Joanne Trivelis, RN, BSN, OCN, a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at Torresdale Campus, was awarded Level IV status. Ms. Trivelis is a member of the
Performance Improvement (PI) Council and had developed PI monitor tools for pre-op patients and patients with intravenous
access devices. She is also a staff preceptor and served on the 2005 Community Fair Planning Committee.
Pamela Hilty, RN, CEN, is a Lead nurse in the Emergency Room at Bucks Campus, and was awarded Level III recognition. Ms. Hilty participated in
a community health Fair held at Flowers Mill and was a member of the planning committee for the 2005 Community health Fair
held at the bucks County Campus. She also serves as a staff preceptor and presented a Lecture on Pre-Hospital Care and Spinal
Immobilization for the hospital’s Trauma Course.
Ann Marie Schlupp, RNC, BSN, a staff nurse on 2A/Telemetry at Torresdale campus, received Level III recognition. Ms. Schlupp is a member of the Performance
Improvement Council and serves as a staff preceptor. She is also a Wound Care Nurse and participates in quarterly Wound Prevalence
Studies by assisting with data collection regarding pressure wounds, their origin, treatment and documentation.
Colleen Curran, RNC, BSN is a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at Torresdale Campus and was awarded Level III designation. Ms. Curran participated
in the development of the “Falling Star Program”, a Fall Prevention Program designed to decrease patient injury related to
falls. She participated in educating staff regarding the program and related documentation. She also serves as a staff preceptor
on her unit.
Ann Marie Reid, RN, BSN, CEN, PHRN, is a staff nurse in the Emergency Room at the Bucks County Campus. She received Level IV status. Ms. Reid served on the
2005 Community Fair Planning Committee. She has presented lectures on Chest and Gastrointestinal injuries at the hospital’s
Trauma Course. She also serves as a staff preceptor.
Ann Marie Collier, RNC, a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at the Torresdale Campus, received Level III designation. Ms. Collier assisted in
the development of a tool to track post discharge patient phone interviews. She developed a poster presentation to educate
staff regarding Uterine Embolization procedure to treat fibroid tumors. She also serves as a staff preceptor.
Bonnie Pembroke, RNC, BSN, is a staff nurse on 5 East at Frankford Campus and was awarded Level IV recognition. Ms. Pembroke is a staff preceptor and
served as the Magnet Champion for her unit. She participated in the development of the “Falling Star” Program, a Fall Prevention
Program designed to decrease patient injury related to falls. She also developed a poster presentation to educate staff regarding
Hispanic culture.
Diane Olivieri, RNC, a staff nurse on 5 East at Frankford Campus, received Level III designation. Ms. Olivieri serves on the Hand Hygiene Monitoring
Task Force, which is gathering data regarding hand-washing compliance and developing an action plan to improve hand-washing
practices. She also serves as a Wound Care Nurse and a staff preceptor.
Janet Lynch, RN, CEN is a staff nurse in the Emergency Room at Torresdale Campus and received Level III recognition. Ms Lynch served as a volunteer
providing emergency medical care with some of her colleagues during the Live 8 concert, held on July 2, 2005 in Philadelphia.
Ms. Lynch also serves as a staff preceptor, served on the 2005 Community Fair Committee and Magnet Champion for her department.
Carol M. Ross, RN, OCN, a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at Torresdale Campus, was awarded Level III designation. Ms. Ross participated in the
development of the “Falling Star” Program, a Fall Prevention Program designed to decrease patient injury related to falls.
She participated in educating staff regarding the program and related documentation. She also serves as a staff preceptor
on her unit.
Shari Glaskin, RN, BSN, CCRN, is a staff nurse in the Electrophysiology Lab (EP) at Torresdale campus and was awarded Level IV recognition. Ms Glaskin
serves as a staff preceptor and has provided inservices regarding heart valve evaluations. She has served on the 2005 Community
Fair Committee and speaks to high school students regarding careers in healthcare through the Explorer Program – Post 911
Dawn Ward, RNC, BSN, is a staff nurse on 5 East at Frankford Campus and received Level IV recognition. Ms. Ward serves on the Hand Hygiene Monitoring
Task Force, which is gathering data regarding hand-washing compliance and developing an action plan to improve hand-washing
practices. She is a staff preceptor, serves as a Magnet Champion and served on the 2005 Community Fair Committee.
Christy Butler, RN, BSN, a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Torresdale Campus, received Level I designation. Ms. Butler developed
a poster presentation to educate the ICU staff regarding Acute Respirator Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and methods to improve
patient outcomes. She also serves on the Beacon Committee, which is submitting an application to the American Association
of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) for the unit to be recognized for AACN’s Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence.
Christine McPeak, RN, BSN, ONC, a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at Torresdale Campus, achieved Level IV designation. Ms. McPeak serves on the Hand
Hygiene Monitoring Task Force, which is gathering data regarding hand-washing compliance and developing an action plan to
improve hand-washing practices. She developed a poster presentation to educate staff regarding radiofrequency ablation and
she developed reference sheets to assist nurses in preparing patients for a variety of interventional radiology procedures.
Ms. McPeak also participated in a community health fair held at Flowers Mill in Bucks County.
Juliann Nederostek, RN, BSN, MAEd, BA, is a lead nurse on the 3C/Telemetry Unit at Torresdale Campus and was awarded Level IV status. Ms. Nederostek is the co-chairperson
of the Clinical Practice and Information Management Council. She is a member of the Magnet Steering Committee and a leader
for a Magnet Excellence Team (MET). Each MET is developing a portion of the hospital’s application for Magnet Recognition
(which recognizes excellence in nursing) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a branch of the American Nurses Association.
She has also serves as a staff preceptor.
Eileen Smith, RNC, a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at Torresdale Campus, achieved Level III recognition. Ms. Smith is a member of the
2005 Community Fair Committee. She developed a staff inservice to educate staff on myocardial ischemia and injury and related
interventions. She also serves as a staff preceptor.
Rachel Derr, RNC, MSN recently received her Masters Degree in Nursing from University of Phoenix. She works part time in the Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit at Torresdale Campus. She is also currently an instructor at LaSalle University.
Bruce Alan Boxer PhD, RN, CEN, a staff nurse in the Emergency Room at Frankford Hospital,Torresdale Campus, recently received his Doctor of Philosophy
in Health Studies and Public Health degree from Temple University. Dr. Boxer’s dissertation topic was “The Relationship between
Patient and Provider Expectations of Asthma Management and their Effect on Asthma Control.”
Kimberly A Burgess, RNC, MSN, Lead RN on 2B, Torresdale Campus was awarded Level V. Ms. Burgess has presented on pelvic trauma at the Trauma Update Course.
She has also served a nurse preceptor, presented a first aid/safety presentation to Girls Scouts and been involved in development
of research regarding education of heart failure patients and outcomes.
Elizabeth Beasley, RN, BSN, CEN, SANE-A is a staff nurse at the Bucks Campus Emergency Room. Ms. Beasley is a certified Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) and
has presented lectures on the topic to nurses, interns and medical residents. She has also presented a lecture on drug overdoses
in the Critical Care Course and has served as a nurse preceptor. She has been awarded Level IV status.
Michelle Borelli, RNC, BSN, CBC is a staff nurse and lactation consultant in the Labor/Delivery/Postpartum Unit. She had achieved Level IV status. Ms. Borelli
has conducted inservices and poster presentations regarding the utilization of breast milk in feeding VLBW (Very Low Birth
Weight) infants. She has also conducted inservicing for health professionals regarding the use of electric breast pump.
Christina Harkins, RNC, BSN is a staff nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Torresdale Campus and has received Level IV recognition. Ms.
Harkins has presented an inservice to her peers regarding hepatitis and a poster presentation on the pre-medication of neonates
requiring intubation. She has also served as a nurse preceptor and participated in the NICU Carnival, an event to increase
staff and visitor awareness of current neonatal therapies and research.
Cheri McCarthy, RNC, BSN is a staff nurse on 4W at the Frankford Campus. Ms. McCarthy has lectured on both blood product administration and DIC (Disemminated
Intravascular Coagulopathy) in the Critical Care Course. She has also served as a nurse preceptor and Magnet Champion for
her unit. Ms. McCarthy was awarded Level IV status.
Gerri McWilliams, RN, BSN, CCRN is a staff nurse in the Post Anesthesia Recovery Unit (PACU) at Torresdale Campus. She was awarded Level IV recognition.
Ms. McWilliams has many years of critical care experience and served as a nurse preceptor there, prior to accepting a position
in the PACU. She is a member of the Hand Hygiene Monitoring Task Force and the Clinical Practice and Information Management
council. Ms. McWilliams has also been an active member of the Patient Education Committee, which has recently implemented
a web-based education program.
Suzanne Covolesky, RNC is a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at Torresdale Campus and was awarded Level III status. Ms. Covolesky is a member
of the Hospital’s Medication Safety Committee and serves as a nurse preceptor. She was recently involved in a community health
fair in Bucks County, where she participated in the stroke assessment team, blood pressure screening and education of participants.
Robbin DeMuth, RN, MSN, an Emergency Room nurse at the Bucks Campus, received Level III recognition. Ms. DeMuth works as a SANE (Sexual Assault
Nurse Examiner), participates in the SANE Committee and serves as a preceptor. She also presented on Evidence Collection
for the Sexually Assaulted Victim in the Trauma Update. Ms. DeMuth was the co-chairperson of the Nursing Coordinating Council,
which helps guide the activities of the Performance Improvement, Clinical Practice/Information Management and Resource/Professional
Development Councils.
Cecilia A. Fox, RNC, BSN is a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at Torresdale Campus and has been awarded Level III status. Ms. Fox is a member
of the Resource and Professional Development Council. She is a member of the Professional Nurse Recognition Program Review
Committee and the GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Subcommittee. Ms. Fox also served as a nurse preceptor.
Cathy Frazier, RN, BSN is a staff nurse in the Stepdown Unit at Torresdale Campus. She has received Level III recognition. She is a member of the
Performance Improvement Committee and the Research Committee. Ms. Frazier is currently a co-investigator in the research study
“Effectiveness of Comprehensive Oral Hygiene and Maintaining the Semi-recumbent Position in Decreasing the Incidence of Ventilator
Associated Pneumonia (VAP).”
Kimberly Ann Hogan, RNC, is a staff nurse in the NICU at Torresdale Campus. Ms Hogan is the Clinical Study Coordinator for the Vermont Oxford Network
CPAP Study and presents inservices to the NICU staff regarding care of the infant receiving NCPAP therapy. She presented a
poster presentation regarding the management of pre-term infants at high risk for RDS (Respiratory Distress Syndrome). She
has been awarded Level III status.
Denise Serfass, RNC is a staff nurse on 1 South at the Bucks Campus. She has received Level III recognition. Ms. Serfass participated in a community
health fair in Bucks County, where she participated in the stroke assessment team, blood pressure screening and education
of participants. She also serves a nurse preceptor and developed a poster presentation to educate staff on respiratory and
metabolic acid/base imbalances.
Susan Shotzbarger, RNC is a staff nurse on 4B and part-time nursing supervisor at the Torresdale Campus. She is her unit's Magnet Champion and serves
on the Magnet Steering Committee. She is also a MET (Magnet Excellence Team) leader, which is responsible for compiling evidence
and writing narratives to support our application for Magnet Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center or
ANCC (credentialing arm of the American Nurses Association - ANA). Ms. Shotzbarger serves as a nurse preceptor and in June,
2005 participated in a missionary trip to El Salvador. She has been awarded Level III status.
Dana Smith, RNC is a staff nurse on 2B at the Torresdale Campus and achieved Level III status. Ms. Smith is a member of the Resource and
Professional Development Council and is a member of the GEM (Going the Extra Mile) Committee. She also serves as a nurse preceptor.
Megan Trinsey, RNC, BSN is a float nurse at the Torresdale Campus and has achieved Level III Status. She is member of the Fall Protocol Task Force,
which developed our new “Falling Star” Risk Assessment program. Ms. Trinsey is also a Magnet Champion and is a member of the
Wound Care Committee, and serves as a resource for wound issues. With experience as a Super-User in our clinical computer
system, Ms. Trinsey served on our hospital’s multidisciplinary team which hosted another facility’s visit to view and inquire
about the system.
John Bates, RN is a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at the Torresdale Campus and achieved Level II status. He is a member of the
Nursing Coordinating Council and serves as a nurse preceptor. He is also a certified CPR instructor and educates health care
professionals in appropriate measures regarding administration of cardiopulmonary life support.
Frankford Hospital is being honored this year with a Recognition Certificate during the CEN Recognition Breakfast at the 2005
ENA (Emergency Nurses Association) Annual Meeting in Nashville Tennessee. Cathy Markey RN, BSN, CCRN, CEN (Nurse Educator) will be representing Frankford Hospital to accept this award.
Dawn Wysocki, RRT, RN published an article in the Advance for Respiratory Care Practitioners (November 29, 2004; Volume 17, No 25), titled "Ventilator-Associated
Pneumonia: Costly Complication of Mechanical Ventilation." This article discusses etiology and incidence, risk factors and
interventions, rationale for care as well as a call for an interdisciplinary team approach to develop and implement preventative
strategies.
Nancy Larkins, RN, MSN, CCRN, a staff nurse 3C/Telemetry at Torresdale Campus, was awarded Level V status. She is an co-investigator in the research
protocol, "Effectiveness of Comprehensive Oral Hygiene and Maintaining the Semi-recumbent Position in decreasing the Incidence
of Ventilator Acquired Pneumonia." This study plans to validate the implementation of these nursing measures (i.e. oral mouth
care regimen and semi-recumbent positioning) as an effective method to decrease the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia,
thus improving patient outcomes and impact on cost effectiveness by decreasing patient length of stay. Larkins has also presented
regarding care of patient with coronary artery disease in our Critical Care Course.
Cyndi DiChiara, RN, BSN, CCRN, a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Bucks Campus, received Level IV status. She is a member of the Critical Care
Education Committee and has presented poster in-services regarding cardiac medications and pacemakers. She serves as a staff
preceptor and is a member of the Clinical Practice and Information Management Council.
Carolyn McGonagle, RN, BSN, CCRN received Level IV recognition. She recently accepted a charge nurse position in the Intensive Care Unit at Torresdale Campus.
She served a co-chairperson of the Clinical Practice and Information Management Council and is a member of the Critical Care
Subcommittee. She is a certified CPR instructor served as a staff preceptor.
M. Sue McMullen, RN, MSN, CCRN, a staff nurse in the Observation Unit at Torresdale Campus, received Level IV status. She is a member of the Resource and
Professional Development Council and the PNRP Review Committee. She participated in the development of the program, as well
as education of the nursing staff regarding the new program. McMullen presented “Thyroid and Parathyroid Review” at a recent
Medical Surgical Update. She is also a member of the Research Committee. She was a hospital Employee of the Month in 2004.
Noreen Quinn, RN, BC, BSN, a staff nurse on 4B/Telemetry at Torresdale Campus, was awarded Level IV recognition. She is a member of the Performance
Improvement Council and is responsible for coordinating data collection on her unit. Quinn is co-chairperson of the Wound
Care Committee and participates in our Wound Prevalence Study. She also serves as a staff preceptor.
Bruce Boxer, RN, MA, PhD Candidate, a staff nurse in the Emergency Department at Torresdale Campus, was awarded Level III status. He is the principle investigator
in the research protocol “The Relationship between Patient and Provider Expectations of Asthma Management and its Effect on
Asthma Control.” Boxer is also the editor of the Torresdale ER newsletter.
Barbara Burch, RN, CNOR, a staff nurse in the Operating Room at Torresdale Campus, received Level III status. She developed a patient safety flyer
and a poster presentation regarding Correct Site surgery. Burch also performed a staff survey and developed a staff presentation
regarding retained surgical paraphernalia.
Anita Mohn-Hamilton, RN, CEN, is a staff nurse in the Emergency Department at Bucks Campus and received Level III status. She is a staff preceptor and
is a member of the Resource and Professional Development Council and the Products Committee. Mohn-Hamilton is a unit Magnet
Champion, member of the Magnet Steering Committee and is a team leader for our facility’s Magnet application. She also co-authored
a cultural diversity poster presentation.
Laurie Pinto, RNC, a staff nurse on 1 South/Medical Surgical Unit at Bucks Campus, received Level III recognition. She is the co-chairperson
for the Clinical Practice and Information Management Council. Pinto is also a staff preceptor and Magnet Champion for her
unit. She is a member of the hospital’s Medication Safety Committee.
Justa M. Giambrone, RN, a staff nurse in the Stepdown Unit at Torresdale Campus, received Level II status. She is a member of the Clinical Practice
and Information Management Council and serves as a staff preceptor. She co-presented a unit-based educational program on cardiac
medications.
Cathleen Lopez, RN, CCRN, a staff nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Bucks Campus, was awarded Level II status. She is a member of the Performance
Improvement Committee and is a staff preceptor. Lopez is a member of the Wound Care Committee and has performed a unit education
program regarding the appropriate treatment and proper product usage for wound treatment.
Stacy L. Keen, RN, a staff nurse in the Step-down Unit at Torresdale Campus, received Level II status. She is a member of the Clinical Practice
and Information Management Council and serves as a staff preceptor. She co-presented a unit-based educational program on cardiac
medications.
Cynthia Rizzo, RN, BSN, CCRN, who has achieved Level IV in the PNRP, is the Co-Chairperson of the Resource Management and Professional Development Council.
This council has several responsibilities, including participation in the development of recruitment, recognition, retention
and educational programs for nursing. Most recently, the council has developed the Professional Nurse Recognition Program,
which is designed to define, develop, evaluate and reward various levels of clinical nursing expertise. Ms Rizzo is a bedside
nurse in our Intensive Care Unit at Torresdale Campus.
Karen Schneider, RN, CNOR, who was awarded the PNRP Level III designation, recently hosted an educational experience for a local Girl Scout Troop.
She coordinated a tour with a surgical scrub, technician, a surgical resident and an instruments assistant, who led the scouts
through a mock appendectomy. This was intended as an educational experience for the scouts, as well as a way to promote the
health care professions as potential careers. This was held during Perioperative Nurses' Week. Ms. Schneider is a nurse in
the Short Procedure Unit's Operating Room at the Torresdale Campus.
Christine McKeever, RN, BSN, CPAN, a Level IV PNRP recipient, is a lecturer in the Critical Care Course, an educational offering available to nurses in the
entire Jefferson Health System. Ms. McKeever presented on "Postoperative Care and Complications." Her goal is to increase
the knowledge of the new critical care nurse regarding the care of the postoperative patient. Ms. McKeever is a nurse in the
Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU).
Sandra L. Gallina, RNC, recently achieved a Level III PNRP designation. Ms. Gallina coordinates and implements the Total Joint Replacement Class,
designed to educate patients who are candidates for hip or knee replacements. These sessions are held in conjunction with
Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy. Ms. Gallina is a bedside nurse on 2B, a medical-surgical unit at the Torresdale
Campus.
Mary Jo Marino-Hertzog, RN, CAPA, a Level III PNRP recipient, recently presented on Facial Trauma in the Trauma Nurse Course. The Trauma Nurse Course is another
educational offering available to nurses throughout the Jefferson Health System. Frankford Hospital is a Level II designated
Trauma Center and this course helps prepare the nurse to care for the complex trauma patient. Ms. Marino-Hertzog is a staff
nurse in the Short Procedure Unit at the Torresdale Campus.
John Groh, RN, CCRN, was a recent recipient of Level III PNRP designation. Mr. Groh is a member of the Critical Care Standards Committee. He
participates in the review and revision of critical care policies and procedures, ensuring that they adhere to current evidence-based
standards, as well as comply with requirements of regulatory agencies. Mr. Groh is a bedside nurse in the Intensive Care Unit.
Ellen M. Taylor, RNC, CCE, IBCLC, CD, is a staff nurse in the Labor and Delivery Unit and lactation consultant at the Torresdale Campus. She was recently awarded
a Level III PNRP designation. Ms. Taylor is a co-investigator in the research protocol, "Evidenced Management of Second Stage
Labor." Several goals include improved patient and staff satisfaction, better utilization of evidence in laboring practices
and healthier deliveries for both the mother and baby. Ms. Taylor plans to present their findings at the 2006 National AWHONN
Conference (Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses).
Rachel Derr, RNC, BSN, a Level III PNRP recipient, is the Hearing Screen Coordinator at the Torresdale Campus. In this role, Ms. Derr coordinates
Frankford Hospital's Newborn Hearing Screening Program (NHSP). Some of her roles include assisting in the program design and
implementation, providing statistical data reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, scheduling and performing outpatient
newborn hearing screens, and educating staff regarding screening process. Ms. Derr is a bedside nurse in the Neonatal Intensive
Care Unit (NICU).
Clare Marie Tack, RN, MSN, CCRN, is a recent Level IV PNRP recipient and Editor of the Frankford Hospital Nursing Newsletter. With the goal of fostering
communication among the nursing staff at all three campuses, she coordinates the acquisition of information from nursing administration,
clinical governance councils, and a variety of other departments at Frankford Hospital. After compilation, she coordinates
distribution via electronic mailing, hard copy distribution and posting on the hospital Intranet. Ms. Tack is a bedside nurse
in the Intensive Care Unit at the Torresdale Campus.
Margaret Lowenthal, RN, MSN, CCRN, is the first recipient of the PNRP Level V designation. Ms. Lowenthal is an investigator in a research protocol, "Effectiveness
of Comprehensive Oral Hygiene and Maintaining the Semi-recumbent Position in decreasing the Incidence of Ventilator Acquired
Pneumonia." This study plans to validate the implementation of these nursing measures (i.e. oral mouth care regimen and semi-recumbent
positioning) as an effective method to decrease the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia, thus improving patient outcomes
and impact on cost effectiveness by decreasing patient length of stay.
Lisa Turco, RN, C, CPCE, a staff nurse in the Obstetrical Unit, is a member of the Performance Improvement (PI) Council. Turco recently developed,
implemented and analyzed two PI projects regarding pain management during labor and customer satisfaction. She also serves
as an educator for the Explorer Program hosted at Frankford Hospital to educate high school students regarding careers in
health care.
