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Comprising the new Clinical Nurse Leader position at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen are Emily Jestes, left, and Holly Haddad./Photo courtesy of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen.
From staff reports
New nursing roles in hospital
They're like the "Laverne and Shirley" of the Med/Surg unit at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen.
When it comes to coordinating patient care, Emily Jestes and Holly Haddad, the hospital's first Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs), can be found doing just about everything together.
"Our most important responsibility as clinical nurse leaders is to look at the whole patient," Jestes said. "We round on patients five days a week, help manage expectations throughout their hospital stay, and promote a team-based approach to care by keeping an open line of communication between the care team and the patient."
Haddad noted another component of the new team's duties.
"A major advantage of being a CNL is still having the bedside interaction with patients," Haddad said. "We serve as a resource for the unit nurses, helping identify risks and educating patients before they leave the hospital to help prevent readmissions."
The CNL role is a fast-emerging nursing role developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). It is the first new nursing role in four decades.
In practice, a CNL oversees the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provides direct patient care in complex situations. CNLs evaluate patient outcomes, assess risks and have the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. The CNL serves as the focal point for the patient, family and health care team in coordinating the patient's plan of care and providing information. Texas Health Resources nurses are among the first in the state to complete certification to become CNLs. There are currently 15 CNLs across the system.
The stars aligned for the dynamic duo when Jestes, a labor and delivery nurse from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, and Haddad, an ICU nurse from Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst Euless Bedford, enrolled in the CNL master's degree program at Texas Christian University nearly three years ago. The Texas Health-sponsored program allows eligible nurses to work as Patient Care Facilitators and earn a specialized generalist degree with generous tuition reimbursement.
During their time at TCU, both nurses were recognized for their outstanding course work. Earlier this year, Jestes was honored for Academic Achievement at TCU's annual CNL awards banquet. Haddad won first place for her immersion project, "The Effect of Nursing Pain Management Strategies on Length of Stay and Patient Satisfaction," which was implemented at Texas Health. Upon completing the CNL program, Jestes convinced Haddad to transfer to Texas Health Allen.
The rest is history.
"The Clinical Nurse Leader role was developed to prepare highly skilled nurses at the master's level for improvement of quality and safety outcomes," said Jane Cook, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Allen. "We are delighted to have Emily and Holly making a difference for patient care in this role at Texas Health Allen."
Northwestern Mutual honors reps
Northwestern Mutual is honoring Loren Hsiao and Jack Sheets with membership into its 2012 Forum group, which recognizes an outstanding year of helping people achieve financial security. Only the top 5 percent of Northwestern Mutual's more than 6,000 financial representatives receive this annual honor.
Hsiao and Sheets, affiliated with the Cruse Network Office, join this distinguished group along with representatives from across the country who have qualified for this honor.
Forum honorees were recognized at a conference held Nov. 11-14, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Homeland HealthCare nets prestigious award
For the fourth consecutive year, Homeland HealthCare Inc., a national third-party administrator of quality supplemental healthcare programs, has been named a recipient of The Dallas 100™ Award. The company's revenues grew 40 percent in 2011, placing Homeland HealthCare 16th among The Dallas 100. The award is bestowed annually upon fast-growing, privately held companies in and around Dallas by the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Homeland HealthCare administers a variety of health and wellness products, including supplemental health, short-term medical and other insurance plans. The company prides itself on its culture of product innovation, quality offerings, strict adherence to licensing and compliance requirements, quality partners and ongoing care and concern for its customers.
The Dallas 100 Awards were co-founded in 1990 by the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship. Homeland HealthCare has received this recognition six times in the past 10 years, including top rankings in 2002, 2003 and consecutively from 2008 through 2012.
They're like the "Laverne and Shirley" of the Med/Surg unit at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen.
When it comes to coordinating patient care, Emily Jestes and Holly Haddad, the hospital's first Clinical Nurse Leaders (CNLs), can be found doing just about everything together.
"Our most important responsibility as clinical nurse leaders is to look at the whole patient," Jestes said. "We round on patients five days a week, help manage expectations throughout their hospital stay, and promote a team-based approach to care by keeping an open line of communication between the care team and the patient."
Haddad noted another component of the new team's duties.
"A major advantage of being a CNL is still having the bedside interaction with patients," Haddad said. "We serve as a resource for the unit nurses, helping identify risks and educating patients before they leave the hospital to help prevent readmissions."
The CNL role is a fast-emerging nursing role developed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). It is the first new nursing role in four decades.
In practice, a CNL oversees the care coordination of a distinct group of patients and actively provides direct patient care in complex situations. CNLs evaluate patient outcomes, assess risks and have the decision-making authority to change care plans when necessary. The CNL serves as the focal point for the patient, family and health care team in coordinating the patient's plan of care and providing information. Texas Health Resources nurses are among the first in the state to complete certification to become CNLs. There are currently 15 CNLs across the system.
The stars aligned for the dynamic duo when Jestes, a labor and delivery nurse from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, and Haddad, an ICU nurse from Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst Euless Bedford, enrolled in the CNL master's degree program at Texas Christian University nearly three years ago. The Texas Health-sponsored program allows eligible nurses to work as Patient Care Facilitators and earn a specialized generalist degree with generous tuition reimbursement.
During their time at TCU, both nurses were recognized for their outstanding course work. Earlier this year, Jestes was honored for Academic Achievement at TCU's annual CNL awards banquet. Haddad won first place for her immersion project, "The Effect of Nursing Pain Management Strategies on Length of Stay and Patient Satisfaction," which was implemented at Texas Health. Upon completing the CNL program, Jestes convinced Haddad to transfer to Texas Health Allen.
The rest is history.
"The Clinical Nurse Leader role was developed to prepare highly skilled nurses at the master's level for improvement of quality and safety outcomes," said Jane Cook, chief nursing officer at Texas Health Allen. "We are delighted to have Emily and Holly making a difference for patient care in this role at Texas Health Allen."
Northwestern Mutual honors reps
Northwestern Mutual is honoring Loren Hsiao and Jack Sheets with membership into its 2012 Forum group, which recognizes an outstanding year of helping people achieve financial security. Only the top 5 percent of Northwestern Mutual's more than 6,000 financial representatives receive this annual honor.
Hsiao and Sheets, affiliated with the Cruse Network Office, join this distinguished group along with representatives from across the country who have qualified for this honor.
Forum honorees were recognized at a conference held Nov. 11-14, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Homeland HealthCare nets prestigious award
For the fourth consecutive year, Homeland HealthCare Inc., a national third-party administrator of quality supplemental healthcare programs, has been named a recipient of The Dallas 100™ Award. The company's revenues grew 40 percent in 2011, placing Homeland HealthCare 16th among The Dallas 100. The award is bestowed annually upon fast-growing, privately held companies in and around Dallas by the Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Homeland HealthCare administers a variety of health and wellness products, including supplemental health, short-term medical and other insurance plans. The company prides itself on its culture of product innovation, quality offerings, strict adherence to licensing and compliance requirements, quality partners and ongoing care and concern for its customers.
The Dallas 100 Awards were co-founded in 1990 by the Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship. Homeland HealthCare has received this recognition six times in the past 10 years, including top rankings in 2002, 2003 and consecutively from 2008 through 2012.
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