound center. Each time he was told nothing could be done for him.
He was admitted to SCH. The wound team which consisted of the WOCN, ANP and the physical therapist started MIST therapy on the patient, did local wound care, and applied heavy compression wraps. Cardiology, Infectious Disease and Rehab were consulted. Briefly, AL lost 67 pounds of fluid, his wounds healed by 80%, and he was walking stairs independently. This story signifies a collaborative effort of physicians, nurses, physical therapists and nutritionists to rehabilitate a patient by evidence based medicine but also hope. Hope that he can get better, hope that he can interact with friends and family without an odorous draining wound and confidence in the teams at SCH.
For Fun
Are you involved in any employee extra-curricular activities (i.e. Intramural sports, Cultural Diversity Days, Meditation, Galter LifeCenter etc.)?
I am a member of Galter Life Center. In the summer I bike to work which I started after Bike to Work Week.
Is there anywhere on campus you go to relax? Where?
I usually do not have time to relax during the work day, but play tennis at night about 3-4 times a week.
What do you like best about working at Swedish Covenant Hospital?
The best thing about working at SCH is the people. I have worked at other institutions and people are nice here.
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