April/May Endo Allstars

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First Row Left-Right: Amanda Bullock, NAI; Donna Bowling, RN; Ashley Welch, RN; Maryann Petrosky, Nurse Manger Second Row: Christin McKellar, RN; Donna Davis, ST; Robin Zaborowski, HUC Third Row: Wendy Bowes, RN; Christi Davis, ST; Carmela Hammie, ST Fourth Row: Angie Wilson, RN; Minda Harris, RN; Amy Canady, RN Fifth Row: Gary O’Briant, RN; Maureen Pace, RN; Billie Ann Wilkins, RN Sixth Row: Ashley Neville, RN; Rachel Rochelo, RN, Susan Wilson, RN; Jacob McIntyre, ST; Hope Mangum, Director.

The Endoscopy Services department at Durham Regional Hospital recently received the "Hallmarks of Healthy Workplaces" award from the North Carolina Nurses Association (NCNA). According to the NCNA, the Hallmarks of Healthy Workplaces program is designed to recognize exceptional workplaces for nurses and to help nurses, healthcare providers and administrators create workplaces in which communication flows freely and nurses contribute actively to facility governance. Recognizing registered nurses is a way to promote collegiality and collaboration with physicians, which optimizes patient care.

"We are so pleased that Durham Regional’s Endoscopy Services has been recognized as an exceptional workplace," says Debra Hernandez, MHA, RN, FACHE, chief nursing and patient care services officer. "It is an honor to work with nurses who exemplify a strong commitment to teamwork and integrity while providing excellent customer service with passion and dedication."

According to surveyors, the endoscopy services staff "collaborates well with each other as well as with other departments and is also energetic, team-oriented and supportive of each other."

Hallmarks Recognition is based on three basic criteria: support of nursing professional development, system support for nurses to provide quality service and integration of nursing into operations and governance.

Endoscopy Services has many other accolades that make them "all stars." Their "Work Culture Survey" scores were among the highest in the nation. The survey measures the work culture within each department and the hospital as a whole, and is an important part of overall efforts to measure performance and determine progress in establishing a patient-centered culture. The unit also exceeded their patient satisfaction score goals for fiscal year 2007.

Over the past two years, three nurses have received the "Friends of Nursing" award. Friends of Nursing is an endowed program at Duke University Health System that recognizes and rewards nurses who exemplify nursing excellence each year. Nurses are nominated by patients, families, visitors or by other nurses or colleagues in the health professions.

These nurses value education and advancement as well; almost half the department’s nurses have advanced in the clinical ladder during the past three years. In addition, Endoscopy Services had the first surgical technologist at DRH to advance to Surgical Technologist IV in the Clinical Ladder Program.

The department is currently working to develop a regional Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates Workshop in 2008. The team plans to hold a certification preparation class at DRH in the spring. This would serve members in the regional division who are interested in obtaining certification.

The endo team is active in the community through their annual colon cancer awareness campaign in both English and Spanish during the month of March.

"Day in and day out, our team provides compassionate and quality care to our patients," says Maryann Petrosky, RN, nurse manager, Endoscopy Services. "We pride ourselves on our teamwork and ability to maintain a sense of humor."

Byrne Medical, Inc., salutes the Endoscopy Services department at Durham Regional 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.

There’s no secret to getting your team on the cover as All-Stars — just submit a nomination! Visit www.endonurse.com/allstar.html and nominate your team, then submit a high-resolution photo of at least 300 dpi (at full size) to kdix@vpico.com .

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