Irma DeGarcia, RN, ONC
Orthopedics

"I like that I can make a difference in a Patient's life."

"Every Patient is different. I pay attention to what this Patient wants and what this Patient needs"

Patients on 6 West (Orthopedic Services) are in pain from knee and hip replacements, fractures and trauma. So how do the unit's Nurses and other Caregivers make them feel so good?

The UNIT ranks especially high on Patient satisfaction and quality scores, exceeding national averages in many cases.

"What do you look for in hiring staff to work on this unit? A friendly disposition," says 6 West Manager Amy Brown.

"I tell Nurses that I want 6 West to be a place where you can provide quality care and make people better."

Sparrow's Total Joint Camp program helps focus Caregivers on that mission, Brown says. Joint Camp—designed for total knee and hip replacement Patients—delivers faster recovery and better outcomes because it allows Patients to draw on group dynamics and receive care from a skilled clinical team.

"I think it really sets a standard for delivering care," Brown says.

"We are a high-performing team because of teamwork"
Amy Brown, RN, BSN, BC, ONC Manager, 6 West Orthopedics

Cheryl Herschleb, RN
Labor & Delivery

"Each birth is always different and special and I really strive to make it special."

"We have a lot more reliance on equipment, but it's still important to have the high-touch instead of the high-tech."

Expectations are high in the Mother Baby unit, where families are focused on enjoying one of the most blessed experiences of their lives.

It's what Manager Rebecca Hoyt calls "a high-touch area."

"The Nurses at Mother Baby are expert teachers, educating new parents about breastfeeding and other ways of bonding with their infants. But being technically proficient is only part of the job," Hoyt says.

"Sparrow's Mother Baby Nurses are very family-centered," she says, "focused on promoting the bond in any way they can."

Patient responsiveness is outstanding; the unit tops national averages in several patient satisfaction categories, such as pain management and cleanliness.Mother Baby is also leading the effort in pursuing a national "Baby-Friendly" designation for Sparrow and is part of Best Fed Beginnings, a national effort to improve breastfeeding rates.

"There are huge expectations in this department and the staff is well-suited to meet that fundamental requirement."
Rebecca Hoyt, RNC, BSN Manager, Mother Baby

Jeannine Underwood, BSN, RN Surgery

"I like the family atmosphere we work in. All our employees are really close-knit and care about our patients."

"If you ever need help, you have tons of people willing to step up."

It starts with the whiteboard, a visual tool in Sparrow operating rooms detailing vital information about a Patient's procedure. it extends to numerous other ways that Nurses in Sparrow's Surgical Services make Patients part of the conversation.

Patients and families appreciate the attention to detail. "I think of my own family coming here. I have high expectations," says Mary Pride, Manager of Surgery.

Nursing leaders in Surgical Services have combined to improve care, meeting regularly to dissect methods with regular pre-op conversations between Nurses and Patients and post-op calls.

What are the characteristics of a surgical Nurse? "You are the Patient's advocate," says Lynn Raynor, Clinical Nurse Specialist.Adds Pride: "You have a very short window of opportunity to build a rapport and a trusting relationship with the Patient and their family. That means you have to be very assertive, proactive, and with excellent critical judgement."

"You have to be OK with change. There's new technology everyday."
Lynn Raynor, MSN, RN, CNOR Clinical Nurse Specialist, Surgery