2006 nur - PinnacleHealth

PinnacleHealth 2007 | Nursing Annual Report
2006 nursing annual report.
www.pinnaclehealth.org
Proven nursing.
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Greetings,
Our Mission
PinnacleHealth Department of Nursing
Services is committed to the provision of
excellent nursing care, professionalism
and pride in our practice.
It is with great joy and pride that we present the 2007 Nursing Annual
Report. Once again, this report is just a glimpse of the best of PinnacleHealth
nursing. And while it is so hard to capture all that we do
between the pages of this report, I know you will be proud as you read about
the many accomplishments of your nursing colleagues.
This report is organized around the Forces of Magnetism as a way of showcasing
our nursing excellence as a Magnet organization.
The Forces of Magnetism, serve as a perfect framework to tell your stories.
These are stories of heroism, stories of fortitude, stories of compassion, and
stories of inspiration. These are narratives that tell of the rich talent and deep
dedication of the nurses at PinnacleHealth … Accolades for professional accomplishments
and for advancing education … Acknowledgment for saving
lives and for improving the safety and quality of our nursing care. These are
stories of celebration, stories of motivation, and stories of healing … in many
cases in your own words. Pearls of wisdom passed down from our seasoned
nurses are scattered throughout the report to inspire and challenge our
newer nurses. For the first time, our annual report is honoring those nurses
with more than 30 years of service to PinnacleHealth. I hope the words and
the photographs will leave you with the same feeling that I had when I first
reflected upon the content. I am proud to be a PinnacleHealth nurse and I am
proud to call you my colleagues.
All the best,
Roger Longenderfer, MD
President & CEO
Kim Fenstermacher, MS, CRNP
Editor
The PinnacleHealth Nursing Annual Report is published by
the Marketing Department. Please direct your comments
and requests for additional copies to 717-231-8100.
Sheri Matter, MS, RN, CNAA-BC FABC
Chief Nursing Officer
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force 1
Kim Fenstermacher
Looking back on a
“Magnetic” 2007 …
We began 2007 with celebrations held in March to commemorate
our Magnet designation, received December 20, 2006. Local
radio stations also interviewed three PinnacleHealth nurses
about the meaning of Magnet recognition as a way to educate our community
about this important designation. Thank you to Lisa Swenson, Lori Adams, and
Karen Marencic, who were interviewed by WNNK, WRBT, WROZ and WHYL. In
October, 34 PinnacleHealth nurses boarded a bus bound for the airport to travel
to Atlanta to attend the 11th Annual Magnet Conference. With great pride, we
cheered as PinnacleHealth was announced as a new Magnet facility during the
opening session to an audience of 5,000 nurses from around the world. It was
truly a memorable moment! In December 2007, we submitted our very first
Magnet Interim Report, a yearly requirement to show that our quality, safety,
patient satisfaction and RN satisfaction results are in compliance with the very
high standards of the ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program.
As a Magnet organization, the 14 Forces of Magnetism provide a framework
and a guide for planning, implementing and evaluating clinical practice and
professional advancement. The Forces of Magnetism are transformational and
embedded throughout our organization. We think of our accomplishments as
“Magnet Moments”. This report is full of examples of exceptional leadership,
superb clinical practice, community outreach and professional development …
a tribute to the nurses who not only make our Magnet designation possible, but
who continually strive to raise the bar.
Kim Fenstermacher, MS, CRNP
Magnet Project Coordinator
Quality of Nursing Leadership
PinnacleHealth nurses are
leaders both in and outside of our
organization. Their affiliation with
professional organizations, serves
to strengthen clinical knowledge
and professionalism, and ultimately
benefits our patients and our work
environment.
Professional
Organization
Leadership
Trish Bennett, CNS-Board member
SVAACN; planning committee member
for “Challenges in Critical Care,” cosponsored
by SVAACN and the Society
for Critical Care Medicine. Medical
Education Day Planning Committee,
2007 poster judge
Kim Fenstermacher, Magnet project
coordinator-Penn State Nursing
Alumni Board Member
Kelly Soule, Heart Failure Centerregional
coordinator for the American
Association of Heart Failure Nurses
Rob Shipp, nurse manager, CCU-
Advisory Board Member Emergency
Health Services Federation; chair of
Technology Council for South Central
Organization of Nurse Leaders
Eileen Wydra, Community OR-AORN
of Central PA Nominating Committee
Tina Wallish, Community OR, AORN
of Central PA Nominating Committee
Joanne Konick-McMahan, MSN, RN,
PCU/Toxicology-Editorial Board for
Trends in Critical Care Journal
Kim Dodson, RN-Harrisburg OR,
member of the AORN Council
Michalena Levenduski, CNS, NICUpresident
of Susquehanna Valley
Association of Neonatal Nurses
(SVANN); Joey Hocker, RN-NICU
secretary of SVANN.
Nancy Ciarrocca, RN-Learning
Institute; Grace Hoover, RN-Learning
Institute; Jackie Smith; Lisa Casey,
nurse manager-Main 5; Michele
Mellott, clinical manager-Float Pool;
Lillian Stiglitz, SDI-Main 5-Officers
and committee chairs of Capitol Area
Chapter of the American Medical
Surgical Nurses (AMSN)
Cynthia Howe, RN-CPAN,
Perianesthesia Department,
Harrisburg president of the South
Central Pennsylvania Association of
Perianesthesia Nurses (SCPAPAN) and
a member of ASPAN’s Clinical Practice
Committee
Karen Zimmerman, RN-CAPA, SDI
Perianesthesia Department, Harrisburg
Treasurer of SCPAPAN
Lenny Baumbaugh, RN-Perianesthesia
Department, Harrisburg treasurer
of Susquehanna Valley Critical Care
Nurses (SVAACN)
Lynn DeMartyn, RN, WOCNpresident
of South Central PA WOCN
affiliate and a board member of the
Northeast Region WOCN
Melissa Stolley, RN, WOCN-PA
legislative representative for WOCN
Northeast Region
Nancy Michaelian, RN-SDI
Perianesthesia, Community vice
president SCPAPAN
The Perianesthesia Department at
Harrisburg Campus reports that more
than half of the professional nursing
staff belongs to a national, state or
local organization for their specialty:
American Society of Perianesthesia
Nurses, Pennsylvania Association
of Perianesthesia Nurses, South
Central Pennsylvania Association of
Perianesthesia Nurses (SCPAPAN).
Vicki L.
Duffin, B.S.,
R.N.,C.M.S.R.N.;
Nurse Manager,
Post Surgical
Care Unit
Harrisburg
Hospital (1977)
“Not being a bedside nurse
after doing that type of
nursing for 10 years was a
big concern to me when I
was lead (by my Nursing
Director 20+ years ago)
down the management
track. After a lot of soul
searching, it became very
obvious that we needed good
nurse managers who would
take care of the nurses and
ancillary staff that, in turn,
take care of the patients. I
never regretted that move.
Having a happy and satisfied
staff is critical to me, thus
maintaining excellent
customer satisfaction.”
Pearl of
Wisdom:
Never lose sight of the
patient. You always should
care for your patient as if they
were a member of your family.
Not only when taking care of
them, but also when taking a
patient from another department
such as PACU and the
ED. Taking a patient in a
timely manner gets them into
a more optimal environment
for their well being.
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Bonnie
Peffer, RN;
Perianesthesia,
CGH (1972)
“The most satisfying
aspect of nursing is the
diverse nature of the
job, the challenges, the
problem solving and the
rewarding opportunity
to make a difference in
someone’s life.”
Pearl of
Wisdom:
Never stop learning, never
stop asking questions and
never stop caring!
Nursing Strategic Plan
2007-2008
Each year, the Leadership
Council reviews and updates
the Nursing Strategic Plan to
keep us “on task” and moving
forward in our quest for raising
the bar for excellence. For a
complete view of the Strategic
Plan, please visit the Nursing
Services website.
Strategy 1: Be the Recognized
Employer of Choice for Nurses
Strategy 2: Develop Strong, Risktaking
Behaviors in Nursing Leadership
Strategy 3: Optimize the Quality and
Safety of Nursing Care
Strategy 4: Advance an Environment
of Professional Development
Strategy 5: Enhance Resource
Utilization and Fiscal Responsibility
force 2 and 3
Organizational Structure
and Management Style
Effective, visionary and
supportive leadership
is essential to our success.
Our shared decision-making
councils provide the framework
and opportunity for nurses to
participate in decisions that
affect clinical practice and
professional development. Many
unit-based committees exist to
enhance decision-making at the
unit level.
The Pediatric Unit formed a unit-based
Pediatric Nurse Practice Committee
and penned a mission statement for
their unit: “We are a family-centered
unit striving to provide quality care,
support and education to enhance
the health and lives of our diverse
population.” Patty Logan, RN,
Pediatrics, knows about that support
and education first hand. Patty joined
the Pediatric Unit after being out of
the nursing workforce for 14 years to
raise her family. As she prepared to
re-enter the workforce, she found that
PinnacleHealth was the only hospital
willing to give her the chance and the
education to re-enter nursing. She has
been a positive addition to the nursing
staff.
CCU nurses established a new
Interview Committee and a new
Practice/Education Committee. The
Interview Committee assures that all
new hires will be a good fit for their
unit. Many nursing units across the system
have similar committees to enable
staff to have a part in choosing new
staff.
There are many
opportunities for
advancement throughout our
nursing units. Congratulations
to the following nurses for their
transition to a new role in 2007.
Promotions:
w Deborah Miles transitioned from
clinical manager to a dual clinical
manager/staff development instructor
for CCU
w Laura Sheads transitioned to clinical
manager role on CTPO in April
w Nicole Fletcher transitioned to staff
development instructor role on CTPO
w Sue Tyson transitioned to staff
development instructor in ICU at
Community
w Karen Ilgenfritz transitioned to staff
development instructor for Labor and
Delivery
w Lynn Rebuck, SDI took on the clinical
manager role in addition to her SDI
duties for Main 11
w Becky Zook transitioned to West
Shore team leader in HomeCare
w Kim Tokonitz transitioned to Berks
County team leader (Pottsville) in
HomeCare
w Tina Frank transitioned to nurse
manager, OR Harrisburg
w Erica Leber-Burnham transitioned to
SDI in CTICU
w Tiffany Boyd was hired as the new
staff development instructor for CINT
w Kimberly Hohenshelt transferred
from the Float Pool to the clinical
manager for Main 10
Laura Sheads
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Dotty Engle, RN;
Perianesthesia,
CGH (1973)
“The most satisfying part of
my job is direct patient care.
I still feel a sense of pride
when a patient says, ‘You
girls were so nice and took
such good care of me,’ or
just a simple ‘Thank you, I
feel better.’”
Pearl of
Wisdom:
A pearl for the new GN is
“you never know it all.”
Medicine always is changing
and that is what makes our
job so interesting.
Shared Decision-Making
Council Reports for 2007
Leadership Council
2007 Chair: Michele Mellot, RN,
clinical manager, Float Pool
2007 Chair-elect: Tina Willier,
RN, nurse manager, NICU
Secretarial duties by Laurie
Radabaugh, executive assistant,
Nursing Administration
w Nursing Leadership Retreat held in
December to develop a mentoring
and competency plan for incoming
council members
w Review and monitoring of Nursing
Strategic Plan
w Final approval of all nursing policies
and procedures
w Review of council membership and
council attendance
Professional Development
Council
Coordinating Council
2007 Chair: Elizabeth Dye, RN,
nurse manager, Main 10
2007 Secretary: Trish Bennett,
CNS, CTICU
2007 Chair-elect: Chris Miller,
RN, NICU
w Approved 25 applications for council
positions
w Letter addressing attendance
approved for use with all councils
w Addressed 11 staff nurse questions
via referral system
w Reviewed and revised Nursing
Charter and By-Laws
w Sent Monthly Council Clips to
Nursing Leadership to communicate
council activities
Leadership
Focus on budget,
strategic planning,
mentor nurse leaders.
Professional
Development
Focus on overseeing
education, competency,
Career Development
Pathway and peer review.
Pride
Responsible for recruitment
and retention, recognition
and celebration activities,
nursing grand rounds.
Coordinating
Oversee Charter bylaws
document, provide
guidance and support to
councils, oversee the shared
decision-making process.
Quality Improvement
Evaluate outcomes of
patient care, oversee
Nursing Quality
Improvement Plan.
Practice
Oversee clinical practice,
review job descriptions,
incorporate research and
evidence-based practice.
Research
Promotes the integration
of nursing research into
clinical practice.
Research Council
2007: Deb Schafer, MSN, RNC,
clinical nurse specialist
2007 Secretary: Pat Baxter,
RN, PCU/Toxicology
2007 Chair-elect: Erica
Leber-Burnham, RN, MSN, CCRN
w Planned and hosted 16th Annual
Nursing Research Conference with
Diana Mason, PhD, editor in chief
for AJN as the keynote speaker; 250
participants in April 2007
w Developed and implemented evidence-based
practice fact sheets
for the following topics: lighting in
the NICU, neonatal IV infiltrates and
ammonia inhalants
w Research Roundtable with seven
groups to develop recommendations
for practice change and improvement
in the following areas:
y Impact of epidural anesthesia on
breastfeeding
y Use of analgesia for IV insertion
y Palliative care for chronic heart failure
patients
y Nurse/physician collaboration on
patient outcomes in the ICU
y Quality of life in elderly patients
after open heart surgery
y Strategies to improve nurse’s confidence
in caring for elderly patients
with depression while in acute care
y Teaching strategies to improve
patient knowledge acquisition in
hypertensive patients
w Research Road Show to educate staff
about the link to research, evidencebased
practice and quality
w “Ask the Expert” is a service for nurses
to ask a clinical question directed
to a nurse expert.
w PowerPoint educational program
developed on research and evidence-based
practice with contact
hours included.
w Iowa Evidence-Based Practice Model
formally adopted
w Melnyk/Overholt Level of Evidence
formally adopted
w Developed criteria for evidencebased
fact sheet
w Rhonda Maneval, PhD hired as parttime
research consultant
w Clinical Inquiry Award category
developed and added to Nurses’
Week awards
w Approved two nursing research projects:
Thermoregulation in the NICU;
Postpartum experience of patients on
long-term bed rest
w Approved two Nursing Research
Fellowships: Tina Daniels, RN, NICU
and Lisa Fox, RN, Learning Institute
Professional
Development Council
2007 Chair: Jacqueline Matter,
RN, Harrisburg ED (assumed chair
role after former chair resigned)
2007 Secretary: Heather
Moyer, RN, nursing supervisor
Harrisburg
2007 Chair-elect: Jacqueline
Matter, RN, Harrisburg ED
w “Pearls to Your Success” Workshops
offered
y Fall 2007 topic was “Specialty
Organizations and Professional
Organizations.” A Fair was held to
highlight importance of specialty
certification
y Spring 2007 topics included
“Synergizing Your Work
Environment”, “Mentoring,”
“Precepting” and “Starting a
Portfolio”
w PDC Portfolio developed to showcase
and journal the accomplishments
of the council
w Leadership Training Program developed
for Council chairs and co-chairs
Tina Daniels
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Linda Blough,
RN N9/N8 (1971)
“I always have enjoyed
helping people get through
their surgical experience
and back to their normal
lives. I especially enjoy
taking care of antepartum
patients that are having
problems with their
pregnancy. It always is a
real joy to see each patient
(outcomes) with their
babies, especially if they
have been trying so hard
just to have a child.”
Pearl of
Wisdom:
It always is hard starting a
career, particularly in nursing;
but if you love what you
do and have compassion
for people in their weakness
moments/times, you’ll receive
the most satisfaction that
a job can offer—especially
carrying that special miracle
baby home.
Pride Council
2007 Chair: Jen Zechman, nurse
manager, Community ED
2007 Secretary: Arletta
Molnar, RN, PCU/Toxicology
2007 Chair-elect: Megan
Strohecker, clinical manager,
Maternity
w Extreme Nurse Experience held four
times with highest attendance to
date. This program provides an overview
of hospital nursing careers in a
variety of specialties for middle and
high school students.
w Nursing Newsletter coordinated and
edited by Jennifer Shuey. Robin
Albert and Deb Miles are the 2008
newsletter coordinators.
w Nursing Grand Rounds schedule set
until 2011.
w Student Parent Career Night held as
a recruitment tool.
w Nurses’ Week activities planned to
include a fabulous Nursing Gala
event and Nursing Awards.
w Surveyed all job roles in nursing during
Nurses’ Week Expo regarding
recruitment and retention efforts to
identify ways to improve the work
environment.
Quality Council
2007 Chair: Becky Pontius, RN,
Harrisburg ICU
2007 Secretary: Karen
Nesmith, RN, CCU
2007 Chair-elect: Cheryl
Hammonds, RN, PSCU/Main 6
w Welcomed Carol Colussi as new
leader facilitator
w NDNQI Skin Assessment certification
by all members
w Education for familiarization with
Quality Terminology for all council
members and staff
w Continually strengthening the communication
link between council
members and staff
force 4
Personnel Policies and Programs
Recruitment and retention
of the best and the brightest
nurses are important core values in
our Nursing Charter. PinnacleHealth
proudly boasts an impressive
new nurse retention rate that is
consistently above 90 percent. Karen
Whitmer, RN, professional nurse
development coordinator, plays
an important role in the guidance
and transition of new grads. Our
exceptional Nurse Extern Program
has been a successful recruiting
program whereby nursing students
can work on a clinical unit while
attending nursing school in order to
better understand the nursing role.
The many talented nurse preceptors
and dedicated staff nurses who
mentor our new grads are to be
commended for going the extra mile
to welcome and support all of our
new nurses.
Welcome
New Grads!
Elizabeth Swith, CCU
Jennifer Philson, CCU
Erin Billbrough, CCU
Sarah McAllister, Peds
Julie Ritter, Peds
Tabitha Walker, CTPO
Lindsay Imes, CTPO
Amanda Kemmerer, ICU, Community
Angie Lenker, ICU, Community
Gina Recce, ICU, Community
Rebecca Fisher, N10/PCU/Toxicology
Amber Hartman, N10/PCU/Toxicology
Courtney Hock, N10/PCU/Toxicology
Natoshia Sheaffer, N10/PCU/
Toxicology
Jennifer Marieta, N10/PCU/Toxicology
Dorothy Jones, N10/PCU/Toxicology
Stacey Brehm, OR, Harrisburg
Daniel Rohrer, CTICU
Bethany Marble, CTICU
Santina Sperling, CINT
Lorena Garcia, CINT
Bobbie Lefevre, Main 10
Melissa Riley, Main 10
Steven Gardecki, Main 10
Jennifer Lenosky, Main 10
Kristin Lukens, Main 10
Retention of seasoned, experienced
clinical nurses is a high priority at
PinnacleHealth. We are fortunate to
have many expert nurses who have
chosen to practice nursing at Pinnacle
Health for more than 30 years. Their
clinical expertise and devotion to
excellence is admired and appreciated.
Cindy Deitrich,
RNC; L&D (1976)
“The keys to survival are
always to have an open
mind, a caring heart, thick
skin and a good sense of
humor. These will help
to get you through
any situation.”
Quality Council
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force 5 & 6
Professional Models of
Care Quality of Care
force 7
Research Council
Quality of care
encompasses so many
facets of nursing at
PinnacleHealth. The Synergy
Model guides our practice and
our decision-making as we strive
to match the patient and family
needs to the characteristics of
the nurse. Our goal always is safe
passage for the patient and the
family, whether that means a healthy
discharge, a smooth transition to an
extended care facility, or sometimes
even seeing someone through a
comfortable death. We care for our
patients “heart, mind, body, and
soul.” This principle is what makes
us passionate about quality.
We all remember pivotal moments in
our nursing career … moments when
we were changed forever because
of a kind word, a thank you or even
a tear shed on behalf of a patient or
family. Many of these transformational
moments come from experiences
of caring for patients and families at
end of life. For nurses in Labor and
Delivery, the transformational moments
often come in caring for a family who
has experienced the loss of an infant.
Even in the toughest of times, our
nurses know that delivering quality
care means offering compassion, time
and understanding.
Karen Ilgenfritz, RN received a beautiful
letter of gratitude from a couple
who lost a baby at 35 weeks gestation
to stillbirth. A brief excerpt of the letter
illustrates the depth of Karen’s caring
heart and the power of nursing to provide
comfort in a time of great sorrow.
“From the moment that we checked
into the hospital, Karen was there with
us and supported us. We were griefstricken,
and I was very, very scared
of what the day would bring. Karen
calmed our fears and honestly talked
with us about what to expect. Karen
offered to pray with us. This meant so
much to us. She gave us as much time
as we needed. These all seem like
small gestures, but we treasure these
things so much and we are glad that
she was there to help us make as many
memories of our baby as we could during
the brief time that we had to say
hello and goodbye to him.”
Cultural Diversity
PinnacleHealth nurses are responsive
to the diversity of our patients and
their families. For instance, on CINT,
the nurses added cardiac educational
DVD’s in Spanish to accommodate the
growing Hispanic population on the
unit.
Evidence-Based
Practice
Evidence-based practice (EPB)
has become very meaningful to
PinnacleHealth nurses, in large part
due to the efforts of the Research
Council. This year, the Research
Council participated in the decision to
hire Rhonda Maneval, PhD as a part
time research consultant. Upon recommendation
of the Magnet appraisers,
we chose a specific Evidence-Based
Practice model. The Research Council
investigated several EBP models and
chose the Iowa Model for Evidence-
Based Practice and the Melnyk-
Overholt Level of Evidence Model
as preferred models to guide EBP at
PinnacleHealth.
Quality of Nursing Leadership
Examples of improving
quality abound throughout
our Nursing units. Nurse-led
performance improvement
teams are effecting change to
deliver safe, quality care. Here
are just a few examples of the
accomplishments, some big,
some small, but all very meaningful
to the meeting our goal.
Appropriate staffing is critical to the
goal of delivering quality care. The
Float Pool scheduling process has
been a Six Sigma Project targeted at
decreasing expenses. Revisions to the
process were made so that nurse managers
enter their staffing needs and the
Float Pool staff fills the open shifts to
accommodate the need.
As part of the SCIP (Surgical Care
Improvement Project) the OR at
Community Campus eliminated the
use of razors in the OR to reduce infection
and now only use clippers. Pre-op
antibiotics are given and documented
within one hour of surgery.
CCU reports a three year period of
zero central line infections.
The Perianesthesia Unit at Community
keeps staff informed about quality by
emailing every staff person with a synopsis
of the Quality Council activities
and results.
Nurses on CTICU met their goal of all
RNs completing the Stroke Scale certification.
CINT nurses celebrated with a breakfast,
lunch and dinner meal provided
to the unit to acknowledge their Press
Ganey patient satisfaction scores.
For a certain type of heart attack, the time from arriving at the hospital to
when the artery is opened is called “door-to-balloon” time. At PinnacleHealth,
this time averages 63 minutes. That’s speedy when you consider that only 50
percent of hospitals beat the American Heart Association’s recommendation
of a door-to-balloon time of 90 minutes or less. Not to mention our in-hospital
survival rate is 100 percent for these patients. When you’re having a heart
attack, time matters.
Deb Kepner, RN;
L&D (1976)
“The patients are the most
gratifying aspect of nursing.
I have worked in Labor
and Delivery most of my
nursing career, and there
are still times that I get
teary eyed after a delivery.
It is a privilege to be able to
help families through one
of their biggest life events.
The technology has changed
immensely during the course
of my career. I still get my
greatest personal satisfaction
from the personal contact
with the patients and their
families.”
Pearl of
Wisdom:
Make sure you are good
to yourself. Nursing can be
tough-physically and emotionally.
You have to make
sure to find the joy in your
personal life. You need
that balance!
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force 8
Consultation and Resources
force 9
Autonomy
Joey Hocker,
RN, NICU (1971)
“There are many
satisfactions from being a
nurse. The general idea that
I am in a very honorable
profession and nurses
are generally held up as
good and honest people
is satisfying. Nursing is
both science and art. This
makes it both challenging
and satisfying. But for
me personally, I am both
honored and humbled
to have a positive impact
on families during a
stressful time of their lives.
Nursing has given me the
opportunity to help families
grow in the face of crisis,
even if sometimes the
outcome is not what was
hoped or planned.”
Pearl of
Wisdom:
Continue to learn and grow—
not only as a nurse, but as
a human being. Always be
amazed at the strength and
goodness of the human spirit.
Clinical nurse specialists
(CNS) provide valuable
consultation to staff
nurses to enhance evidencebased
practice and promote
clinical excellence. Nurse experts
throughout the system provide
leadership and guidance in the
areas of nursing informatics,
performance improvement,
outcomes management, infection
control and wound care. Advanced
practice nurses make a tremendous
contribution to assuring safe,
quality outcomes for our patients as
well as advancing the professional
development of nurses at
PinnacleHealth.
Deb Schafer, CNS, Labor and Delivery,
provided in-services to the North
9 Women’s Inpatient Unit to present
the new AWHONN (Association
of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and
Neonatal Nurses) guidelines and terminology
for reading electronic fetal
monitoring strips. Practice was revised
according to the new guidelines and
competency testing was provided to
all staff nurses who are responsible for
performing this skill.
Trish Bennett, CNS, CTICU has led
the evidence-based practice changes
to update antibiotic use guidelines for
surgery and glycemic control for CABG
patients. Trish also worked with the
nurses and residents to improve the
process of running a code by holding
“mock” code drills.
Sarah Harne-Britner, CNS, Kim
Fowler, CNS, and Trish Bennett,
CNS are project leaders for the Beta
Site Project involving ZYNX, Siemens
and PinnacleHealth in “Plan of Care”
development. This project incorporates
innovative electronic capabilities with
evidence-based care planning.
Sarah Harne-Britner, CNS started a
study group on CINT to help prepare
nurses to take the cardio vascular certification
exam.
Kim Fowler, CNS has been the mentor
for the Nurse Practice Council and also
for the Nurse Fellowship recipient, Lisa
Fox. Kim is a facilitator for the Research
Roundtable and also helps to mentor
unit based Practice Committees on
Main 1 and West 1.
As wound, ostomy, continence nurses,
Lynn DeMartyn, Melissa Stolley and
Marge Matthews provide expert
consultation for wound and ostomy
care, education to nurses and physicians,
and disseminate best practice as
speakers, writers and poster presenters
at conferences across the country. They
provided in-services to train 100 nurses
to use the Wound VAC and become
resource nurses on their respective
units. In addition, Lynn served as a preceptor
to train two WOCN nurses from
other hospitals in the role of WOCN
nurse.
Peer Review is an
important part of
nursing autonomy at
PinnacleHealth.
The nurses in CTICU took the initiative
to attend a conference on communication
and to purchase two books to help
them learn more about implementing
effective, meaningful peer review.
Nurses are empowered to identify
issues for change and innovation to
improve the work environment and
patient care. For example, nurses on
CINT’s Practice group had concerns
about the blood glucose levels of
patients on their unit. This concern
fueled a new diabetes initiative that
resulted in tighter glucose control for
patients. The work environment on
Main 10 has been enhanced through
the efforts of a unit-based Work Life
Committee who organized celebrations
for Neuro Nurses and Orthopedic
Nurses Days, as well as community
outreach activities such as Adopta-Family.
These kinds of activities
strengthen the team as a whole and
help staff to participate in meaningful
recognition.
Nurse Heroes
Among Us
November 11, 2007 was the 35th running
of the Harrisburg Marathon. It
also was the day that PinnacleHealth
ICU nurses saved a man’s life. When
Karen Zeplin, RN agreed to coordinate
the medical support team for the
marathon, she expected to treat dehydration,
minor scrapes, and electrolyte
imbalance—not a heart attack. When
Karen and fellow ICU nurse Michelle
Gouhin, RN, heard the urgent call,
“Runner down!” they rushed to start
CPR on a 42-year-old runner. After five
cycles of CPR, an automated external
defibrillator shock and another round
of CPR, the man was revived and taken
to Harrisburg Hospital. A few days after
surgery, he walked out of the hospital,
grateful for the excellent care he
received from the staff in the Cath Lab,
the OR, CCU and CINT.
Humbled and grateful for everyone’s
help, Karen says, “I feel very fortunate
to have been at the right place at the
right time. Because we were there,
this man is still alive. Nothing is more
rewarding than that.”
In addition to Karen and Michelle, the
other nurse volunteers included: Penny
Frownfelter, Sue Langan, Cathy
Druckenmiller, Kim Sutherland, Ann
Wolf and Brenda Black.
PinnacleHealth
Marathon Volunteers
page 14 page 15
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force 10
Community and
Healthcare Organization
force 11
Phil Leer, RN, Main 1
with Camp Dragonfly
Campers
Rob Shipp, CINT/CCU presented a
lecture on heart health during heart
month to the “Women of the Moose.”
Dottie Wormser, RN, North 9, facilitates
a monthly suicide support group
for those who have experienced a loss.
Kathie Grimes, RN, North 9, is active
in fundraising events for the American
Cancer Society.
PinnacleHealth Med-Surg nurses in the
local Capital Area Chapter of AMSN
won the Community Service Award
from the National AMSN organization
for their outreach projects. Here is an
overview of their accomplishments:
w March of Dimes Walk and Diabetes
Walk
w Contributions of layette items to the
PnnacleHealth OB Clinic for distribution
at parenting classes
w Turkeys and nonperishables to
Bethesda Mission and Food Bank
w Adopted a family from the Infant
Development Program for Christmas
Dawn Moyer, RN leads a Multiple
Sclerosis Support group once a
month and volunteers at the Central
Pennsylvania chapter of the National
MS Society. She also coordinated a
team from PinnacleHealth for the annual
MS Walk in April 2007.
Bonnie Peffer, RN, Perianesthesia,
Community, volunteers with Lend-A-
Hand Katrina Relief in Mississippi.
The Perianesthesia Department at
Harrisburg Campus donated over 1500
hours of community service in 2007.
Activities range from camp nurse to
working in a food pantry and from
organizing blood drives to parish
nursing.
The Heart Failure Center developed
the first community Heart Failure
Support Group which meets monthly
with an excellent community response.
In addition, the Heart Failure Center
nurses offered a “Lunch and Learn”
for 60 participants at the GIANT Super
Center in Camp Hill, July 2007.
The Extreme Nurse Experience is sponsored
by the Pride Council as a way to
introduce local Girl Scout troops and
high school students to the career of
nursing. Four times a year, 60 students
spend a Saturday visiting several different
clinical areas of the hospital as staff
nurse volunteers explain the role of
the nurse in specialties such as cardiovascular
OR, med-surg, toxicology and
ED. Nurses who have volunteered to
participate report that the experience
is as meaningful to them as it is to the
students.
Faculty
Kelli Buzzard, RN, Float Pool, substitute
instructor at HACC, Nursing
Kimberly Martin, BSN, Pediatrics,
adjunct faculty at HACC, Nursing
Donald Buchanan, CRNP, Pediatrics,
adjunct faculty at HACC, Gettysburg
Campus LPN program
Kathy Alvanitakis, RN, North 9,
adjunct faculty at HACC, Nursing
Stacy Lutter, RN, Per Diem CTPO,
professor of Nursing at York College of
Pennsylvania
Trish Bennett, CNS, CTICU, clinical
instructor at Messiah College for critical
care
Kim Fowler, CNS, West 1, Main 1
Nurses as Teachers
Community, clinical
instructor at Messiah
College and a CNS preceptor
for Master’s students from York
College of Pennsylvania
M’liss Halsey, MSN, L&D, clinical faculty
at Messiah College
Kelly Soule, Heart Failure Center,
guest professor for the Case Manager
MSN tract at Millersville University
Chris Miller, MS, NICU, instructor
in Nursing at York College of
Pennsylvania
Dawn Hauck, RN CTICU, instructor at
HACC, Nursing
Sandi Myers, RN CTICU, instructor at
HACC, Nursing
Beth Fourlas, RN CTICU, instructor at
HACC, Nursing
Sarah Harne-Britner, CNS, CINT/
CTPO, clinical instructor at Messiah
College
The Heart Failure Center nurses
partnered with Hershey Medical
Center to offer a Heart Failure Patient
Symposium in May 2007 with a total of
150 participants.
Lynn DeMartyn, RN, WOCN provides
the clinical experience for junior nursing
students from Messiah College to
learn wound care techniques and to
learn the role of a wound, ostomy and
continence care nurse.
Sharon Kelly, RN, Learning Institute
partnered with the Gaudenzia organization
to provide a two-day conference
on working with women with drug and
alcohol addictions who are pregnant or
parenting.
The Float Pool also started its own
website as a means to share important
information to staff.
Faye Koons,
RNC, NICU
(1969)
“The greatest satisfaction is
when you have an epiphany
that you truly have impacted
an individual’s entire life
in a positive way. In our
area, with our clientele, that
satisfaction may take years
to be realized, which only
makes the satisfaction that
much more meaningful.”
Pearl of
Wisdom:
“Find your niche in nursingthat
one area of the
profession in which you
feel you excel, and from
which you derive the most
personal gratification”
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force 12
Image of Nursing
Dawn Moyer
Babbette Kellogg
Recognition for
excellence is a core
value that is articulated in
our PinnacleHealth Nursing
Charter. We are proud of our
nurses for their outstanding
accomplishments and numerous
peer and community recognitions.
Sandra Boswell, BSN, RN, CAPA -
one of several winners nationwide of
the Magnet Essay Contest held by the
American Nurses Credentialing Center
Erin Billbrough, CCU - awarded the
Nursing Faculty Award for Clinical
Excellence Award from HACC
Sandra Stilp, RN; Outcomes
Management - won the PinnacleHealth
Excellence in Customer Service Award
The following NICU nurses were
inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau
Honor Society for Nursing: Susan
Brackbill, RN; Tina Daniels, RN; and
Mary Lou Mortimer, RN, SDI
Dawn Moyer, RN, MSCN,
CNRN, multiple sclerosis nurse for
PinnacleHealth Neurology Associates
- received the John Dystel Nursing
Fellowship (National fellowship awarded
by the National MS Society) for
nurses caring for people with multiple
sclerosis
Lorena Garcia, RN, CINT - awarded
the Spirit of Nursing Award from HACC
Stacey Brehm, RN, OR Harrisburg
Campus - won the PSNA District 15
Award from HACC
Shelley Riser - honored by the Student
Nurses Association of Pennsylvania
(SNAP) with an Honorary Member
Award for her long-standing commitment
to the association
Nursing
Excellence Awards
Every year, we honor nurses through
our peer-nominated Nursing
Excellence Awards. The winners are
announced at the annual Nursing Gala
held during Nurses Week each May.
Congratulations to both the nominees
and the winners in each category.
Novice Nurse
Winner: Amanda Zimmerman,
North 10
Nominees:
Tom Abruzzo, CTICU
Liya Arustamyan, Community ED
Julia Bentz, 2N/S
Andrea Bria, NICU
Erin Bucher, PSCU
Liam Copus, Main 5
Jennifer Eby, Pediatrics
Megan Fritz, CINT
Stacey Harrison, CTU
Amber Kroboth, Main 9
Kerry Long, 2 N/S
Sarah O’Dean, CCU
Emmalee O’Connor, Harrisburg ED
Vicki Patchen, CTU
Allison Russaw, Main 10
Sue Stutzman, Pottsville Hospice
Patricia Watson, Main 1
Stacy White, PSCU
Teamwork
Winner: Babette Kellogg,
Outcomes Management
Nominees:
Candace Adam, Rehab
Susan Berkely, Outcomes Management
Brynn Billett, Main 10
Carol Bixler, Community ICU
Katie Dietz, 2 N/S
Aileen Douches, Main 10
Colleen Gonder, Harrisburg ED
Anne Kurutz, Float Pool
Pat Mitchell, CINT
Joyce Mountz, Harrisburg PACU
Regina Nooraga, Harrisburg ED
Heather Riddle, CTU
Georgia Lee Sorrow, Float Pool
Pam Zeigler, 2 N/S
Leadership in
Nursing
Winner: Kim Orfanelli, Rehab
Nurse Manager
Nominees:
Cheri Bechtel, CTPO
Elizabeth Dye, Main 10
Brenda Mull, Harrisburg ED
Wendy Johnson, Main 5
Heather Laudenslager, MTU
Patricia Williams-Forgenie, CTU
Dawn Zeigler, CTU
Pride in
PinnacleHealth
Nursing
Winner: Kim Shappell, Main 10
Nominees:
Crystallein Egresits, Pediatrics
Joye Gingrich, CTU
Kimberly Hohenshelt, Float Pool
Tara Kohn, 2 N/S
Andrea Potteiger, Float Pool
Melanie Sherman, CINT
Lindsay Snyder, Harrisburg ED
Patient Advocate
Winner: Laura Sheads, CTPO
Nominees:
Tammy Bricker, IV Team
La Ray Croutharmel, Harrisburg ED
Tina Deitman, CTU
Katie Dietz, 2 N/S
Cherril Durand, CTU
Debbie Getch, CCU
Annamarie Gromotski, C-ICU
Anne Kurutz, Float Pool
Melinda Metzger, PSCU
Esther (Cookie) Shultz, Rehab
Facilitator of
Learning
Winner: Norine Bilharz, IV Team
Nominees:
Sandy Chapman, Main 9
Melanie Duffy, Harrisburg ICU
Cherril Durand, CTU
Lisa Dziabo, 2 N/S
Susanne English, MTU
Kate Everly, Main 1
Lois Gaul, Main 9
Cheryl Hammonds, PSCU
Joy Malunda, CTU
Heidi Matter, Main 9
Kimberly McCaughey, CCU
Nancy Michaelian, Community SPPU
Donna Roller, Pediatrics
Abigail Wertz, Harrisburg ED
Kim Shappell
page 18 page 19
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force 13
Interdisciplinary Relationships
force 14
Professional Development
The Emergency
Department 2009-2010
expansion plan includes
both Express Admission Unit
nurses and ED nurses to provide
input into the design of a
new 15 bed unit. Staff nurses
designed the rooms and gave
extensive recommendations for
equipment.
The OR at Community Campus
reports that the use of Pathfinder
(Computerized Patient Tracking
System) has improved patient, family
and physician satisfaction through a
new family message board, automated
paging system to alert orderlies to OR
rooms and the availability of Pathfinder
in the physician’s offices to track
patient progress.
CCU reports working with Safa Farzin,
MD, Pulmonary and Critical Care, to
create a central line insertion kit to be
used throughout the system as a best
practice example.
The Annual Nursing
Research Conference provides
an opportunity for nurses
from all levels of practice to present
posters on nursing research, evidence-based
practice, collaboration
and clinical outcomes. Posters are
judged by a review panel and nurses
receive contact hours for the poster
sessions. The 2007 poster winner
was: “Collaboration for Excellence
in Cardiac Surgery.”
2007 Nursing
Research
Conference
Posters
Nursing’s Impact on Quality
Improvement — Becky Pontius, RN,
Quality Council
Pain Reassessment: Quality
Improvement Initiative — Cheryl
Hammonds, RN
Making a Difference in Discharge
Education for Cardiac Surgery Patients:
A Collaborative Approach — Jen
Schleig, RN
International Nursing — Susan
Brackbill, RN
NICU Sound Levels and Sources
— Mary Lou Mortimer, RNC, and
Michalena Levenduski, MSN, RNC,
CNS
Introduction to Evidence-Based
Practice: Research Council — Erica
Leber-Burnham, RN, Jeff Stroup, RN,
Liz Burdick, RN and Marianne Allen,
MSN, RN, CNS
Nurse/Physician Relationships on the
PSCU/Main 6: A Survey — Mary Ann
Clement, MSN, RN, CNS, Bonnie
Gasbarre, RN, Joan George, RN,
Bonnie Moyer, RN and Agnes
McCarty, RN
In-House Stroke Alert and the Post Op
Orthopedic Patient — JoAnn Fisher,
RN
Extreme Nursing Experience — Kim
Shappell, RN; Andrea Potteiger, RN,
Jennifer Shuey, RN, and Mary Ann
Clement, MSN, RN, CNS
Joint Replacement Pilot Program —
Margaret Brady, RN, Karen Fake,
RN, and Barry Boyer, RN
A Toxicology Nurses’ Perspective —
Ginger K. Cassatt, RNC, Carmel
Fuentes, RN, BSN, CMSRN, Marilou
Magnaye, RN, BSN, MSN, CMSRN
and Sandra O’Donnell, RN, BBA,CSPI
Given in Love: A Hospital-Based
Program of Support and Education for
Birth Parents and Adoptive Parents —
Marianne Allen, RNC, MN, Deborah
Schafer, RNC, MSN, Michalena
Levenduski, RNC, MSN, Megan
Strohecker; RNC, Tina Willier, RNC,
Stacy Chubb, RN, Sandra Chapman,
RNC, BSN, Sharon Kelly, RN, BSN,
Amy Zook, MSW and Tanya Runnels,
LSW
Treatment Of Hyperbilirubinemia In
Infants On The Pediatric Unit: An
Evidence-Based Practice Change —
Mary Beth Heller, BSN, RNC and
Donna Roller, RN, CPN
Safely Meeting the Needs of the
Bariatric Surgical Population at
Community General — Teresa Biagio,
BSN, MBA, ONC, RN, Babette
Kellogg, BSN, RN and Ellinor Winters,
CMSRN, RN
Challenges in Acute Pain Management
in Opioid Tolerant Patients — Megan
MacDonald BSN, RN, CMSRN
Collaboration for Excellence in Cardiac
Surgery — Cheri Bechtel, BSN, RN,
Corve Ransom, RN, Liz Burdick, RN,
Lynn Mcluckie, Lori Spence RN, MS,
Trish Bennett, RN, MSN and Cyndy
Wilson, RN, BSN, MS
Diana Mason, Phd,
RN, Editor-in-Cheif
AJN, Marge Samsel,
MSN, RN, SDI,
Hospice, Key Note
Speaker, 2007 Nursing
Research Conference
Nursing Research Day
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Professional Development
Sarah Harne-Britner
Heart Failure Champions on a Medical
Telemetry Unit — Jennifer DiBiasi,
RN, and Kim Fowler, MSN, RN
Electroconvulsive Therapy — ECT
Let’s Rock the Blues Away — Susan
Deringer, BA, BSN, and Kyleen Little-
Fazio BS, CMSRN
The Quicker Picker Upper: A
Multidisciplinary Approach in the Care
of a Patient with Heart Failure and
Cellulitis/Leg Ulcers — Melissa Stolley
RN, BSN, CWOCN and Mary Beth
Mangol, RN
Publications
Marianne Allen, Mary Ann Clement,
Kim Fowler, Sarah Harne-Britner
(2007) — “Improving hand hygiene
adherence among healthcare providers.”
Clinical Nurse Specialist: The
Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice
21(2): 101-102
Kelly Soule, Madeline Sica, Patty
Novak (Spring, 2007) — “Shared-care
approach to evidence-based medicine
improves clinical outcomes for
the heart failure patient,” Progress in
Cardiovascular Nursing
Melissa Stolley and Mary Beth
Mangol (2007). Abstract: “The quicker
picker upper: A multidisciplinary
approach to a patient with CHF and
cellulitis,” Journal of Wound, Ostomy
and Continence Nursing. 34(3S)
Cathy Druckenmiller, Shelley
Heinbaugh, Yovanka Hoover,
Christine Miller and Mary Lou
Mortimer (June 18, 2007) — “Career
development pathway recognizes and
rewards nurses for excellent bedside
practice,” Advance for Nurses 9(14): 25
Presentations
Penny Frownfelter, MSN, RN,
CNAA-BC; Vicki Duffin, BS, RN; Jane
Brindle, BSN, RN; Rita Overcash, MS,
RNC; Andrea Potteiger, BSN, RN,
CNAA-BC; Rosemary Walmer, RN:
Implementation of a Nurse Manager
Peer Review Process, Poster; The 11th
National Magnet Conference, October
3-5, 2007, Atlanta, GA
Sarah Harne-Britner, MS, CNS:
Scaling New Heights to Promote a
Culture of Evidence-based Practice and
Research, Poster; The 11th National
Magnet Conference, October 3-5,
2007, Atlanta, GA
Marianne Allen, RN-C, MN: When
the Beginning of Life is the End of Life:
Establishing Perinatal Bereavement
Services after Hospital Merger, Poster;
The 11th National Magnet Conference,
October 3-5, 2007, Atlanta, GA
Marianne Allen, CNS; Mary Ann
Clement, CNS; Kim Fowler, CNS; and
Sarah Harne-Britner, CNS: Improving
Hand Hygiene Adherence Among
Healthcare Providers, Poster; 2007
Medical Education Day
Kim Fowler, CNS; Sarah Harne-
Britner, CNS: Improving Hand
Hygiene Adherence Among Healthcare
Providers; National Association of
Clinical Nurse Specialists Annual
Conference, Podium; March 2007,
Phoenix, AZ
Kim Fowler, CNS: Heart Failure
Champion Role on a Medical Telemetry
Unit, Poster; PHS Nursing Research
Conference and Medical Education
Day, April 2007
Kim Fenstermacher, MS, CRNP;
Pam Neubaum, CAP: Time Saving
Strategies for Writing and Organizing
Your Magnet Document, Podium; The
11th National Magnet Conference,
October 3-5, 2007, Atlanta, GA
Brenda Cox, RN: Code Stemi;
Presentation; Regional Manager
Seminar held April 20, 2007 at Felicita.
Trish Bennett, CNS; Melanie Duffy,
CNS: CNS Involvement with the
Development of a Rapid Response
Team, Poster; National CNS
Conference
Sarah Harne-Britner, CNS; Kim
Fowler, CNS; Trish Bennett, CNS:
Promoting EBP: The Role of Software
Support, Podium; 12th Annual
Challenges in Critical Care, Hershey,
PA, August, 2007
Arletta Molnar, BSN, RN: Evidencebased
Guidelines for Care of the
Poisoned Patient, Podium; Trends in
Critical Care Nursing Conference, Fall
2007
Joanne Konick-McMahan, MSN, RN:
Evidence-based Guidelines for Drug
Overdose Management, Podium;
Review Sessions for AACN Certification
Exam (Hematology/Immunology, Renal,
Endocrine), Trends in Critical Care
Nursing, Fall 2007
Sue Tyson, ICU Community:
“Climbing Mountains or Hanging
from the Edge: Adventures in Staff
Development,” Poster; Quest
Conference, Ohio
Babette Kellogg, RN, BSN, CCM:
Safely Meeting the Needs of the
Bariatric Population, Poster; National
Association of Bariatric Nurses Annual
Conference
Jean McDonald RN, BSN, CCM:
Proactive Case Management Improves
AMI Core Measures, Poster; Case
Management Society of America
Annual Conference
Vicki Marth RN, MS, CCM,
Manager, Outcomes Management
and Terri Bakowicz, RN, BSN,
Clinical Documentation Specialist:
Improving Physician Documentation:
A Collaborative Approach, Poster;
Case Management Society of America
Annual Conference
Tammy DiScuillio RN, BSN: A
Comparison in Open Heart Patient
Outcomes Based on Preoperative
Preparation Intervention, Poster;
Medical Education Day
Vicki Marth RN, MS, CCM, Terri
Bakowicz RN, MS, Jackie Coyle RN,
Jill Dressler RN, BSN, Kathy Wagner
RN, BSN and Lori DiAgostino
RN, BSN: Clinical Documentation
Specialists: An Interdisciplinary
Approach to a Successful Clinical
Documentation Improvement Program,
Poster; American Health Information
Management Association Annual
Conference
Kathryn Scofield RN, MPA, CCM:
“Practical Strategies for the Non-
Compliant Patient,” September 27,
2007 System Grand Rounds
Cynthia Howe, RN, CPAN:
“Malignant Hyperthermia,” SCPAPAN
Conference, Fall 2007
Karen Zimmerman, SDI, Diane Geise,
CRNA, Susan Comp, Director and
Sheree Carter, RN: presented a half
day session on implementing shared
governance in the OR setting for nurses
at Reading Hospital
Karen Zimmerman, SDI,
Perianesthesia, Harrisburg Campus:
“Evidence-Based Practice: Post
Operative Nausea and Vomiting,”
Podium; 2007 PHS Nursing Research
Conference
Kelly Soule MSN, Madeline Sica, BS,
RN and Patty Novak, RN: “Sharedcare
Approach to Heart Failure
Management,” Podium; American
Association of Heart Failure Nurses,
June 2007, San Diego, CA
Mary Beth Mangol, RN and Melissa
Stolley, WOCN: Poster at the WOCN
Society Annual Conference, June 2007,
Salt Lake City, Utah
Susan Comp, Diane
Geise, and Karen
Zimmerman
page 22 page 23
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Cathi Green, RN
(1977)
What I love about nursing is
that I always tried to make
my patients laugh. That
made my day when I could
see the tension leaving
their eyes. The eyes are the
window to the soul and told
the whole story.
Pearl of
Wisdom:
“Go with your gut. If it
doesn’t feel right, then
it isn’t.” I have been so
relieved in so many different
aspects of nursing that I
went with my gut. The book
learning is all well and good
but you have to know your
patient and evaluate the
entire package and not just
the disease.
Professional Development
Congratulations
to the following
nurses for
advancing their
education.
Degrees
Conferred
Kristina Amerman: BSN, Misericordia
Erin Billbrough: ADN, HACC
Thomas Blazi: ADN, HACC
Stacey Brehm: ADN, HACC
Julie Brown: ADN, HACC
Karen Burrell: BSN, Eastern University
Jamie Chapman: ADN, HACC
Lindsey Cummings: BSN, York College
of Pennsylvania
Nicole Fleisher: BSN, Eastern
University
Lorena Garcia: ADN, HACC
Mary Beth Heller: MS in Nursing,
Walden University
Lindsay Imes: ADN, HACC
Amanda Kemmerer: ADN, HACC
Luis Lara: BSN, Eastern University
Kara Lego: ADN, HACC
Angie Lenker: Diploma, Reading
Hospital School of Nursing
Michele Mellot: BSN, Eastern
University
Arletta Molnar: BSN, University of
Phoenix
Laura O’Connell: ADN, HACC
Jennifer Philson: ADN, HACC
Gina Recce: ADN, HACC
Kim Shappell, BS in Nursing, Penn
State
Nancy Spangenberg: ADN, HACC
Santina Sperling: BSN, Misericordia
Elizabeth Swift: ADN, HACC
Tabitha Walker: ADN, HACC
Laurie Whitmyer: BSN, York College
of Pennsylvania
Becky Zook: MS in Workforce
Education, Penn State
New Certifications
Medical Surgical
Certification
Pamela Betz
Kelli Buzzard
David Cambarijan
Beth Ann Coleman
Mayeen David
Jerome David
Kathryn Dietz
Ruth Flynn
Jocelyn Hershock
Tara Kohn
Clarissa Leoncio
Melinda Metzger
Angela Saunders
Jennifer Shuey
Judilyn Silot
Perioperative
Nursing (CNOR)
Michael Carroll
Erine Clapper
Matthew Cox
Christine Foreman
Brian Lockette
Jenny McAneny
Sherry Mauch
Certified Ambulatory
Perianesthesia
Nursing (CAPA)
Sylvia Beard
Laura Beth Cameron
Susan Kostelac
Cathy Wertz
Barbara Yarosh
CPAN
SueAnne Shaver-Knowlton
CCRN
Erica Leber-Burnham
Critical Care-Adult
(CCRN1)
Catherine Phelan
Cardio/Vascular
Certification
Cheri Bechtel
Jennifer Mackey
Mary Beth Mangol
Patricia Mitchell
Patty Novak
Madeline Sica
Progressive Care
Certified Nurse
Tiffany Boyd
Arletta Molnar
Case Management
Certification
Babette Kellogg
Mary Manduchi
Vicki Marth
Jean McDonald
Katie Scofield
Orthopedic Nursing
Certification
Karen Fake
Certified
Neuroscience
Registered Nurse
(CNRN)
Dawn Moyer
In-Patient Obstetrics
Karen Ilgenfritz
Jennifer Littman
Oncology Nursing
Roxann Conrad
Carol Custer
Susan Sands
Certified Parish
Nursing
Theresa Sellers
Wound, Ostomy,
Continence Nursing
(WOCN)
Marge Matthews
Maternal Newborn
Nursing (RNC)
Jacqueline Hall
Hospice/Palliative
Care (CHPN)
Gwendolyn Snead
K. Beth Bianchi,
RN; M 10 (1977)
“The most satisfying aspect
of my nursing career has
been seeing a patient come
into the hospital acutely
ill and be discharged, well
on the way to recovery.
Knowing that I have in some
way helped in this process
is satisfying and rewarding.
I definitely chose the right
profession and can’t think of
anything else I would rather
have done.”
Pearl of
Wisdom:
Be committed and
love what you do.
page 24 page 25
PH_NursingAR07_RWe.indd 24-25
10/2/08 2:11:25 PM

Deborah Rodkey,
RN, ED CGH
(1974)
The most satisfying part of
my career is working with
people. I love the patient
care aspect and that is why
I have remained a staff
nurse for all of these years.
Pearl of
Wisdom:
“Nurses should never be
afraid to ask a question. It’s
always better to ask.”
Career Development Pathway
The Career
Development Pathway
at PinnacleHealth
provides a means for
bedside nurses to
advance professionally
as they demonstrate clinical
excellence and a commitment
to professional development.
Nurses on the CDP must renew
their status every three years.
Congratulations to the newest
members on the CDP and to all
who have successfully renewed
their CDP status.
2003
Patrice Cook HBG OR 3
Tina Daniels NICU 3 to 4
Deb Heisey CVOR 3 to 4
Becky Hernandez L&D 3
Christine Miller NICU 3 to 4
Karen Szukalski CVOR 4
Sharon Truitt CTICU 3
2004
Cathy Druckenmiller MSICU 4
Yvonka Hoover L&D 3 to 4
Becky Pontius MSICU 3
2005
Nicole Barca M6 3
Ginger Cassatt N10 3
Ellen Eby MSICU 3
Priscilla Evans NICU 3
Bonnie Gasbarre M6 3
Shelly Heinbaugh CGOH ER 3 to 4
Sue Silberman CTPO 3
Jean Zimmerman CTPO 3
2006
Sandy Boswell 3
Barb Hammar CTICU 3
Linda Hockenberry CINT 3
Glenn Laverty CGOH ER 3
Jackie Matter CGOH ER 3
Cindy Zimmerman Float Pool 3
2007
Tina Digrugilliers Main 5, Main 10 3
Barb Knaub CTICU 4
Ann Wolf MSICU 3
Cynthia Rumpf-Dooley CGOH PACU 3
Kara Witmer CTICU 3
Margaret McCall CGOH ER 3
Amy Lesher MSICU 3
Crystal Miller MSICU 3
Nurses With 30 Years of
Service or More
Bonnie Strahl
Joan Mary Motter
Karen Haag
Joyce Mckelvey
Sally Ann Schell
Louise Gossage
Genevieve Oravic
Shirley Kreamer
Linda Blosser
Joan George
Beverly Lynch
Dianne Louise Daily
Faye Koons
Denise May Shuler
Lenny Jo Baumbaugh
Mary Ellen Martindale
Sandra Gray
Susan Bannon
Linda Haldeman
Lois Campbell
Vickie Mcbride
Donna Bender Roller
Kathleen Boyer
Pauline Pechart
Anna Bitner
Christine Miller
Karen Yousefian
Sylvia Blazina
Linda Blough
Joyce Hocker
Margaret Sheets
Bonnie Peffer
Sandra Dinger
Martha Fisher
Jane Wentz
Cynthia Hossman
Patricia Lego
Dorothy Engle
Colleen Hoover
Brenda Cox
Patricia Ann Kauffman
Cynthia Kimmel
Frances Heishman
Nancy Swingler
Sue Anne Shaver-
Knowlton
Debora Black
Judy Bostdorf
Barbara Parsons
Sarah Bensinger
Deborah Rodkey
Ruth Ann Musser
Joan Webb
Rethea Deveney
Margaret Barbagello
Shelley Lebo
Susan Langan
Diana Berkstresser
Linda Houseal
Diane Geise
Constance Marencic
Nancy Baker
Margaret Hartwell
Mary Anne Fasick
Susan Saylor
Diane Kotewicz Ceja
Shirley Klinger
Elizabeth Ann Baum
Nancy Ciarrocca
Patricia Koons
Yvonne Henninger
Sheree Weaver
Kerry Blasenak
Cynthia Deitrich
Rayna Craig
Donna Blessing
Linda Gibbins
Sharon Camasi
J Kaye Linde
Debra Kepner
Janet March
Sharon Smith
Lynn Cassel
Heidi Matter
Cathi Jo Green
Roxanne Renee
Rickenbach
Patricia Lowery
Gayle Gummo
Dawn Artz
Vicki Duffin
Phyllis Chisolm
Theodora Maxwell
Mary Knackstedt
K Beth Bianchi
Sandra Marx
Linda Rae Reichenbach
Annamarie Gromotskie
Suzanne Lyter
Gina Nell
Susan Smith
Janet Louise Utter
Janis Berkheiser
Debra Buffington
Carol Yingst
Beverly Jane Flowers
Nancy Baker,
RN, 2N/S CGH
(1975)
Pearl of
Wisdom:
“No matter how bad your
day has been, it is all worth
it at the end when you hear
‘thank you for taking care of
me’ from the patient.”
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