Publications
A Message from our Chief Nursing Officer
Nursing Progress Notes - Fall-Winter 2008
Dear nurse colleagues,
As you know, I like to take the opportunity to tell anyone who will listen about all of the outstanding nurse-led initiatives now in effect at our institution. You all are simply doing an outstanding job. This issue highlights four excellent examples of your hard work — programs that have truly transformed patient care at M. D. Anderson.
Let’s start with the nurses on G10 East. Through their work with interdisciplinary colleagues, they were able to successfully move discharge planning rounds out of the conference room and to the bedside. As a result, patients, loved ones and nurses - together - are more actively involved in the discharge process.
On P7, nurses have revolutionized the way M. D. Anderson cares for post-operative esophagectomy patients through the new “fast tracking to discharge” program. Through collaboration between nurses, thoracic surgeons and mid-level providers, these patients are bypassing the Intensive Care Unit and going to P7 directly from Recovery. Patient outcomes have been positively affected; average length of stay has been significantly reduced; and patients, family members and staff have all reported higher levels of satisfaction.
The new Post Anesthesia Care Transition Unit on P3 has improved the ever-important issue of patient throughput. The new unit provides a place for patients, who would normally stay in the PACU until an inpatient bed became available, to stay with their loved ones and still receive expert care from PACU nurses. And finally, nurses on P8 worked closely with the neurosurgeons to create the NeuroProgressive Care Unit, an alternative to the intensive care unit for some patients. The post-operative environment promotes quick recoveries for simpler procedures, and reduces the ICU’s patient load.
M. D. Anderson nurses are transforming care at the bedside every day, and I am honored to be a part of this exciting and vital nursing community.
Warm regards,
Barbara L. Summers, Ph.D.
Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer
Head, Division of Nursing
NPN Fall-Winter 2008
Cover Story
In This Issue
- Transforming nurses' ideas into practice: Taking discharge rounds to the bedside
- Fast tracking to discharge on P7: Postoperative nursing care of esophagectomy patients is critical
- PTU: Transitioning to a comfort zone
- NeuroProgressive Care Unit offers alternative to ICU
- Invest in your professional development