CONTACT: Roz Hutchinson, director of Communication and Public Relations, Via Christi Hospitals in Wichita, 316-719-3341 or Roz.Hutchinson@viachristi.org
WICHITA, APRIL 12, 2010 — Ruth Hommertzheim, ARNP, is the 2010 St. Catherine of Siena Nurse Recognition Award recipient, selected for being the Via Christi nurse who best represents the three Via Christi Core Values: Human Dignity, Stewardship and Excellence.
She and recipients of awards for individual Core Values and New-to-Nursing will be recognized during a Mass and dinner at 4 p.m. Sunday, April 25, at Via Christi Hospital on North St. Francis.
Brenda Davis, Medical/Surgical administrative nursing director, nominated Hommertzheim after working with her to standardize the best sterile technique when inserting PICC lines. A clinical nurse specialist and OR educator, Hommertzheim didn’t hesitate to help with the “difficult task,” Davis wrote.
“How may I help?” is always her response, and exemplifies her Human Dignity.
“Ruth always listened carefully, maintained eye contact and communicated in an open honest way while enforcing the plan that we developed. Ruth was careful to explain the reason the change was needed and to talk through and work through possible variations to accommodate the nurse as it was feasible,” often reminding staff, ‘This is the best for the patient.’ She always has a pleasant demeanor and approached all staff with kindness.”
Hommertzheim demonstrated Stewardship by weighing the costs and benefits of each change. Even though the new standard of practice increased the cost, she was able to make good suggestions for cutting costs in other areas.
She models high standards for Excellence, as well, and “facilitates other nurses’ understanding so that they join her passion for excellence,” wrote Davis. “Ruth always extends herself in outstanding service to others.” She and the IV team created a video on sterile technique for PICC insertion that has been copyrighted and is available online. Her knowledge of regulations makes her a “valuable resource” for Davis, who may ask her to assess a situation if she has a question.
“She follows up and approaches areas in which she has no authority and gets them to come into compliance with sterile technique,” Davis wrote. Then she checks back to see how they are doing. Her efforts are so appreciated by those she teaches, according to Davis, that nurses seek her input.
“They ask her to watch them insert PICC lines so we can be certain we are meeting the highest standards.” Read about the St. Catherine of Siena Core Value and New-To-Nursing Award winners in the bonus pages of VCTW, accessible on vShare.
St. Catherine of Siena Core Value Award winners
Also to be presented are awards for individual Via Christi Core Values.
Human Dignity Award
Matthew Cox, RN, serves patients and fellow staff members at Via Christi Behavioral Health Center so well that he is the 2010 St. Catherine of Siena Human Dignity Award recipient.
Behavioral Health Services Director Kay Myrick describes Cox as “one of the most outstanding nurses I have met.”
“Matt not only treats others with the utmost respect, but goes the ‘extra mile’ in conveying his acceptance of each person he encounters, whether it is a patient, co-worker, physician or family member.”
She also praises Cox’s “consistent positive attitude that is contagious to those around him. He meets challenges with a smile and a concerned manner. He has a sense of humor that is treasured by those who work with him. He has excellent critical thinking skills, and makes sound decisions.”
Co-workers Kara Liss, RN, and Melissa Buffington, RN, wrote that “Matt is always willing to help others no matter how busy he might be.” They describe him as a “stable and consistent team member whether he is working as a unit RN or as house supervisor.” He stays over when help is needed and has brought other staff to work in bad weather.
Michelle Hook, RN, house manager at the center, describes Cox as “professional, patient-focused and proficient in all areas of psychiatric nursing,” noting his ability to talk angry, intoxicated or psychotic patients out of harming others. Hook credits his success in nursing to his “compassion and respect for others.”
Myrick concurs: “He truly holds each person as sacred. He exemplifies his commitment to the core value of Human Dignity daily.”
Stewardship Award
Sandy Johnson, RN, charge nurse for the Coronary Care Unit at Via Christi Hospital on East Harry, has been named St. Catherine of Siena Stewardship Award winner for 2010.
After just six months as CICU director, Veronica Bargas nominated Johnson for her “deep commitment” to Stewardship during her leadership through 2009. Johnson cared responsibly for CCU staff with coaching and praise. Her documentation and maintenance of employee files were invaluable to Bargas at annual review time.
Johnson’s stewardship also was reflected in her “conscious effort in valuing resources which were entrusted to her” and her development of a “consistent process to dramatically decrease medical supply cost” for the unit, Bargas wrote.
Stewardship is a consistent, long-term effort for Johnson. Bargas writes that she saved the CCU tens of thousands of dollars by actively observing medical supply use and removing expensive items, while maintaining a process that kept supplies readily available. At the same time, she described the process to nursing staff who continue to adhere to it today.
“Sandy seeks out opportunities to continue the high standards practiced by the CCU staff,” wrote Bargas. She does this by communicating medical changes and asking for staff input on changing issues. Both helped to maintain high morale for staff going through many large changes including new leadership.
“Thanks, Sandy, for all you do.”
Excellence Award
Alyce Davis’ desire to serve others, and to do so “as a servant of God,” has brought her the 2010 St. Catherine of Siena Excellence Award.
Davis is a case manager in Oncology at Via Christi Hospital on North St. Francis where “her case assignments are heavy, and emotionally she is given a daily challenge,” said her nominator Judy Dusek, manager, Clinical Nurse Specialists. “She finds the strength to dig deep within herself to find the right words, even in the most difficult situations. She meets impending death on a weekly basis with patients and their families and with each situation she is present to them.”
Davis also demonstrates her excellence in two adjunct nursing faculty positions as she applies the didactic to the clinical with third-semester nursing students from Wichita State University and with second-semester nursing students from Newman University.
“The nursing students praise her as an advocate for student learning, and for her patience in assisting them with their application of critical thinking to the clinical setting,” Dusek wrote. Davis serves as a volunteer lector every Wednesday at noon Mass in the Chapel of the Sorrowful Mother, and as a Eucharist minister on weekends, carrying Holy Communion to the sick at the Hospital. On alternate weekends, she takes Holy Communion to the homebound of St. Thomas Aquinas parish. For the past two years, she has spent her vacations as a nurse in the first aid clinic in Lourdes (France), assisting with patients’ emergency needs.
Citing Davis’ integrity and professionalism, Dusek writes, “It is an honor to endorse Alyce Davis for this award.”
St. Catherine of Siena New-to-Nursing Award
Patrick Gronau joined 7SE at Via Christi Hospital on North St. Francis as an RN in June 2009, after working as a nurse tech in the Resource Pool. His worthiness of the New-to-Nursing Award is validated by Marcy Renollet, RN, his unit director who nominated him: “Because of his positive attitude and how he interacts with patients, Patrick already started precepting for us. We want new staff to learn from the best and copy their style.”
Patients comment on Gronau’s reassuring and calm bedside care, as he keeps them informed and ensures they understand new orders and the plan for their care.
“He is truly nonjudgmental and treats all patients with dignity and respect,” Renollet wrote, also taking time to enumerate his value to the co-workers in his unit.
“He has a reputation on the unit as someone who is always upbeat and optimistic,” coupled with his high level of professionalism and integrity. “He is an active learner, stays current on unit and organization expectations, and simply raises the bar for other staff members when he’s here.”
How does he do that? “He simply doesn’t have the ‘that’s not my patient’ attitude as he can be seen on every hallway answering lights and checking on staff.”
Renollet ends with one of Gronau’s most impressive qualities: “Modeling the Core Values comes easy for him. He doesn’t have to work at it. He is a great asset to our unit!”
