Nurses - K. Hovnanian Children's Hospital

New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvements
A Magnet Moment
“When nurse midwives first became affiliated with our department, they
requested that they be allowed to offer the opportunity to have a water birth
to their patients. We had never done this before, but the midwives were quite
insistent that this was a safe and ethical practice to be offering to our patients.
I had to do some research to prove to myself and assure my nursing staff that
we could provide a safe environment and optimal nursing care while providing
this experience for our patients. After visiting some sites that performed water
births, and researching articles and other institution’s protocols, my team and
I were able to put together a program for our patients. We collaborated with
other departments, especially plant operations, to assure that we could
accommodate the birth tub and water connections required. We wrote
policies based on current, nationally accepted guidelines.
Joyce McKeever, R.N., MS, IBCLC, LCCE
Jersey Shore University Medical Center,
Clinical Program Manager,
Baby Friendly Program
Our first water birth was a huge success and provided us with a “Magnet
Moment.” It was a wonderful moment for our patient and for our nurses. We
have since had many successful water births and are looking now to enhance
our services. I was honored to present our implementation process at the
Nursing Management Congress as a poster presentation.”
Creating a Climate of Scholarship
“At its best, the scholarship of discovery contributes not
only to the stock of human knowledge but also to the
intellectual climate…” (Boyer, 1990, p. 17)
A passion for inquiry ignites a climate of scholarship, and
nursing at Meridian Health has ignited that flame of inquiry,
keeping it burning brightly. The four components of Meridian’s
nursing model of care—clinical expertise, education, shared
governance, and research—serve as a foundation for a climate
of scholarship, inquiry, and discovery, allowing innovation in
care structures, processes, and outcomes.
Setting the tone for scholarship as the senior vice president
and Chief Nursing Officer at Meridian, Richard Hader, Ph.D.,
R.N., FAAN, NE-BC, CHE, CPHQ, has produced more than 100
peer-reviewed publications and six research studies. He also
has served as Editor-in-Chief of Nursing Management for more
than six years. Dr. Hader has filled the role of clinical professor
for Seton Hall University and Monmouth University in their
master’s degree programs for nursing administration and was
the prime originator of The Georgian Court-Meridian Health
School of Nursing.
The presence of scholarship can be seen by funded grants, in
articles published in referenced journals, and in the abstracts
of presentations. Since the inception of the system in 1997,
the amount of peer-reviewed publications has quadrupled, with
more than 100 nurses currently taking active part in research
activities, ranging from data collectors to primary investigators.
Mentoring for inquiry is also strongly visible at Meridian, with
six doctorally-prepared nurses housed within the Ann May
Center for Nursing and Allied Health. In aggregate, they have
published more than eighty manuscripts and secured grants
totaling more than $6 million dollars. They have served as
investigators for more than twenty research projects of their
own, and have mentored many more, including the C.A.R.E.
Clinical Research Scholar projects. In addition, they are editors
of peer-reviewed journals, department editors for journals,
manuscript reviewers, and are also prolific presenters at local,
regional, and national conferences.
Promoting education also is a pivotal factor in promoting a
climate of scholarship. Scholarship support for advanced
educational preparation has been outstanding, as more than
150 scholarships totaling more than $200,000 were awarded
to Meridian bachelors, masters, and doctoral students. In
addition, more than one million dollars in tuition
reimbursement was provided to Meridian nurses. Since
Meridian’s inception, seven Meridian nurses have achieved
their doctoral degree, and eight more are nearing completion,
adding to the support for a climate of scholarship.
A climate of scholarship also seeks meaningful integration of
new knowledge into practice. Demonstration of integration can
be seen in Meridian’s work in evidence-based practice and
translation science. To promote these activities, the Meridian
Health Institute for Evidence-Based Care (IEBC) was formed,
through which inter-professional teams perform systematic
reviews of guidelines, meta-analyses, single studies, and
expert opinion to derive best practices for the organization.
Since its creation in 2008, twenty evidence reviews have been
produced, resulting in twelve protocol changes as well as
production of new order sets, revision of electronic health
record computer screens, and development of staff education.