Exploring the Relationship between Nurse Work Anxiety and Pet Assisted Therapy
Jeff Coto and Andrea Cinnamon have been selected for a podium presentation at the Magnet Conference in Philadelphia, PE in October 2022. The article has also been accepted for publication in the Journal of Nursing Administration. The RMG is very proud of their accomplishments! We want to share their accomplishments with all of Riverside!
A Letter from the CNO
Riverside believes in a culture of safety where timely reporting of errors and a comprehensive, confidential peer-review process in which errors can be examined justly.
Recently, RaDonda Vaught, a former nurse from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was criminally convicted for reckless homicide and abuse of an impaired adult after mistakenly administering the wrong medication that killed an elderly patient in 2017.
We do not want this incident to spark fear of criminalization for the reporting of human error amongst members of our team. The medication administration error, which she self-reported, casts a shadow over the nursing profession which has been caring for patients and communities tirelessly and wearily during the global pandemic amidst historic workforce shortages
The nursing profession is deeply disappointed with the conviction which prompted the ANA to release the following statement:
“The Code of Ethics for Nurses states that while ensuring that nurses are held accountable for individual practice, errors should be corrected or remediated, and disciplinary action taken only if warranted. ANA cautions against accidental medical errors being tried in a court of law. Health care is highly complex and ever-changing, resulting in a high risk and error-prone system. Organizational processes and structures must support a “just culture”, which recognizes that health care professionals can make mistakes and systems may fail. All nurses and other health care professionals must be treated fairly when errors occur. “
As a Magnet® designated organization, we at Riverside are committed to the development of action plans to quickly address system gaps using evidence-based practice. We have demonstrated over the past several months combatting Covid-19 our commitment to guide our staff through in-time training, the creation of policies and procedures, and increased leader visibility and support.
Nursing Career Ladder
Riverside Healthcare is an organization that provides career development opportunities to learn and grow. Our Nursing Career Ladder is designed to recognize nurses’ contributions to Riverside and the nursing profession. The ladder is an incentive structure that encourages ongoing professional growth. Whether you are a new graduate nurse or experienced, the ladder provides relevant opportunities and rewards for you.
More information about Riverside’s Nursing Career Ladder can be found in the forms section of PolicyStat. If you have questions email [email protected]
Happy Certified Nurses Day!
Some of Riverside’s Certified Nurses gathered to celebrate Certified Nurses day.
A certified nurse chooses to go the extra step to stand out from their peers and prove they have advanced skills, knowledge, and experience.
DAISY Award: Moranda M.
Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer LaTivia Carr, along with Riverside President and CEO Phil Kambic were on hand today to recognize our most recent D.A.I.S.Y. award recipient. Congratulations, Moranda Matheson, RN from I.M.C.U.!
The nomination received was submitted by the family of a patient cared for by nurse Matheson and read: On January 7th, 2022, around 7:35 p.m. I called the step-down I.C.U. to get an update on my mother, Patricia Hatfield, who was being treated for COVID pneumonia. Charge Nurse Moranda Matheson answered my call. Nurse Matheson spoke to me for 30 minutes or more, answering all of my questions in detail with kindness and sympathy, never once rushing to get off the phone. After my questions were answered, Nurse Matheson asked when was the last time I spoke to my mom.
I replied Thursday night when she left her home via ambulance. I began to cry because my mom was all alone, with no phone, and we were not allowed to see her. All my mom knew was that she was sick and in the hospital and that I was right behind her thinking I would be able to stay with her. All I could think was that she must’ve been so scared all alone with no way of knowing anything. You see, my mother had the beginning stages of dementia. She got confused a lot. Her children were the only ones she trusted. Nurse Matheson asked me if I had an iPhone and I said my daughter does. She then gave me her personal number and said, “give me a few minutes and have her FaceTime me.” After a few minutes, we called and we were greeted with a smile and a wave by my mom. I was able to reassure my mom that she was okay, that the nurses were taking good care of her, that she was not alone, that we would be there as soon as the hospital would allow us, but most importantly, we were able to tell my mom that we all loved her so much and with joy in my mother’s heart, she replied that she loved us all. With this incredible act of kindness, Nurse Matheson had given my mother the comfort and reassurance she needed and although we didn’t know it at the time, Nurse Matheson had given us all the greatest blessing one could have: a chance to make sure my mom knew we loved her and for my mom to reply to us before God called her home the next morning.
My mother left this world knowing she wasn’t alone and she was so very loved. She got to say “I love you all” one last time because one amazing charge nurse unselfishly turned around and picked up the phone even though she was walking out the doors to go home for the night. To our angel Moranda Matheson, we will never be able to thank you enough for the precious and irreplaceable gift you have given us. You will forever be proof that God works through his people and that angels do walk the earth. May God bless you and yours always with lots of thanks and love, Patricia Hatfield’s family.
