Nurses Making a Difference
There are so many ways that nurses make a difference in the lives and care of patients, in Kaiser Permanente as an organization, in medical research and education, and in personal and professional growth for themselves and others. All this, and more, is happening here at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Congratulations to the Kaiser Santa Rosa Nursing Research Council (NRC). This group recently received a prestigious grant from the Oncology Nursing Society to conduct a nursing research study in Kaiser Santa Rosa's chemotherapy infusion center.
National Nurses Week
May 6-12, 2008
The 2008 National Nurses Week theme, Nurses: Making a Difference Every Day, couldn't be more apropos to the excellent care and commitment our nurses provide on an ongoing basis!
National Nurses Week begins on May 6 (RN Recognition Day) and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, founder of nursing as a modern profession. During this special week, we celebrate the diverse ways in which nurses—-the largest health care profession-—work to save lives, maintain the health of their patients, and improve health care. Please join in saying thank you to these skilled and dedicated professionals!
"The field for such grants is highly competitive," said NRC Chair, Rebecca Taylor- Ford, RN, BSN, MSN-C. "This is a tremendous honor that we could not have received without leadership support and the hard work of the oncology infusion nurses and staff." The group applied last year, but was not awarded a grant. But with the feedback they received, persistence, and teamwork, they reapplied and were successful. Now they're embarking on research titled "Investigation of Reiki Therapy vs. Sham Reiki (Placebo) vs. Standard of Care to Enhance Comfort and Well Being in a Chemotherapy Infusion Center." Anita Catlin, DNSc, FNP, FAAN, Sonoma State University, Research and Redesign Manager, KP Santa Rosa, is also a lead investigator along with Taylor-Ford.
The Nursing Research Council was formed in 2004 by a group of staff nurses and managers who were interested in promoting evidence-based practice in the clinical setting. Both TPMG and KFH staff nurses sit on the committee. Above all, the Nursing Research Council seeks to assist nurses and staff in research utilization efforts in order to improve patient care and outcomes.
"We are here to support people in times of great vulnerability and make a difference in their lives," said Vicky Locey, RN, MSN, assistant administrator for patient care services. "I can't think of a more rewarding profession."
More congratulations are in order for another group of nurses, and they were recognized at the Staff Nurse III/IV appreciation luncheon. Education and continuing education is a hallmark of the nurses here at Kaiser Santa Rosa. Recently these nurses were recognized for their career advancement and demonstrated leadership as Staff Nurse III and IV. The Staff Nurse III/IV functions in the clinical setting as an exemplary care giver to patients, a model of proficiency for co-workers, and a colleague to physicians.
"It's very apparent to me that Kaiser Santa Rosa nurses have a passion for providing excellent patient care," said Carol Larson, RN, BSN, director of nursing practice. The dedicated nurses at Kaiser Santa Rosa are indeed making a difference every day, as leaders, educators, patient advocates, care givers, and researchers. Locey is also proud of the many ways nurses contribute: "Nurses are professionals, who use clinical knowledge and evidence-based practice to provide care to our patients."