Dr. Maggie McClure is petite but with a large presence. McClure, one of the founders of Magnet and former Chief Nursing Officer at NYU Medical Center, was the guest of honor at one of the first events to kick off Nurses Week 2014. She spoke to a group of nursing leaders giving an inspirational speech about how Magnet was first established. Magnet is a program which recognizes health care organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Texas Children’s is among the less than 10 percent of hospitals nationwide designated as Magnet facilities.
“When you have great nurses, you have great outcomes,” said McClure. “I don’t know an outcome that is not nursing-related.”
McClure spoke to the heart of nursing and brought laughter to the audience as she shared her experience as a nurse leader in the 70s when there was a shortage of nurses. For McClure, what is now the Magnet program, started out as research to decide what determined nurse retention. McClure’s story is one of collaboration. With the help of three other nurse leaders across the nation, findings were published as a learning experience for all nursing organizations.
Click here to jump to the photo gallery from Nurses Week 2014 below
Celebrations
The speech by McClure was just the beginning of a week of events and activities. Throughout the week, Chief Nursing Office Lori Armstrong made special stops to different units with treats to show her appreciation for all of the hard work by the incredible team of 2,500 nurses. Nurses were treated to a special chair massage, received a blessing of the hands and held a presentation of posters showing the work they’ve done over the last 365 days.
“It’s my goal that by the end of the week, you know how special you are,” Armstrong said, addressing a group of nurses.
Houston Chronicle Salute to Nurses honorees
Among the week’s celebrations included three award ceremonies. The Houston Chronicle Salute to Nurses awarded Janet Treadwell from Texas Children’s Health Plan, as one of the top 10 nurses of 2014. Another 10 nurses were honored in the top 100 including Adrian McKinney, Sandy Heartwell, Cynthia Kennedy, Adrienne Kocher, Patricia Bondurant, Raymund Benigay, Cristina Hernandez, Jennifer Pearson, Jennifer Lusk and Jeremy Thierry.
Texas Children’s Nursing Excellence Award recipients
The second annual Texas Children’s Nursing Excellence Awards Luncheon honored nurses who go above and beyond on a daily basis to make a difference in the lives of our patients. Armstrong opened the awards ceremony which included remarks by President and CEO Mark A. Wallace and Physician-in-Chief Dr. Mark W. Kline as well as closing remarks by Executive Vice President Susan MacDonald.
The honors went to:
Mary Pfeffer – rookie
Danielle Gregory – staff nurse
Brenda Balayut – preceptor
Lauren McCracken – certified nurse
Dr. Nancy Hurst – nurse researcher
Deitra Brown – nurse leader
Julie Kuzin – advanced practice nurse
Forensic Nursing Team – nursing team of the year
Dr. Tony Mott – friend of nursing
The week concluded with a Daisy Award presentation and a statue dedication in front of the Children’s Chapel in West Tower. The Daisy Award for Extraordinary Nurses is awarded each month to nurses based on nominations by patient families or peers. The latest recipient of the Daisy Award is Elise Chabot, 15 West Tower.
Mary Pfeffer, BSN, RN ~ Rookie
Mary Pfeffer is a 2012 Magna cum Laude graduate of the William F. Connell School of Nursing. She is a member of the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Mary is a staff nurse on 14WT, our Pulmonary Adolescent unit. Although she is relatively new to the nursing profession, Mary has distinguished herself as a leader. She is well-known for constantly seeking out new information and ways to better equip herself to deliver the highest quality care possible to her patients and their families. For example, when new initiatives are discussed, Mary frequently volunteers to take an active part in the new process. Despite being a new nurse, Mary is committed to the nursing profession – and takes the responsibility of being a nurse very seriously. For example, she was recently the first responder to an auto-pedestrian accident. She immediately jumped out of her car, began CPR and instructed others who arrived on appropriate steps for support. She stayed with the injured man until EMS arrived to assume care. In the words of Mary’s manager, “Mary’s compassionate touch, positive demeanor, and family engagement in care make her a tremendous asset to the patients and families she cares for.”
Brenda Balayut, BSN, RN ~ Preceptor
Brenda attended nursing school in Pampanga, Philippines. She began working at Texas Children’s in 2009 on 14WT, our Pulmonary Adolescent unit. Brenda takes pride in being a life-long learner – she is BSN prepared and is currently working towards obtaining her CPN certification. Brenda has been described as a “natural nurturer to novice nurses.” Her background of having worked as a clinical instructor in the Philippines has contributed to her success as a preceptor. In the words of one of her orientees, “As a graduate nurse, I was thrilled yet nervous to begin my nursing career at Texas Children’s, and Brenda helped me confidently transition into my role as an RN. During my orientation time, Brenda encouraged me as I faced challenges and helped in still qualities in me that I will continue demonstrate throughout my nursing career.”
Lauren McCracken, BSN, RN, CCRN ~ Certified
Lauren began working as a staff nurse in our PICU in 2005. She is certified by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She has been a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses since 2005. Lauren became a part of the PICU Transport Team in 2010. As part of the team, she transports patients from 23 weeks gestation to adults from outlying hospitals to our Intensive Care Units. In the words of Dr. Graff, “Lauren embodies the best professional values of a staff nurse. The rigorous, highly pressured transport environment requires calm, deliberate critical thinking, immediate problem solving and a willingness to ‘go the extra mile.’ Lauren excels as a transport provider in all these aspects.”
Nancy Hurst PhD, RN, IBCLC ~ Nurse Researcher
Nancy began her career at Texas Children’s at 1984 as a lactation consultant. She currently serves as the director of Women’s Support Services – she has been in that role since 2010. Nancy is well known for having a longstanding program of research in lactation and breastfeeding the preterm neonate. She is currently the Principal Investigator on a study entitled, ‘Effects of freezing and thawing cycles and storage on the quality of human milk.” Dr. Steven Abrams noted that, “with Nancy’s effort Texas Children’s Hospital is recognized throughout the country and even in other countries as a leader in using human milk to help infants thrive and survive preterm birth or other critical illnesses.”
Forensic Nursing ~ Nursing Team
The forensic team is comprised of nurses that primarily work in the emergency center conducting medical forensic exams for sexual assault cases. At the heart of the forensic nursing team is an undeniable drive to provide quality healthcare to victims of child abuse. Each member of the team reports that their motivation to work in this highly specific and somewhat challenging role is to provide remarkable, compassionate, specialized care for patients and families enduring the unimaginable trauma of sexual abuse. In the words of social work colleague John Bickel, “Having worked with this team for several years, I am constantly amazed by their thoughtfulness, caring and authenticity with these children. We can’t ‘fix’ these children, but we can give them a new and happier ‘normal.’”
Dr. Tony Mott ~ Friend of Nursing
Dr. Tony Mott is a cardiologist and Medical Director of 15WT. Dr. Mott is well regarded for his collaborative leadership style and support of nursing. He takes an active part in the hiring of new nurses on 15WT – by sitting in on interviews or sending a personally emailing the candidate a welcome note of support and partnership. During daily unit rounds he takes the time to assess the nursing workload and advocates alongside nurse leaders to meet bedside nurse, patient and family needs. Dr. Mott always includes nurses in patient care discussions and consistently communicates to nurses how valuable their insight is. One of Dr. Mott’s supporters commented, “Dr. Mott has brought an era of hope and respect that has been pivotal in changing our culture and clinical knowledge on 15WT. He is not only academically brilliant; he is compassionate, understanding, and genuine. His admiration and respect for our profession leaves me speechless.”
Danielle Gregory, BSN, RN, CNRN ~ Staff Nurse
Danielle is a 2011 graduate of the UT Health Science Center at Houston School of Nursing, where she was on the Dean’s List and also the recipient of the Ann Poage Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement and Leadership. She is a certified neuroscience nurse and member of the Society of Pediatric Nurses. She is a staff nurse on 10WT – where she has taken on several projects and roles. For example, she is a member of the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) core team, a member of the unit quality practice committee (UQPC) and also serves as a preceptor for new nurses. Danielle has been described as someone that, “embodies perfection as a nurse and colleague. She is a loving, caring individual who is committed to her patients and peers. Her passion is evident in each of the tasks she performs and each of the lives she touches.”
Deitra Brown, MHA, RN, CCRN ~ Nurse Leader
Deitra has served as the nurse manager of the CVICU since 2010. She is certified critical care nurse and a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN). Last fall she was elected as the AACN Houston Gulf Coast Chapter Secretary – elect. Deitra serves as the director of Camp Pump it Up, and collaborates with staff from various departments to coordinate a safe and fun weekend camp for cardiac patients and their siblings. Deitra makes every effort to “lead by example” in how she interacts with other departments, patients and families, staff and physicians. In the words of Dr. Tume, “She has shown that in times of stress in the unit one is able to encourage constructive attitude and enable others to overcome system’s challenges. She is well liked and respected by our nursing and physician team.”
Julie Kuzin ~ Advanced Practice
Julie is a pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) with the Cardiology service. Julie’s colleagues describe her as being “relentless about professional advancement, scholarly endeavors and involvement in professional organizations.” She is well-known for her integrity, ethical behavior, extraordinary teaching skills and her ability to maintain focus on ‘priority number one’ – providing outstanding patient and family centered care. Julie is an active member of the Houston chapter of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners – and serves as their legislative chair. Julie’s newest venture includes a recent appointment as recurrent faculty at Texas Tech School of Nursing where she is developing the curriculum for the new acute care PNP program.
Janet Treadwell, RN, director of care coordination at Texas Children’s Health Plan.
Nominated by fellow nurses Gail Bean, RN; Marie Jackson, RN; and Colleen Carpenter, RN, BSN
Believe it or not, Janet Treadwell’s introduction to nursing came while she was clowning around.
“My father was a member of one of the Shiners Clown Patrol Units and they regularly entertained in their clown suits while children and their parents were waiting,” Treadwell said. “When I was in fifth grade, my mother made me a clown costume so I could go with my father and entertain.
“I could see the kids smile and see them become engaged, not so scared as they were, and I decided then I wanted to be a nurse. Later, in high school, I traded my clown suit for a Candy Striper uniform and after I graduated, attended DePaul Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, earning my associate degree in nursing in 1975. My family has always been compassionate toward others, and I was fortunate to have this role model of doing unto others,” she said, and although her responsibilities as director of care coordination focus on the basics and building relationships, she continues to see the value of doing unto others.
A believer in lifelong learning, Treadwell, originally a diploma grad, has returned to the classroom numerous times. After earning a BSN, she went on to complete a master’s degree in community health nursing from Southern Illinois University. Then, changing from an acute care focus to a career using her nursing skills in the area of managed care, she pursued a PhD in business. These degrees were all accomplished while working full time, raising a family and being active in community activities.
In the midst of obtaining the degrees, Treadwell has achieved certification in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), as an Accredited Case Manager (ACM), Certified Care Manager (CCM), Certified Managed Healthcare Nurse (CMCN) and Lean Six Sigma Greenbelt (LSSGB).
She is now completing her doctorate in nursing practice. Her research area – intercollaborative nursing – connects the dots between relationships, education, outreach and support for chronic disease and the Affordable Care Act.
But her academic accomplishments are only one facet of this multifaceted, multitasking nursing professional.
As one nominator described her:
“Janet Treadwell has a passion for nursing, believing it is a profession where a person should never become bored. Janet’s strengths are in the areas of development – of both people and programs.”
In another nomination:
“Janet is innovative, collaborative and in the forefront of adopting new approaches to the health plan. She is a leader in care management and ahead of most areas of the country in implementing programs to positively impact the lives of those patients served by our health plan.”
Another colleague said:
“Janet is exceptional in her work. Janet influences all people she touches to excel beyond their potential and she is one of the most caring and compassionate people I know.”
In her experience, the greatest challenge in nursing today is the high level of change.
“Because change comes so rapidly and so often, collaboration and being flexible (nurses historically have been the most flexible) is essential,” she said. “I’ll also say the people going into nursing are great multitaskers and are at their best, connecting patients with facilities with entities in the community. Of course, juggling those things is always a challenge, so in addition to our clinical knowledge, there’s that psycho-social knowledge we also must apply.”
Treadwell remembered a time, earlier in her career, when she was working on a geriatric medical unit in a small hospital.
“I always had the sense that people were not merely ‘diagnoses,’ but people with families and a past and such rich stories to tell. It was during that time I mastered the skill of considering people within the whole context of who they are,” she said, “and there was more time to listen. Through it all, those patients could tell you were treating them with caring, compassion and respect, as well as doing what you needed to do in giving them treatment.”
