The 2009 Excellence in Staff Development Awards were presented at the National Nursing Staff Development Organization (NNSDO) Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 10, 2009. President-Elect, Sandra Bruce, MSN, RN-BC, and Chair of the Recognition Committee, Sheila St. Cyr, MS, RN-BC, presented plaques to the recipients.
BELINDA E. PUETZ AWARD
The recipient of this award is Rebekah Powers, MSN, RN; Director of Professional Practice at Midland Memorial Hospital in Midland, Texas. Rebekah's accomplishments include the following:
* Developing the Advancement of Clinical Excellence Project; a program offering RN to BSN degrees for Midland nurses.
* Developing and implementing a preceptor program that provides guidance to graduates and newly hired nurses through a competency-based orientation.
* Serving as an educational resource to staff, management, and administration at Midland.
* Acting as a stakeholder in an agreement between Midland Memorial Hospital, Midland College and Texas Tech to build a collaborative simulation laboratory for personnel from all involved organizations.
* Providing multiple lectures for Midland, the University of Texas El Paso for an online class.
* Publishing and providing presentations for several professional programs on the topics of self-directed learning and evidence-based practice.
* Serving on the advisory boards of Midland College Associate Degree Program, University of Texas El Paso RN to MSN NCE program, University of Texas El Paso Center of Excellence and Casa De Amigos, Midland, Texas.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ROLE OF THE NURSING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EDUCATOR AWARD
The recipient of this award is Marcia Cornell, BSN, RN, EMT-P. Marcia's accomplishments include the following:
* Developing the new role of Night Shift Staff Development Instructor at Summa Health System Hospitals in Akron, Ohio.
* Creating a cohesive instructor team to support the night shift nursing staff, particularly new graduates.
* Meeting with nursing staff, assessing their learning needs, and implementing creative ways to disseminate knowledge and skills to meet those needs and to foster competence.
* Guiding new nurses as well as nursing students in starting a professional portfolio.
* Challenging staff to think critically.
* Being involved in the Delta Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, NNSDO, and the Pentagon Council of Nursing Staff Development Educators.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ROLES OF NURSING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FACILITATOR, CHANGE AGENT, AND CONSULTANT AWARD
The recipient of this award is Debbie Buchwach, MSN, RN-BC; Education Consultant in the Oregon Health and Science Portland University Hospital (OHSU). Debbie is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of professional development programs. In 2008, OHSU initiated its first phase of transition to an electronic medical record system. Debbie's accomplishments include the following:
* Developing and implementing a change management proposal that was approved by the OHSU healthcare executive management team.
* Participating in several committees and task forces to develop and implement the educational plan.
* Participating in several task forces and committees that provided oversight for the implementation of this initiative.
* Developing and implementing resources to support leadership and staff in this transition, including change educational sessions, an online a toolkit, a Web site of practice activities, two pocket guides for electronic charting, scripting for speaking to patients and resistant staff, and "just-in-time" resources for staff.
* Expanding training sessions to include innovative remedial sessions.
OUTSTANDING MENTOR AWARD
The inaugural recipient of this award is Barbara Brunt, MA, MN, RN-BC, NE-BC; Outgoing President of NNSDO. Barb is the Director of Nursing Education and Staff Development for Summa Health System Hospitals in Akron, Ohio. Her accomplishments include the following:
* Mentoring nurses at Summa Health System Hospitals.
* Mentoring nurses belonging to her district of the Ohio Nurses Association, the Delta Omega Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau, NNSDO, and the local affiliate.
* Providing guidance to nurses who are new instructors for American Heart Association.
* Mentoring other instructors and training center coordinators at other American Heart Association Training Centers in Ohio.
* Mentoring students in the local school system interested in healthcare career opportunities and tutoring elementary school children in reading and writing.
* Publications.
* Speaking engagements.
* Service to the American Nurses Association and the National League for Nursing.
EXCELLENCE IN PRECEPTORSHIP AWARD
The recipient of this award is the Education and Organizational Development Department from JFK Medical Center, Edison, New Jersey. This team includes Catherine Keane, MSN, RN, APN-C, GNP-BC, Clinical Supervisor; Donna Kozub, BSN, RN-BC, Clinical Educator; and Laura Mularz, MSN, APRN, BC, Director, Education/Organization Development. Accomplishments of this team include the following:
* Developing the "PAL Onboard Program" for all new hires in 2008.
* Revising the Preceptor Workshop Program that supports preceptors in 2008.
* Developing multiple preceptor enhancement programs in 2009.
* Providing for the orientee to go with the preceptor when he or she has to float to another area of the institution.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ROLE OF THE NURSING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCHER AWARD
The recipient of this award is Joan Warren, PhD, RN-BC, NEA-BC; Director of Professional Practice and Research at Franklin Square Hospital Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Joan's accomplishments include the following:
* Engaging nursing staff in research through classes on evidence-based practice, the research process, and critiquing nursing research.
* Providing leadership to her staff who have submitted more than four research projects in a given year to the international review board.
* Establishing an annual research conference; last year, over 200 nurses attended this event.
* Establishing evidence-based practice as a standard for advancement on respective career ladders.
* Establishing four yearly internships that provide opportunity for staff nurses to investigate a clinical issue and be paid for their time.
* Serving as cochair for research grants with organizations outside of her organization.
* Speaking and presenting at national, regional, and local organizations on the topic of research ("how to's," proposal writing, implementing programs, etc.).
* Publishing in peer-reviewed journals and books.
EXCELLENCE IN THE ROLE OF THE NURSING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT LEADER AWARD
The recipient of this award is Mendy Blair, MSN, RN-BC, NE, BC; Director of Educational Development at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Her accomplishments include the following:
* Managing over 300 educational programs a year.
* Precepting and mentoring students seeking nursing leadership practicum experiences.
* Serving as president of the NNSDO affiliate chapter for the state.
* Serving as president-elect for the Delta Psi state chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.
* Speaking on the topic of emotional intelligence to regional and state audiences.
* Leading the development of a study group design to support staff nurses and nurse leaders in attaining national certification.
* Acting as chair of the steering committee for the "Evolving Leaders" program in collaboration with the Nursing Leadership Academy. Currently, this program provides educational opportunities for over 700 employees a year seeking leadership development opportunities.
* Developing, implementing, and researching a new graduate 1-year nurse internship program.
* Developing an interactive hospital-based skills laboratory for nursing students.
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AWARD
The recipient of this award is Teresa Heithaus, MSN, RN; Staff Development Instructor at Staten Island University Hospital, a member of the North Shore-LIJ Health System, located in Staten Island, New York. Teresa's accomplishments include the following:
* Spearheading the development and presently maintaining a comprehensive nursing education Web site featuring journal club, fast facts, at-a-glance tutorials, new products, visual presentations, and e-learning modules.
* Working with students and staff interested in Web-based education
* Successfully launching the hospital's first interactive blended e-learning program on the "Closed Medication System" that provided training for all 38 neonatal intensive care unit staff members in 72 hours resulting in 100% staff competencies, including a zero incidence of catheter-related blood stream infections for the 11 months after training.
* Establishing a joint-education hands-on program for the "techno-challenged" with information services.
* Establishing a highly cost-effective e-learning site using multiple learning modalities.
AFFILIATE EXCELLENCE IN QUALITY PROGRAMS AWARD
The recipient of this award is the Intermountain West Nursing Staff Development Organization. The Intermountain West Nursing Staff Development Organization currently has 45 members, representing 14 hospitals in Utah and Idaho. The current president is Janell Anderson, MS, RN, NEA-BC-RN-BC, and the president-elect is Jo Ellen Robinson, MS, RN, RN-BC. This chapter's accomplishments include the following:
* Holding an annual education conference for 8 years based on needs assessments by their members.
* Developing a polished and professional practice model.
* Creating a newsletter and a Web site (http://www.imwnsdo.com).
* Yearly involvement in a community service project.
* Providing a scholarship for the annual NNSDO conference (this has been done since 2004).
* Using a peer review process to facilitate preparation for conference presentations.
RESEARCH GRANT RECIPIENT
NNSDO awarded a $2,500 research grant to Donna Tydings, MS, RN, CCRN, Clinical Nurse Specialist/Educator at the Rochester General Hospital, Rochester, New York. The title of the project is "Comparison of computer-based versus lecture-based instruction for nurses' continuing education: Effects on learning outcomes and satisfaction."