But don’t think for a second that January, a staff RN in the neo-natal ICU at Sentara Princess Anne Hospital and a RN-to-BSN student at the Sentara College of Health Sciences, is sleeping a lot.

January Lane will graduate in May from the Sentara College of Health Sciences.

“I come home after a 12-hour shift and it’s nice to get in my PJs, and then go online to do homework,” says January, who enrolled in 2010 and will graduate in May.

Her motivation to follow this routine comes in a small package: Her 3-year-old daughter, Magdalena. She and her husband, Jeremy, want to give her a financially stable life. They tag-team the parenting duties and take full advantage of their DVR as January focuses on her goal of becoming a neo-natal nurse practitioner.

Her Journey Begins

Her journey started in 2007 after she earned a nursing diploma from Sentara. When she decided to take the next step, January compared traditional and online schools, considering their costs and reputations.

“Sentara was the best value,” she says. “Some were a little less, but they weren’t as respected.”

January’s second experience in college has been as good as the first. She finds the professors accessible, willing to answer questions in person or online, and open to students’ feedback.

“In one case, I had some concerns about the set-up of a course,” says January, “and they made changes.”

She saw other changes as well: Soon, all courses will be offered online, and the length of each is worker-friendly. In the past, some of January’s courses were eight weeks long, making the workload intense. After hearing feedback, the college extended all courses to 16 weeks.

“The teachers know how hard our jobs are and a lot of them completed a degree while working,” she notes. “That’s what I really appreciate; the teachers remember what it’s like to do the work I do and be on the [nursing] floor.”

January’s courses have been a mix of hands-on techniques, theory and history. She is particularly motivated when she learns about the transformation of nursing.

“Knowing what has been accomplished in the past by individuals helps me believe that I and my co-workers can make improvements, too,” she says.

With so much enthusiasm to make a difference, January will continue to be found in her scrubs or PJs, working away. She’s close to enrolling in a master’s program – so those DVRed TV shows will just have to wait a bit longer.

Why January chose Sentara College of Health Sciences

• She found it was the best value for her money, considering cost and reputation.
• Her teachers are willing to answer questions in person and online.
• Her teachers have also tackled work and college at the same time.
• Her manager at Sentara willingly scheduled her works hours around her classes.
• Her financial aid advisors were easy to reach and helpful.

You’ve earned it: Tuition reimbursement

Growing your career is always a smart move, a move Sentara Healthcare fully encourages. After just six months on the job, you qualify for college tuition reimbursement. And the longer you’ve been with Sentara and the more hours you work, the more you’ll qualify for. Sentara employees can explore all of the details here.

In 2011, Sentara provided more than $214.5 million in community  benefits. This investment back into the people we serve comes in many forms. We include uncompensated patient care, the teaching and training of healthcare professionals as well as community health and prevention screenings in the figure.

The online report includes inspiring stories from all of our regions about the investment in health and wellness we’re making  — from providing much needed charity care to health screenings at the county fair to bilingual childbirth educators, we’re proud of the investment in the health and wellness that our employees make every day to the communities we serve.

Having a wound that won’t heal is a health concern for many people. For patients of Sentara Home Care Services in Suffolk, they can feel more comfortable knowing their wound care nurse has become more skilled in wound care management.

(L-R) Susan Brobjorg, RN; Dee Council, RN; Kelly Musselman, RN; Melissa Bell, RN; Angela Burris, RN; Stacey Hines, RN, Clinical Manager; Christine Brennan, KCI Representative; Melissa Cornwell is NOT pictured.

In collaboration with Kinetic Concepts, Inc (KCI) the nurses achieved Level II, Advanced Certification in Wound Healing to become the only home health agency in Western Tidewater to attain the ‘Center of Excellence’ designation.   To do so, nurses participated in a series of educational sessions that increased their knowledge of new wound care products and patient care approaches.

Wound Encounters

“It’s a challenge to care for chronic wounds,” said Susan Brobjorg, RN, “Every wound is different, so this equips us with best practices we can apply along with our knowledge to serve our patients in a quality manner.”

Some of the common types of wounds cared for include:

• Pressure ulcer (bedsores)
• Diabetic ulcer
• Skin Abrasions or tears
• Infected surgical wounds
• Venous stasis ulcers (poor circulation that creates wound)

“Our nurses see a large number of wound care patients during their daily visits,” according to Claire Cronley, Director of Sentara Home Care Services.  “This designation helps us to bend the cost curve for wound care treatment and improve patient outcomes.  Plus, it reduces a patient’s stress knowing his or her care team is focused on utilizing the best treatments for his condition while supporting a personal need to pursue a quality lifestyle.”

Read inspiring stories from our nurses on Sentara Nurse blog.

Editor’s Note: The following letter was recently written by a family member of a palliative care patient at RMH Healthcare. Sadly, the patient passed away during his stay at Rockingham Memorial Hospital, however, the family was so touched by the care he received at the hospital that they sent this letter to hospital staff. 

Take a few minutes to read the heartfelt note which recognizes hospital staff, including Cindy Griffin, RN, who helped care for the patient until he passed away. As Cindy ended her 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. shift on December 25th, she realized that the patient did not have any family members who were able to be with him on the holiday. She volunteered to stay with the patient throughout the night, just after she clocked out at 7 p.m., in lieu of being with her own family on the holiday.  

In the spirit of Hospital Week and Nursing Week, we wanted to share this beautiful letter. 

You Comforted All of Us

My brother was a patient at Rockingham Memorial Hospital on 4 East in December and passed away December 25, 2011. I am writing to compliment your staff on their care during his final days. When nurses are required to take care of a patient that is not within their normal scope of care it can be uncomfortable as they “stretch” to learn new skills and approaches to accommodate the differences from their normal routine. I am aware that for some of the staff this was true. In spite of that they rose to the occasion and supported his need for palliative care on 4 East rather than move him to another unit perhaps more comfortable with the care of a dying patient.

(L-R) Bertha Webb, Cindy Griffin and Jill Delawder

Quality nursing involves technical skills, information technology skills, a knowledge of science, and strong interpersonal relationships; but most importantly the ability to put a patient in the center of all decisions. When this occurs we see the patient centered care encompasses not just empathy, but most importantly, the concept of caring, in the sense of the writings of Jean Watson.

Amongst the nurses that made such a positive impact in my brother’s care were Tracey, Evie, Gloria, Robin, Dana, and Darrell. Jill Delwader was also helpful in getting the PCA dosages worked out.  My sincere thanks to all the nurses, as well as to any other staff.

 But I want to focus on one extra special person that overwhelming impressed me with her support, her kindness, her expertise and her professional caring for my brother. This individual was Cindy Griffin. Just seeing her face eased our worries and concerns. Somehow she also understood my brother’s sense of humor and could laugh with him from time to time. She did all this while maintaining the appropriate professional boundaries expected by the Virginia Board of Nursing. How lucky Rockingham Memorial Hospital is to have her as part of the staff!

Sincerely yours,

A Grateful Family

 Learn more about The Sentara Commitments.

Angie Laing, RN, CEN, SANE-A, Forensic Nurse Examiner Program Coordinator, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Emergency Department.

All across the United States, registered nurses are being saluted.

On May 6, 2012, Sentara Healthcare is joining the American Nurses Association in celebrating Nurses: Advocating, Leading, Caring, as part of National Nurses Week, which is held May 6-12, annually. The purpose of the week long celebration is to raise awareness of the value of nursing and help educate the public about the role nurses play in meeting the health care needs of the American people.

The nursing profession has been supported and promoted by the American Nurses Association (ANA) since 1896. Each of ANA’s state and territorial nurses associations promotes the nursing profession at the state and regional levels. They acknowledge and recognize the contributions that nurses make to the community.

In honor of the dedication, commitment, and tireless effort of the nearly 3.1 million registered nurses nationwide to promote and maintain the health of this nation, Sentara Healthcare, the American Nurses Association, and the Virginia Nurses Association (VNA), are proud to recognize registered nurses everywhere for the quality work they provide seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Sentara Healthcare kicks off the celebration of Nurses Week on May 6, 2012, marked as RN Recognition Day, and ends on May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale,  founder of nursing as a modern profession.

The nation’s largest celebration honoring the history and work of health care workers, National Hospital Week, will be observed May 6-12 at hospitals all around the country. National Hospital Week is a celebration of the history, technology and the dedication of the professionals that make our facilities beacons of confidence and care. National Hospital Week began in 1921. The celebration originated after a magazine editor suggested that publicizing more information about hospitals would alleviate public fears about hospitals.  

Sentara hospitals typically observe the week with displays, ceremonies and celebrations designed to engage patients, their families and surrounding communities. As a part of our observance of National Hospital Week, we celebrate our staff who are improving health every day.

Join Sentara and its professional workforce of nearly 24,000 in our celebration of National Hospital Week.

 Learn More About Sentara

 Founded in 1888 as the Retreat for the Sick in Norfolk, Virginia, Sentara has ranked for more than a decade among the nation’s top integrated healthcare systems byModern Healthcare magazine and is recognized as the #1 integrated healthcare system for the last two years. Sentara, a not-for-profit health system, operates more than 100 sites of care, including hospitals, advanced imaging centers, urgent care facilities, nursing and assisted-living centers, outpatient campuses, two home health and hospice agencies, a 3,680-provider medical staff, and three medical groups with 618 providers.

 Hampton Roads

Sentara CarePlex Hospital – Hampton, Virginia

Long engaged in the City of Hampton’s business and community scene, Sentara CarePlex Hospital features 224 private patient rooms spacious enough to accommodate visitors and equipped with Internet access and entertainment options. An outpatient pharmacy makes prescription pick -up more convenient for patients and family members upon discharge from the emergency department or inpatient stays. 

Sentara Heart Hospital – Norfolk, Virginia

Hampton Roads’ first and only dedicated heart hospital is unique among any facility within hundreds of miles. It combines a long-standing team of cardiac specialists within an advanced setting built from the ground up for superior cardiac care. Staff recently implanted the very first total artificial heart in a patient suffering from advanced heart failure.

Sentara Leigh Hospital – Norfolk, Virginia

Sentara Leigh Hospital just kicked off a $126 million project to create two 5-story patient wings. The new towers will be state-of-the-art for years to come, adaptable to new technologies and expandable to meet the healthcare needs of the community.

Sentara Norfolk General Hospital – Norfolk, Virginia

Sentara’s flagship hospital and the region’s first magnet hospital, Norfolk General Hospital serves at the home for the Nightingale Regional Ambulance. Earlier this year, the staff was involved in the region’s first-ever paired kidney exchange. SNGH is also the area’s only level one trauma and burn trauma unit.

Sentara Obici Hospital – Suffolk, Virginia

Located in what has been dubbed as the “Peanut Capital of the World”, Sentara Obici opened in April 2002. This full-service hospital continues a legacy of providing residents of Western Tidewater with high-quality, patient-centered care. Sentara Obici Hospital’s founder established a close relationship with the Suffolk community which remains intact to this day.

Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital – Virginia Beach, Virginia

Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital, its leadership and staff have a long history of involvement with the community. The facility boasts 282-beds and offers specialized, tertiary services. It is the home to the Sentara Heart Center and Virginia Beach residents have access to the Coastal Cancer Center, Accredited Sleep Disorders Center, orthopedics, neurosurgery and thoracic & colorectal surgery.

Sentara Princess Anne Hospital – Virginia Beach, Virginia

In partnership with Bon Secours, Sentara Princess Anne Hospital is one of Sentara’s newest facilities coming online in August of 2011. Sentara Princess Anne Hospital is a 160-bed acute care hospital serving southern Virginia Beach, as well as the neighboring Chesapeake and northeastern North Carolina.

Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center – Williamsburg, Virginia

Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, located in beautiful historic Williamsburg, VA, is a certified primary stroke center. The facility boasts the latest healthcare technologies, serving the region with the life-saving capabilities of an ultra-modern medical center. The hospital offers a full range of medical care from emergency heart catheterization to a labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum style of obstetrics care where patients are able to stay in one room.                                                            

Northern Virginia

Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center – Woodbridge, Virginia

There’s excitement in the air in Woodbridge, VA as the former Sentara Potomac Hospital changes designation to Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (effective April 16, 2012). The name has changed, but rest assured that the mission to provide quality patient care to our community remains the same. The facility boasts a variety of services including the Sentara Heart and Vascular Center and Sentara Lake Ridge.

Blue Ridge Region

Martha Jefferson Hospital – Charlottesville, Virginia

Martha Jefferson Hospital, located in Charlottesville, VA, has approximately 1,600 employees.  The new facility opened in August of 2011, after a successful move from the downtown location, where the facility had been located for more than 100 years.

RMH Healthcare – Rockingham Memorial Hospital – Harrisonburg, Virginia

Rockingham Memorial Hospital, located in Harrisonburg, Va., is a community hospital that has provided healthcare services since 1912. Serving a seven-county area with a population of close to 200,000, the 238-bed hospital admits more than 16,300 inpatients, nearly 192,000 outpatients and delivers close to 1,700 babies annually. The RMH Emergency Department treats more than 72,000 patients per year.

One volunteer helping create Quilts of Courage, a collection of quilts that will provide hope and inspire Sentara Cancer Network patients for years to come.

Sentara Cancer Network is hosting a day of indulgence for women at Sentara Port Warwick Saturday, May 5. Women of all ages are welcome to enjoy chair massages, a healthy cooking demonstration, health screenings, and timely lectures.

On display will also be Quilts of Courage—a collection of quilts pieced together from 700 squares signed at last fall’s Homearama in Suffolk.  Now these quilts will go on display to inspire and encourage breast cancer patients across the Sentara Cancer Network for years to come.

Get more details about the Day of Indulgence.

David Plummer

 Editors Note: The following post written by David  Plummer, MDiv, LMFT, CIM, BCCC, BCC, Team Coordinator, Chaplaincy Services, Sentara CarePlex Hospital, is about a special moment he witnessed at the hospital.

Recently, I received a call from the Sentara CarePlex Hospital Critical Care Unit assistant manager who shared a very bittersweet story with me. A patient had been told she was terminal and that her lifespan was unpredictable. She shared with her family that she regretted that she would not likely be around to see her son and his bride-to-be marry. Her son and his fiancée huddled and decided to make her last wish a reality: They wanted to be married at the hospital, so she could be present and participate. The assistant manager asked me if it might be possible to use chapel for the wedding that was to be held Sunday morning, and if so, how could they reserve it. I told her, “It is reserved, as of NOW!”

It’s Our Privilege to Help 

The CarePlex Hospital Chapel is a much-loved, well-used chapel, open and available twenty-four hours a day. Our community chapel not only is well-used, it appeared well-used! I visited our Environmental Services Department (ESD) on that Friday afternoon, dreading the notion of  submitting my request to the secretary for a “sprucing up.” I told her what we needed and more importantly the “why” we needed an overnight Spring cleaning and she responded with “That’s a good cause!” She immediately mobilized the department. A couple hours later, I stopped by the chapel to check on the progress. I saw one team-member finishing up an amazing steam-cleaning of the upholstery of the pews. I began to apologize for his unexpected Friday evening labors only to be stopped mid-sentence with “Chaplain, I heard about that mom’s request and I am honored to clean this chapel. You don’t need to say anything.  It’s my privilege!”

The Wedding

The beautiful ceremony was celebrated in the Chapel at Sentara CarePlex Hospital.

Sunday morning the judge arrived early to do the ceremony. I did not realize it until then, but the judge was the father of the bride. The ceremony was beautiful and the extended families of both bride and groom packed that freshly-scrubbed chapel. The patient was very grateful for her family’s coming together to make this wish come true and for the accommodation of the CarePlex Hospital team.

 A hospital is the hub of so many events in human experiences. Some of them, very happy, some of them very sad, and some of them bittersweet. But the rallying together of the Critical Care team to help coordinate the ceremony and sacred space; of floor nurses to dress and prepare the patient on her son’s wedding day; of the patient’s nursing care partner to make sure that the patient was safe and cared for on her way to the chapel, during the ceremony, and back to her room; and of the ESD team to make sure that chapel was in tip-top form, will always be a great memory for me!

Enriching the Lives of Others 

We have jobs to do and we work – and we work hard at Sentara.  But sometimes, a job is far more than mere “work.” Sometimes, it is a “calling” — a calling to care and to do something that will make someone’s life richer and better. Yes, we “improve health every day” at Sentara. But sometimes, as a team with a calling, we improve not just health, but a person’s and even a family’s life. I think that happened Sunday.

 Learn more about The Sentara Commitments.

Joe Theisman was a featured guest speaker at the opening reception for the 2012 Current Concepts in Vascular Care, a Sentara hosted mid-Atlantic conference that drew more than 240 vascular surgeons, specialists and professionals.

Joe Theisman signing a football.

Theisman works as an advocate to raise awareness for Aortic Abdominal Aneurysms. His personal connection to AAA stems from his late father’s diagnosis of the disease. He told the group of conference attendees about his early assumptions that aneurysms were only found in the brain. His father’s condition opened his eyes and he now promotes screening for the condition, which can often be silent until it is too late.

Theisman mixed humorous anecdotes with moments of more serious reflection about his family, his love of football and the fateful accident that ended his storied NFL career. Grateful for his talents on the field, it was his career-ending broken leg that served as his biggest wake up call. Theisman translates the lessons he learned through that experience to provide wisdom to others. He offered his heartfelt thanks and admiration to the vascular surgeons and medical professionals in the audience. He thanked the healthcare professionals in the room for their dedication to patients. He likened vascular surgeons to the “quarterback” of the operating room. But like the lessons he learned as an NFL quarterback, the team around the quarterback – all working in their various specialties – is just as important to the work of the quarterback to gain success. He told the group that every life saved should serve as their own personal Superbowl trophy.

Joe Theisman speaking at the opening reception for the 2012 Current Concepts in Vascular Care.

After some brief remarks, Theisman took questions from the audience and discussed more current events in the NFL. He disagrees with superstar quarterback Tim Tebow’s decision to play for the NY Jets; he thinks RGIII has great potential and will serve the Washington Redskins well; he agrees with the Commissioner’s decision to punish the New Orleans Saints severely for bounty payments; and he thinks Payton Manning will make any team he joins better because, “that is just the kind of player and person he is.”

Sentara Lake Ridge is Sentara Healthcare’s first outpatient healthcare campus in Northern Virginia. Sentara Lake Ridge includes 24-hour emergency care, advanced imaging (including CT, digital mammography, bone density scanning, ultrasound and digital x-ray) and lab on the first floor. The second floor includes physicians’ offices for Mount Vernon Internal Medicine and Greater Metropolitan Orthopaedic Institute, Greater Metropolitan Physical Therapy and the Lake Ridge Ambulatory Surgery Center.

The Emergency Department at Sentara Lake Ridge is open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, just like a hospital emergency room. Sentara Lake Ridge is staffed by the board-certified physicians of BestPractices, who provide services at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center’s Irene V. Hylton Emergency Care Center. The advanced imaging services are under the medical direction of Potomac Radiology and Imaging Associates, who also provide services at the hospital.

Check out photos below of the new facility.