Jana Stonestreet, PhD RN
Chief Nursing Executive - MHS

The Edsel automobile was designed by engineers based on what they wanted in a car. Potential customers were not consulted. Consequently, the Edsel died a quick death because it was a product no one wanted. The story of the Mustang is very different. Customers were consulted about what they wanted in a car. The success of the Mustang is legendary. We want MHS nursing to be the Mustang, not the Edsel, of our industry. We need to know what our patients want and what they feel they need. 

This week, I have received numerous compliments about nursing care in our hospitals. We have a right to be proud of our accomplishments but we can’t stop there. On an ongoing basis we need to ask ourselves, “What do our patients want?’ and What do our patients need?” We need to evaluate ourselves based on what it is that people expect from hospitalization and from their nursing care. We will only be able to fully meet our goals if we are tuned in to becoming the Mustang of our industry, and don’t fall into the trap of becoming an Edsel. 

Nurses Promote Stroke Awareness
Janean Gardner, MSN, RN
Neuroscience CNS

Every year the incidence of stroke rises as the general population ages and suffers the consequences of years of smoking, drinking, poor dietary habits and stress. However, with the advent of newer medical technology and quicker response efforts, the outcome of stroke does not have to be catastrophic. 

Recently, several polls have found that the majority of individuals in our community are unable to identify warning signs/symptoms of acute stroke and many believe that “stroke’ refers to ‘heart attack”. Many do not even consider stroke to be an emergency. In response to such findings, community outreach programs have conducted activities to enhance stroke awareness at local malls and other community sites. An annual “Stroke Awareness Day”, usually held in May, is one such attempt to provide the San Antonio community with information about strokes. 

This year, Methodist Healthcare joined forces with the American Heart Asso­ciation to coordinate and sponsor the Stroke Awareness Day activities. This is the third year that MHS has participated in this community outreach program. Eight additional health care and professional nursing organizations also participated. 

At the event this year, more than 700 individuals received stroke education and risk factor screening. Nurses from MHS comprised a majority of the volunteers who donated their time to provide edu­cation and screening services. MHS’s primary sites were Crossroads Mall and the Metropolitan Family Resource Center. Nurses from MHS also assisted organizations at locations throughout the city that were in need of nurse volunteers. 

The primary purpose of Stroke Awareness Day is to educate the public about a variety of aspects related to stroke. Below are a few facts we all should be aware of in relation to stroke. 

STROKE FACTS   

Warning signs: dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; sudden, unexplainable, intense headache; weakness, numbness, or paralysis of face, arm, or leg; difficulty speaking or understanding simple statements; sudden blurred or decreased vision in one or both eyes

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States 

Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long term disability in the United States

At all ages, more women die of stroke than men, but morbidity is shared equally by males and females

14 percent of persons who survive a first stroke or TIA will experience a recurrence within 1 year

Most stroke victims do not come to a medical facility within 24 hours of experiencing signs or symptoms of a stroke  

MHS Nurses Attend National Conference  
Pamela Miller, RN IV, C
Special/General Surgery - SWTMH  

HCA -The Healthcare Company, sponsored a Medical / Surgical Nursing Conference this past June and August in Orlando, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada, respectively. Several hundred nursing leaders, educators and staff from HCA facilities across the nation met to explore topics related to risk management; including communication, documentation, and nursing standards of practice.

Jennifer Allan, RN, Clinical Information Systems Coordinator for Nursing Informatics at MHS presented the MHS Meditech documentation system as an example of a nursing risk management best practice. Jennifer noted how MHS has expanded Meditech screens to allow for data collection and reporting and linking of various departments (eg. food and nutrition, pulmonary services, and nursing service) in order to share data and provide consistent documentation. Jennifer’s presentation was well-received and a source of great pride for those of us in attendance. We had not realized how progressive the MHS Meditech system is when compared to other facilities in the HCA network.    

Attendees from MHS appreciated the opportunity to participate in a seminar of such magnitude. The information, ideas and research that were shared were inspiring, as well as enlightening. It is through participation in such endeavors that the nurses of MHS will continue to meet the challenge of providing quality care in these tumultuous times.    

Revised Bonus Program Begins, Weekend Plan Expanded  
 

Effective Sunday, September 17, 2000, the newly revised bonus program for working additional shifts was implemented. This program is a variation of the program in place last year for nurses and unlicensed nursing staff working additional requested shifts. The intent of the program is to reward our own staff for working additional shifts as needed for patient care.  

It was also announced that the RN I LVN/ Surgical Tech weekender program is being expanded throughout MHS nursing units and departments. The weekender position requires working four out of every five weekends a minimum of 24 hours each weekend. Positions are being identified by unit. Those interested should see their nurse manager to find out if any openings will be available on their unit.  

Extreme Service Deserves Recognition  
   

Recently, Methodist Healthcare launched an Extreme Service Award campaign designed to recognize and reward excellent customer service. Extreme Service is the embodiment of going above and beyond the call of duty on behalf of a patient, visitor, fellow employee, physician or anyone else encountered in the course of one’s work.  

All employees of Methodist Healthcare are eligible. Patients or their families, physicians and MHS employees can nominate employees or units for Extreme Service recognition. To nominate someone for Extreme Service, fill out a nomination form (available at each MHS facility) and send it to the Extreme Service Committee via interoffice mail or place it in a specially marked collection box.  

Nowhere within MHS is the opportunity to perform extreme service as abundant as it is in the nursing arena. Look around, notice a co-worker demonstrating extraordinary compassion, a special kindness, or first class care? If so, nominate them so they can receive the recognition they deserve. Better yet, give someone a compelling reason to nominate you.  

Gastroenterology Nursing - CGRN  
Certifying Board of Gastroenterology Nurses & Associates  
www.cbgna.org  

Inpatient Obstetric Room Nursing-RNC  
Low Risk Neonatal Nursing-RNC  
Maternal Newborn Nursing-RN  
Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing-RNC  
National Certification Corp. for the Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing Specialties  
www.nccnet.org  

Intravenous Nursing - CRNI  
Intravenous Nurses Certification Corp.  
www.insl.org  

Post Anesthesia Nursing -CPAN  
Ambulatory Perianesthesia Nursing - CAPA  
American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification  
www.cpancapa.org  

This Newsletter is a publication of Methodist Healthcare System Nursing Department.  All Nursing Department employees are welcome to submit articles related to nursing, locally or nationally.  The Editorial Board has the final decision on submissions, including editing and condensing.  Please submit material (preferably on disk or though Meditech or Outlook) to any member of the Editorial Board or directly to Sharon Garza, 5 West, MSTH.

Jana S. Stonestreet, PhD, RN Chief Nursing Executive MHS Sharon F. Garza, RN - MSTH Editor-in-Chief Editorial Board: Orna Bailey, RN - MCH Kathy Black, Admin. Assistant Deborah Bodin, RN - SWTMH Pat Cornett, Ed.D., RN - MHS Catherine Dikcis, Medical Librarian Diane Ferguson, RN - NEMH Lucy Gabrovic, RN - MCH Linda Iruegas, LVN - MMH Debbie Nichols, RN, - SWTMH Pam Putnam, RN - MSTH Cynthia Vavala, RN - OPSC Graphic Artists: David Reyna Jason Rickman