Nursing Week

Newsletter

To Our Esteemed HPHA Nurses,

As we kick off National Nurses Week, it is my pleasure

to honour the nurses and nursing leaders within the

Alliance and beyond. The World Health Organization

designated 2020 as “The Year of the Nurse & Midwife”

to honour the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale.

An appropriate designation when the world has witnessed your endless level of commitment,

dedication and passion in attending to those in need of your care and expertise and selflessly

rising above the challenges and fears of a pandemic.

The Canadian Nurses Association theme this year is “Nurse: A voice to lead-Nursing the world to

health”. Another theme that reflects how the HPHA nurses are leaders in creating a culture of

peer support that demonstrates evidence based caring and practice. It is through your commit-

ment to create and sustain a quality work environment of person-centred care, that individuals will

be attracted to the profession and HPHA. Because of you, students rave about their experiences

with us and HPHA is a preferred place to come to and work. You provide exceptional care, every

day.

As Florence would say “I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse”. I would

say, hands down, this is demonstrated by the nurses and nursing leaders within the HPHA. You

rose to the challenge, during a very difficult time, to accept redeployment to another area where

the need would be greater both within the Alliance and into Long Term Care settings. Although

stressful, you did not let fear prevent you from supporting your peers in learning new skills, in a

new environment and developing / practicing new care delivery models.

I am so proud to be your leader and witness examples of your exceptional professionalism and

strength of character every day.

The Donnalene Tuer-Hodes Nursing Recognition Award for Exceptional Care been gener-

ously sponsored by the Tuer-Hodes family to recognize an HPHA nurse for their ongoing commit-

ment to nursing practice and the provision of quality patient care. The Award is given on an annual

basis in recognition of a nurse (NP, RN or RPN) who meets the below criteria. There is an applica-tion and nomination process; candidates are chosen upon a blind review of all nominations by the

Selection Committee based on a Likert type rating scale. The successful candidate will receive the award and be honored during National Nursing Week.

The Criteria for the award are as follows: Possesses clinical expertise and knowledge in an area(s) of nursing practice.

Uses clinical expertise and ongoing learning to advance the scope of nursing practice. Interacts collegially and professionally with both nursing and non-nursing practitioners to

enhance the image of nursing.

Demonstrates nursing leadership and serves as a mentor/ preceptor to others. Advocates for patient and family-centred care.

Familiar with community affairs and participates in legislation and organizations that advances nursing practice

About the award sponsor….. Upon retirement in 2017, Donnalene made a commitment to donate $500 annually to the SGH Foundation towards a recognition award for nurses. Donnalene had a

lengthy career at the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance spanning 44 years. After graduating from the Perth Huron Regional School of Nursing, Donnalene worked in Woodstock General Hospital

for a year and then came to the Stratford General Hospital. Donnalene has made a significant contribution to the nursing profession in her roles as a front line nurse in ICU and the OR nurse,

Manager of the OR, Director of Surgical Services, Medical Devices Reprocessing Department,

The Maternal Child Program and as Chief Nurse Executive. Donnalene was always involved with continuing education and completed her BScN, Masters in Nursing and Nurse Practitioner Desig-

nation and she was an instructor in the Ryerson BScN program which she brought on site in 2004 to encourage nurses to go back to school. She did this for 10 years. Donnalene has been a guest

speak at many organizations across Canada and has presented internationally.

In the following pages, we would like to introduce you to our esteemed 2020 candidates, who have

been nominated by colleagues and / or leaders and/or physicians.

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT!!

Janine de Jong, RN Inpatient Unit - Clinton Public Hospital

Janine Dejong, RN, was nominated by her manager and peers. She joined HPHA in 2011 and is full-time on the Inpatient Unit at the Clinton Public Hospital.

Janine is known as a valuable resource to her peers and uses her clinical judgement and skills to identify and meet patient care needs. She uses her expertise to identify opportunities for improvement with patient care and unit processes.

Instrumental in the successful development and implementation of the Patient Oriented Discharge Summaries (PODS) that enhanced patient transitions home, she also worked with the Connecting the Dots Team to implement tools that supported caregivers in their roles with their loved ones’ post discharge.

Janine is passionate about professional growth and seeks out learning opportunities to improve her practice and is willing to share new knowledge with her colleagues.

While Team Leader, Janine promoted a collaborative working environment between the Emer-gency Department and Inpatient unit and supported the teams through many challenging chang-es. She helped foster collaborative planning during transition rounds while respecting both patient flow pressures across the Alliance and patient and family care needs within the unit.

Janine enjoys her role as a preceptor, and peers find her approachable and always helpful in sup-porting skill development and critical thinking skills. She is patient-centred and advocates for pa-tient care needs, working closely with patients and caregivers to ensure the transition home is well planned.

Congratulations on your nomination, Janine!

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT!!

Rebecca Bearinger, RPN Inpatient Mental Health - Stratford General Hospital

Rebecca Bearinger, RPN, was nominated for this award by her peers.

Rebecca joined the HPHA in 2017 and is a full-time staff member on the

Inpatient Mental Health Unit. Her peers state that she is very patient-

centered and always presents relevant clinical data clearly and profes-

sionally.

Rebecca has excellent communication skills and always follows through

to close the loop. She has a thirst for knowledge, staying up to date with best practice, and

asks questions when she wants to learn more about a situation or diagnosis.

Rebecca will share new knowledge willingly and articulates it in a manner to ensure everyone

understands the material. She is a dedicated and supportive team member rarely saying “no”

when asked to help and is known to maintain composure and stay positive in difficult and

stressful situations.

Rebecca is known to advocate for her patient’s transition to the community by collaborating

with community teams to create an effective plan of care that is in alignment with the patient’s

wishes.

In her spare time, she is a volunteer in her community and is a member of RPNAO.

Congratulations on your nomination, Rebecca!

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT!!

Anne Campbell, RN Vice President Partnerships & Chief Nursing Executive

Anne Campbell, a Registered Nurse, was nominated by a fellow leader.

Anne joined the HPHA in 2008 and has worked as Chief Nursing

Executive for the past 7 years; with a nursing career that spans over 43

years.

Anne’s nomination stated that she is a skilled leader in change manage-

ment and program development, and through her clinical nursing expertise

has successfully planned and implemented many initiatives and practice

improvements that have led HPHA to being a leader of best practices.

Nursing and quality healthcare experiences are two things Anne is passionate about. Her work

ethic, laser focus and commitment to ensuring that decisions are made both through the eyes

of patients, family members and caregivers, as well as through the eyes of staff, have made,

and continue to make a major positive impact on the culture of the organization.

Anne’s dedication to all members of the HPHA team is exemplified in her passion for patient

and staff rounding. Without fail, Anne rounds in clinical areas, meeting with patients, staff, phy-

sicians and family/caregivers, always ready to hear their story and do what must be done to

enhance patient care.

For those who have had the opportunity to speak with Anne, they acknowledge that they have

been heard and that their issue is important, and people are confident their concern will be

addressed.

Anne is thorough in her research and remains up to date on best practice, she regularly shares

with those that she leads, a number of resources to support her team in their work.

Anne exemplifies what it means to be a nurse. She approaches all interactions with both nurs-

ing and non-nursing practitioners with grace and professionalism, to enhance the image of

nursing.

Anne is an active member of the RNAO, Patient Experience Canada, Healthcare Executive

Network, Quality Healthcare Network and the Healthcare Industry Professional Group.

Congratulations on your nomination, Anne!

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT!!

Debbie Haney, RPN Inpatient Unit - Seaforth Community Hospital

Debbie Haney, RPN, was nominated for this award by her peers and leader. Debbie has been with the HPHA for 33 years and is full-time on the Inpatient Unit at the Seaforth Community Hospital.

Debbie’s peers and manager feel she emulates what Nightingale meant by the “art of nursing”. She provides person-centred care and demonstrates the principles of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship through encourage-ment, laughter, patience and compassion each and every shift.

Debbie promotes excellence in nursing practice by modelling the importance of listening to, and understanding the clients’ values, needs, beliefs in order to integrate this into the plan of care. She is a strong team member seeking input from the interdisciplinary team when planning and providing care to her rehabilitation patients.

Debbie supports her team when they need help and is respected by her peers for her knowledge, skill, and wisdom. She demonstrates leadership through her commitment to mentor novice staff and is a preceptor.

Debbie’s compassion is evident in her exceptional palliative care skills and when she supports clients through challenges with rehabilitation. She will post encouraging statements in her pa-tient’s rooms to change their perspective on their rate of recovery and not be discouraged.

In her spare time, Debbie supports a number of community initiatives and is a member of RPNAO.

Congratulations on your nomination, Debbie!

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT!!

Josie Kinsman, RN Seniors Mental Health

Josie Kinsman, RN, was nominated for this award by her peers. She joined the HPHA in 2017 and is full-time within the Seniors Mental Health Team.

Josie’s peers state that she is very smart and knowledgeable within her field of practice and she freely shares with them new articles and knowledge gained from courses she has taken. Josie is always seeking out the most recent best practices, and her passion for learning is

infectious with her colleagues.

A “go to” person for non-nursing staff on the Seniors Mental Health Team, Josie inspires her colleagues to be their best. She is known for the depth of her assessments, which are thorough and result in her patients receiving the most appropriate care and actions to achieve the best outcomes.

Josie has a great work ethic, is very patient focused with an awesome bedside manner and knows how to connect with local resources to support her patients. Knowing what her patient’s needs are is Josie’s strength and she is like a “dog with a bone” relentlessly seeking community resources to ensure her patients receive the supports they need from service pro-viders.

Josie is active with a number of hospital initiatives and is always willing to be involved in quali-ty improvement initiatives to make positive changes for patients and her peers.

Congratulations on your nomination, Josie!

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT!!

Pam Murray, RN Maternal Child Unit - Stratford General Hospital

Pam Murray, RN, was nominated by her peers. Pam joined the HPHA in 2000 and is a full-time Team Leader on the Maternal Child Unit at Stratford General Hospital.

Described as the ultimate professional nurse and Team Leader, Pam strives for excellence in everything she does. She demonstrates this in her communication, mannerisms, skills and application of knowledge.

Pam is evidence-based and eager to learn new skills. She enjoys mentoring and coaching peers and students and is always excited to teach and guide staff with new or advanced skill acquisition.

In her role as a Neonatal Resuscitation Program instructor, Pam excels and is known for her positive outgoing approach. She is a methodical and conscientious communicator, always backs up her team, and is highly respected by the entire team for her work ethic and expertise.

Pam is a natural leader, seeing the big picture and is very positive about program development. By owning her decisions and consistently practicing what she speaks, Pam demonstrates strong leadership.

Pam is also very passionate about supporting mothers through loss, showing tremendous com-passion and empathy in her care delivery and providing emotional support for however long she feels it is needed.

Pam is highly involved with the COMMIT mission organization, which is dedicated to meeting medical needs in Nicaragua. She is also a member of RNAO.

Congratulations on your nomination, Pam!

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT!!

Jodilynn Taylor, RN Critical Care - Stratford General Hospital

Jodilynn Taylor, RN, was nominated for this award by a several peers and physicians. She joined the HPHA in 2009 and is full-time in on the Intensive Care Unit.

Jodilynn is known for her organizational skills and being one step ahead when interpreting patient information, assessments and data and coordinates activity for appropriate actions with the entire interdisciplinary team.

Jodilynn is most happy when busy and caring for her patients, and her peers have confidence in, and respect her depth of knowledge, skill and expertise. She is considered an incredible resource for her peers.

Always current with best practice, Jodilynn has recently completed the Post-Anaesthetic Care Unit course, and is admired and revered for her level of expertise in picking up slight changes in a patient’s condition.

With an expertise in caring for patients experiencing Medical Assistance in Dying, Jodilynn is a walking role model for nurses, demonstrating that nurses are indeed exceptional caregivers and care providers, not only to patients, but also family members.

Jodilynn demonstrates leadership with her natural mentoring ability and is always building up staff expertise and confidence, and is “loved by all” for her kind and patient approach. Her positive attitude and constant smile puts everyone at ease.

Jodilynn has an energy for going above and beyond, doing special things for patients, such as signage in their rooms, taking them outside for fresh air, or buying a long stay patient a goldfish for their room.

An avid supporter of Hospice, Jodilynn participates on the fundraising committee and shares her personal story as a caregiver to her mother. She volunteers regularly at the Rotary Hospice in Stratford.

Many testimonials described Jodilynn as exceptional, refreshing, fair, engaged, a positive light, selfless, approachable, caring, humble, amazing, genuine and a superhero.

Congratulations on your nomination, Jodilynn!

NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT!!

Grace Benedict, RN Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team

Grace Benedict, RN, was nominated by her peers. Grace joined the HPHA in 1991 and has worked full-time for 10 years with the Community Stroke Rehabilitation Team, out of the Seaforth Community Hospital.

Grace has a tremendous skill level in stroke care and treatment and she engages patients and families in the stroke recovery process. She utilizes her stroke expertise participating in the Regional Stroke Distinction

Accreditation process, representing the patient and family education group.

Grace has a passion for growth and development, attending the Canadian Stroke Congress and World Stroke Congress to learn and create priorities for stroke nursing care expertise for Huron and Perth. She demonstrates an exceptional skill in collaborating with care providers in a wide variety of community settings to ensure patients have access to best practice in stroke care.

Grace is always willing to share her knowledge and expertise with her interdisciplinary team, who work together to meet the needs of patients and families through a patient and family cen-tered care approach. She will take the time to listen to her patients’ expressed needs and trans-late this into action and will go above and beyond to meet these needs.

Grace collaborates with staff in retirement and long-term care homes to create and implement continence routines and schedules to improve a patient’s quality of life. She enjoys networking with colleagues across the region and is a member of the Southwestern Ontario Stroke Nurses Network, Community Stroke Rehabilitation Nurses Network, and the RNAO.

Congratulations on your nomination, Grace!

The successful recipient of the

2020 Donnalene Tuer-Hodes

Nursing Recognition Award for Exceptional Care

will be revealed

Thursday, May 14, 2020

in the Stratford General Hospital Courtyard

HOW HAS COVID-19 INSPIRED HPHA NURSING STAFF?

“It is these times of challenges that inspire us to think outside the box and give us a renewed sense of purpose as we try to find new ways to help our colleagues provide care in a time of uncertainty.”

Tasha Vandervliet, Educator

“The bravery and professionalism of our colleagues in these times inspires us even further to create and deliver education in a way that speaks to them and helps them excel.” Educators

“This pandemic has inspired me to be more grateful.” St Marys Hospital Nurse

“It was scary at first but I am here to support my community.” SGH Surgical Services Nurse

“Inspired me to think out of the box, learning to be more innovative with my Seniors Mental Health clients; It is amazing how much a phone call check-in can help someone in need during this changing Time.” Larissa Nicolls, Seniors Mental Health

“I am inspired by my Community for staying strong, staying home and supporting each other during these uncertain times”.

“Inspired to support my fellow nurses and healthcare team.” SGH Surgical Services Nurse

“I am inspired to have an increased focus on developing personal skills.” St Marys Hospital Nurse

“Our patients notice a “kinder culture” and are noticing nature more

with the quiet. They are so grateful we are staying in touch with them.”

~Eva Caven Seniors Mental Health.

“Appreciated by the public in a different way.”

“More awareness of the whole team by workers, patients and the public.”

“Teamwork and team approach.” ~St Marys Site Nurse

“A positive change in the geriatric support provided in Huron and Perth,

including from local and regional Psychiatry.”

~ Seniors Mental Health

“I am proud of how my community is supporting health care workers

and other essential workers.” ~ St Marys Hospital Nurse

“Appreciation and recognition for the anxiety of the risks.”

~ St Marys Hospital Nurse