West Penn Celebrates 3rd Anniversary of
Magnet Recognition
On January 29, 2010, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Nursing Division celebrated its third anniversary of recognition as Pittsburgh's first Magnet hospital.
"Congratulations and thank you to everyone who contributes to excellence in patient care at West Penn," said Rose Gaglia, MPM, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at the Hospital. "When I look back over the past three years, I am overwhelmed and so very proud of all of you. Without you, we wouldn't have the outstanding quality of patient care we have today."
Rose Gaglia, MPM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, The Western Pennsylvania Hospital, gives remarks at the January 29, 2009, celebration hosted by the Nursing Division to mark its third anniversary of achieving Magnet™ Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
"We're also looking forward to challenges," she said, "both those facing everyone in health care and challenges facing West Penn. While we don't know what the future will bring, I am tremendously encouraged by our recent achievements. We have seen significant improvements in quality patient care indicators, such as rates of catheter-associated bacteremia, urinary tract infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia."
"We have also seen dramatic achievements in the Nursing Division," she continued, "such as the increase in the number of certified nurses at West Penn. Nursing's shared governance model is maturing, with staff participating in the challenges and decisions affecting them and the care they provide. Just this month, we welcomed inpatient obstetrics and neonatal staff from Allegheny General Hospital to our campus. Integration has been a huge task, but thanks to everyone's enthusiasm, courage and energy it has been completed in just six months. This is very exciting for West Penn."
West Penn Hospital nurses review the bountiful information on certification in a nursing specialty provided at the Magnet anniversary celebration. West Penn nurses earned certification at a record rate in the past fiscal year.
Displayed at the celebration were 16 scientific posters on performance improvement, nursing research, shared governance and other topics. In addition, past issues of Professional Paradigms and a wide array of brochures about certification in nursing specialties were displayed.
The celebration also included delicious hors d'oeuvres and desserts, such as the Nursing Division's "signature" chocolate fountain; raffles for a variety of Magnet-logo items; and a sale of Magnet jackets, with proceeds benefiting the West Penn Hospital nursing continuing education fund
.
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Cynthia Petraglia, RN, Nominated for AHA Award
Cynthia A. Petraglia, RN, Vascular Nurse Coordinator, The
Western Pennsylvania Hospital, was nominated for the American Heart Association’s 2010 Mary Ann Scully Excellence in Nursing Award. This award is presented to a nurse who demonstrates a lifetime commitment to cardiac nursing and exemplary commitment to the mission of the American Heart Association.
Ms. Petraglia’s 37-year career in cardiovascular nursing has ranged from cardiothoracic intensive care to post-open-heart surgery care to ambulatory care, currently with outpatients of the Gerald McGinnis Cardiovascular Institute at West Penn Hospital.
According to nomination forms, this “master of service excellence goes the extra mile for all of her customers, be they patients, families, physicians, co-workers, or visitors.” Ms. Petraglia “is an outstanding educator” who developed or contributed to numerous patient education materials and taught preoperative patient and family classes for several years, precepted new staff, presented four Nursing Grand Rounds, personally purchased
educational resources for staff, and serves as liaison for the twice weekly WPH/AGH cardiovascular webinars.
Ms. Petraglia’s dedication carries over into her many volunteer activities, which include serving as a parish nurse for 15 years and contributing to and participating in annual events such as the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk and events in support of diabetes, cancer and community health.
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West Penn Abstracts Accepted by IHI
Three abstracts authored by nurses and other professionals at The Western Pennsylvania were accepted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI).
An abstract by Bonnie Mihalchik, BSN, RN, CIC, Manager, Infection Prevention and Control and the directors of Environmental Services and of Clinical Informatics and Process Improvement showed that efforts at West Penn successfully reduced the rate of C. difficile infection by 40% in FY2009 compared to FY 2008.
An abstract submitted by Kelly Wyland, BSN, RN, Senior Clnical Data Analyst, Process Improvement Department, detailed how working together with Nursing and Case Management, the Hospital achieved a 32.1% improvement in compliance with Joint Commission pneumococcal vaccine measures over the past year.
The third abstract, compiled by Lisa Ware, BSN, RN, Senior Clinical Data Analyst, Process Improvement Department, was titled “Beyond the Guidelines: Reducing VTE in an Acute Care Setting” and described how, working with the Hospital's Chief Medicdal Officer, an Intensivist physician, and Patricia Black, MSN, RN, CCRN, Manager, Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit, the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) was reduced in the acute care setting by implementation of universal VTE risk assessment and appropriate prophylaxis compliance.
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West Penn Patients Nominate 4 Nurses for Post-Gazette's "Best of the Best"
Four nurses from The Western Pennsylvania Hospital were nominated by their patients to be named "Best of the Best" in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette's Special Advertising Section published Sept. 30, 2009:
- Therese Curtis, RN, CN II, Cardiothoracic ICU
- Neal Leskovic, RN, CN II, T9 Progressive Care Unit
- Michele Ostrowski, BSN, RN, Infection Control and Prevention
- Anna Marie Pozycki, BSN, RN, PCCN, Clinical Coordinator, T9 Progressive Care Unit
Congratulations to all for this recognition of excellence in nursing at West Penn Hospital!
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West Penn Hosted National Magnet Conferences
On May 18-19 and May 20, 2009, West Penn Hospital's Nursing Division hosted national Magnet conferences, with attendees at both conferences coming from as far away as Texas.
West Penn's Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Rose Gaglia, MPM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC (far right), and Magnet Recognition Director Jacqueline Collavo, BSN, RN, NE-BC, talk with a Magnet Conference attendee at the May 18-19 conference hosted by The Western Pennsylvania Hospital Nursing Division.
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Contact West Penn's Director of Magnet Recognition.
