Guest Blogger - Nursing at Children's Specialized Hospital

Guest blogging is Karen DeWitt, Ed.D, RN, CNAA, Vice President Patient Care

I have the distinct honor of being the first guest blogger on Amy’s blog. And what else would I talk about than my twenty years experience nursing and working here at Children’s Specialized Hospital.

During my time at Children’s Specialized, nursing staff has always demonstrated compassion and competence with our patients and families. Our staff continue to deliver great clinical care as evidenced by our outstanding outcomes. Creativity and innovation have been the hallmark of our practice. When I started my career at Children's Specialized I was the Director of Nursing/Pre Admissions Coordinator and backup weekend supervisor who on off hours was expected to go into a dark room and develop stat x-ray films. Not an easy feat!

Here are a few changes I have noticed over the past two decades:

The professionalism of rehabilitation nurses has grown tremendously. There is now a certification in this specialty (CRRN), demonstrating expertise to nursing peers, CARF and the public. I am proud of the CRRNs we have on staff and urge our RNs to consider obtaining this certification.

Children’s Specialized developed a clinical ladder fifteen years before the practice became popular. Nurses who want to remain at the bedside can do so while achieving promotions and salary increases.

Another addition over the past twenty years is the position of restorative nursing assistants in long term care and rehab , This valuable position was added to facilitate bedside carry over of therapeutic interventions.

Nurses have become vital, participating members of our program teams. Like all great programs, this has been an evolutionary process. Nurses are assigned to teams and nursing representatives participate in patient care meetings and also the team program development meetings. At both meetings, nurses have a voice in program planning.

The Staff Nurse Advisory Committee was established as an additional way to involve staff nurses in decision making. It was initiated to address the rapid growth of change in rehab care and provide me with direct feedback from staff, which has guided me many times in decision making. Nurses are active on the Nursing Practice Committee which now utilizes evidence based research to establish best practices.

Nursing in Long Term Care has really grown as a service and is as large as our inpatient rehab program. All of our nursing assistants are now certified, demonstrating their special qualifications to care for this population. Last year, Judy Potter became the LTC Administrator / Nursing Administrator for both LTC sites. Mountainside LTC no longer has to share the Director of Nursing with Inpatient Rehab. Judy rounds with the staff on a regular schedule to keep in touch with their needs.

Opportunities have expanded for nursing staff to work in the outpatient settings with the addition of Pediatric Practice, Medical Day Care and new outpatient sites.

Let’s all take a few minutes to share your war stories or fond memories while nursing at CSH. Does anyone remember the Craig bed?

I’m sure there are many of you who have a fond memory or two. Please do not mention patients by name…