GWAC Critical Care Chronicle SPRING 2016 DRAFT (1)

8/18/2019 GWAC Critical Care Chronicle SPRING 2016 DRAFT (1)

1/9

GWAC Critical Care Chronicle Volume 16, Issue 2 April 2016

The President’s MessageSteve Risch, MSN, RN, CCRN, CCNS

Spring is here! I hope youare enjoying the season. Iwant to thank all of ourGWAC members for theircontinued support to ourchapter. We remain one ofthe strongest chapters in ourregion.

efore I update you on our chapter I want toshare my thoughts on the recent editorial on"motional Intelligence #"I$ by %rs. &ichard Sa'eland Cindy (unro in (arch)s American Journalof Critical Care . *here are fi'e components of "I

but the one that strikes me the most is self+awareness. Simply put self+awareness is ouremotional response to a situation.

As the authors note ,We ha'e a passion to helpothers and we want to be with people who shareour passion.- When people around me don)t sharemy passion I)m guilty as charged of respondingin a less than fa'orable way. I sometimes need to

be reminded to keep my emotions under control.ut as I self+reflect I reali e I am passionate in

what I do. *he concept of "I helps us strike a balance between our emotions and our response /something I challenge all of us to do.

I ha'e been e0cited to ser'e as your president this past year. Whether you are a courageous Spotlight'olunteer committee a member of the oard of%irectors or a GWAC member your passion forthis chapter has paid off. 1ur chapter has madegreat strides in meeting our strategic goals.

1ur biggest success this year was our Spotlight onCritical Care conference held at 2oly Cross2ospital in 1ctober 3456. It was a risk for ourorgani ation to mo'e the yearly e'ent from a

conference center to hospital setting but theresponse from our members was o'erwhelminglyfa'orable and we had a sold+out conference.

*hrough this type of financial stewardship wemo'ed our chapter to a significantly betterfinancial footing. I am proud that GWAC hasoffered two tra'el grants to AAC7)s 3458

7ational *eaching Institute #7*I$.

As a chapter we continue to be committed tohosting networking e'ents. We hosted a happyhour with *he (edicines Company in Springfield9a. in %ecember. 1n April 26 we will host a,Spring :ling- at Shady Gro'e Ad'entist 2ospitalin &ock'ille (d. %etails to follow by email!

GWAC is also focused on reaching our goal of644 members. *oday we ha'e close to ;44. I askyou to encourage your friends and colleagues to

join AAC7 and GWAC . Share with them the great benefits our professional organi ation has to offer both locally and nationally.

As we grow we continue to focus on growing ourleadership. Are you feeling courageous this year<=lease consider joining our oard of %irectors.Contact me or any board member to learn more.

>astly I want to thank our members and theoard of %irectors for supporting GWAC)s

mission. We celebrated our ?4th year as a chapter

GWAC Critical Care Chronicle 1

http://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/content/25/2/104.fullhttp://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/content/25/2/104.fullhttp://gwac-aacn.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=23d640adce8f018c38dd36855&id=ed093b5803&e=7d341d8996http://gwac-aacn.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=23d640adce8f018c38dd36855&id=ed093b5803&e=7d341d8996http://www.gwac-aacn.org/registration.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.gwac-aacn.org/about.htmlhttp://gwac-aacn.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=23d640adce8f018c38dd36855&id=ed093b5803&e=7d341d8996http://www.gwac-aacn.org/registration.htmlmailto:[email protected]://www.gwac-aacn.org/about.htmlhttp://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/content/25/2/104.fullhttp://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/content/25/2/104.full


2/9

a milestone we would not ha'e reached withoutour passionate members and leaders.

Fiscal Year 2016 GWAC Board

President: Ste'e &isch (S7 &7 CC&7 CC7SPresident lect: Carolee eckford &7 CC&7!""ediate Past President @ aren (ack (S ( A

AC7=+ C C2:7

Treas#rer: Stephen (ehallow &7 S7Treas#rer$ lect: Caitlin >itchfield &7 S7%ecording &ecretar': *heresa Cattuna &7 S7

=CC7%ecording &ecretar'$ lect: %anielle &olin &7Me"(ership Chair: Carolee eckford &7 CC&7Mar)eting * +e,elop"ent Chair: eth

(atusiewic &7 S7We( Manager: (innie &aju &7 (SCircle o- Practice Chair$CC%. @ Ben >ewis &7+

C CC&7 (S7Circle o- Practice$.#rsing &t#dents: elly

(c7eil+Bones &7 ( A &CISCircle o- Practice Chair$AP.: 2elen rown (S

AC7=+ C :7=+ C Circle of Practice Chair-PCCN: Vacant &potlight 2016 Con-erence Co$Chairs: *heresa

Cattuna &7 S7 =CC7 Stephen (ehallow&7 S7

.e/sletter ditor: Andrea Dseem &7 S7%egion ! Ad,isor: =at aker &7 (S CC&7

CC7S

GWAC Me"(ership %eport:First #arter 2016Carolee Beckford, RN CCRN

Treas#rer’s %eportStephen Mehallow, RN BSN CCRN

GWAC has had a great first half of fiscal year3458. %ri'ing this success was the profitability ofour Spotlight on Critical Care conference last fall.

We stri'e to make the conference not only asuccess educationally but financially as well andwe are pleased to be able to deli'er. As a result ofthis good financial news as you might ha'eheard GWAC is now offering scholarships formembers to attend 7*I so don)t delay in gettingyour applications in.

I would also like to introduce Caitlin itch-ield&7 S7 of the ICD at *he George WashingtonDni'ersity 2ospital as GWAC)s ne0t *reasurer for coming fiscal year 345E. She has wealth ofe0perience working with local organi ationsdating back to high school and will bring a greatanalytical mind to GWAC)s finances.

As I transition this summer to co+chair of theSpotlight Conference committee I would like tothank you for entrusting to me GWACFs financial

performance and records. It has been an honor toser'e this organi ation in this role.



3/9

*hank you to e'eryone who madeour 3456 Spotlight on Critical CareConference such a success!



4/9

:or more pictures and updates jointhe GWAC$AAC. co""#nit' on:acebook ! Contact eth(atusiewic (arketing %e'elopment Chair for more onGWAC)s social media presence.

! a" a Critical Care .#rseStephen Mehallow, BSN RN CCRN

As part of our ongoing series ! am a CriticalCare Nurse," Stephen Mehallow, a nurse in#eorge $ashington %ospital&s !C', shares hise(perience as a critical)care nurse*

Wh' did 'o# (eco"e a n#rse3

I didn)t ha'e an idea ofwhat I was going to do for a long time in my life.What I did ha'e when Iwas young was a dri'e tolearn about the body anddiseases. 1ne of myfa'orite gifts I e'er

recei'ed was a miniature full+body skeleton withmo'ing parts. When I)d go to the library I)d check out children)s book about diseases or body

processes. %uring my athletic years in middleschool I would embellish injuries in order to goto the "&. I suppose that interest lied dormant formany years. I earned a theology degree and thenworked in the restaurant industry after college. Itwasn)t until I ran into an old friend who pushedme in this direction that I ga'e any seriousconsideration to nursing.

What a(o#t 'o#r 4o( as a n#rse "a)es 'o#happ'3

=eople are going to laugh or be stunned when Isay this but I really do like the families of my

patients. I found that ha'ing family around is the best thing for them especially when they)re goingto get e0tubated are in and out of delirium orfacing a difficult prognosis. I enjoy when I canmake a difference by being the point person who

coordinates communication e0plains care and

through it all includes the family in the process.

What are the challenges 'o# enco#nter andho/ do 'o# o,erco"e the"3


$hen +ou can get right up tothe ear of a weakened, sick and

frightened human eing andreassure them that +ou arethere to help, and when +ou can

deliver on that promise-that ise(traordinar+*"

Stephen Mehallow, !C' nurse

https://www.facebook.com/gwacaacn/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.facebook.com/gwacaacn/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


5/9

(ost definitely the biggest challenge I encounteris pro'iding a high le'el of direct nursing care tomy patients while being asked to complete ane'er+lengthening list of tertiary tasks. "'erymonth it seems there)s something new I ha'e tochart on or some additional unit task I ha'e tocomplete. *hese all add up and make it difficult to

pro'ide that necessary hands+on care to my patients. I)'e had to learn how to chart efficiently bundle my care acti'ities and take ad'antage ofmy personnel resources. It)s not easy but that)s thenature of bedside nursing.

5a,e 'o# e perienced an'thing e traordinar'in 'o#r n#rsing career3

ack when I was writing nursing schoolapplication essays I spoke of helping people in

their most 'ulnerable condition. I suppose out ofall the nonsense I wrote for those admissionessays this is the only statement that still ringstrue in my career. *hrough all the tasks and noiseand tests and procedures and specialty rounds andassessments and medications and alarms whenyou can get right up to the ear of a weakened andsick and frightened human being and reassurethem that you are there to help them and whenyou can deli'er on that promise by easing their

pain or e0plaining their condition or when you

just hold their hand when they ha'e no one to 'isitthem and when they nod their head or a tear rollsdown their cheek that is what is e0traordinary.

What has (een the "ost a"a7ing e perience'o#’,e had as a critical care n#rse3

I ha'en)t been around in nursing that long tomatch some of the great stories others may ha'e.

ut what comes to mind is when one day thedoctor ordered that I take a patient outside for

some sun. We went out meandered through thecrowd with his helmet and trach and sat on a

bench in a park for about an hour. *he patient had been in the hospital for months and was so glad tofinally get out of there e'en for a few minutes.

What has 'o#r 4o#rne' as a n#rse (een li)e3It has been fast 'ery fast especially if youconsider what some of my medical student orresident colleagues ha'e had to go through and

still ha'e to go through. I ha'e only been on this journey since Banuary 3453. efore then I didn)te'er think I)d become a nurse. *o go from nothingto new ICD nurse in 3.6 years is cra y but that)sthe way it has been.

At the end o- a (#s'8gr#eling da'9 ho/ do 'o#-ind (alance in 'o#r li-e3

It)s funny because sometimes after days like thatI bring that energy home and get all kinds of

projects done. Het at other times I just need to doabsolutely nothing. When I)m not at work I)ll bespending time with my wife 2eather. She workswith four+ and fi'e+year+olds in a special needsclassroom in a job that is just as emotionallydemanding as mine. So when we)re hometogether we just rela0 watch old mo'ies go for ahike or cook together. We lo'e 'isiting our

families out of state too.

5o/ has AAC. pla'ed a role in 'o#r career3

I)'e always felt it one)s duty to be part of societyin some producti'e way beyond just one)s

personal life and job. *here needs to be ci'icin'ol'ement as well and I feel as though Iaccomplish that by working with this localchapter. It)s good to stri'e for e0cellence in your

profession and I can do so by ac uiring the

knowledge that AAC7 pro'ides. I)'e also beenable to share e0periences and get to know manyother nurses in the area through GWAC and thisgi'es me great perspecti'e on where I want to goin my career.

Share +our stor+ with us-or nominate anothernurse. $rite to our newsletter editor , Andrea'seem*


mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


6/9

#dos: %ecogni7ing ;#r .#rses Andrea 'seem, RN BSN

Congratulations to the many nurses in the GreaterWashington %.C. area who recently earned acritical+care certification!

Suburban 2ospital # ethesda (d.$

llen &"ith9 %. CC%.

9irginia 2ospital Center #Arlington 9a.$

indse' Birele'9 %. CC%. Gerald Broc)9 %. CC%. &arah Cle"ente9 %. CC%.

Alicia Marconi9 %. CC%.

Caroline Gracia9 %. PCC. Mahlet Fetahi9 %. PCC. Megan &te/art9 %. PCC. "A%.-

Catherine Miller (S7 A=&7+C7S AC7S+C CC&7 the Clinical "ducation =rogram

(anager at 2oward County General 2ospital presented at the Chesapeake ay Chapter AAC7



7/9

:utures 3E th Annual Symposium on (arch 5Eth.2er topic was , eeping an "ye on Sepsis- *wo GWAC members are running in AAC.national elections @

iersten 5enr' AC7=+ C CC7S CC&7+C(C is on the ballot for the AAC7 7ominatingCommittee. Theresa +a,is 9 =h% &7 7"+ C ison the ballot for the AAC7 oard of %irectors.AAC7 members can cast their 'ote before April5K at midnight when 'oting closes.

What are YOUR nurses accomplishing $rite toour newsletter editor a out new certifications,

presentations or other achievements*

Welco"ing .e/ GWAC Me"(ers Andrea 'seem, RN BSN

/ur chapter is alwa+s adding new mem ers, andin this issue, we egin a series highlighting theman+ motivations that lead nurses and students to

0oin #$AC)AACN*

We asked new member atie G#erra a seniornursing student Catholic Dni'ersity to tell usabout herself and what inspired her to joinGWAC.

,I joined GWAC becausethis organi ation embodies asupporti'e en'ironment forall members in order to shareinno'ati'e ideas to gi'eholistic and safe patientcare. As a nurse e0tern Iworked for the first time in

critical care and it really inspired me to join acommunity that supports gi'ing the highest

uality of care to patients and their families.-

Join us in welcoming 1atie and others to #$AC.Past$President !nsights

2inda Briggs, 3N4, AN4)BC, ACN4)BC, 5AAN4

As part of our occasional series highlighting thework of past #$AC presidents, we ring +ou aninterview with !r" #in$a %riggs , now an assistant

professor at #eorge $ashington 'niversit+&sSchool of Nursing*

Wh' did 'o# chose critical care n#rsing as'o#r career3

I was fascinated by theheart when I studiedanatomy and physiology.%uring my senior year innursing school I got anopportunity to take care of acritically ill patient with my

preceptor and I was hooked.(y first job out of nursing school was in the CCDat Sinai 2ospital in altimore. *hey had asummer internship program for new graduates.*he medical director of the unit was %r. (ichel(irowski the de'eloper of the first implantable

defibrillator.

At /hat point in 'o#r career did 'o# 4oin theAAC. and GWAC3

I joined AAC7 in the fall following mygraduation from nursing school. I wanted to takethe CC&7 e0am which I did and passed it on thefirst try. I joined GWAC around 5LKK when Ireturned to the %C area to start the cardiac surgery

program at Ale0andria 2ospital.

5o/ and /h' did 'o# decide to ta)e onleadership roles9 incl#ding GWAC president3

I was always impressed by the members and theleaders of GWAC. I started by helping withSpotlight on Critical Care our annual symposium.I had lots of friends who were leaders in theorgani ation and helped guide me along the wayincluding %orrie :ontaine #%ean Dni'ersity of9irginia School of 7ursing$ Banie 2eath #%ean

Dni'ersity of entucky$ and Carol &auen. ackwhen I first started in GWAC we had monthlydinner meetings. I just kept 'olunteering to be oncommittees. In 344? I was asked if I would liketo run for president+elect and in 344; I becamethe president.

What challenges did 'o# -ace in theseAAC.8GWAC leadership roles3


http://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/election/nomcomcandidate3.pcms?menu=volunteershttp://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/election/bodcandidate2.pcms?menu=volunteershttp://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/election/electionmain.pcms?menu=volunteersmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/election/nomcomcandidate3.pcms?menu=volunteershttp://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/election/bodcandidate2.pcms?menu=volunteershttp://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/election/electionmain.pcms?menu=volunteersmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]


8/9

GWAC has been one of the largest local chaptersof AAC7 for a really long time. At the time I was

president we had some challenges in maintainingmembership because our members were nowworking 53+hour shifts and it wasn)t easy forthem to attend local monthly meetings. Alsosome of the dinner sponsorship money wasstarting to get tighter.

We decided to mo'e away from monthly meetingsand focus on our larger continuing educatione'ents / primarily Spotlight. *he oardcontinued to communicate with members in allthe local hospitals to encourage people to work onour committees and stay acti'e with theorgani ation. We tried 'ery hard to makee'eryone who was interested feel included andthat they had an important role in all ouracti'ities.

1ne of the ways to get in'ol'ed at the nationalle'el is to be a 'olunteer. *here are a myriad ofopportunities including helping with the planningof the 7ational *eaching Institute writing itemsfor a certification e0am participating in a ,*hink*ank- and joining an ad'isory team. Hou can fillout your 'olunteer profile online and AAC7 willcontact you when appropriate opportunities arise

/ and belie'e me they will. Hou can find out moreat the AAC7 'olunteer page.

5o/ did these leadership roles in-l#ence 'o#ro/n career3

AAC7 pro'ides a lot of opportunities to buildskills to be a better leader. *hey ha'e leadershipconferences and mentorship programs. Also as

part of AAC7 and GWAC you get an opportunityto network with national leaders. *his networkingleads to other opportunities for professional

growth.

*hrough AAC7 I was a mentor for anotherGWAC member to publish a journal article. I alsoser'ed on committees that taught me how nationalcertification e0ams are constructed. *hese skillsha'e helped me in my career as a nursing facultymember.

What do 'o# thin) pre,ents so"ecritical$care n#rses -ro" (eco"ingin,ol,ed nationall' or locall' /ith AAC.3

=eople often belie'e that they don)t ha'e the timeor the specific skills. Hou can 'olunteer as littleor as much as you want. GWAC and AAC7 canhelp you learn any skills you don)t already ha'eand de'elop those you do.

What are 'o# /or)ing on these da's3

I am currently working on starting an Acute CareAdult+Gerontology 7urse =ractitioner at GeorgeWashington Dni'ersity. I am also doing researchon scope of practice regulations related to newlygraduated nurse practitioners.

6hank +ou to 3r* Briggs for sharing her

e(periences with the #$AC communit+*

*he GWAC oard of %irectors is 'ery e0cited toannounce we will be offering a new scholarshipopportunity for members.

*he chapter will be offering t/o >?00scholarship awards based on an essaysubmission. (ust be a GWAC and AAC7


#$AC and AACN can help +oulearn an+ skills +ou don&t alread+have and develop those +ou do*"

3r* 2inda Briggs, #eorge $ashington'niversit+

http://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/volunteerjobdescriptions.pcms?menu=volunteershttp://www.aacn.org/wd/volunteers/content/volunteerjobdescriptions.pcms?menu=volunteers


9/9

member for at least 3 years. Applications are dueApril 1?th .

%ownload your application here . We look tore'iewing the applications!

Practice Alert 1aren Mack, MS MBA ACN4)BC C%5N, 7 Andrea 'seem, RN BSN

A new study published in the :eb. 3458 Journalof Nursing Administration found a strong link

between assessment fre uency and opioid+induced respiratory depression.

*he authors noted that current guidelines e0ist toencourage nurses to fre uently assess patientsrecei'ing I9 opioids 'ia patient+controlledanalgesia #=CA$ pumps. 2owe'er in their

retrospecti'e study of eight hospitals) electronicmedical records the authors found thatrecommended assessments took place for onlyK.?M of patients. Among patients assessed e'ery3.6 hours nalo0one was not re uired for any

patient.

*he article includes recommendations for nursee0ecuti'es to impro'e assessment compliance and

patient safety.

3o +ou work in an AACN %eacon Unit 8 6heCritical Care Chronicle would love to report on

+our unit&s 0ourne+* 9mail newsletter editor Andrea 'seem to learn more*

GWAC Critical Care Chronicle
http://gwac-aacn.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=23d640adce8f018c38dd36855&id=ed093b5803&e=7d341d8996http://journals.lww.com/jonajournal/Abstract/2016/02000/Avoiding_Adverse_Events_Secondary_to.8.aspxhttp://journals.lww.com/jonajournal/Abstract/2016/02000/Avoiding_Adverse_Events_Secondary_to.8.aspxmailto:[email protected]://gwac-aacn.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=23d640adce8f018c38dd36855&id=ed093b5803&e=7d341d8996http://journals.lww.com/jonajournal/Abstract/2016/02000/Avoiding_Adverse_Events_Secondary_to.8.aspxmailto:[email protected]

Date post:	07-Jul-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	gwacaacn
View:	216 times
Download:	0 times

GWAC Critical Care Chronicle SPRING 2016 DRAFT (1)

Documents