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2016 Best Nursing Team Runner-Up
practices for reducing
the potential loss of milk;
advocacy for appropriate
breast pumps outside the
hospital (including at our
local Ronald McDonald
House); the use of colostrum
for oral care; providing
meals for lactating
mothers; equipment
and furniture upgrades;
a milk management system
(which is managed
and monitored weekly by
a small team of nurses);
and the use of a breast
milk bar-coding system,
which is considered the
“gold standard” for patient
safety.
Implementation of
our projects is guided by
monthly data, initially
using estimated volumes of breast milk
fed, with chart review of about half of the
monthly discharges.
We then changed our approach to use
data reflecting the percentages of patients
discharged on breast milk.
Data assessment has confirmed that
the efforts of our NICU nursing team are
worthwhile: Our statistics validate that
breastfeeding and breast milk feeding are
a high priority in our NICU.
Initial data shows a 1,000% increase in
volumes of mothers’ milk fed to infants
over a period of 18 months.
We’ve also found that the mean percentage
of patients who had been admitted to
our NICU at less than 1 week of age and
were discharged on breast milk between
the third quarter of 2011 and the fourth
quarter of 2013 was 62%.
Recent monthly reports show the mean
through the beginning of the third quarter
of 2016 is 80%, which represents an 18%
increase! These findings demonstrate that
the establishment of a strong breast milk
culture by an educated team of nurses can
indeed have a significant impact on quality
of care.
We are thrilled that this initiative has
contributed to empowering our community’s
families while in our care.
As an added benefit, the monthly data
provide feedback to our team that a nursing-led
patient care project can improve
our standing in national NICU rankings.
We have found this success to be very
motivating for all of us. n
Careers. Inspired.
Reimagine how you see your nursing career.
At Stamford Health, taking care of people means providing the absolute finest
care and that extends past our patients to our employees as well. Through the
growth, development, and evaluation of the Shared Governance model and
the work of our nursing councils, our nurses are proud that they can and do
have an impact on patient care.
Critical Care & Step Down Staff Nurses
Flexible & Night Shifts
We’re seeking BSNs (or enrollees with an established completion date) with
3 years of progressive med/surg experience. The ability to read cardiac rhythm
strips, and telemetry or step-down experience preferred; required for ICU.
BCLS required; ACLS preferred.
ICU Clinical Coordinator
Night Shift
We’re seeking a BSN with a minimum of 3 years of ICU experience. Cardiac
experience highly preferred. Charge nurse experience, and CCRN or AACN
ECCO also preferred. BCLS and ACLS required.
Stamford Health also recognizes the importance of your financial health and
overall well-being. We’re offering a $10,000 sign-on bonus, competitive salary
and generous shift differentials; comprehensive, low cost health insurance
plans available day one; wellness programs; 26 PTO days; tax deferred annuity
and (403b) pension plan; rich tuition reimbursement; professional clinical
ladder with varying levels of additional compensation; high acuity care and
level of autonomy; free on-site parking and train station shuttle; and much more!
Qualified candidates only, please forward your resume to Sarah Devine, RN,
Nurse Recruitment and Retention Manager at: sdevine@stamhealth.org.
For more information, please visit StamfordHealth.org. EOE M/F/D/V
Visit Our Website for More!
WE HAVE dedicated an entire section of
our site to National Nurses Week 2016 and
our Best Nursing Team contest! Visit www.
advanceweb.com/Nurses/NursesWeek today.
www.advanceweb.com/Nurses n MAY 2016 n ADVANCE FOR NURSES 15