North Carolina Nurses Make Patients Feel Like Stars

The gastroenterology unit at Lenoir Memorial Hospital in Kinston, N.C., are an extraordinary bunch. The hospital’s services are evaluated by Press Ganey, and the group recently received recognition for being in the top 4 percent in the nation (among surveyed hospitals) for the April/May/June 2005 quarter.

“We attribute this recognition to the fact we strive daily to meet each patient’s needs and individualize their care accordingly in a teamwork-filled atmosphere,” says lead nurse Joyce Epps, RN, BSN, CGRN. “This teamwork is recognized and commented on daily by our patients. We also strive to make each patient feel at ease by expressing our care and concern for them and their families.”

The nurses strive to promote colon cancer awareness as well. Epps says, “In March 2005, we were interviewed by the local TV station and stressed the importance of screening. The mayor of Kinston also declared March 2005 as Colon Cancer Awareness Month. We distributed 150 Buddy Bracelets to patients having colonoscopies in March, and we hold quarterly colorectal screenings in which we distribute free Colo-Care Kits to participants.”

The endoscopy nurses in this unit had a particularly interesting use for EndoNurse magazine last year, Epps reports. “I frequently use the articles for our monthly staff education,” she says. “I had used an article on methemoglobinemia some time in the past when it was first published (April/May 2003) because it caught my attention.

"One day, a patient presented for an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with stent placement. The procedure went well. The patient’s oxygen saturation, however, on four liters of oxygen, remained low postprocedure. The patient was alert and talkative, but due to the low sat, we reversed the Versed® with Romazicon® with no change in his oxygen saturations.

"His color was becoming increasingly cyanotic. The pulmonologist was consulted and he was questioning what we had given to spray the patient’s throat. We had used HurriCaine® spray. The very minute he questioned us, a light bulb went off and I remembered the article we had read. I went to the Internet and retrieved it because all your articles are online. The availability to access it online made me cherish EndoNurse even more and realize what a great resource it is for the nurse and the delivery of patient care. The patient received the methylene blue and immediate results were noted with oxygen saturation returning to normal.”

Byrne Medical, Inc., salutes the nurses of the gastroenterology unit at Lenoir Memorial Hospital for their hard work and commitment to exemplary patient care. The team will receive a commemorative plaque in celebration of their EndoNurse All-Star recognition.

Front row: Gwen Shivar, RN; Carol Kennedy, RN; Sharon Jones, LPN. Back row: Talesha Perry, gastro tech; Bobbie Sugg, RN; Doris Croom, LPN; Sandra Midyette, RN; April Guy, gastro tech; Joyce Epps, RN, lead nurse.

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