Nursing
Our nurses play a major role in providing exceptional patient-focused care. Hear what they enjoy about nursing and how their experiences have shaped their lives.
What do nurses do?
At Timpanogos, nurses contribute to the profession by providing exceptional quality care and patient experience. Timpanogos employs over 350 nurses who "care like family" as they work in various roles such as leadership, management, support functions, and direct patient care. They volunteer and serve while providing for their own families. Below are some examples of ways they contribute to our community and beyond.
The DAISY® award
The DAISY® Award is used by over 4,500 healthcare facilities to recognize and honor Extraordinary Nurses who use skill and compassion in the “super-human” work they do every day.
The Nurse Practice Committee and Nursing Council review the nominations submitted by patients, co-workers, physicians and the community. One nurse is selected and presented the DAISY® Award each quarter. The nominations are touching and personal and represent the truly wonderful work nurses do.
An example of a DAISY® Award winner is Erin, BSN. Erin is a Labor and Delivery nurse who was nominated by a patient’s mother for her quick response and calm reaction when her daughter experienced a life-threatening emergency for her baby. The mother stated, “I know it seemed like [Erin] just did her job, but her quick thinking saved the baby’s life—no question.”
Service to Samoa hospital
Nurses at Timpanogos Hospital make a difference not only in our community, but through a partnership with Malietoa Tanumafili II hospital in Savaii, West Samoa. Throughout the year nursing staff help collect unused supplies, equipment and furniture that is later shipped to Samoa. The hospital has had nursing staff volunteer to go to Samoa to help deliver the supplies, equipment and furniture and to help provide preventative care and screening to native Samoans. Care has included eye tests, diabetes and other disease screenings, immunizations and referrals for advanced healthcare as needed. The association with a remote sister hospital helps nursing staff realize how advanced we are in providing healthcare in our community.
Helping children learn about hospitals - The Teddy Bear Clinic
The Teddy Bear Clinic is an event where children come to the hospital with their parent(s) and they can bring a teddy bear (stuffed animal or doll). The hospital and nursing staff meet with community children and help them provide care to their teddy bear, like they would receive in the hospital. Examples of some of the Teddy Bear Clinic care stations provided by nurses are newborn baby admissions and care, emergency care including casting and splinting sprains and broken bones, performing a surgery, suturing and car seat safety. The radiology staff has taught about x-rays and showed visitors what x-rays looked like and the laboratory teaches about drawing blood. There are ambulances and helicopters and lots of fun prizes.
The event allows nursing staff and others to minimize fears of children who may later become a patient by answering questions and providing a better understanding of what happens in the hospital.
Nurses step up during COVID-19
In 2020 Coronavirus changed lives and impacted healthcare delivery. At Timpanogos Regional Hospital, nurses stepped up and became "Healthcare Heroes". Changes in healthcare delivery included wearing masks and face shields all the time, supporting patients when visitors were limited or not allowed, and performing new and very different assignments. These included screening employees, patients and visitors at the entry doors, working in the COVID-19 community screening tent, deep cleaning and continually cleaning the hospital, washing dishes and reprocessing protective equipment. In addition, they provide care to COVID positive patients and others being tested.
Nurses, as well as all employees at the hospital, learned to deliver healthcare in ways they had not previously experienced and they were ready to step-up to the challenge.
Pathway to Excellence® designation
The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence Program is an organizational credentialing program that recognizes healthcare facilities that have created positive work environments that empowers and engages staff.
Pathway standards impact a wide range of factors that influence bottom-line results, such as employee turnover, job satisfaction and engagement, productivity and teamwork, nursing-sensitive quality indicators, errors and safety elements, and patient satisfaction.
In 2016 Timpanogos Hospital received its first designation as a Pathwayto Excellence facility. In 2019 the hospital received its 2nd designation and continues maintain Pathway to Excellence designation today.
Timpanogos Regional Hospital achieves Magnet® recognition
Timpanogos Regional Hospital achieved Magnet recognition in November, 2021 as a reflection of our nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence.
"Magnet recognition provides our community with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of patient care," said Sandy Ewell, Chief Nursing Officer. "Achieving Magnet recognition reinforces the culture of excellence that is a cornerstone of how we serve our community. It's also tangible evidence of our nurses' commitment to providing the very best care to our patients, of which we are extremely proud."
Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to health care organizations and their communities, such as:
- Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help, and receipt of discharge information.
- Higher job satisfaction among nurses.
- Superior nurse sensitive outcomes such as fewer falls with injury, pressure ulcers, and blood stream infections.
- Better patient ratios and higher nurse retention rates.
Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges health care organizations. U.S. News & World Report's annual showcase of "America's Best Hospitals" includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.
We asked our nurses:
What motivates you when you come to work?
"I love getting to know my patients and getting to know them to help their day to be better. It is a chance to not only do my job but help those in need."
—Cher, RN, Med/Surg
"I honestly don't come to work for a paycheck. I genuinely love to care for people. When I have had times in my life that I've worked PRN, I just found myself caring for people and not getting paid for it. ANSWER - work, do what you love, AND get a paycheck. I also love the people I work with. The staff is a very important aspect of job satisfaction for me."
—Rebecca, RN, Pre/Post Cath & EP Unit
How has a career in nursing helped you in your personal life?
"Being a nurse has given me opportunities to learn, serve, and gain more compassion toward others. Learning about the patients and co-workers' lives has opened my eyes to people's circumstances and the way they live. It has made me more grateful and less judgmental. It has brought a lot of joy and satisfaction to my life."
—Marti, RN, Labor and Delivery
"When I first decided to go back to school I had four children and a soon to be ex-husband and I knew I was going to need to support myself and the kids. I had always wanted to be a nurse and I knew I was interested in science and how the body works and now I knew I needed financial stability. I think this has been a positive example for my children and it gave me a confidence boost to learn and do well in school. I have worked in many areas of hospital nursing, including: Med/Surg, ICU, Mother/Baby, PACU and, now, SDS. I have enjoyed patient care, great co-worker/friends, getting to know patients and learning new skills. Nursing is a great career that I have never regretted pursuing."
—Patti, RN, Same Day Surgery
What would your life-long achievement goal as a nurse be?
"As a nurse, my primary focus is providing my patients exceptional, compassionate, safe, and personalized care. I aspire to receive a Master's Degree in Nursing Education and then to use my experience and education to help others reach their true potential—to leave a lasting impact on the profession and those they care for."
—Amylyn, RN, Labor and Delivery
Who has been a mentor to you? Why?
"David H. has been a great mentor from my third semester clinical to the present day. In fact, he answered some questions for me regarding MSN vs MBA. He was the first to encourage me to obtain my BSN and later encouraged me to teach for Ameritech, once I had it."
—Keith, RN, Cath Lab
Do you remember a particular nursing experience that changed your life? What was the event?
"Experience as a nurse that changed my life is 'how fragile life is.' You're always told,'Enjoy life, it's short.' But never did I really understand it until I was trying to save someone's life that wasn't ready to go yet. It's something that I won't ever take for granted."
—Tyson, RN, Cath Lab
What is your favorite aspect of nursing care?
"My favorite aspect of nursing care is trying to make a difficult or stressful situation as good as can be for someone. If it is a patient that is coming in for a surgery, they can be very stressed out. I feel like it is my responsibility to put them at ease through good communication. I also try my very best to start the IV in one poke (sometimes not possible, but I try) and to use good clinical skills. Getting to know them on a personal level also makes a huge difference and helps them to relax and trust you. If I can get an otherwise fearful and anxious patient to smile and relax I feel like I have made a difference and it is my reward. That is my favorite aspect of nursing."
—Jill, RN, Same Day Surgery
As a nurse, what do you think is the most important thing you do when providing patient care?
“I work in Same Day Surgery. We meet and assist and say goodbye to patients in less than two hours usually. The most important thing I can do is make a personal connection with each patient and their family member. A smile, a shared experience, empathy, listening, a shared laugh…different things help each patient to be at ease. Stress levels decrease, smiles come out, and they are mentally ready for surgery.”
—Lisa L., RN, Same Day Surgery
If you could choose a career path over again, would you still be a nurse? Why or why not?
"If I could choose a career path over again, I would definitely be a nurse. I really enjoy being a nurse and the diversity that the job offers. I like to get to know my patients and help them with the challenges they face. I've been a patient several times and I have had good nurses and bad nurses. Good nurses can make all the difference and can help make bad/or difficult situations seem bearable. I also enjoy the nurses and coworkers that I work with. They are always willing to help each other out even if they are busy themselves. We put our patients first and that is why we work so well together. We have the same goal in mind, which is to help our patients and their family members have the best experience possible."
—Heather, RN Clinical Supervisor, SDS