Remember The Mission

Simulation training has been used in various fields for many years, with the most well known example being that of airline pilots. Other examples of simulation include astronauts and business models.  Simulation in the healthcare field is relatively new, with several high fidelity adult and pediatric mannequins used for simulation training.  Only recently has a simulated newborn become available. 

In June of 2008, a request was presented to the University Health System Foundation for their assistance in pursuing grantsto fund the SimNewB for Newborn Services. The product was researched, published studies were reviewed, and many emails and documents were exchanged in preparing for grant application for the SimNewB.  This is what we learned:  SimNewB is ideal for training for the specific needs of neonates. The SimNewB accurately represents a full term, 50th percentile newborn female. Measuring 21 inches and weighing 7 pounds, SimNewB provides real-life training opportunities for clinical staff. The SimNewB mimics a newborn's complex physiological responses to a wide range of variables and is fully integrated with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ guidelines for neonatal resuscitation.

SimNewB arrived in November 2009, and has already made an impact.  She has been used many times in a teaching environment with a number of student interactions with her.  Since January, Residents and Interns who begin their rotation in the NICU spend a couple of refresher hours, practicing NRP skills.  And, the nurses recertifying their NRP have used “Bobbi” for their megacode. “Bobbi” has also been taken out and used at other facilities as a part of our outreach teaching.

While on her recent trip home to Germany, Helga Barger, a UHS nurse in Reeves Rehabilitation, glanced over at the passenger sitting next to her and was instantly engaged as he was speaking Spanish fluently to the flight attendant. Eager to jump in the conversation to practice her Spanish speaking skills, she noticed a book in the passenger’s hands, ‘Crucial Conversations’, a book that has inspired Helga in both a personal and professional sense.

As the conversation began, Helga learned the man next to her, Franco, was a psychologist from the Dominican Republic. He was hired by the billion dollar corporation, Microsoft, to take a 4 week training course in Switzerland based on the book. This training course would allow Franco to articulate the tools necessary to train multinational staff members employed by Microsoft to communicate appropriately during crucial moments – a very impressive and challenging task.  Helga couldn’t have been more convinced at that moment about the positive impact this book could bring to the workplace.

In Helga’s attempts to spread the word about this highly effective book, the conversation with her new acquaintance only motivated her to continue talking with colleagues.  She believes that nurses could benefit from not only the book, but also the newsletter which provides additional modernized tools to help nurses deal with confrontation.  Crucial Conversations illustrates a positive way to confront co-workers with a negative problem.  If Helga could give one piece of advice to those who may be struggling with confrontation, she encourages everyone to leave personal emotions completely out of the conversation and to remain considerate while suggesting solutions.

My special thanks to all IPCU-CDU staff who in one way or another have supported and continue to support our journey to excellence in patient care.

I want to commend all the unit council chairs, co-chairs and members, Education, Quality, EMR, Recruitment and Retention, Scheduling, Operations, Magnet, Skin Team; Pain Resource team and Restraints Team, all of you have accomplished so much that have made the unit a shining star for Magnet. My great appreciation for the following Magnet day presenters: Jenny Heins, Katherine Cox, Esther Hazlewood, Carla McDaniel, Irene Rodriguez, Joyce Ornelas, and John Rees, and the Magnet night presenters: Jai Philip, Sherly Biju, Lois Shillito, Sosamma Thomas, Kathy Cook, everyone of them when asked never hesitated to present what Magnet was all about in IPCU-CDU in front of hundreds of UH staff. I also want to thank those who went to the focus groups: Esther Hazlewood, Gina Boren, Jenny Ramos, Reni Kochumon, Kathy Cook, and Jacklyn Brown. Special thanks to Lois Shillito who did a great presentation about IPCU-CDU Professional Practice Model and Care Delivery. My gratitude and appreciation to all the specially talented staff who worked artistically on our Magnet Boards: Rosette Atienza(board for patient appreciation, Mission of Magnet in pictures, Journey of Unit Councils ‘chairs and members with pictures); Cecile Ferrer, Marina Angeles, Cendric Wright, Reni Kochumon (all have work on birthdays and commendation boards); Olivia Valdez (welcome and certification boards); Irene Rodriguez and Carla McDaniel for the EMR board; Jenny Heins for the Forces of Magnetism board; and of course a very special thanks goes to Marina Angeles who have created the amazingly awesome ANCC MAGNET welcome boards. Thank you to Rachelle Saldana and Sylvia Eluere for their great Magnet article from a tech viewpoint. Of course my deep gratitude also to my co-escort service Carla McDaniel who have shown great PR with all the appraisers and Carla did it tirelessly for three days. My great appreciation to everyone who worked during the Magnet visit on the floor, you all have contributed to the success of the visit, and those who joined me and John with the unit visit interview, Jenny Heins, Irene Rodriguez, and Jenny Ramos, all have responded knowledgeably to all the questions that our appraiser Ms. Karen Hildebrand was very impressed.

Most of all  to our great Director Wen Pao and to my colleague John Rees and Joyce Ornelas, Thank you…all your supports are highly appreciated.

Our great teamwork on achieving excellence to patient care has always been one of the forces that have led the way for this MAGNET recognition. Kudos to you IPCU-CDU!

Let’s continue our journey…for excellence!

Leticia Wilson, BSN, RN, CCRN
Patient Care Coordinator