Cone Hospital review [February, 1979]

              review
Moses Cone Hospital
Greensboro, North Carolina
February, 1979
In 1979
I Resolve To:
"Get my braces off
in April."
Jane Koontz,
Admitting
"Be nicer to people
and have more
patience."
Mark Whitted,
AHEC
"Listen to
everything that is
said and really hear
it." Doris Smith,
Cardio
"Save more money
this year."
Cathy Coble,
Radiology
"Do less talking and
more listening."
Wilma Peterson,
Food Service
"Be more
organized."
Carolyn Hedrick,
IV Therapy
"Strive harder for a
piece of the rock."
Carolyn Horton,
Food Service
Good Start For Primary Nursing
Exciting things have been happening in the Nursing Department recently. Nursing Director Gene Tranbarger and his staff have initiated a
new pilot nursing program in the
hospital. This program, called "primary nursing" has helped nurses feel
more satisfied with their work, and
has made patients feel "special." It
has brought the nurse back to the
patient's bedside.
Primary nursing began October 31
on division 4000 and on November 15
in the maternity unit. Both floors are
using a nursing care plan which was
developed by the nurses on these
units.
Candy Colglazier, director of this
project said, "The terms 'my patient'
and 'my nurse' are becoming familiar
on these units. The primary nurse is
responsible for each of his/her patients 24 hours a day. Although she
obviously can't be present 24 hours a
day, she plans care for her patients,
and other RN's, LPN's, and Nursing
Assistants, who serve as primary care
assistants, help to carry out this
plan," she explained. "A patient becomes more secure as he realizes he
has one person who understands his
physical condition and is aware of his
fears and anxieties."
Cathy Propst, Assistant Head
Nurse on division 4000 said she is
beginning to see an improvement in
the primary nurses' relationships
with other hospital departments.
"The primary nurse is beginning to
work direcctly with the dietitians and
she works with X-ray to set up a
convenient time for the patient."
"Personally, I feel very positive
about primary care nursing," Cathy
added. "Although we're just getting
started and everyone doesn't understand it yet — if s good! The whole
thing is accountability. One nurse
knows what happens 24 hours a day
to her patient."
"The one-on-one nursing pattern
is not a new concept," said Candy.
"Due to a shortage of nurses during
World War II, 'team nursing' became
necessary. In the team concept, an
RN would supervise the care of a
large group of patients through
LPN's and nursing assistants. This
was frustrating for the nurse and the
patient."
"Communicating from one shift to
the next has always been a problem
in the past," Cathy added. "Shared
responsibility sometimes means no
responsibility."
Jane Pavlides, R.N., likes the new
program. "Other departments are
learning to ask for the primary nurse,
and I believe they are getting more
accurate information. This saves time
for X-ray and other departments."
Jane thinks the patients' families
feel more involved now. "I also think
families feel more secure leaving the
person they love to the care of one
nurse. I try to be aware of the family's
emotional needs. We (primary
nurses) can explain what the family
doesn't understand and arrange conferences with others who can lend
additional support."
Jane's patient, Mrs. Willie Vaughn,
commented on primary nursing,
"When I was a patient here before, it
was fine, but I'm getting more attention this time. I think parimary nursing is good. I feel more secure. I feel I
can confide in Jane."
m
N^ \
Primary Nurse, Jane Pavlides with patient
Mrs. Willie Vaughn.