NURSING Spotlight Highlights of Excellence

WINTER 2019 VOLUME 3

Community Involvement Sobha Akkar Czarina Patrico Sobha Akkar, BSN, RN, and her husband City of Hope participated give their time and resources freely to local in the KKLA Pasadena senior citizens in their area. The Akkars teach Health Fair on Jan. 26, them how to cook healthy meals and help them 2019, which was held at the with stress management by teaching them yoga Pasadena First Church of and pranayama deep breathing exercises. They the Nazarene in Pasadena, pick them up and take them , as well California. City of Hope as plan outings for the whole group to go on. booths provided free They have created a beautiful community for prostate cancer screening, senior citizens. Her community service isn’t BMI screening and Czarina Patrico, limited to only her home space because Sobha Akkar, BSN, RN pulmonary function testing. BSN, RN doesn’t compartmentalize her life. She spreads Czarina Patricio, BSN, this gift of healing on the floor with the nurses around her, teaching us RN, volunteered on blood test/blood draw for PSA stress management techniques. Her healing, holistic nature is a part of who testing at the prostate cancer screening booth. It was she is, and she shares that with all those around her. She also works with her an opportunity to represent City of Hope and give husband to support their 20 adopted children and help run an orphanage information on the need for early detection of prostate back in her home county of India. Sobha and her husband travel every cancer through a free health screening. other month to India to visit all of their adopted children, provide them with support physically, emotionally and spiritually. They donate of their Theresa McCormick, BSN, RN, time, money, resources, and give so much love. Sobha truly is such an CNOR, (center) pictured with a plastic exemplary role model of what it means to live in service of others — surgeon (left) and anesthesiologist (right), not only at work, but also in her personal life. both from South Africa — Melanie Sanchez

Theresa McCormick Theresa McCormick, BSN, RN, CNOR, is a wonderful nurse, always dedicated to helping others. Recently, she volunteered to go on a mission to Morocco with Operation Smile as part of a surgical team to treat children with cleft lip and palate. Her kindness and dedication have changed the life of hundreds of children and their families for the better. I want to recognize her because I think nurses like her inspire and motivate the new generation of nurses. — Viviana L. Flores, BSN, RN, CNOR

1 | NURSING SPOTLIGHT CNO CORNER Professional Extraordinary Nurses Development at City of Hope Elizabeth King

Merriam-Webster defines Elizabeth King, FNP, RN, AOCNP, AGN, extraordinary as “going senior manager of Cancer Risk Counseling and beyond what is usual, nurse practitioner, spoke as part of a panel on regular or customary; case presentations and discussion entitled “Nurse Practitioner Perspective” at the American exceptional to a very Society of Clinical Oncology, Annual Meeting marked extent.” Pre-Conference Genetics and Genomics How often have you heard Seminar, 2019. a nurse being praised and their response was “Just doing my job.” Chantal Kerr As oncology nurses at I would like to highlight my colleague, City of Hope, I am not Chantal Kerr for passing her FNP exam in sure that we ourselves April 2019. Chantal is a nurse who has been recognize that what we do working at City of Hope for over 20 years every day is indeed truly and her dedication and compassion are to be admired. As an individual, she is helpful and extraordinary. Yes, we always has a smile for everyone. administer chemotherapy. We reinfuse stem cells. We assist in some of the most complex surgeries. We recognize early — Carmen Santamaria, MSN, RN, PHN signs of side effects and toxicities. But we do it all with heart, compassion, empathy and skill. As International Society of City of Hope nurses, we go above and beyond the practicing of tasks – we hold the patient’s or family’s hand. Geriatric Oncology We maintain a positive attitude; we care for dying patients and send others home, free of disease, on a daily basis. Leana Chien, MSN, NP, Carolina Uranga, Much of what makes nurses here extraordinary may be quite MSN, CNS, OCN, GCN, AGCNS-BC and subtle or even invisible to others. From the book “you’ll Artis Riviera, MHA, were featured online by know you’re a nurse when…” comes a story that I think the International Society of Geriatric Oncology on the use of Bedside Mobility Assessment sort of defines that extraordinary — “you’re the only one on Tool (BMAT) to assess and increase mobility rounds who knows the name of a child’s imaginary friend in hospitalized older adults with cancer. They and that the intern is about to sit on him.” argued that functional decline and loss of muscle mass related to hospitalization could be decreased In this issue of the newsletter, we are highlighting some by increasing mobility. They reviewed electronic of our extraordinary nurses who go above and beyond; medical records and assessed the BMAT, from their volunteerism to excellence in care, from lifelong functional status, mobility (feet ambulated), learning to collaboration, to being there for our patients. length of stay (LOS) and falls in hospitalized older adults with cancer over a 10-month period. In my view all City of Hope nurses are truly extraordinary. Findings from EMR (electronic medical record) data for this period suggests increased mobility, decreased falls, increased functional status at Susan J. Brown, time of discharge, and unchanged LOS. These PhD, MSN, RN are interesting and promising results, suggesting Senior Vice President of that the implementation of BMAT during older Patient Care Services adults’ hospitalization for cancer has a positive and Chief Nursing Officer impact on functional status and decreases falls. Furthermore, the BMAT was found to be a feasible and promising nurse-led intervention to assess patient mobility and keep patients active.

Nursing Spotlight, a new nursing publication, is brought to you by the Nursing Excellence Council. Interested in spotlighting your unit or department achievements? Please contact: [email protected].

2 | NURSING SPOTLIGHT City of Hope Quarterly Newsletter

Second Quarter: April - June 2019

City of Hope Quarterly Newsletter Second Quarter: April - June 2019 The Spirit of Caring City of Hope Quarterly Newsletter Second Quarter: April - June 2019

It’s time for our annual Nurse Pampering Day honoring the amazing heroes in The Amini and Clinical Research Units! The first part of the event was held on July 8, with part two coming up on July 19. We are honored to show all our love to these incredible women and men who so tirelessly give of themselves to so many!

“Amy was amazing She showed up at my door at one of my lowest momentsLinda Tibi, in myRN, gets cancer journey. With some aromatherapy and a hand massage, she had me relaxedpampered by and a Lipstick feeling angel. Two of the Lipstick Angels PatientEvangeline Testimonial Bustos, BSN, RN, and better. Then she taught me how to use anAnnelyn eyebrow Ovid,It’s time BSN, stencil for RN, our OCN, annualand BMTCN really NurseIt’s Pampering turned time for our myDay annual dayhonoring Nurse the Pampering amazing Day heroes honoring in The the Amini amazing and heroesClinical in Research The Amini Units! and Clinical Research Units! The first part of thethese event incredible wasThe held first women onpart July of and 8,the with menevent part whowas two soheld coming tirelessly on July up 8,give onwith July of part themselves 19. twoWe comingare tohonored soup many! on Julyto show 19. Weall areour honoredlove to to show all our love to thesePatient incredible Testimonial women and men who so tirelessly give of themselves to so many! Lipstick Angels around. Amy was truly my Angel from heaven.” Patient Testimonial Lipstick Angels held a Nurse Pampering Day honoring the amazing heroes“Amy inwas the amazing Michael Amini She“Amy showedTransfusion was amazing up atMedicine my She door showed at one up atof mymy door lowest at onemoments of my lowestin my cancermoments in my cancer Click to See all 228Center Comment and Cards journey.Clinical Research With some Units! aromatherapyjourney. With some and aromatherapy a hand massage, and ashe hand had massage, me relaxed she hadand mefeeling relaxed and feeling Patients and Caregivers Reached in 2019 better. Then she taught me how to use an eyebrow stencil and really turned my day The first part of the better.event was heldThen on July she 8, followed taughtaround. by a mesecond Amy how day wasonto July use truly19. an myeyebrow Angel stencilfrom heaven.” and really turned my day The Angels showed their love for these incredible women and men who so tirelesslyaround. Amy was truly my Angel from heaven.” 480 give of themselves to so many! Click to See all 228 Comment Cards female patients Click to See all 228 Comment Cards estimated 244 male patients annual Patients and Caregivers Reached in 2019 reach estimated 73 caregivers Patients and Caregivers ReachedKudos in 2019 estimatedfemale 480patientsfemale patients annual 1594480 Anna Hovhannisyan patients and caregivers reach “I approached a gentleman the other day to offer our services, and he was very reluctant. Initially, he politely declined,annual but with some 1594 gentle encouragement from me as well as one of the nurses, he agreed to a facial andpatients hand massage.and caregivers There was a bitmale of a language patients244 male patients 244reach Anna Hovhannisyan, R.N., (left) is a wonderful selfless1594 nurse who patients and caregivers barrier as well, but he did manage to convey that heHighlights had never from had either.the Angels I did a bit of breathing with him and told himcaregivers to closebrings 73quality tocaregivers every site she attends. She is loved and remembered his eyes and relax. As I started the facial, I could feel his energy become calm. At one point he fell asleep. At the73 conclusion of bothby all of our patients and leaves a wonderful lasting impression. She is a hardworker and deserves the spotlight. I believe she is our best services, I asked him how he liked it. He looked at me and simply said, “That was so wonderful.” There was something so absolutely traveler nurse. She hasHighlights a hard work from ethic theand goesAngels out of the way for genuine and honest about the way he said it that really struck a chord. As I was leaving, he took both my hands in his and smiled.”all her patients, and she speaks multiple languages,Highlights which from always the comesAngels in handy. I believe Anna is a wonderful nurse and she is able to fill in “I approachedanywhere a gentleman regardless the of other the census. day to Weoffer appreciate our services, ANNA! and he was very reluctant. Initially, he politely declined, but with some gentle encouragement from me as well as one of the nurses, he agreed to a facial and hand massage. There was a bit of a language — Matthew Vidales, BSN, RN, PHN “I approached a gentlemanbarrier the asother well, day but tohe offer did manage our services, to convey and that he hewas had very never reluctant. had either. Initially, I did ahe bit politely of breathing declined, with but him withand some told him to close Amy Holiber, West Coast Program Manager gentle encouragement hisfrom eyes me and as relax.well as As one I started of the the nurses, facial, he I could agreed feel to his a energy facial andbecome hand calm. massage. At one Therepoint he was fell a asleep. bit of a At language the conclusion of both barrier as well, but heservices, did manage I asked to him convey how he that liked he it. had He lookednever had at me either. and simply I did a said, bit of “That breathing was so withwonderful.” him and There told washim somethingto close so absolutely his eyes and relax. Asgenuine I started and the honest facial, about I could the feel way his he energy said it thatbecome really calm. struck At a onechord. point As Ihe was fell leaving, asleep. he At took the bothconclusion my hands of bothin his and smiled.” services, I asked him how he liked it. He lookedAmy at Holiber, me and West simplyAmy Coast said,Holiber, “ThatProgram West was Coast Manager so wonderful.” Program Manager There was something so absolutely genuine and honest about the way he said it that really struck a chord. As I was leaving, he took both my hands in his and smiled.”

3 | NURSING SPOTLIGHT Collaboration Stimate In 2019, the nurses in the pediatric administration process of this infrequently used medication posed some challenging aspects to the correct use of the nasal route in the clinic were faced with a quality application of Stimate. The leadership team of the pediatric service came together and created a video and checklist to assist all the clinicians improvement opportunity regarding across the City of Hope enterprise. These tools are available on the the drug Stimate. City of Hope Department of Pediatrics website page for real-time access. When a doctor places an order for the Stimate challenge test, Stimate is a special preparation of the medication the nurses can refresh their education on this drug and how to prepare DDAVP that is administered as a nasal spray and used the patient. These web-based education tools will assist the nurses with to treat certain variations of Von Willebrand disease, a the application obstacles and provide patient education material for the clotting disorder. The patient preparation and the drug patient and their family with pre- and post-tests to assess learning. Nurses’ Week THANK YOU, City of Hope community of nurses, for a successful Nurses Week 2019! Here are a few snaps from the week’s events.

Survey Results

There were a total of 223 responses to the 2019 Nurses’ Week post-survey!

In 2018, you asked for healthier options, so for 2019, we welcomed yogurt parfaits and Jamba Juice. We hope you enjoyed these treats and look forward to serving you in 2020!

4 | NURSING SPOTLIGHT ANNUAL Nursing Award NOMINEES

ADVANCED PRACTICE AWARD FOR RN OR LVN FOR AWARD FOR PCA, ACA, UA, PROFESSIONAL PATIENT CARE EXCELLENCE OR OR TECH FOR PATIENT OF THE YEAR CARE EXCELLENCE • Novie Grace Bishop, LVN • Erin Kopp, NP • Genevieve Martinez, ACA • Maria De Castro, RN • Cecilia Amaro-Mendiola, ACA • Leah Falk, NP (10 nominations) • Nuria Henriquez, PCA • Jeanie Mungcal, NP • Dawn Chevalier, RN (five nominations) • Braulio Ramirez, PCA • Nicole Casso, RN RN EXCELLENCE IN EVIDENCE- • Nikita Jackson, PCA BASED PRACTICE AWARD • Lynette Hagman, RN • Cassandra • Sheila Emelo, RN • Cynthia Wootan, RN A Thompson, UA • Trysari Sudiro, RN WARD FOR NURSING • Romeo David, PCA • Stephanie Garcia, RN EXCELLENCE AT A • Thelma Cerritos, UA COMMUNITY PRACTICE SITE RN NURSE LEADER OF • Dino Laluces, PCA • Nisa Contero, LVN (Glendora) THE YEAR AWARD (three nominations) (five nominations) • Leslie Villagomez, RN • Heidi Jakob, RN (South Pasadena) • Maristela Cunniff, RN (three nominations) • Dora Guardado, RN (Arcadia) • Henry Laher, RN • Jennifer Herge, RN (Torrance) • Abel Serquina, RN • Stephanie Hernandez, NP (Corona) • Sherri Sikkenga, RN PHYSICIAN EXCELLENCE RN PRECEPTOR IN COLLABORATIVE OF THE YEAR PRACTICE AWARD • Diana • Jana Portnow, MD Wongcharoensuk, RN • Tanya Dorff, MD • Tracy Evans, RN • Russell Gray, MD • Salena Agadier, RN • Marwan Fakih, MD • Melissa Eng, RN • Jonathan Kessler, MD • Leora Cavestany, RN (six nominations) • Henry Laher, RN • Jae Kim, MD • Christina Golly, RN • John Raytis, MD • Zenia Irani, RN (three nominations) • Karen Reckamp, MD, MS

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