Seventh Annual Nursing Research Conference Draws Record Attendance

The 2016 UM Shore Regional Health Nursing Conference, held May 13 at Chesapeake College’s new Allied Health Professions and Athletic Center, was a great success, attracting the highest attendance — 75 nurses — ever in the seven years the Conference has been held.

The keynote speaker was Karen Gabel Speroni,  chair of the UM Shore Regional Health Nursing Research Council. Speroni has 30 years of experience in biomedical research and is a consultant for hospitals and other health care organizations on research process and infrastructure. She addressed the topic, “Connecting the Dots Through Nursing Inquiry.”

Other morning presentations included:

• Performance Measurement, FOCUS PDSA, and Change Management,  byRobert Carroll, MBA, CPHQ, MHP, director, Performance Measurement and Improvement;
• Process Improvements and Current Practice, a panel presentation by Renee Edsall, MS, RN; Ryan Foster, MS, RN; Cathy Weber, BSN, RN; Jennifer Miles, MS, RN; Lisa Eisemann, BSN, RN; and Mandy Bounds, MS, RN
• Real Life Experiences of the Nursing Research Intern, by Mickey C. Roderick MS, RN, CCRN, Nursing Research Intern, January-June, 2015

Before the lunch break, “Pink Card” Contest winners were announced and other awards presented.  2016 “Pink Card” Contest Winners are:

Research Idea Winner: UM Shore Medical Center at Easton, 3 East Staff Nurses. Idea:  Does the use of IV acetaminophen decrease length of stay (LOS), decrease narcotic use, and improve pain control in post-operative medical surgical patients?

Evidence-Based Practice Idea Winners: Diana Cox, RN and Sam Stevens, RN, representing UM Shore Medical Centers at Dorchester’s 2 East and Critical Care Units. Idea:  Modify patient room white-boards to improve communication and pain management with patients

Quality Improvement Idea Winners: Christina Seningen, RN and Kim Seward, RN, representing UM Shore Medical Center at Easton’s Emergency Department. Idea:  Propose the use of ER Wait-Time Monitors which provide communication with patients and improve patient satisfaction.

Karen Spies Award: The 2016 winner of the Karen Spies Award is Marcia Shapiro, MSN, RN, of the UM Shore Medical Center at Easton Emergency Department, for her research study: Relationship between Emergency Department Patient Anxiety Level and Provision of Medication History . Shapiro will be presenting her research study poster at the 2016 ANCC National Magnet Conference in Orlando, Florida. The Karen Spies Award was established in 2009 by Karin Brown in recognition of the professional service and caring demeanor shown to her parents by  Karen Spies, RN. Criteria for selection to receive the award are:

• Relevance of study to provision of care
• Benefit to education/research and principles of nursing practice
• Willingness to promote research to the larger community
• Use of the scientific method
• Potential benefits to UM SRH
• Alignment with the nursing mission: to excel in quality care and patient satisfaction

 In Recognition: Special recognition for service and contributions to nursing research at UM Shore Regional Health was given to Kim Billingslea, MS, RN,  past Institutional Review Board (IRB) member;  Barbara Bilconish, MS, RN,  past Nursing Research Executive Team member; Ruth Sullivan MS, RN, community member; and Sharon Richter, BSN, RN, past IRB member.

Nursing research presentations offered after lunch were:

• Is that Really Evidence-Based Practice? Fact or Fiction, by Amy Stafford, DNP, RN CMSRN Clinical Specialist
• Quality Improvement in Heart Failure Patients, by Sherrie Hill, MSN, RN,CCRN,CHFN,   Coordinator, Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, UM SMC at Chestertown
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA), by Jean Seiler RN, MA, BSN, CPPS, Clinical Quality Coordinator/Educator