April 2009

April 2009

Evidence-Based Practice and your Annual Performance Review … Did you know that your participation in Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) activities could boost your Annual Performance Review? Nursing job-specific performance expectations now reflect CVMC’s nursing professional model. EBP and research activities are components of the Science of Nursing and the performance expectation is as follows:

"Participates in the problem solving process and performance improvement activities to improve patient outcomes and the work environment within the department. Participates in evidence-based practice initiatives and/or research activities that contribute to the improvement of nursing practice throughout the hospital, including participation in nursing peer review. Completes projects/ assignments in a reasonable timeframe once assigned" (2009 CVMC RN Performance Expectations).

The expectation is evaluated on a scale from 0 to 4, with 0 reflecting a nurse not achieving the standard and 4 reflecting a nurse consistently exceeding the standard. Contact your nurse manager for specifics on scoring criteria.

2 0 0 9 E B P W E E K	Let’s Get Cooking with EBP
	Date	Time	Location
	Tuesday, April 28	0800-0900	Jade Room
	Tuesday, April 28	1000-1100	Jade Room
	Tuesday, April 28	1230-1330	Jade Room
	Tuesday, April 28	1430-1530	Jade room
	Searching the Literature
	Thursday, April 30	0800-0930	Lighthouse
	Thursday, April 30	1230-1400	Lighthouse
	Appraising the Literature*
	Thursday, April 30	0945-1145	AHEC 105
	Thursday, April 30	1415-1615	AHEC 105
	*Pre-requisite: Searching the Literature

During the week of April 27th, the Research and EBP Council will host an array of activities giving you the opportunity to meet or excel in the EBP and Research expectation. Multiple classes have been planned to provide professional development opportunities that will enhance your Annual Performance Review. CVMC nurse researchers will present their research study findings, and senior Lenoir-Rhyne University nursing students their performance improvement initiatives in a poster session on Tuesday, April 28th from 0930-1230 in AHEC 112. Join us as we celebrate CVMC’s 1st Annual EBP Week. §

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 specialty certifications.

Tina Eckard MSN/MHA, RN, CCRN, ACNP passed the acute care nurse practitioner board examination recently. After earning her BSN at Lenoir-Rhyne, Tina worked in telemetry for one year prior to entering the critical care unit. During her CCC tenure at CVMC she has been involved in acute dialysis care, earned her MSN/MHA degree from the University of Phoenix and her certification in critical care nursing. She began the post-Master’s ACNP certificate program at Duke University in 2006 and graduated in 2008.
Certified Emergency Nurse: Jill Stamey BSN, RN, CEN; Crissy Shook RN, CEN; Angela Clark BSN, RN, CEN
In-patient Obstetrics: Misty Cline MSN, RNC-OB

EBP Logo Contest. CALLING all ARTISTS ... to design a visual emblem for EBP. Any CVMC employee is eligible to participate in the logo contest, and you can submit more than one entry per person. Entries are due May 1, 2009. For more information contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . §

OR Green Team. Have you ever considered the amount of waste generated by the healthcare industry? It is not an insignificant issue as Henry Agreda, George Barnes, Rosanna Beal, Pam Copeland, Tammy Franklin, Sherry Hardee, Robyn Ison, Harriet James, Michele McGlamery, Amy Whisnant, and Monica Wise realize. These OR Green Team members have been instrumental in beginning several surgical services recycling initiatives. Designated bins, in the OR, serve as collection sites for clean blue wrap, which is assembled into bales.


Henry Agreda standing beside CVMC's first bale of blue wrap.	Several OR Green Team members L-R): Monica Wise, Tammy Franklin, Sherry Hardee, Michele McGlamery, Amy Whisnant, Monica Wise.

Blue Day Recycling processes recycled blue wrap into bathroom and handicap signs. In Sterile Processing, Cidex OPA (0.55% ortho-Phthaladehyde), which does not require exposure monitoring, has replaced Glutaraldehyde as a high level disinfectant. This product can be disposed of via the regular sewer system. Anesthesia has changed from red to black bags for the majority of their trash, thus reducing CVMC’s red bag trash collection costs. The OR Green Team has future projects on their drawing board as well. We applaud your stewardship! §

Holly Connor RN, CNOR, Operating Room

“Evidence-based practice is a very exciting part of nursing practice for nurses today. It is a proactive and interactive opportunity for bedside nursing.

As a RN to BSN student at UNC-G, I have had the opportunity to learn more about research and EBP. I realize the opportunities for nurses who see true possibilities of better practice and care of our patients. As a member of CVMC’s Nurse Practice Council, I am involved in reviewing research articles that use EBP. We use this research to make decisions regarding policies that affect nursing and patient care through our hospital.”

Holly is married, has a son and daughter, and loves spending time with her granddaughter. §