CVMC welcomed 33 new nursing graduates to various clinical departments in 2008.

Certification Rates / Degree Advancement

  • 39% of our direct care RNs are certified
  • 78% of our non-direct care RNs are certified
  • 35.1% of our RNs have bachelor’s degrees

Professional Enrichment Program (PEP)

  • 44% of our RNs participated in the PEP program
  • $147,000 was awarded to PEP participants

THE ART OF NURSING

Staff nurse participation in the Professional Enrichment Program continues to grow - 44% of our nurses participated in 2008.
 
Ethics

Ethical issues in health care pose some of the most challenging situations that health professionals face. Medical technological advancements as well as legislative initiatives create new ethical challenges for health professionals and their patients. Catawba Valley Medical Center decided to help meet this need by creating the Patient Rights Committee. The committee is chaired by Greg Billings, Administrator of the Psychiatric department and includes an interdisciplinary group of healthcare professionals.

The committee has identified three main objectives for its future work:

  1. Initiate, coordinate, and prioritize compliance efforts to all applicable patient rights regulations.
  2. Ethics consultation process oversight.
  3. Staff/customer education on ethics and patient rights issues.
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Nurses Certified in 2008

The following nursing staff were certified:
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Nursing Degree Advancement in 2008

The following nurses received degree advancements in 2008:
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Diversity and Culturally Sensitive Care

"As health care workers, we are "ethically obligated" to the provision of culturally congruent care to all individuals that enter our health care systems and facilities and all clients have the "right" to such care. The delivery of culturally congruent health care presents a challenge for the ordinary health care provider. First, it requires that we open our minds. Second, it requires an honest examination of one's own values and beliefs, a willingness to learn, and a great deal of creativity." Reference: Jamarda Resources, Inc
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Nursing Stories

“How the New Nurse’s Brain Works”
By Jennifer Howe, RN
The Center for Women & Children

"I had been working on the Birthing Center for a few weeks when I had my first delivery experience with Dr. Highland and my preceptor for the day, LaDonna Wilson. The delivery was beautiful and afterwards, Dr. Highland looks at me and says, “I need lytes and a stool.” So I stand there looking at him puzzled thinking, “Why on earth is this doctor wanting electrolytes and a stool sample on a new mother?" LaDonna rushes out of the room and a few minutes later returns with a LIGHT and a STOOL so Dr. Highland could repair a tear. I laughed and told him why I looked so confused. He just laughed and said, ‘Ah, you newbies! I just love ya!’”
 

Approximately 700 employees “imagined” themselves at Disney World riding Pirates of the Carribean (Falls education) and ‘survived’ through the Jungle Book (National Patient Safety Goals education).