This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view itAugust 2011PSYCHIATRY is WORKING OUT!In April 2011, the Psychiatry Unit received a visit from Dr. Pat Quigley, a falls Consultant, who came to CVMC to educate all staff about how to reduce and prevent inpatient falls. For over a year, preventing falls has been a constant concern for our Psychiatry Services staff, who encourage their patients to ambulate and socialize with their peers. Ambulation serves two purposes: to increase mobility, and to build patient confidence by interacting with peers in a therapeutic milieu. After Dr. Quigley's visit, the Psychiatry Shared Governance Council was charged to review the fall prevention evidence. As a result of the literature review, exercise surfaced as an effective strategy for reducing injuries associated with falls. The SG Council agreed to form a point-of-care research/EBP team to develop a study that incorporates exercise groups into patient programming. All team members participated in Let’s Get Cooking with EBP, an interactive course offered by the Research and Evidence-Based Practice Council, which focuses on the steps of the EBP process. Then the team developed their PICO question (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) that will direct the project's direction.
So what do team members have to say about their experience so far? “I hope to find through this project a more appropriate way to assist our patient’s to cope with stress.” -Karen Ashley, RN-BC. “I would like to see a positive change in our patient outcomes, with less medication use, less acting-out behavior, and decreased fall rates.” -Michelle Keys, RN. “I am looking forward to seeing how nurses react to a new task, changes in nursing satisfaction.” -Jackie Bunch, RN. “I look forward to seeing how exercise and stress reduction will impact our patients and possibly lead to a decrease in PRN medication usage and a reduction in stress levels.” -Danielle Kennedy, RN. “What I look forward to most is working with my peers to develop this research project from the beginning and to see our hard work result in positive outcomes for our patients.” -Heather Lindsey, BSN, RN. “I am looking forward to going through the research process for the first time and enhancing patient care on the psychiatric unit.” -Caitlin Mann, BSN, RN. “I am interested in working through the research process and learning how the research process is done and answer the question “How will exercise help our psychiatric patients to reduce anxiety? Hopefully [the research will] reduce the use of/need for PRN medications.” -Freda Glenn, RN. "I am excited to be part of this research group. Not only do I feel that it will help our patients develop coping skills that they may take home, but I will also enjoy getting to know my peers better and working together for a positive outcome.” -LaDonna Earwood, RN-BC. “I have been involved in several research studies, but only on the clinical side. I am eager to see how a research project is developed from conception.” -Janine Jolly, BSN, RN. Stay tuned for future updates! § Team members pictured above: Back Row: (L to R) Karen Ashley RN-BC; Veronica McCray BSN, RN-BC; Heather Lindsey BSN, RN; LaDonna Earwood RN-BC; Caitlin Mann BSN, RN; Freda Glenn RN; Janine Jolly BSN, RN; Front row: (L to R) Jackie Bunch RN; Danielle Kennedy RN; Kimberly Yates MSN/MHA, RN, NEA-BC; Michelle Keys RN; Not pictured: Rose Poole RN-BC and Mary Burns RN
National Recognition for CVMC Social Worker. Chosen as one of only 100 social worker professionals from across the United States to participate in the “ExCEL in Social Work: Excellence in Cancer Education and Leadership” Program, Barbara Stark, MSW, ACM, recently attended an intensive 1.5-day course for Program immersion in St Louis. As a part of participating in the Program, Barbara will develop an action plan to be implemented over 12 months that will aim to improve delivery of psychosocial care for CVMC oncology patients. The ExCEL in Social Work Program is funded by the National Cancer Institute. Congratulations, Barbara. §
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Next, Karen Martinez, MLS, Outreach Librarian at Northwest AHEC, taught Searching the Literature classes to enable team members to perform a detailed lit review guided by their PICO question. The 2 classes focused on how to access the AHEC digital library, the key elements of search strategy, and obtaining journal articles. What's up next for the team? Appraising the Literature. This interactive course, provided by the Research & EBP Council, addresses the evaluation skills needed for critical review of published evidence. 
CVMC's Fitness Center Receives National Designation. Under the direction of Marcus Osborne, BS, ATC, LAT, CSCS, Fitness Plus recently earned certification as a Medical Fitness Center, a designation sponsored by the Medical Fitness Association. CVMC’s fitness center joins an elite group of a mere 20 fitness centers in the nation that that are certified in medical fitness. Among the areas for which a center must demonstrate expertise to earn medical fitness recognition are staffing, facilities, programs, operations, medical oversight and outcomes. Congratulations to each Fitness Center employee whose expertise, in combination with his/her colleagues, made this distinction possible. Fitness Plus can now be found on Facebook ... just "like" them to stay abreast of all that is going on there. §
CVMC - In the Community. HealthFirst, the Healthy House, Surgical Weight Management and CVMC's new Cardiology group staffed our tent at the 2011 Old Soldiers Day celebration in Newton on August 18th. Myra McDonough, BS, ACSM-HFS, Healthy House Activity Specialist engaged kids who stopped by with games and explanations of how their "plates" should look for healthy eating. Peggy Messick, BSN, RN, OCN, manned the wheel where adults and children alike took spins to win cool prizes, e.g., CVMC reusable grocery bags, Band-Aid kits, etc. Catawba Valley Cardiology medical assistant, Karen Lail, MA II, measured blood pressures and talked with interested adults about heart health. Visitors to the tent were also treated to cold, bottled water on this humid summer day. § 
Karen McMeechan-Lodge, MSN, RNC, Breast Health Navigator