Support for Soldiers and Veterans You Gotta Have Heart The Joy of ...

WOODBURY — Amy Resnick,
RN, pictured here, primary
nurse in the Hospice Care
Network, makes a difference in
her patients’ and families’ lives
— in large and small ways.
In addition to her clinical
duties, she’s gone the extra
mile to babysit a terminally ill
baby and her sibling so their
exhausted mother could nap.
She’s encouraged a teenage
mother, distracted by her ill
son’s care, to remember to
eat. Ms. Resnick has gained
the trust and affection of a
man with pancreatic cancer
who said that his greatest wish
before dying was to find her
a husband (preferably his
“handsome son”).
The connections and
impressions Ms. Resnick makes
are lasting. She was the first to
learn that the teenage mother
(now 20) is having another
baby and among the first to be
invited to her wedding this year.
“This is what I was put
on this earth to do,” Ms.
Resnick said. “It’s a very
vulnerable time for [patients
and families] and they trust
me to help.” In addition to
clinical assessments, symptom
management and patient/
Being Present as
Time Winds Down
By Kathleen Waton
family education related to
end-of-life care, it’s “being
kind and present,” she said.
The role of caring for
patients at the end of life comes
naturally to Ms. Resnick.
“[Death] is going to happen to
everyone and I just want to do
for others what I would want
NPs Facilitate Care at Forest Hills
By Kathleen Waton
FOREST HILLS — Forest Hills Hospital, like other facilities across the North Shore-
LIJ Health System, is employing more nurse practitioners (NPs) in various areas
to make a difference in patient care. Advanced practice nurses facilitate care by
“functioning to the limit of their licensure” as “we face a shortage of practitioners
in the future,” said Rita Mercieca, RN, executive director.
Last fall, NPs entered two areas in particular that demand more effort:
heart failure and pain management. “One of our major causes of readmission to
the hospital within 30 days after discharge is heart failure,” Ms. Mercieca said.
Hallie Bleau, NP, coordinates the care of heart failure patients in the
community to prevent readmission. “We’re not going to be able to keep all
of them out of the hospital,” she said, “because heart failure is a progressive
disease and patients continue to get sicker.” But following up with patients
after discharge and teaching simple steps like daily weighings to manage water
retention and encouraging patients to visit their physicians within three to
seven days after discharge help reduce readmission. Ms. Bleau’s role as NP also
done for me,” she said.
The work undoubtedly
is very sad at times, she
admitted, yet there are many
happy moments. “Unless
you do this work, it’s hard to
understand how much fun it
can be. Patients’ guards are
down and they welcome you
into their family. It’s such an
easy relationship.”
When Ms. Resnick first
meets patients and families,
however, “they think it’s going
to be gloom and doom, but it’s
really talking about living until
you are no longer living.”
Ms. Resnick’s dedication
to her patients makes an
impression. “She is the ultimate
in dedicated, bright and
compassionate staff,” said Nan
Toelstedt, RN, executive vice
president of the Hospice Care
Network. “We are lucky to have
her — and so are her patients.”
involves nursing education, including making sure bedside nurses are attentive to
weight gain and check low-sodium diets for heart failure patients.
Jamina John, NP, manages patients’ pain and ensures patients with
patient-controlled analgesia know how to use the PCA effectively. “It’s great
that ordering medication is within my scope of practice,” Ms. John said, “so
I can make changes to the order, transition from IV medication to pills or order
changes to the device so patients get proper relief.” For major surgery like knee
or hip replacements, new morphine epidurals provide continuous medication
management for 48 hours after surgery, and allow Ms. John to tweak the dosage to
manage pain.
“Just having the time to sit in the room and talk makes the patient feel so
much more comfortable,” she said. “I’m so happy Forest Hills Hospital started
this role and excited for the future. We’ve had so much positive feedback — from
patients and staff.”
The New Standard 25
Jeanne Morrison, LMSW