Skip to contents
In This Issue:
The Mary Fay Enrichment Award was inspired by a bedside conversation 17 years ago among Yousuf Karsh, then a BWH patient, his wife, Estrellita, and Mary Fay, MS, RN, then BWH vice president of Nursing. The Karshes wondered how they could support the compassionate nurses who cared for them and who wished to explore further innovative and evidence-based solutions to complex problems they encountered in their practice.
“Anyone who knows Mrs. Karsh knows that questions become thoughts and thoughts become realities,” said Ellen Bergeron, MSN, RN, program director at the Center for Nursing Excellence. Funded by the Karsh family, Marshall Wolf, MD, and the Department of Nursing, the award provides nurses with the opportunity to visit other hospitals, further explore and “bring their findings back to the Brigham,” where they are implemented or modified. Since 1999, more than 140 BWH nurses have participated in more than 60 projects, which have not only fostered their professional growth and development and improved the care of patients, but have changed the culture of several units.
“Today, we celebrate the success of nurses who are continuing to make significant impact on the lives of patients and families,” said Jackie Somerville, PhD, RN, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services, at the Sept. 30 award celebration.
During the celebration, the 2013 Mary Fay Enrichment awardees presented their findings. The audience eagerly listened as Sharon Levine, BSN, RN, discussed the implementation of an ICU Diary for patients with delirium in the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU); and Karen Morth, BSN, RN, CCRN, CSC, discussed minimizing blood loss associated with diagnostic testing in the Cardiac Surgery ICU. Jeanne Feeley, BSN, RN, discussed how infant falls in the postpartum area were considerably reduced using non-technical devices, such as a Safe Sleep Logo and frequent bedside visits; and Amy Goh, MPhil, MSN, CNM, MSN, discussed the introduction of yoga as an intervention to decrease gestational weight gain in underserved populations.
Two new projects were selected for 2014 funding, one aimed at examining the impact of the reflective practice on the clinical nursing environment in the CCU, led by Karen Reilly, MBA, RN, and the other on minimizing maternal-infant separation during maternal illness, led by Stephanie Shine, BSN, RN.
After the ceremony, Mrs. Karsh remarked how proud her husband would have been to see the projects he is continuing to inspire.
“It is so gratifying to see the growth of a spontaneous idea into programs that have made the Brigham a better hospital and have made nurses ever more curious, productive and caring,” she said.