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February/March 2009 Progress Notes CVMC’s 2nd Unit-Based Research Team: The Emergency Department. A journal club session early in 2008 sparked the interest of several ED nurses regarding temperature assessment in their practice environment. Research regarding temperatures in the ED setting is limited; however, the limited research supports the use of temporal artery thermometry. CVMC’s current standard practice for pediatric patients presenting with a febrile complaint is to obtain a rectal temperature if the child is unable to hold an oral thermometer in his/her mouth. ED nurses questioned why ED physicians did not support the use of temporal artery thermometers, despite their common use in other departments throughout the hospital. Given the limited published evidence for use of temporal artery thermometry in children in the ED, a group of these nurses decided to conduct their own research study.
The ED unit-based nursing team, which is led by night shift staff nurse Susan Hesterberg, RN, had a kick-off meeting in March 2008. Dr. Rebecca Tart, Director for Research and Evidence- Based Practice (EBP), presented the unit-based model approach to research. Ann Moore, MSN, RN-BC, CEN, chair of the Research & EBP Council, serves as research mentor for the team. The ED nursing team’s pediatric temperature comparison study was approved by the Clinical Research Review Board in November. They are currently collecting data. Hesterberg sees the research project as an "endurance event and a project that doesn't get over with quickly. I have found that I have to refocus myself to stay on track. The research itself isn't that difficult, it's not getting results immediately that is challenging and takes lots of patience. It's been a great learning opportunity." According to Mike Helton, RN, "for those of us who have been acquiring our BSN [degrees], this process has been quite rewarding, in that it allowed us to fully understand and see how the process works. Also, I think it shows the degree of professionalism our staff in the ED has. Most nurses would not look at improving patient process or care by performing their own research project to help justify the change." Sue Patton, RN, an ED staff nurse for 22 years, is thrilled about being involved in nursing research. She states, "it's nice to see how excited the parents are about us doing the research. Parents are eager to participate if it means one day their child may be able to avoid a rectal temperature." The ED Nursing Research Team is pictured above seated (left to right): Sue Patton, RN, Susan Hesterberg, RN; standing (left to right): Karen Dillard, BSN, RN, CEN, Ann Moore, MSN, RN-BC, CEN, Mike Helton, RN, David Solomon, BSN, RN, CEN, Anita Herman, RN, and Sam Shoun, NA. Team members not pictured: Cherie Turney, BSN, RN, CEN, Danille Thurman, BSN, RN, Nancy Lawrence, RN, Carol Vaughn, RN and Julie Carrigan, BSN, RN. §
Hats Off Clinical expertise is one of the three components of evidence-based practice. Furthering one's professional training enhances clinical expertise. Hats Off to the following nurses earning advanced practice and nursing specialty certifications.
Ida Goodnight, MSN, CRNA earned her Associate of Science degree in Nursing from Catawba Valley Community College and her BSN from Western Carolina University. She worked at CVMC on the medical, telemetry and critical care units from 1999-2006. In August 2008, Ida graduated from UNC-G with her MSN and recently passed the certification examination. High Risk Neonatal Certification: Phyllis Trudell, RN-BC; Andrea Flynn, BSN, RN-BC; Rachel Wetz, BSN, RN-BC; Deena Weaver, BSN, RN-BC Medical-Surgical Certification: Sue Fulbright, RN-BC; Nadin Knippschild, RN-BC
In the News Two research abstracts submitted to national conferences last fall were recently accepted for presentation based on merit and relevance to conference objectives. "The Impact of Music on the PACU Patient's Perception of Discomfort" research poster will be presented by Betty Easter, RN, CPAN and Carolyn Starnes, MSN, RN, CNM, CPAN representing the PACU nursing research team, at the 28th ASPAN National Conference in Washington, DC. Day Surgery nurses assisted the PACU nurses in this research endeavor, which was successful due to this team effort. Kimberly Yates, MSN/MHA, RN-BC will be presenting her research poster entitled “Post-Implementation Analysis of a Revised Fall Prevention Program at a Magnet Community Hospital” at the 16th National Evidence-Based Practice Conference sponsored by the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in late April 2009. External dissemination of research findings in national venues allows other facilities to benefit from what nurse researchers at CVMC have learned. § A Suicide Prevention Team was formed to address care of failed suicide-attempt patients. The team developed a protocol that addresses specific needs of this patient population while being treated in a unit/department other than the psychiatric unit. Tina Eckard, Kimberly Yates, Tracy Hancock, Crystal Shepherd, Beth Rudisill, Bonita Hefner, Miriam Jolly, Greg Billings, Susan Bumgarmer and Van Haygood comprised the team. Psychiatric Resources Nurses and direct care providers in the ED and CCU implement the suicide prevention precautions. Van Haygood, MSN, RN, NE-BC and Susan Bumgarner, MSN, RN-BC, NEA-BC wrote an article describing the protocol, "A Bundled Approach to Suicide Prevention Outside the Psychiatry Department," which has been accepted for publication in Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare. Congratulations to all who participated in this team effort. § Mark your calendar for the upcoming Sigma Theta Tau Research Day 2009 at Lenoir-Rhyne University on Saturday, April 25th. Sally Bulla, PhD, RN, guest lecturer, will discuss "Professional Nursing Excellence: Real Research Success Stories." Early registration is due by the 18th of April. Send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to receive a brochure with complete details. § In the Spotlight
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