Nursing at Methodist North

Shared governance is a model empowering nurses to share in decision making where it pertains to their clinical practice and professional development.

At MLH - North, each nursing unit (and some non-nursing/procedural units) have a Unit Practice Council. The chairs and co-chairs of these unit councils participate in the facility Nursing Practice Council (NPC). The NPC develops and implements clinical standards utilizing evidence based practice and patient family centered care. This gives voice to clinical nurses regarding their work environment; evidence based practice, development of patient care process and cultivates the four principles of partnership, equity, accountability, and ownership.

Representatives from Shared Governance at MLH - North are members of the system wide Research / Evidence Based Practice and Professional Practice Councils.

Our professional nursing practice is anchored and driven by the five Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Values: Service, Quality, Integrity, Teamwork and Innovation. Patients and families are at the heart of all we do and caring is the work we do.

Our work is supported by the foundational principles in our professional practice model. Transformational Leadership at all levels lays the ground work for the processes and structures that allow for exceptional Patient Care Delivery. Our success in caring for our patients and families is strengthened and supported by the Professional Relationships we build and the Achievement & Recognition we embrace.

Patient Care Delivery

The way nurses deliver care is represented by compassion, innovation, and evidence-based practice focused on the patient and family. Nurses provide care through our commitment to the following:

Compassion

• We support the patient and family spiritually, physically and emotionally.
• We serve with a compassionate spirit and treat others with dignity and respect.
• We recognize the nurse/patient relationship is an important factor in
• the healing process.

Evidence-based Practice

• We use evidence and best practices to guide, support, and improve patient outcomes
• We use evidence and best practices to guide, support and improve patient outcomes.
• We are engaged in data collection and analysis to improve practice.
• We are committed to the advancement of nursing through research and dissemination of the findings.

Innovation

• We are personally willing to change. We are personally willing to change. We are curious and openly seek new approaches, processes, technology and practices to improve outcomes.
• We collaborate with patients, families and our team to implement new ways of improving the health care experience.

Transformational Leadership

Transformational leadership consists of shared governance, professionalism, and stewardship that is focused on the patient and family. The basis for our excellent professional practice begins with strong leadership. We are committed to the following:

Shared Governance

• Nurses are empowered to make a difference through active involvement in decisions that affect nursing practice.
• Structures support the voice of our profession. We define, promote and evaluate our practice through the voice of the nurse.
• There are three levels within our shared governance structure: Unit-Based Clinical Practice Councils, Support Councils, and Coordinating Councils

Professionalism

• We recognize and maintain boundaries that establish appropriate limits to relationships.
• We promote active involvement in nursing professional organizations.
• We conduct ourselves and behave in ways that exemplify the professional nurse.

Stewardship

• We accept and honor the trust placed in us through our faith-based mission.
• We follow through on all commitments.
• We maximize care by wisely using our resources.

Achievement and Recognition

Achievement and Recognition consists of lifelong learning, professional development, acknowledgement and celebration that is focused on the patient and family. We support our nursing practice through achievement and recognition. We are committed to the following:

Lifelong Learning

• We are curious and seek new approaches, processes, technology and practices to improve outcomes.
• We own and promote opportunities for professional growth.
• We recognize that learning is an ongoing process whereby both the learner and the teacher grow.

Professional Development

• We create an atmosphere that promotes personal and professional growth and change. We support growth through both formal and informal processes.
• We provide opportunities to achieve professional goals.
• Professional development programs include RISE (RNs inSearch of Excellence), a clinical ladder for the bedside nurse, financial support for specialty certification and nursing scholarships

Acknowledgement

• We value the accomplishments of our profession.
• We recognize and make visible the contributions of our colleagues.
• We celebrate our successes.

Celebration

• We celebrate the lives of patients and their families.
• We acknowledge the importance of celebrating the successes of our patients, families and staff.
• Nurses are celebrated through Nursing Stars, Power of One and DAISY Awards.

Professional Relationships

Professional relationships are comprised of community outreach, teaching, partnerships and accountability that promote the patient and family. Nursing practice is supported through our professional relationships. We are committed to the following:

Community Outreach

• We develop partnerships to identify the health care needs within the community.
• We extend our practice in the community to meet the health care needs of patients/families and groups.
• We support the community through volunteerism.

Teaching

• We encourage an atmosphere that promotes the opportunity for something extraordinary to happen.
• We incorporate teaching into all aspects of care. • We openly share information with patients and families to receive the best outcomes.
• We actively contribute to the professional development of others.

Partnerships

• We believe that patients and families are our partners in care.
• We believe that the collegial partnerships are fundamental to safe, reliable care.
• We openly share information to achieve the best outcome.

Accountability

• We are accountable for the quality of patient care by maintaining competence.
• We practice according to our profession’s code of ethics, standards of practices and legal regulations.
• We hold ourselves and others accountable for actions and outcomes in the care of our patients, their families and each other.
• We are accountable for the delegation of nursing care activities to nurses and other health care workers.

In December 2017, the Department of Nursing at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare (MLH) and the College of Nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) developed a collaborative relationship to promote a culture of inquiry in clinical care. Called the Nurse Scholars Program, the aims of the Academic Practice Partnership are to generate nursing research, advance nursing science, and advance nursing practice at all MLH hospitals.

Two Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare North (MLH-North) clinical nurses are in the first cohort that lasts 18 months. During monthly sessions, a UTHSC nurse scientist leads the scholars in learning basic principles of research and developing research studies, including submitting research proposals to the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Scholars are also learning how to write abstracts and manuscripts for publication and are honing their presentation skill. Additionally, each scholar completes an evidence-based practice project. Two studies have been completed at MLH-North and one is underway. The current study is examining prevalence and risk factors of bullying in the nursing workforce. Completed studies examined factors associated with patients leaving the Emergency Department before care was completed, and variables related to retention of new graduate nurses in the Nurse Residency Program.

MLH – North nurses are committee to contributing to the health and wellbeing of the communities we serve. A few examples of nurse’s involvement and contributions are mentioned below:

• Jacobs Well - a local church that is known for serving the community outside of their church walls.  Methodist North nursing and ancillary teams partner with Jacobs Well to help the homeless in our community. Every month we provide over 100 meals, and needed items such as socks, gloves, sunscreen, bug spray, and blankets and relevant healthcare education.  As our nurses go out into the homeless areas, they fellowship with the homeless community and provide teaching on topics which have included: dehydration, sun protection, nutrition, dental care, hypothermia and more. 
• Bartlett Expo- Nurse at North partner with the City of Bartlett  - Business Expo to provide free health screenings as one of our community outreach programs. These screenings include blood glucose, cholesterol, and blood pressure checks.  North nurses teach and educate hundreds of visitors at the expo on stroke, hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. 
• Health Screenings: Memphis libraries  -Raleigh, Bartlett).  Reaching out to support wellness in our community is a top priority for MLH North Nurses.  Nurses regularly volunteer to host health screenings at two local public libraries.  `BMI, Cholesterol, Blood Glucose and Blood pressure are free screenings offered on an ongoing basis at our library wellness events. 
• Diabetic Education classes- A group of 13 nurses partnered with a local quality group so they could provide diabetic education classes for the local community.  The classes are geared to the diabetic, pre-diabetic or family members affected by diabetes and last 1-2 hours, once a week for 6 weeks. The classes provide a solid foundation about diabetes along with education on nutrition, exercise, medication management and preventing complications. MLH North Nurses volunteering to teach this class are making a difference by improving the lives of the diabetic population in our community.

2018 Daisy Awards

• January: Edith Critelli, BSN, RN          
• February: Felecia Brown, RN            
• March: Amelia Crews, BSN RN              
• April: Lauren Wall, RN 
• May: Tanner Weir, RN 
• June: Brittany Clifft, RN
• July: Amanda Starnes, RN
• August: Patricia Piner, RN
• September: Jill Klobe, BSN, RN  
• October: Lauren Wall, RN
• November: DeNeil Feldmayer, BSN, RN
• December: Cassidy Cruse, BSN, RN

2018 Nursing STARS

Nursing Stars is MLH's annual recognition event to celebrate the outstanding nurses throughout our organization. Nursing Star recipients meet a robust set of criteria including: Professionalism, teamwork, community involvement, innovation and the science of nursing, and Patient and Family centered Care. Stars Banquet photos can be viewed at Congratulations 2018 Nursing Stars! 

2018 – North Stars:

            Linda Caughron RN    Nurse of the Year           4 North

            Kathy Chappell  RN, BSN                                     4 North

            Angie Johnson, RN, MSN                                     TJC/Observation

            Beth Bryant, RN                                                    CV Stepdown   

RN In Search of Excellence (RISE)

RISE is a voluntary, clinical advancement program for Methodist RNs who are committed to providing direct patient care and excellence in their profession. Using a 3 tiered approach, RISE encourages the RN to build their knowledge, skill and ability in areas of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) projects, education, leadership, service evidenced by improving outcomes.

This program provides financial and professional recognition for commitment to the nursing profession. IT encourages professional growth and focuses efforts to meet personal, unit and hospital goals while improving patient outcomes.