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Nursing News

Learn about some of the very good things that are happening at SOMC.

SOMC Nurse Leaders Present at Annual Magnet Conference

November 21, 2011 » Nursing leaders at Southern Ohio Medical Center recently presented "The Pursuit of Perfection in a Zero Defect World" to a crowd of more than 900 people during the 2011 American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) National Magnet Conference Oct. 4-6 in Baltimore, Md."SOMC has been a Magnet hospital since January 2008, but each year we push ourselves further to achieve perfection," Claudia Burchett, chief nursing officer and vice president of SOMC Patient Services, said. "Only excellence counts in today's healthcare environment, and with Magnet's ever-changing expectations, it's important that we consistently move our hospital toward a higher standard of patient care. We're always happy to share our proven practices with other organizations." ANCC is the world's largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization and a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA). More than 7,500 nurses representing all 50 states and more than 20 countries around the world annually attend the conference, which explores nursing excellence in clinical practice, leadership and research through educational sessions, exhibits and poster presentations. Those who presented (shown left to right) included Burchett, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE, NEA-BC; Karen Thompson, RN, MS, CNS, director of SOMC Home Care and Wound Healing Services; Mary Kate Dilts Skaggs, RN, BSN, MSN, NE-BC, director of SOMC Emergency, Outpatient and Pediatric Services; and Valerie DeCamp, RN, BSN, MHA, NE-BC, director of SOMC Inpatient Nursing Services."This is the fourth year we have presented and hope to do so again in the future," Burchett added. "We look forward to the next ANCC conference and continuing our organization's journey toward excellence and perfection."

SOMC Names New Risk Manager

September 7, 2010 » Jeanne Turpin, RN, CEN, has been named Risk Manager of Patient Safety at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Turpin joined SOMC in 1999 and has most recently served as an assistant nurse manager of the Emergency Department. This fall, she will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Wright State University and she plans to pursue a master’s degree in nursing.

She currently resides near Sinking Springs, Ohio with her family.

SOMC Forms Local AACN Chapter

Pictured above are members of the Shawnee Valley Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Standing in the back (l to r): Nancy Jacobs, Connie Florek (secretary), Kerry Greathouse (treasurer), Christy Aeh, Linda Horner, Paul Rase, Becky Kalb, Tina Moore, Phyllis Theiken, Tony Smith. Sitting in the front (l to r): Sharon Rawlins (president-elect), Teresa Barnett (president) and Stacey Dotson.

August 12, 2010 » Several employees of Southern Ohio Medical Center’s Heart and Critical Care Services have teamed up to form the Shawnee Valley Chapter of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The group met for the first time July 27 to discuss member recruitment, educational opportunities and chapter planning.

According to the AACN website, The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the world's largest specialty nursing organization and has been serving the needs of nurses caring for acutely and critically ill patients since 1969. Representing the interests of more than 500,000 nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients, AACN is dedicated to creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families, where acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution.

The goals of the local chapter are to increase membership, form and participate in community events, develop fundraisers for education events and promote speakers for educational meetings. Involvement in the chapter will provide opportunities to interact with peers from different work settings and to advocate for patients, community and nurses.

“There are many benefits to becoming a national and local AACN chapter member,” Teresa Barnett, president of the Shawnee Valley AACN chapter, said. “In addition to free continuing education units (CEU’s) available to members online, nurses will also receive CEU’s and in-services at chapter meetings.”

The next meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. August 31 in the SOMC Heart and Vascular conference room and membership is open to local nurses. The group will meet on the fourth Tuesday of every month.

For more information or to join the Shawnee Valley Chapter of the AACN, please contact Teresa Barnett at (740)-356-8263.

SOMC Nursing Camp Offers Hands-On Experience for Students

Southern Ohio Medical Center held a 2010 Nursing Camp July 19 for local students grades seven through 12 interested in pursing nursing. Shown above are the participants using surgery instruments to get Hershey kisses out of a box that simulated a body.

July 26, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center recently held a Nursing Camp for students grades seven through 12 interested in pursing nursing as a career. The camp, held July 19 at the Friends Community Center, led students through a day in the life of a nurse at SOMC.

“We host the nursing camp every year to better prepare students for the nursing field,” Katy Stephens, nurse recruiter at SOMC, said. “Even though the day only provides a glimpse of what nursing is all about, it’s still more than what most people know when they start nursing school.”

The camp started at 10 a.m., introducing participants to cardiac nursing. In this portion of the day, they examined real pig hearts and learned about open-heart surgery. After a quick tour of the main campus, participants stopped by the SOMC/SSU SIM Lab to learn more through simulated nursing exercises.

“This was my first time attending Nursing Camp,” Courtney Cole, a senior at Lewis County High School, said. “I had a really great time and enjoyed myself. I liked trying to find the patient’s pulse in the SIM lab.”

After lunch, participants learned about emergency nursing by touring the LIFE ambulance mobile unit and watching demonstrations of patient immobilization.

“I volunteered to lay on the backboard during the emergency demonstration,” Tristain White, a freshman from Portsmouth West High School, said. “I’m interested in pursing nursing and after today, I think I like emergency nursing the best.”

Registered Nurse Julie Thornsberry also talked to the students about the responsibilities of a nurse during a surgery and allowed the teenagers to gain experience by trying on surgery gowns, gloves, hats and masks. The crew then worked together to staple wounds (made out of foam) and sew arteries to a heart (with rubber tubing).

“We try to make the activities as hands-on and as fun as possible,” Stephens added.

Cheryel Miller, a senior at Lewis County High School said she has been on the health and sciences track at school and had been debating on becoming a surgical RN or a maternity RN. After the camp she is sure she wants to work with babies and moms in a maternity unit.

“The 2010 Nursing Camp was very successful,” Stephens said. “We couldn’t have done it without the help of our SOMC employees and LIFE ambulance and I hope the students had a good time and learned helpful information about the nursing field.”

SOMC Nursing Units Identified as Best Practices by PRC

July 23, 2010 » Multiple nursing units at Southern Ohio Medical Center were recently identified as best practices in one or more areas of the Professional Research Consultants’ (PRC) 2010 National Patient Benchmarking Database. PRC is a marketing research company that SOMC works with to conduct patient satisfaction surveys.

The units were chosen based on nationwide benchmarks above the 90th percentile ranking and include the Heart Care Unit (for overall room accommodations); Medical Surgical Care Unit (for cleanliness of the hospital and overall room accommodations); Surgical Vascular Care Unit (for cleanliness of the hospital and overall room accommodations); Maternity Services (for cleanliness of the hospital, overall quality of doctor's care, and staff's management of pain); and the Emergency Department on the South Campus (for overall level of safety and staff's management of pain).

“As a best practice, these units will be listed as contacts that other PRC organizations can call and consult when they need help or advice to improve their current scores,” Valerie DeCamp, director of SOMC Inpatient Services and Accreditation, explained.

“This is truly an honor and shows that others recognize the excellence that goes on in our hospital. We’re very excited to share our processes and look forward to helping others achieve a higher standard of patient care.”

SOMC Patient Safety Names New Director

June 10, 2010 » Christy Aeh, RN, BSN, has been named Administrative Director of Patient Safety at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Aeh, a native of Columbus, Ohio, joined SOMC in 1990 and has served as a nurse tech, registered nurse, clinical educator and nurse manager for the Intensive Care Unit. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio.

She currently resides in South Shore, Ky. with her family.

SOMC Names New Nurse Manager of Critical Care

June 10, 2010 » Paul Rase, RN, BSN, CCRN, has been named the Nurse Manager of Critical Care, including the Heart Care Unit and the Intensive Care Unit at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Rase joined SOMC in 2007 and has previously served as nurse manager in the Heart Care Unit. He has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and has been a nurse for 15 years.

SOMC Names New Manager of Performance Improvement

June 10, 2010 » David Richard, RN, BSN, has been named the Manager of Performance Improvement at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

Richard, a native of Lucasville, joined SOMC in 2004 and has served as a RN, charge nurse and assistant nurse manager on the Orthopedic Care Unit. He has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Kaplan University online. Richard will assume his new duties as manager on July 4.

SOMC Nursing Camp to Offer Hands-on Experience

May 28, 2010 » Local students enrolled in grades 7-12 who are interested in learning about the nursing profession are encouraged to sign-up for the 2010 Nursing Camp at Southern Ohio Medical Center.

The program will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, July 19 at the SOMC Friends Community Center, 1202 18th St., Portsmouth. Lunch will be provided by Life Ambulance.

“A lot of the time, students don’t find out what being a nurse is truly all about until their very first day of nursing school,” Katy Stephens, nurse recruiter at SOMC and coordinator of the camp, said. “This program lets them explore the idea of nursing before deciding that it’s really what they want to study during their collegiate careers.”

During the camp, participants will gain a better understanding of nursing responsibilities through one-on-one interaction with hospital employees, as well as many hands-on activities and simulation tools.

“We want to give students experiences they can learn and grow from,” Stephens said. “In the past, we concentrated more on having speakers come in to talk about nursing, but this year students will actually be able to get their hands in there and see what it’s all about. It should be a lot of fun and we’re really looking forward to it.”

Pre-registration is required by June 30 and must be completed online at www.somc.org/camp. The program is open to 30 participants.

For more information, please call Katy Stephens at (740)-356-6499.

SOMC Nurses Donate to New Beginnings

May 20, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center’s nursing staff recently celebrated National Nurses Week by collecting items for New Beginnings Outreach Ministry of Southern Ohio—a non-profit corporation providing resident and non-resident rehabilitation treatment for those suffering from drug or alcohol dependency. Together the nursing units collected hundreds of items for the organization including toiletries, cleaning supplies, gas cards, Wal-Mart gift cards and monetary donations. Shown on the final day of the collection are SOMC employees (from l to r) Tanya Thoroughman, Lori Livingston, Lanita Warner, Willie Baldridge, Tonia Bivens, Holli Dunham and Tammy Charles.

SOMC Magnet Status Attracts Excellent Nurses

April 23, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center is the first hospital in the tri-state region to achieve the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) highest honor, the Magnet designation, recognizing national excellence in nursing. After obtaining Magnet in January 2008, SOMC has become a member of the elite six percent of hospitals in the U.S. that can claim this distinction.

“In the health care profession, Magnet recognition is an immense honor,” Claudia Burchett, vice president of Patient Services and chief nursing officer, said.

“It serves as external recognition of the excellent care that we provide to our patients and their families. This achievement was the result of more than 30 months of preparation, 2,000 pages of submitted documentation, a four-day on-site inspection and years of commitment to quality and excellence.”

According to the ANCC, statistics show that nurses who work in Magnet-designated hospitals are more satisfied with their job and the care they provide. Magnet hospitals also have an increased retention rate for nurses – an important factor in light of today’s nursing recruitment challenges.

“I saw a SOMC billboard about Magnet and then I went online to find more information about the facility,” Carolyn White, a new nurse at SOMC, said. “I had previously worked for a Magnet hospital and when my husband and I were looking to relocate, I knew SOMC was the place for me.”

White chose to leave her friends and family to move five hours from her home in Glasgow, Kentucky to the Portsmouth area. She has been a RN in the SOMC Orthopedic and Family Care Unit since November 2009.

“Working at SOMC has made my move a lot easier,” she said. “I think I have my family and friends here now.”

Ruthie Sandala also had a similar situation. She searched and applied online for two years before landing a position in the Same Day Surgery department at SOMC. After previously working for a Magnet organization, Sandala moved from Indianapolis to Portsmouth just to work at SOMC because she knew what Magnet really stands for.

“I know that Magnet means the hospital values their nurses and treats them well,” Sandala said. “And they usually ask the nurses for their opinions before putting policies in place.”

Burchett added that physicians are also attracted to Magnet hospitals. “It’s a sign to them that the hospital is dedicated to hiring and keeping the most qualified nurses,” she said. “We provide an environment where education is vital, and we promote ongoing education, certifications and nursing research.”

The ultimate goal of Magnet recognition, however, is a demonstration to patients of the quality care provided by Magnet hospitals. Independent studies show patients who receive care at Magnet hospitals have a shorter length of stay, improved patient outcomes and higher satisfaction rates. According to the ANCC, “Magnet recognition provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive.”

SOMC to Recognize Certified Nurses Day

March 9, 2010 » March 19, 2010 is Certified Nurses Day, a national day of recognition for certified nurses. Southern Ohio Medical Center will honor its 162 board certified nurses who provide quality care to their patients every day.

The date was specifically chosen as the national day to celebrate because it’s the birthday of Margretta “Gretta” Madden Styles. She is globally known as the “Mother of Nurse Credentialing” and served as the President of the American Nurses Association. A recipient of numerous honors and recognition, Styles is responsible for encouraging board certifications and higher standards of patient care.

“We are very proud of all of our nurses at SOMC,” Valerie DeCamp, director of nursing, said. “On behalf of the organization, it is my pleasure to express the gratitude we feel for the proficiency and leadership our nurses demonstrate when they achieve and maintain national board certification in their nursing specialty.”

Certification, as defined by the American Board of Nursing Specialties (ABNS), is the formal recognition of the specialized knowledge, skills and experience demonstrated by the achievement of standards identified by a nursing specialty to promote optimal health results.

“As a result of nurses acquiring additional certifications, it creates an environment of professionalism and specialized competency,” Karen Walburn, manager of Employment, said. “This special day gives us an opportunity to recognize and encourage nurses to pursue this important step in their careers.”

Nurse certification has been linked to a reduction in medical errors, according to the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN).

Ryan Carpenter, RN, BSN, CEN, SANE, assistant nurse manager of the Health Care Center said, “As a certified nurse, I feel more prepared. I’m more confident in knowing that my skills are up-to-date and that I will have the knowledge and expertise to provide excellent care for my patients.”

“We realize that it takes personal dedication and persistence to achieve and maintain certification,” DeCamp added. “We value their commitment to nursing excellence.”

SOMC Research Highlighted at National Conference

Three nurses from Southern Ohio Medical Center’s Emergency Department recently presented their research poster at the Emergency Nurses Association Leadership Conference in Chicago, Ill. Shown above (l to r) is Jenny Foit, RN, BSN, staff nurse; AJ Foit, RN, BSN, CEN, assistant nurse manager and Jason Ross, RN, CEN, nurse manager.

March 4, 2010 » Three nurses from Southern Ohio Medical Center’s Emergency Department were recently selected to present their research efforts at the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Leadership Conference held Feb. 18-21 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Chicago, Ill.

AJ Foit, RN, BSN, CEN, assistant nurse manager; Jenny Foit, RN, BSN, staff nurse and Jason Ross, RN, CEN, nurse manager, studied ways to decrease blood culture contamination rates in the emergency department in an effort to improve the quality of patient care at SOMC.

“Attending the conference was a great networking opportunity as well as a chance to see what other hospitals are doing,” Ross said. “We were able to compare our hospital to some of the nation’s most respected facilities and it was plain to see that very good things are happening at SOMC.”

More than 1,000 emergency nurses from across the United States gathered at the conference to discuss trends and topics related to the emergency nursing profession. The poster from SOMC was titled Reducing Blood Culture Contamination Rates in the Emergency Department. This was its second appearance at a national conference.

“It was a privilege to present our research poster at the conference,” AJ Foit said. “Research is an integral part of our Magnet status at SOMC and the results allow us to improve service for our patients and their families.”

Teamwork Displayed in SOMC’s ICU

February 26, 2010 » The underlying theme in most service stories told by patients of Southern Ohio Medical Center is teamwork. When employees are asked every year on surveys about the teamwork within their department, most will tell you it’s excellent. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a collaborative effort is not only desired but it’s essential and often complimented.

“I’ve worked for other units at SOMC and I thought the teamwork was incredible but then when I came to the ICU, I was blown away by the way everyone works together,” Eric Bennett, assistant nurse manager of the ICU, said. “I’m a big advocate of teamwork, it can make your shift really great or really bad. You don’t have to tell the staff what to do in the ICU because they are already doing it.”

Bennett and a team of physicians, nurses, EEG technicians, medical techs, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, lab techs and Critical Care physicians called Intensivists recently pulled together when an ICU patient coded. Dr. Jay Turkewitz, a new neurologist at SOMC, was called to the bedside during this particular instance.

This was Bennett’s first interaction with Dr. Turkewitz and he was amazed at the way the physician interacted with the family, explaining everything and genuinely caring for the patient. After his shift, Bennett decided to write Dr. Turkewitz a thank you email and was surprised when he replied.

“I don’t deserve the recognition, the team does,” Dr. Turkewitz said. “From the nurses in the room to the housekeeper who kept the floors from becoming slippery, the collaborative effort was evident.”

Mardi Carter, EEG tech wasn’t surprised when she heard about the email, “I’ve worked at SOMC for 23 years and I see this type of teamwork happen all the time in the ICU,” she said. “The cooperation of the team has aided in saving many lives over the years.”

In November of 2007, the Intensive Care Unit opened its doors to patients’ loved ones 24 hours a day—the only ICU in the region that offers this. “If the family chooses to be present during a code, it greatly decreases anxiety both for the patient and the family,” Christy Aeh, nurse manager of the ICU, said. “Family presence allows loved ones to see the teamwork and effort it takes to provide excellent care for the patient.”

“Many people think they have to travel outside of Portsmouth to receive the best critical care but we have the best technology, a specialized physician for every aspect of the body and we micromanage our patients,” Bennett said. “We have all the things and more that the bigger city hospitals have.”

Bennett explained how several ICU staff members have worked at other hospitals and positively compliment the teamwork shown at SOMC. Unlike most other ICU’s, SOMC has Critical Care Intensivists seven days a week dedicated to the ICU all hours of the day and with on-call coverage during the night hours.

A web camera is used by the Intensivists to check on patients during the night. The critical care physicians also have access to the bedside monitoring devices through their home computers. Nurses in the ICU collaborate with the Intensivists using these tools to enhance the quality of care for their patients.

“I’m excited to be here, SOMC has made excellence a part of its culture,” Dr. Turkewitz said. “The administration chooses to hire physicians and employees who have the ability to strive for excellence in all aspects of service and quality patient care.”

SOMC Forms Local AMSN Chapter

January 14, 2010 » Southern Ohio Medical Center recently formed a southern Ohio chapter of the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN). The group will meet quarterly and provide continuing education opportunities at each meeting. Medical surgical nurses in the region are invited to join.

AMSN was founded in 1991 and is the only specialty nursing organization dedicated to the medical-surgical nursing practice. The formation of the southern Ohio AMSN chapter at SOMC started with four officers and has grown to more than 20 members.

“The purpose of the chapter is to recognize medical surgical as a nursing specialty,” Lynn Chamberlin, nurse manager of the Med-Surg Care Unit at SOMC, said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for nurses to sharpen their skills with continuing education activities.”

Chamberlin explained that members will be given access to an online mentoring program, forums and chat rooms to prepare for med-surg nursing certification exams or to help nurses as they complete schooling.

“The online tools enable members to connect with peers and provides networking opportunities,” she said.

In addition, members will also receive six issues per year of the MEDSURG Nursing journal and MedSurg Matters newsletter as well as 12 issues per year of the MedSurg Nursing Connection e-newsletter. Members will have opportunities to volunteer both regionally and nationally while enhancing their leadership skills.

During the quarterly meetings, discussions will be held on any business needs and the allocation of chapter dues. One benefit of the local southern Ohio chapter is the opportunity to provide scholarships for nursing students.

“I’m very excited about the new AMSN chapter and I look forward to nurses in the community benefiting from this association,” Chamberlin said.

For more information or to join the southern Ohio AMSN chapter, please contact Lynn Chamberlin at (740)-356-8225.

SOMC’s Skaggs Presented at Regional Research Conference

January 14, 2010 » Mary Kate Dilts Skaggs, RN, MSN, NE-BC, director of nursing for SOMC’s Emergency and Outpatient Services and chair of the Nursing Research Committee, recently presented at the 35th annual Nursing Research Conference, held Dec. 4 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind.

More than 150 nursing colleagues from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana were in attendance, showcasing approximately 30 poster presentations of varying topics. Two posters from Southern Ohio Medical Center were featured and included Reducing Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department and Is There a Santa Clause? Fun Methods to Teach Principals of Nursing.

Fun Methods to Teach Principals of Nursing was also recently published in the October 2009, Volume 39 Issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration.

“It was a privilege to present our research posters at the conference,” Skaggs said. “Conducting research is an integral part of our Magnet status and the results help us to improve quality of care as well as to provide excellent service for our patients and their families.”

SOMC Nursing Leaders Present at Magnet Conference

December 4, 2009 » Nursing leaders at Southern Ohio Medical Center recently presented “The SOMC Dashboard—A Tool to Improve Patient Outcomes and Showcase Nursing Excellence” to a crowd of more than 300 people during the 2009 American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National Magnet Conference Oct. 1-3 in Louisville, Ky.

“With the introduction of the new Magnet Model last year, and an emphasis now heavily geared toward measuring and improving patient outcomes, our nursing dashboard is now of interest to many hospitals across the county,” Karen Thompson, director of Home Care Services and the Wound Healing Center at SOMC, said. “We were met with quite an enthusiastic response.”

ANCC is the world’s largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization and a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA). More than 5,000 nurses representing all 50 states and countries around the world annually attended the conference, which explores nursing excellence in clinical practice, leadership and research through educational sessions and poster presentations.

Those who presented included Claudia Burchett, RN, MBA, FACHE, NEA-BC, vice president of SOMC Patient Services and chief nursing officer; Valerie DeCamp, RN, MHA, NEA-BC, director of SOMC Inpatient Nursing Services; and Thompson, RN, MS, CNS.

“This is the second year we have presented and hope to do so again in the future,” Thompson said. “We look forward to attending next year’s event and continuing our organization’s journey toward excellence.”

Moore Receives Prestigious Nursing Certification

November 9, 2009 » Christina Moore, RN, BNH, CCRN, CSC, of the SOMC Heart Care Unit, recently earned the prestigious Cardiac Surgery Certification (CSC) from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Moore is the second nurse at Southern Ohio Medical Center to obtain this credential.

“Obtaining CSC is a great honor and we are very proud of Tina,” Paul Rase, nurse manager of the SOMC Heart Care Unit, said. “She’s a leader. She first lead the way with her CCRN certification and now she’s setting an example for others to obtain CSC.”

To be awarded CSC, a nurse must pass a 90 question, two-hour certification exam and complete 1,750 hours of patient care, specifically with critically ill and cardiac surgery patients. Moore is required to earn continuing education credits to be eligible for recertification in three years.

“I decided to do this for personal advancement. It wasn’t about prestige or more letters after my name,” Moore, said. “It’s a matter of wanting to know my job better, to be more confident at what I do and to provide the best patient care possible.”

Moore earned her nursing certificate from the College of the Albemarle, her bachelor’s degree in Natural Health from Clayton College and is currently pursing a master’s degree. She has been a nurse for 22 years and has been an employee of SOMC for two years.

SOMC Nurse Sworn in as Second Lieutenant in Army National Guard

September 2, 2009 » Josh Hammond, RN, Intensive Care Unit at Southern Ohio Medical Center, left, was promoted and sworn in as Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard. The ceremony took place Sept. 1 in the SOMC ICU and was conducted by fellow co-worker and guardsman, Phyllis Thieken.

SOMC, SSU Nursing Students Provide Blood Pressure Checks For Teens

April 29, 2009 » Nurses from Southern Ohio Medical Center and students from the Shawnee State University Bachelor of Science in Nursing program recently visited seven area high schools to provide a Teen Heart Check of blood pressures.   

“The screenings help identify high blood pressure in teens.  We then notify the school of those students who were at high risk so that the school nurses may provide follow-up readings after the initial screening,” said Judy Hamer, R.N., a nurse at SOMC who coordinated the event. Parents or guardians of the teens are also notified per letter if their child was screened as high-risk.

Any student with a reading above 139 systolic or 89 diastolic was asked to repeat the screening at the school. These standards are based on national goals set by National Institutes of Health. Local screening has revealed that a significant number of high school students have an initial blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher.

Teens are educated on products that may cause high blood pressure such as caffeine, high-energy drinks, sodas, tobacco use, etc.  The teens are asked to eliminate such products from their diet prior to their next screening with the school nurse to determine if their high blood pressures are a result from using these products or if a more serious condition exists.

Schools participating in the program are Wheelersburg, Washington Nile, Glenwood, Green, Minford and South Webster.

SOMC Nurses celebrate through giving

April 27, 2009 » Southern Ohio Medical Center will take part in the nation’s celebration of highlighting nurses with a little different angle this year. Rather than celebrating for themselves, nurses at SOMC have challenged one another to give back to the community in which they serve.

“We have always shown our appreciation for our nurses at SOMC through small gifts or celebrations throughout the organization. This year, because of the economic state of our nation, our nurses wanted to take their caring a step further by giving back to our community,” said Claudia Burchett, RN BSN MBA FACHE NEA-BC VP Patient Services and Chief Nursing Officer.

This year, SOMC nurses have developed “SOMC Nurses Giving Back”, a system-wide campaign to donate to an organization of their choice during National Nurses Week.

“Our areas chose the Domestic Violence Shelter,” said Jason Ross, RN, Nurse Manager of Emergency Services at SOMC. “We came to this decision as a team (including the Wheelersburg Urgent Care Center and the SOMC Health Care Center) and really felt like we could make a difference in community by doing so. It is a good feeling to know that not only can we touch the lives of those who come through our doors, but also those who we may never see.”

Nurses from all areas of the hospital have chosen various organizations in which to give and will be collecting items through the end of this month. Donations will be distributed during National Nurses Week, May 6-12.

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