|
July 2009
So what's new on Psychiatry? Evidence-Based Nursing Practice, Research, and Construction! As you may know construction and a much needed facelift is nearing completion on the psychiatric unit. Carpet has been replaced with tile, the color scheme changed from blues to neutral earthtones, and new wall size photographs of nature scenes, including trees, parks, and waterfalls, have been added. To the right, Veronica McCray, BSN, RN, poses beside a large framed photograph of wooded scene on the adult unit. But how does the construction involve EBP and Research you may ask? A recent search of the literature revealed that earthtones are more soothing to a person's mood and anxiety level. A team of pyschiatric nurses made site visits to several facilities to garner ideas. The nurses were impressed with the design UNC-Chapel Hill had incorporated. The facelift project spurred the interest of Monique Robinson, BSN, RN, Beth Rudisill, MSN, RN-BC and McCray. These psychiatric nurses decided to conduct research to evaluate the effect of the physical environment on mood and anxiety of CVMC psychiatric inpatients. The research proposal was approved by the Clinical Research Review Board, one of two Institutional Review Boards that serve CVMC researchers. In this study, adult voluntary inpatients on the Turning Point Unit are surveyed at discharge with a questionnaire given they consent to participate in the study. The questionnaire consists of 10 questions related to their perceptions of the physical environment and it's effect on their mood and anxiety level. The researchers hope to enroll a total of 200 participants (100 pre-construction & 100 post-construction) in the two phases of the study. When all subjects have been enrolled, the survey results will be compared to determine if a measureable difference in perceptions of mood and anxiety between pre- and post-construction subjects' can be correlated with their physical environment while hospitalized. During pre-construction, phase I of the research project, 122 subjects were recruited. Construction began Summer 2008, and since that time the surveying process was interrupted until renovations are completed. Currently, the end of construction is fast approaching. Robinson, Rudisill and McCray will resume their research study with phase II beginning in the near future.. Post-construction subjects will be recruited as soon as construction ends. This is an exciting time in the psychiatry department. Everyone is eager to see the results of the research. Be on the lookout for a report of the research findings from this project in Progress Notes in early Spring 2010. §
Medical-Surgical Certification: Karen Fox, RN-BC; Heather Klavuhn, BSN, RN-BC High Risk Neonatal Certification: Janet Little, RN-BC
Congratulations to these 2009 nursing graduates who successfully passed the NCLEX: Jimmy Bain, RN- ED; Kim Brown, RN- Surgical; Steven Kramp, RN- ED; Stephanie Morton, RN- Ortho/Neuro; Jennifer Plummer, RN- CCU; Courtney Robinson, RN- Birthing Center; Nasin See, RN- Oncology; Nicholas Slager, RN- CCU.
Vallire Hooper, Co-Editor, Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing (JOPAN) recently informed Betty Easter, RN, CPAN that her paper "Community Grants for Research Projects" has been accepted for publication. Hooper stated in the notification email, “You did a REALLY great job with this. The column will publish in the October issue of the Journal.
Greg Billings, RN-BC, Administrator of Psychiatry Services, submitted an abstract "A Bundled Approach to Suicide Prevention Beyond the Locked Doors of the Psychiatry Department" to the 23rd American Psychiatric Nurse Association Annual Conference, October 7-10, 2009 in Charleston, SC. The abstract, which focuses on the role of the Psychiatric Resource Nurse in suicide prevention, has been selected for a poster presentation. Congratulations, Greg.
Backpacks for the Homeless, by Stacy Buff, BSN, RN. My daughters and I attended the “Forum on Homelessness in Catawba County.” This was a very emotional experience hearing the stories of such “normal” individuals. I do not want to sound harsh when using the word “normal,” but we tend to be biased when speaking about “homeless” people. My eldest daughter, Katie, had even said something in regards to the individuals not looking like the “ones on the streets.“ While listening to their stories, I began to realize how fast our lives could change. For a moment, I visualized the girls and I staying in a large building on cots with many others around. People of all ages, races, and backgrounds have been affected by the economical change taking place in America. They were not drug attics and/or alcoholics that had made poor decisions at some point in their lives. They were our friends, neighbors, bankers, grocery store clerks, and co-workers. With the lack of work opportunities, affordable housing, and programs offering assistance, homelessness in Catawba County is a very real problem. My daughters sat and listened during the forum as if they understood everything. I was impressed and thankful they were there. Afterwards, Katie wanted to talk to one of the individuals on the panel. I was surprised and certainly had no idea what she would say. She approached a lady who lost her children because she could not provide shelter and food for them. Katie asked, “Do you ever get tired from walking all the time?” The lady and I both laughed at this question as it was appropriate for a child to ask, but then Katie proceeded to ask, “Why is your family so mad at you?” This question was prompted since her children had been taken away by family members, which Katie had interpreted to mean they must be mad at this woman.
In an attempt to end homelessness, an accurate count of homeless individuals in Catawba County must be obtained to be eligible for local, state and federal funds. Housing Visions Continuum of Care put a project together in order to obtain the data. This group needed assistance in gathering backpacks packed with a variety of items to be distributed to the individuals on January 28, 2009. A few days after the forum, I asked Van Haygood's permission to collect needed items from our ED, and later Mary McDaniels suggested I expand the project housewide. First, I sent an housewide email afterwhich the emails and donations started rolling in. Katie, placed posters at her school and the YMCA. Her friends and other kids were not very impressed and even made cruel comments at times. However, she saw something at that forum that stuck with her and nothing would change her mind. Ecstatic with this opportunity, the girls and I began our work! As items were donated, my laundry closet began to look like a second hand shop. I named it “Katie’s closet”. The night before the backpacks were to be delivered, we brought all of the items into the living room. It took awhile for the girls to understand that a certain number of items needed to go into each backpack, but we managed to get all 21 of them together and packed into the car. I delivered the backpacks alone to First Plaza on Tate Blvd, as the girls were in school. Though I was unsure how the backpacks would make it to the 5th floor, numerous individuals poured out of offices providing helping hands. The happiness I felt that day is something I cannot explain. I love being a nurse because it gives me an opportunity, everyday I work, to help others. Being a volunteer has allowed me to make a difference in someone else’s life. To this day, my youngest daughter, Taylor, will ask me when we drive by someone walking on the streets with a backpack, “do you think that is one of THE backpacks? § Cast Your Vote for CVMC's EBP Logo from among the four finalists, which are displayed on the service floor bulletin board at the employee pharmacy. You may vote electronically by submitting the logo number and word description along with your name and department to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or you can cast a ballot during the week of 3-7 August 2009 in the cafeteria. §
Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to contact the Research and EBP Council. Copyright © Catawba Valley Medical Center. All rights reserved.
|
The Research and Evidence-Based Practice Council installed officiers for FY 2009-2010 in July. Pictured at left are Kimberly Yates, MSN/MHA, RN-BC, Chair (right), and Anita Herman, BSN, RN, CEN, Co-Chair (left). Feel free to contact Kimberly, Anita or any other member of the Council with your research or EBP needs and ideas: Gail Settlemyre, BSN, RN, CPAN; Kimberly Rudisill, RN; Robyn Ison, CRNA; Monique Robinson, BSN, RN; Lisa Wike, MSN, RN-BC; Lou Turnipseed, BSN, RN, CCRN; Ann Moore, MSN, RN-BC, CEN; Rebecca Tart, PhD..jpg)
