A New Professional Practice Model
The new JHH nursing structure will allow us to work as a collaborative body, rather than in our own functional unit. Councils have been created to help determine priorities for JHH professional practice improvements and innovations whose work will then flow to inter-professional/inter-department groups. The process by which a nurse can apply for a council is being finalized. Communities will be formed around topics including appropriate subject matter experts and frontline staff. Additionally, central nursing has been renamed the Office of Nursing Professional Practice. More information will be forthcoming.
Our Housestaff
We wish the 2018-2019 ACSs and SARs all the best, as many will be leaving us to advance in their careers. As you go about your activities, remember to thank those housestaff with whom you have worked this past academic year, and welcome new housestaff by helping with their orientation to your clinical area.
Regulatory Surveys
Surveys by outside regulatory agencies have become quite common these days. Ongoing readiness is important.
- On May 22, we had our triennial Joint Commission (TJC) survey. The surveyor recognized improvements and challenged us to make excellence a priority. Policy changes, auditing and more education will follow.
- An unannounced two-day visit occurred on June 4-5 due to a complaint by an anonymous patient last fall. The focus was patient rights, nursing and pharmacy services, discharge planning and quality improvements. We are awaiting the final report.
- This week, we had a two-day survey of the Blood Bank by the AABB/CAP. There were no citations, and the group remarked that our blood management processes were good.
- We will have another blood-focused survey on August 23 when the Joint Commission visits for our Blood Certification certificate renewal. The focus will be on blood and blood product conservation, patient safety and quality.
- A validation survey by CMS may occur at any time. CMS surveys a small percentage of facilities after Joint Commission surveys to validate findings.
- All staff who participate in preparation of the environment and staff education about survey-related requirements are appreciated!
Congrats, Ian!
Ian Morris, MICU nurse manager, graduated on May 18 from the University of Notre Dame of Maryland.
