The Best Staff
BWH has the very best nursing staff and is proud of nurses’ many achievements. Each month, BWH Nurse recognizes some of these achievements here. If you or your nurse colleague gains a promotion, earns a new degree or certification or receives an award, please let us know at bwhnurse@partners.org
Degrees and Professional Certifications
Gina Abascia, RN, and Claire Cotes, RN, from the Lactation Support Service in CWN, became recertified as International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC). Gina and Claire present breastfeeding workshops annually for employees and recently updated a chapter on pregnancy and lactation for the 12th edition of “Krause’s Food, Nutrition and Diet Therapy” which has a publication date of fall 2008.
Ellen Downing, RN, CCM, an insurance support nurse in Care Coordination, passed the Certified Profession Utilization Reviewer (CPUR) exam. CPUR certification demonstrates outstanding competency in assessment of provider’s services, healthcare quality, access and cost, and regulatory processes impacting utilization review and hospital reimbursements. This certification is renewable every two years. This role involves assessing validity of payer’s clinical denials and preparing appeal responses for inpatient hospital care.
Kate Hanley, MS, RN, of the Neuroscience ICU, received a MS from the University of Rhode Island School of Nursing and received National Board Certification through ANCC as a family nurse practitioner.
Kristin Lewis, MS, RN, of the Neuroscience ICU, received a MS from Boston College’s Connell School of Nursing.
Amanda Sevigny, APRN, BC, of the MICU, in May graduated from Boston College with a master’s degree in nursing with a concentration in adult health. She received the certification as an adult nurse practitioner.
Judy Veinbergs, MS, RN, nurse educator on Connors Center 9, became certified as an International Board Certificated Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).
Posters, Presentations and Research
Katrina Bickerstaff, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, of the PACU, presented “Specialized Care of the Bariatric Patient in the Perianesthesia Setting” at the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) National Conference in April.
Jo-Anne Dillman, MA, APRN, wrote the health policies and procedures and, along with
Elizabeth Scanlan, MSN, APRN, acted as health care consultant for Camp Harbor View. The camp was developed by Mayor Thomas Menino and Partners Board Chair Jack Connors with donations from several Boston businesses for boys and girls ages 11 to 14 from neighborhoods across the city.
Patricia Kidik, RNCS, and Kathleen Holbrook, RNCS, of the Weiner Center for Preoperative Evaluation, gave a poster presentation titled “The Nurse Practitioner Role in Evidence Based Medication Strategies” at the ASPAN Conference in April.
Kathleen McGrath, MSN, FNP and Janet Piatek, RN, presented “The Development of an Admitting Team” at the ASPAN Conference in April. McGrath also presented this poster at at the SPAQI (Society for Perioperative Assessment and Quality Improvement) meeting in Cleveland.
“A Case Presentation Program for Perianesthesia Nurses” was presented at the ASPAN Conference in April by Karen Lane, BSN, RN, Katrina Bickerstaff, BSN, RN, CPAN, CAPA, Danielle Coutu, BSN, RN, Deidre Devaux, MSN, RN, Donna Martin-Barber, RN, Victoria Sherry, RN, Janet Piatek, RN, Kristin Alt Styer, MSN, RN, CPAN, Sandra Torrisi, BS, RN, of the PACU.
“Creating Postoperative Discharge Instructions: An Educational Improvement Project” was presented by Sandra Torrisi, BS, RN, and Marie Courtney, BSN, RN, Susan Skahan, BSN, RN, Ann Furey, RN, MBA, Nancy Brooks, BSN, RN, of the Day Surgery Recovery Unit, at the ASPAN Conference in April.