Author

Newer RNs are familiar with the concept of portfolios; it was a requirement in school.

Older nurses know a portfolio as a large case of artwork samples, modeling pictures or

design work carried to job interviews by “artsy” types.

In researching nursing portfolios, I found that in Britain maintaining an updated portfolio

is a now a requirement of their re-licensure with a certain percentage audited each year. I

also read some discussion of it becoming required in the future in some U.S. states.

My first question was, what is the difference between a resume and a portfolio?

“A resume is a summary of your skills, achievements and professional experience.

Your resume may note you developed a patient care plan, your portfolio will contain the

plan.” (Dennison, January 2007).

A portfolio is a collection of materials carefully collected over time, that document a

nurse’s competencies and shows the development of the nurse’s expertise. It is a plan for

professional development where the nurse does a learning needs assessment on herself,

plans for meeting those needs, implements the plan and then evaluates it. The portfolio

acts as a tool for reflective thinking and illustrates critical thinking skills. It is essentially

a picture of the nurse at different times in his/her career and demonstrates progression in

expertise.

Two types of portfolios are discussed. The growth and development (items for your eyes

only of all achievements and education, as well as reflections and goals) and the best

work portfolio (items selected from growth and development for review by others for a

specific purpose such as a promotion or an award).

Portfolio development may be done in a tabbed binder or file or as an e-file. There are

companies that provide the framework for this online (for a price!).

Items to be included in your portfolio, besides the objective data, would be:

Your personal philosophy of nursing, updated as time passes. Paragraphs about patient,

family, administrative or interpersonal situations (with identifiers removed) where you

felt morally, ethically, emotionally, or intellectually challenged. Describe your feelings,

how you dealt with the situation and what you feel you could have done better at the

time. This kind of reflection should stimulate change and personal growth. Looked at

from the perspective of 5-10 years later, you may have entirely different thoughts and

feelings about the topic.

Continued on Page 5

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Nursing Porfolio 1,5

CNE Corner 2

Kudos to

Nursing

3,4

APN Corner 6

Illuminations of

the Lamp

7

Wound Care 9

Reflections of a

Nurse

10

Ethical

Considerations

11

Shared

Governance

Updates

12

Educational

Offerings

13

The Professional Nursing Portfolio

Nurse Link A U G U S T 2 0 1 6 V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 4

Loyola University Health System

Nursing Professional Practice Model

Julie Martynowycz,

MSN, BSN, RN

Nursing Leadership

P A G E 2

N U R S E L I N K

Karen J. Anderson MSN, MBA, RN

Vice President, Patient Care

Services & Chief Nurse Executive

Dear colleagues,

As we enter another fiscal year, I would like to thank you for all the accom-

plishments during Fiscal Year 2016 and for your dedication and loyalty to

our patients. Here are just some of the great achievements from last year:

Achieving the highest patient experience scores in our history

Increased Rapid Response calls and reduced Code Blue calls

Decreased central line and urinary tract infections

Increased hand hygiene compliance

Continued implementation of the interdisciplinary Collaborative Care Community (C3) model

Opening of the Progressive Care Unit

Opening additional observation beds

Temporary movement of GI, pre-op testing and dialysis

Increased ambulatory patient experience scores

Demonstrating the highest hourly rounding score among Trinity Health hospitals

Implementation of the new Tele System

Implementation of the Transitional Care Unit

All of that was achieved while we continued to provide care to the sickest patients in the state of

Illinois and expanded our ambulatory presence.

In keeping with our Magis values, we will continue to improve all aspects of care that we provide

our patients at LUMC. This year we will focus on many things, including:

Improving all our quality metrics

Completing our unit co-location plans and implementing our (C3) model on all inpatient units

Continued improvement of our patients’ experience in all settings

Developing and implementing strategies to improve our employee engagement

Reviewing and revising our Nursing Governance Structure

Utilizing Workforce Management and Kronos tools to achieve productivity targets

Revising stipend policy to encourage certification

As we enter this new fiscal year, I would ask you to continue to be the force that moves us forward.

As Loyola nurses, you make a difference to each other and our patients every day. I can’t tell you

how much I appreciate all you do and how grateful I am to work with such talented individuals.

Thank you!

Warm regards,

Karen

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 4

Kudos to Nursing Clinical Ladder April 2016

Clinical Ladder The deadlines for submitting your clinical ladder

application are

April 30, July 31, October 31 and January 31.

Three copies of the application should be submitted with

binder clips or rubber bands only, to the

Nursing Administration Office room 1328.

Please seek out a Clinical Ladder Liaison to review your

application and provide feedback before submitting it.

LEVEL 3 RENEWAL FirstName Last Name Dept

Jayme Anderko Labor and Delivery

Christine Copher Women's Health

Jacqulyn Endemann 3SE

Sandra Gronkiewicz Anticoagulation

Mireya Guzman L & D

Stephanie Hamilton 3NW

Elizabeth Henderickson 3SE

Suzan Hoard LaGrange Dermatology

Linda Holmes L & D

Carolyn Jacobs Homer Glen

Marinza Jimenez GI Lab

Margaret Jones NICU

Kimberly Kafka Burr Ridge Immediate Care

Ramute Kemeza Occupational Health

Kimberly Kieffer Peds

Mary Lang EP Lab

Claire Langell Lung Transplant

Michelle Larsen 7SW

Carol Lewis 2APP/NBN

Melissa Macdonald ED

Anna Malec 3MICU

Barbara Massura HVC Holding

Kristine Nartey HTU

Jacqueline Pajkowski CV Recovery

Diana Perkowski Burn Clinic

Rita Risatti 2APP

Kristin Tate 6SW

Cheryl Tibbetts CBCC Day Hospital

Allison Warzecha Lung Transplant

Holly Wood Peds

LEVEL 3 NEW FirstName Last Name Dept

Kimberly Indurante NICU

Lynsey Riedl L/D

Julie Minser 5 Tower

Marta Hitchcock ED

Stephanie Weddle 2S

Emily Steinbeck 2S

Judith A Bradfield GI Lab

Mary Splitt Dermotology

Holly Fosberg OR

Kit Bielenberg BMTU

Catherine Rehkamp 4T

Meghan Kelly Medical Specialties

Pooja Patel Neonatal ICU

Otanthia Williams Lung Transplant

Brittany Trethewey 3MICU

Kaitlin Kienzle 4 Tower

Alicia Harnois 2S

Shawanna Thompson ED

LEVEL 4 NEW FirstName Last Name Dept

Joanna Giza 4ICU

Rebecca Blackley 3MICU

Megan Wojciechowski Apheresis

Ellen Milad CBCC Day Hospital

Belinda Ruiz OB/GYN

LEVEL 4 RENEWAL FirstName Last Name Dept

Amanda Adams 4 Tower

Lucy Bensfield 4ICU

Myounghee Byrd 3MICU

Jacqueline Fancsalszki ED

Erin Fruth 4 Tower

Megan Godoy 3MICU

Michelle Lech 5 NEWS

Lindsey Mc Hugh 6BMTU

Keely Murphy 4ICU

Serena Ofenloch ED

Miljana Ruiz 4 Tower

Sarah Elizabeth Sandonato 3MICU

Debbie Schroeder NICU

Elaine Urgel 1 Tower Observation

Stephanie Wolski OR

P A G E 4 V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 4

Kudos to Nursing Continued

Certifications: The following Nurses are NCC certified in Elec-

tronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM):

Delissa Beaman, OB-Gyn Outpatient

Sharon Bird, OB-Gyn Outpatient*

Jacqueline Diaz, Labor & Delivery

Jessica Martinez, Labor & Delivery

Amy McKenna, Labor & Delivery

Natalis Vargas, Labor & Delivery

The following Nurse is certified in Neonatal Inten-

sive Care Nursing:

Teresa Boland, C-NICU*, Women’s Health

The following nurses are Certified Critical Care

Nurses (CCRN):

Leticia Matysik, 2ICU*

Fredrich Raz, CCU

The following nurses are Stroke Certified Nurses

(SCRN):

Sandy Nguyen, 2W Neuro ICU

Jaclyn Nieman, 2W Neuro ICU

The following nurses are Medical Surgical

Certified Nurses:

Brooke Balash, 1 Tower, CMS-RN

Ashlee Farrell, 4 Tower CMS-RN

Christine Garces, 1Tower, CMS-RN

Emily Steinbeck, 2S, CMS-RN

Stephanie Saletnik, 2S, CMS-RN

Debra Lynn Terrell, 2E, CMS-RN

Linda Lopez-Urbina, 1 Tower, CMS-RN

Delia Zapata, 5 Tower, CMS-RN

Katrina Hegnowski, CEN, ED, is a Certified

Emergency Nurse*

Theresa Martinez is a Certified Acute/Critical

Nursing Knowledge Professional, CCRN-K*

Mary Lang, EP/Cath is a Registered Cardiac

Electrophysiology Specialist, RCES

Janet Lombardo, Oak Park, is Certified in

Ambulatory Care Nursing, RN-BC

Jeanne Keane, Surgical Services, is a Certified Post

Anesthesia Nurse, CPAN

Gemma Jose, 5Tower, is a Certified

Cardiovascular Nurse, CVRN-BC*

Josephine Pudwill, 4PICU, is a Certified Clinical

Nurse Leader

Miriam Volle, BMTU, is an Acute Nurse Care

Practitioner, ACNP*

Marianne Chybik, Case Management, is an

accredited Case Manager, CAN

Mary Foley, 6SW, is a Certified Oncology Nurse,

OCN*

Maria Carmen Galvan, Surgery Russo, is Certified

in perioperative nursing, CNOR*

Megann Wojciechowski, Apheresis Center, is a

Certified Blood and Marrow Transplant Nurse,

BMTCN

Kathleen Xenakis, Rehab, is a Certified

Rehabilitation Registered Nurse, CRRN*

*recertification

The Professional Nursing Portfolio Cont’d from Page 1

P A G E 5

N U R S E L I N K

The nurse should write his/her goals for 1 year, 5 years, 10 years and 20 years from now. These goals should be as-

sessed and re-evaluated every year. You may start your career absolutely sure you want to be a critical care nurse

practitioner in 10 years, plan your career accordingly, but then find you are more drawn to nursing administration

after several years as a nurse. Life events and professional experience are what colors our lives.

A section of the portfolio documents your accomplishments, education, memberships etc. and should include objec-

tive documentation. For example your Diplomas, CEU records, membership cards, and letters of recommendation.

Items to include in your portfolio, but not limited to, include:

Resume or C.V.

Personal philosophy, updated as needed

Your plan for your professional development (goals)

Academic transcripts; degrees and from where

Health records (immunizations)

Job descriptions of positions held, clinical focus, areas of responsibility

Performance appraisals

Competency and skills checklists for each position held

Certifications, with dates and renewals

Crosstraining experience

Continuing education with documentation of contact hours, and the relationship to your goals

In-services attended (skills updates, competency validation, unit based programs and dates)

Other educational experiences

Professional memberships, positions held and those responsibilities

Medically related volunteer work; free clinics, health fairs, medical missions

Conferences attended (NTI, ANA)

Speaking events, posters presented and copies of those materials

Publications

Research

Leadership positions

Committee membership(s)

Mentor/preceptor experience, list those you worked with

Consulting work

Evidence Based Practice you have developed

Grants

Awards

Your portfolio, once established, should only take a little time every 6 months to keep it up to date. I would

recommend you start working on it as a newer nurse as it can be hard to remember and collect 40 years of work!

References: Dennison, Robin Donohoe , RN, DNP,CCNS. (2007) What Goes Into Your Professional Portfolio and What You’ll Get Out

Of It. American Nurse Today, 2(1).

Oermann, Marilyn H., PhD, RN, FAAN. (2002) Developing a Professional Portfolio in Nursing. Orthopedic Nursing, 21 (2)

Casey, Deborah C and Egan, Dominic. The Use of Professional Portfolios and Profiles for Career Enhancement. British

Journal of Community Nursing, 15 (11).

Joyce, Pauline, FFNMRCSI, MSc, RNT, BNS. (2004) A Framework for Portfolio Development in Postgraduate Nursing

Practice. Issues in Clinical Nursing, 31.

McColgan, Karen. (2008). The Value of Portfolio Building and the Registered Nurse. Education and Practice, 18(2).

APN Corner: Focus on Vicki Bacidore, DNP, APN,

ACNP-BC, CEN, TNS

P A G E 6 N U R S E L I N K

What is your nursing education and work history?

Education

Loyola University Chicago (2016 DNP; MSN; 2006)

Benedictine University (1991 MSMOB)

Elmhurst College (1986 BSN)

Work History

Loyola University Chicago Niehoff School of Nursing (2012-present) graduate faculty

Loyola University Medical Center (1996-present)

Emergency Advanced Practice Nurse; Emergency Medical Services Educator

Elmhurst Memorial Hospital (1986-2005)-staff nurse

Professional Memberships/Scholarship

Immediate Past-President Illinois Emergency Nurses Association & Board Member

Emergency Nurses Association

American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners

Illinois Society of Advanced Practice Nurses

Sigma Theta Tau International

Loyola University Chicago Niehoff School of Nursing Alumni Board

Published author and podium/poster presenter at numerous conferences

Research focus: Implementation of interprofessional alcohol screening, brief intervention, and re-

ferral to treatment (SBIRT) in emergency department practice

What drew you to nursing?

I decided to become a nurse while in high school, being drawn to the profession by nurses in my

family. I always wanted to be a nurse or a teacher, not realizing back then that I would eventually be

able to become both. Thanks to the generous employee tuition benefits at the hospital and university, I

was able to further my education and obtain my masters’ and doctoral degrees at Loyola.

Describe how you have seen the APN role advance during your time as a nurse.

What challenges to they still face?

I was hired as the first APN in the Emergency Department (ED), worked there full-time for several

years until transitioning to part-time, and taking on a full-time faculty position. In 2001, Loyola’s

School of Nursing introduced the 2nd EDNP program in the country and still remains one of the few ex-

clusive EDNP programs in the country.

Over the years, APN roles and responsibilities have expanded; demonstrating proven cost-effectiveness

and high quality care delivery.

Challenges to the APN role remain despite the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the Insti-

tute of Medicine’s recommendations that APNS practice to the full extent of their education and train-

ing. Opportunities for improvement exist by removing practice, legislative and regulatory barriers,

along with ensuring reimbursement parity. APNs are not contending for the physician’s role in health

care teams, but seek to work in a collegial manner for patients, families and the community.

Continued on Page 8

Submitted By: Daria C. Ruffolo DNP, RN, CCRN, ACNP-BC

Illuminations from the Lamp: Why get Certified?

P A G E 7

N U R S E L I N K

Submitted By: Daria C. Ruffolo DNP, RN, ACNP-BC email: druffol@lumc.edu

Nursing is a profession that

provides high level skills to

vulnerable populations. In-

creasingly facing sicker patients, more complex

care interventions and evolving technology they

strive to remain current and effective in the care

they deliver. In keeping with our other health care

colleagues that become certified in their area of ex-

pertise it is important for all nurses to understand

the value of nursing certification. Certification is a

profession's official recognition of achievement,

expertise, and clinical judgment. It is a mark of ex-

cellence that requires continued learning and skill

development to maintain. Nurses achieve certifica-

tion credentials through specialized education, ex-

perience in a specialty area, and a qualifying exam.

Congratulations to all the nurses who have achieved

this important career milestone. For those still con-

sidering it, patients and families, employers and

nurses all benefit from certification. Some reasons

to purse this endeavor include:

Professional Recognition and Accomplishment:

Professional Recognition and Credibility. Certi-

fied nurses are recognized and respected. Certifica-

tion confirms a nurse's competence and capabilities

to peers, patients, supervisors, and administrators.

In a survey of more than 11,000 certified and non-

certified nurses conducted by the American Board

of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), more than 90%

agreed that certification validates specialized

knowledge, enhances professional credibility, and

indicates a level of clinical competence; more than

80% agreed that certification promotes recognition

from peers and other health professionals.

Professional Achievement. Certified nurses have

distinguished themselves in their specialty area. The

preparation and study necessary for successful com-

pletion of certification examinations improve a

nurse's ability to care for acute, chronic, or critically

ill patients. Continued competency requirements for

certification renewal ensure that certified nurses re-

main up-to-date with the latest developments in their

specialties.

Career Advancement. Certified nurses advance in

the workplace. In a survey of nurse managers, 86%

indicated that they would hire a certified nurse over

a noncertified nurse if everything else were equal. In

the same survey, it was reported that 74% of institu-

tions gave one or more incentives to promote and

recognize specialty nursing certification.

Higher Pay. Certified specialty nurses earn more

money. The 2011 salary survey conducted by Nurs-

ing found that, among registered nurses, those certi-

fied in a specialty made $7300 more per year than

registered nurses who weren't certified.

Patient Care:

Most important, certification contributes to better

patient care. A growing body of research indicates a

link between certification and nurse knowledge,

techniques, and judgment that affect patient safety.

For example, one study found that the higher the

proportion of certified nurses in intensive care units,

the fewer total falls occurred. Other researchers have

found that nurses certified in wound care had more

knowledge about the classification of pressure ulcers

and oncology-certified nurses had greater pain

knowledge.

Continued on Page 8

Illuminations from the Lamp: Cont’d from Page 7

P A G E 8

N U R S E L I N K

According to a November 2010 Harris Poll, consumer awareness that nurses can be certified is high, 78% of

respondents knew that nurses could be certified. Awareness of nurse certification was slightly higher than all

other professions inquired about including physicians, accountants, teachers and mechanics.

Patients prefer hospitals that employ nurses with specialty certification. Three in four (73%) said that, given a

choice, they are much more likely to select a hospital that employs a high percentage of nurses with specialty

certification.

Benchmark of Success:

The value of certification extends beyond the individual nurse. It is a mark of autonomy for the nursing pro-

fession and benefits nurse managers, hospital administrators, and other employers in significant ways.

Component of a Positive Work Environment. Hospitals pursuing ANCC Magnet Recognition®, the

AACN Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence®, and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award rec-

ognize that certification of nursing staff is a key component of excellence and enhances their potential for dis-

tinction. Certification also helps with Joint Commission accreditation and grant funding.

Quality Indicator. Certification is an indicator of quality that attracts patients. In other fields, consumers

seek out certified professionals when they need a variety of services, and public awareness of the value of

nurse certification is growing. It is an important indicator to patients that nurses are qualified and experienced,

and have met rigorous requirements to achieve the additional credential of a specialty certification. Patients

and families expect knowledgeable caregivers at the bedside and certification offers them reassurance of their

nurses' competence.

Certification advances the profession of nursing by both encouraging and recognizing professional achieve-

ment. One of the most important purposes for credentialing programs include providing the highest level of

care for our patients. Additionally, certification assures to patients that their nurses have met standards of

practice while demonstrating an individual's commitment to a profession and to lifelong learning. All while

providing the nurse with a sense of pride and professional accomplishment.

What would you offer the new APN starting out in his/her career?

Be knowledgeable about your scope of practice and legislative issues

Keep a professional portfolio and maintain your competencies/continuing education

Seek out professional mentors and nurture those relationships

Stay active in your professional nursing organization

Share your knowledge and expertise to help grow the next generation of nurses/APNs

Network! Network! Network!

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Continuing to teach and practice nursing…that is truly doing what I love!

APN Corner: Cont’d from Page 5

P A G E 9

Updates from the Wound Care Team:

N U R S E L I N K

Leann McMonigal has been involved in wound and

ostomy care for five years and has been CWON

(Wound Ostomy Nurse) for three years.

-Pictured on the left

Nanci Stark has been involved with wound, ostomy,

and continence care for many years and is CWOCN

(Wound Ostomy and Continence Nurse).

-Pictured on the right

Greetings from the wound care team! Here at Loyola, we are fortunate to have a team of

two certified wound/ostomy nurses on staff to be a resource for wound care, ostomy care, and

pressure injury intervention, staging and treatment. Leann and Nanci are available Monday thru

Friday, 0700-1600, to help with wound and ostomy issues. They are excited to share their

specialty with the Nurse Link and look forward to answering any questions and educating nursing

staff about the many aspects of wound and ostomy care.

Important changes were just announced by The National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel

(NPUAP). NPUAP is a not-for-profit, internationally known organization that is comprised of

experts from multiple health care disciplines and their purpose is to prevent and manage pressure

injuries through collaboration with the experts using evidence-based practice. Some of these

changes include the name change from pressure ULCER to pressure INJURY; this is because not

all pressure ulcers have open skin. Another change is the conversion of ulcer staging from Ro-

man numeral numbers to regular numbers. Although these changes may not seem monumental

there is more to come and it will change some of our routine practices. More information can be

found at http://www.npuap.org/.

They are always available for consultation on pressure ulcer/injuries stages 2, 3, and 4,

draining wounds, fistulas, or any wound you’re not sure how to treat. They can be contacted by

phone or pager, and are always happy to help. If you need a quick response please page them as

they are usually out on the floors and rarely in the office!

Pager Office Number

Leann McMonigal 10094 6-8554

Nancy Stark 14282 6-8554

P A G E 1 0

Reflections of a Nurse: Nurse of the Year, Erin Mahoney

N U R S E L I N K

I am proud to say I am a first generation college graduate. Some may not think

much of it, but given the fact that I experienced homelessness as a child, you can

understand the accomplishment! Growing up with minimal resources, my mother

focused on experiences rather than physical things. So in school my focus was

not to get the highest grade, but to get the most out of my educational experience.

As soon as I was able, I worked as a PCT full time on the night shift because I

knew the best way to learn a job would be to perform the job. I learned so much

as a PCT. As a PCT I learned how to relate to patients and establish a trust with

them when they are having their worst days. I also learned that my true love in

nursing was in critical care. This made me an anomaly in my nursing class in Rockford. When my nurs-

ing instructors told me I wouldn’t be able to start out in critical care, I realized I would have to pave my

own path. In 2005, I graduated nursing school and was hired in 4ICU as a new nurse graduate. It was in

4ICU that I discovered my love for transplant patients. Kidney transplant patients are the only people who

are happy to hear they have 200cc urine output in the middle of the night!

I started my graduate degree as soon as I was able to take advantage of the amazing tuition reimbursement

program at Loyola. Some might think that it was too soon, only having been a nurse for a year, but I saw

the opportunity for career growth. Around this time, I also moved away from the bedside to take a job as a

cardiothoracic procurement nurse. This position allowed me to see the outpatient side of nursing by caring

for people waiting for heart and lung transplant, but also satisfied my need for critical care with donor calls

and being part of the organ recovery team. I then transitioned to post-transplant coordination exclusively.

It is incredible to see a patient progression from gasping for every breath and dragging around oxygen to

being on room air and climbing stairs five days after transplant. When I became a nurse practitioner, I

was challenged to develop and grow the Cystic Fibrosis Program at Loyola. It was in this population that I

gained my patience. The role required a true immersion into complex family structures that develop in the

setting of chronic pediatric diseases. How can I allow this patient to take ownership of their healthcare and

not alienate their parents? My career took another turn when my supervisor retired in 2013. I took over as

the program administrator for lung transplant at Loyola, a role I continue to hold. In this role, I get to use

all the skills I learned on my journey: focus on the experience, being relatable, not accepting the status

quo, and patience. I also challenge my staff to work at their highest level. Through all our hard work and

dedication, my department staff met our ten year program goals in three years! We did five lung trans-

plants in a day, a feat that no one else had done. That feat can only be accomplished with a great team.

I am sorry to say that I never crossed paths with the person to which this award was named. But I think

every nurse is shaped by their life experiences, work experiences, and people who model the best in prac-

tice. I am honored to say Loyola has truly shaped my nursing career and gave me excellent role models

that I emulate. I hope that I can inspire a few nurses on my own now.

Ethical Considerations: Who Decides for Patients When They Lack Capacity?

P A G E 1 1 V O L U M E 1 0 , I S S U E 4

As ethics consultants, we typically are asked to con-

sult on cases where the patient lacks decision-

making capacity. In these situations, the first ques-

tion we ask is whether the patient filled out an ad-

vance directive (either a living will or durable pow-

er of attorney for health care). Unfortunately, most

patients have not executed an advance directive,

despite the existence of the Patient Self Determina-

tion Act. This act, which was passed in 1990, re-

quires hospitals to inform patients upon admission

about their rights, including the right to execute an

advance directive. However, there is no requirement

that patients actually do fill out an advance di-

rective. Thus, we have the current situation where

most patients do not have such documents to help

guide physicians and nurses in their care.

Fortunately, in the state of Illinois, we do have a

very helpful law called the Illinois Health Care Sur-

rogate Act. This law outlines who can serve as a

surrogate decision-maker for patients when they

lack capacity and what kind of decisions they can

make. The law lists a hierarchy of individuals who

can serve as a surrogate, starting with a guardian to

a spouse to adult children and all the way down to a

close friend. The thinking behind such a law is that

relatives and close friends know the patient best—

better than the physicians and nurses who are caring

for them. And this comports with the reality of pa-

tients being cared for in busy ICUs with a variety of

different care providers rotating in and out on a reg-

ular basis.

Having said that, it is interesting to note recent data

that emerged from a study published in AJOB Em-

pirical Research. The authors of this survey asked

over a 1000 patients at a large tertiary care center in

Washington, DC, about their preferences regarding

who they would want to make decisions for them if

they lacked decision-making capacity. Almost a

third reported they would want their physician to

make decisions for them if they

lacked capacity (and not their designated surrogate).

For those who did not designate a surrogate at all, 7.5%

did not want their family members involved in making

these kinds of decisions. The concern expressed by the

respondents in this study centered around the level of

distress experienced by patients’ family members in

making these kinds of decisions. These findings fly in

the face of our conventional wisdom regarding the role

of surrogates in decision-making when patients lack

capacity. We assume that surrogates know their loved

ones best and are the best equipped to make these kinds

of decisions.

This study suggests that patients may not want to bur-

den their loved ones with these kinds of decisions and

rather have their physicians make decisions for them.

This kind of survey data suggests that patients should

have frank conversations with their loved ones about

whom they want to serve as surrogate decision-makers.

If a patient does not want to burden a family member

with this kind of responsibility, then he or she should

indicate that the physician will make decisions for him

or her. This presumes a good deal of trust between the

patient and the physician. The reality is that patients

are often cared for by physicians who are truly

strangers to the patient. Therefore, it’s essential that

physicians and nurses understand their patients’ values

and preferences. Learning about the patient as a person

with a biography and possessing their own views re-

garding their care could help a great deal in these kinds

of situations. Ultimately, the patient is the one who has

the authority to make health care decisions. But it

would help if the physicians and nurses who care for

that patient know more about that patient beyond their

disease state. This need not be something as formal as

a “values history.” It could be something as simple as

saying “tell me more about yourself.” Each patient has

a unique narrative, and that narrative can help physi-

cians and nurses care for patients if they ever do lack

decision-making capacity.

Kayhan Parsi, JD, PhD

P A G E 1 2

Magnet Ambassador Council MAC Co-Chairs:

Mary Lang, MSN, RN

Janet Lombardo, RN-BC

Meeting: 1st Tuesday of the month 7:30-8:30a.m. in SSOM 170

Nurse Excellence Awards

Planning Nurses Week Celebration

Magnet Education

Encourage community service

Nurse retention

Improve staff nurse engagement

Contact: Mary Lang, malang@lumc.edu

Nursing Research and Evidence Based Practice Council Co-Chairs:

Pam Clementi PhD, RN-BC

Grace Hooker, BSN, RN, CCRN

Meeting: 1st Tuesday of the month 10:00-11:00a.m. in room 1618

Nursing Research Fellowship

Nursing Journal Club

Evidence in Action Projects

Contact: Pam Clementi, pcleme1@lumc.edu

APN Council

Co-Chairs:

Ann Briggs MS, CRNA

Eevin Judkins CCRN, ACNP-BC

Sandra Weszelits, APN

Meeting: Quarterly 3rd Tuesday of the month

Alternate Noon-1:00p.m. and 5:30-6:30p.m., location varies

APN Role and Billing

APN Credentialing and Re-credentialing

APN Orientation and Mentoring

Involve PA into council meetings

Celebrate APN and PA week

Yearly Advance Practice Provider CEU programs

Contact: Ann Briggs, abrigg1@lumc.edu

Education and Professional

Development EPD Co-Chairs:

Josey Pudwill BSN, RN, CPN

Meeting: 1st Tuesday of the month 8:45-10:00 a.m. in room 1618

Specialty Certification and Formal Education

Education Stipend

Clinical Ladder

Nursing Newsletter, Nurse Link

Contact: Josey Pudwill, jcavazo@lumc.edu

Nursing Professional

Practice Council

NPPC Co-Chairs:

Jeanette Cronin BSN, RNC

Erin Hoffmeier, MSN, RN

Meeting: 1st Tuesday of the month 12:00-1:00 p.m. in room 170

Implementing Collaborative Care Communities (C3) across all inpatient units

Improving Patient Education

Looking at standards for measuring temperature in the normotherrmic patient

Contacts: Jeanette Cronin, jcroni2@lumc.edu

Erin Hoffmeier, ehoffme@lumc.edu

Nursing Quality and

Safety Council

Co-Chairs:

Karen Thomas MS, RN, PCCN

Judy McHugh, Advisor

Meeting: 1st Tuesday of the month 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. in SSOM Room 170

Implement tactics of the Nursing Quality and Safety Plan.

Improve nurse-sensitive indicators.

Communicate LUMC patient experience IP and OP.

Evaluate and implement technology to improve patient care and patient safety

(example: Integration of Vocera and Bed Alarms.)

Implement evidence-based safety checklists across all inpatient units (example:

FASTHUGS variations for patient safety and outcomes.)

Contact: Karen Thomas, kthomas@lumc.edu

Shared Governance Councils

P A G E 1 3

N U R S E L I N K

Continuing Education Programs

Save the Date for Continuing Education Programs Sponsored by the Department of Nursing Education

2016

Check your Loyola e-mail approximately four weeks prior to each program date for complete program details, including agenda, speakers, logistics and on how to register.

Certification Review Classes These classes are designed to help nurses better prepare for certification exam success by reaffirm-ing clinical knowledge and boosting test-taking confidence. All review classes are 4 hours long, each day. In addition, the Niehoff School of Nursing Library located on the Maywood campus has certifica-tion preparation study books that may be loaned out to Loyola nurses.

Ambulatory Nurse Certification Review (RN-BC) October 1, October 15

Critical Care Nurse Certification Review (CCRN) October 21, 28, November 4, 11

Progressive Care Nurse Certification Review (PCCN) September 9, 16, September 30, October 7

Additional Conference Topics Date

Charge Nurse Workshop September 1

Ambulatory Conference September 10

Musculoskeletal September 17

Legal conference September 24

Neurovascular Conference October 8

Lab Interpretation October 29

Emergency Nursing November 12

12 Lead EKG December 2

Preceptor Workshop December 5

Nursing Grand Rounds and Schwartz Center Rounds are offered once a month, typically 60 minutes in length. Check your email for date, time, location and topic of these rounds.

LOYOLA PERINATAL CENTER

Call 7-9050 for further information

September 13 @5pm Neonatal Cardiac Anomalies (at St. Alexius)

September 21 @5pm Diabetes in Pregnancy & Ne-onatal Management (at Loyola)

October 12 from 07 to 4:30 pm The S.T.A.B.L.E. Program (at Morris Hospital)

OB CERTIFICATION REVIEW COURSES

October 10 from 08 to 4pm Advanced Fetal Moni-toring EFM Certification Preparation Course (at Loy-ola)

October 3, 17, and 24 from 08 to 4:30pm Inpatient Obstetrics and Maternal-Newborn Certification Preparation Course (at Alexian Brothers)