Beebe honors Joanna Robertson with You Make a Difference Award

Joanna Robertson, RN, a nurse on the third-floor medical-surgical unit at Beebe Medical Center, has been honored with the You Make a Difference Award for January.

Robertson has been recognized for her tireless work toward improving patient care by leading an effort to institute the evidence-based practice of bedside reporting. The practice is a patient-centered initiative that allows the patient to participate in the nurses’ routine shift-change reporting process.

Research is showing that the practice improves communication between nurses and caregivers, as well as between the patients and their nurses and physicians. Traditionally, nurses do not meet in patient rooms when they discuss patients.

Last summer, in her new role as a nurse in the unit, Robertson suggested that the traditional shift reporting between nurses be changed. She had learned about bedside reporting while at nursing school and knew there were positive aspects to it in regard to improving patient care.

Robertson approached Margaret Porter, RN, MSN, the nurse manager of the unit, and asked if some nurses on the unit could pilot the practice. Knowing this was a significant change in nursing practice, Porter encouraged Robertson to make this a staff nurse-driven initiative and to organize and lead the pilot. Robertson prepared educational information for the core group of eight nurses and herself.

For three months, beginning in October 2011, she led meetings and classes, instructing staff on the change. During the month of December, classes were held to continue education for all nurses in the unit. Nurses from the orthopaedic unit also joined in so they could begin the process this winter.

During the trial period, both patients and their families began commenting on how much they enjoyed the added information. Then, Beebe Medical Center learned that the results of the Press Ganey Satisfaction patient surveys had markedly improved since October. The program is now being used throughout the medical-surgical unit on the third floor, and education is beginning so the process can go hospitalwide. Physicians also will be invited to participate.

“Joanna has given an enormous amount of time and effort toward the success of this initiative,” says Paul Minnick, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, vice president of Patient Care Services for Beebe Medical Center. “She has truly made a difference to the quality of care we give to our patients. The improvement in the handover communication from one caregiver to another also has improved patient safety.”

Beebe Medical Center’s You Make a Difference employee recognition program, established in 2002, gives employees the opportunity to recognize their colleagues for outstanding service. The program is similar to an employee of the month program, but 18 employees can be selected annually. Each nomination, submitted by fellow employees or management, must meet specific criteria, and is evaluated by the YMAD committee.

Winners are announced in a surprise ceremony in which the committee visits the winner in his or her department and presents the award. Employees selected for the award receive parking space with sign/plaque for a month; $100 check; letter of congratulations and personal visit from Jeffrey Fried, Beebe president and CEO; photo for wall plaque on hall outside of cafeteria; special pin for badge; letter to team member’s director; and department recognition.

Beebe Medical Center is a not-for-profit community medical center with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people residing, working, or visiting in the communities it serves. For more information, go to www.beebemed.org.