UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health Congratulates 11 Outstanding Nurses

GENEVA—UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health proudly recognizes and celebrates 11 outstanding nurses for excelling in their professional development through the Clinical Ladder Program.

 

The Clinical Ladder Program is a structured system that offers nursing staff career advancement opportunities while they remain in the clinical setting providing direct patient care. The program recognizes professional development and highlights various levels of nursing expertise and contribution.

 

This voluntary program supports the advancement of our professional nurses, enhances patient care, and helps to achieve organizational goals. Criteria for participation are built on the UR Medicine Finger Lakes Health’s Mission, Visions and Values of HEART.

 

H- “Health.” Recommending cost containment projects, revise nursing policies, developing patient teaching tools, and serving on various committees.

E- “Exceptional care and service.” Achieving continuing education credits, obtaining or enrolling in a BSN/ MSN program, being an employee at FLH for various numbers of years.

A – “Act of kindness” Nominated for or receiving a Daisy Award, participating in community service, fixing a department issue and improving customer satisfaction.

R – “Responsibility and Respect” Being a preceptor on their unit, becoming a super user, presenting a professional organization article to coworkers.

T- “Teamwork” Boosting morale on their units, becoming a charge nurse, actively participating in a professional nursing chapter.

 

Congratulations to our honorees!

 

Larissa Jordan, RN - Level 1

Larissa Jordan, RN, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital Clinical Leader, completed an evidence-based practice project and presentation on pre-shift huddles, which led to reduced missed nursing care, fewer falls, and improved team communication. Larissa successfully completed CPI training, earned 10 continuing education hours, and served as a competency validator for nebulizers, MDIs, Accu-Chek, and conscious sedation. She also precepted for over 40 hours, contributed two research article summaries to the Nursing Newsletter, and remained an active member of the Emergency Nurses Association.

 

Madeline VanGorden, RN, - Level 1

Madeline VanGorden, RN, Geneva General Hospital, Intensive Care Unit, completed an evidence-based practice project on DKA treatment in the ICU and successfully completed CPI training. Madeline actively participated in shared governance through the Education, Reward and Recognition, Falls, Safe Patient Handling, and Quality committees, while also pursuing her BSN degree. She contributed over 30 hours of community service, received two DAISY Award nominations, and was honored as a DAISY Award recipient. In addition, she completed a preceptor course and precepted staff for more than 40 hours.

 

Theresa Fletcher, RN, CDN, - Level 1

Theresa Fletcher, RN, CDN, Geneva General Hospital Dialysis Unit, completed an evidence-based practice and performance improvement project focused on safe recapping and disposal of needles and maintained her national specialty certification as a Dialysis Nurse. Theresa earned 39 contact hours through the American Nephrology Nurses Association, the National Kidney Foundation, and Peritoneal Dialysis Boot Camp, while continuing enrollment in a BSN program. She remains an active member of the American Nephrology Nurses Association, precepted for over 103 hours, and was both nominated for and honored with a DAISY Award.

 

Angela Law, RN - Level 2

Angela Law, RN, Emergency Department at Geneva General Hospital for 41 years, precepted staff for over 40 hours and contributed more than 50 hours of community service. Angela completed CPI training, serves on three Shared Governance Councils, and am currently enrolled in the BSN program at SUNY Empire. Angela earned over 25 CE hours and serves as a competency validator for Accu-Chek and moderate sedation. She teaches quarterly during Skills Week on rapid infuser use, arterial line setup, and fluid warmer procedures. Additionally, she completed an evidence-based practice project on the Jewish Barnes dysphagia screen and led multiple performance improvement initiatives, including revising stroke documentation sheets, implementing blood transfusion tracking logs, sepsis documentation forms, and resource binders in the Emergency Departments at Geneva General Hospital and Soldiers Sailors Memorial Hospital.

 

Bailey Slocum, RN - Level 2

Bailey Slocum, RN, Surgical Services, completed a performance improvement project on the orientation process in Endoscopy and assisted in revising three departmental policies on PPE, Charge Checklists, and Downtime procedures. Bailey led an evidence-based practice project on the Endoscopy Scope Tracker and participated in a Shared Governance Committee focused on Work/Life Balance. She earned 10 specialty-specific and 50 non-specialty contact hours and was recognized with the Surgical Services Department Employee of the Month award. She is currently enrolled in an MSN program, serves as a competency validator for critical care drips, and act as a super user for Provation MD and Provation Multi-Giver. Additionally, Bailey completed charge/preceptor training and precepted staff for over 40 hours, contributed to a cultural humility project, and submitted a research article summary for the Nursing Newsletter.

 

Jake Robertson RN, BSN - Level 2

Jake Robertson RN, BSN, Surgical Services, delivered an evidence-based practice presentation on specimen handling and tracking in the Operation Room and Finger Lakes Surgery Center (FLSC), leading to measurable performance improvements. Jake assisted in revising policies on admission criteria for elective procedures, body warming blankets, and FLSC perioperative staffing, and developed a charge nurse checklist, standardized scheduling, and endoscopy team meetings. He is an active AORN member, achieved CNOR certification, completed 50 CE hours, and CPI training. He serves as a competency validator for Rapid Response and Stroke, holds an officer role on the ERAS Committee, and submitted four research article summaries for the Nursing Newsletter.

 

Hannah Greco, RN, BSN - Level 2

Hannah Greco, RN, BSN, Surgical Services, revised three policies focusing on safety in the PACU, patient death procedures, and ambulatory surgery standards of care, and led evidence-based practice projects on RNFA implementation and Neptune machine cleaning alerts. Hannah completed CPI training, earned 25 CE hours, obtained my BSN, and serves as a handwashing competency validator. She is an active officer in three Surgical Service Line committees, a member of the Quality Shared Governance Council, and an AORN member. Hannah completed preceptor training and precepted staff for over 40 hours, published an article on organ donation in the Nursing Newsletter, contributed to community service through the Middle Finger 5K and Ironman, and was honored with the Morton Orlov Education Award.

 

Kyla Ochs, RN, BSN - Level 2

Kyla Ochs, RN, BSN, Interventional Radiology, developed and implemented a standard-of-care patient teaching tool for PICC lines and completed CPI training. Kyla serves as Chair of the Quality Shared Governance Council, completed 119 hours of CE, and is currently enrolled in the MSN program at the University of Rochester. Kyla acts as a skills validator for conscious sedation, port access, and suprapubic catheter changes. Additionally, she contributed 20 hours of community service with Food Link and submitted three research article summaries for the Nursing Newsletter.

 

Katherine Licak, RN, BS, CNOR – Level 2

Katherine Licak, RN, BS, CNOR, Surgical Services, helped revise two guidelines: Circulator Orientation Competency and OR Charge Nurse, and completed an evidence-based practice project on surgical attire. Katherine obtained specialty certification, completed CPI training, and earned my BSN. She serves on the Education Shared Governance Committee, acts as a competency validator for restraints and fluid warmers, and is a super user for Provation. As an active unit officer for GYN, Urology, and Spine, she precepted eight staff members, contributed five research article summaries for the Nursing Newsletter, and participated in community service through a 5K for cancer research.

 

Christina Pierce, RN – Level 2

Christina Pierce, RN, Surgical Services, developed discharge instructions for ENT, Urology, Gynecology, and Vascular surgical patients and provided staff education on new Edemand forms and fall prevention, including monthly audits of narcotic administration. Christina completed CPI training and serves as Chair of the Reward and Recognition Shared Governance Council, as well as Daisy Award Coordinator and a member of the Nurse’s Week Committee. She earned 15 CE hours, contributed to community service through Thrive to Survive, and am a member of the Finger Lakes Nurse Honor Guard. Additionally, she submitted four research article summaries to the Nursing Newsletter.

 

Casey Brooks, RN, BSN – Level 4

Casey Brooks, RN, BSN, Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hospital Clinical Leader, completed CPI training, earned my BSN, and am currently enrolled in the MSN program at Delhi. Casey was honored with the Nurse Leader DAISY Award and the Morton Orlov Educator Award and serves as a member of the Education Shared Governance Council. She precepted staff for over 40 hours, act as a skills validator for conscious sedation, glucometer use, and Cyanokit teaching, and am an active member of the American Nurses Association. She developed a teaching tool for Incentive Spirometer, revised Meditech Swing Bed documentation to improve compliance, and led an evidence-based practice project implementing door stickers to easily notify caregivers of patient needs. Casey completed over 10 hours of CE, contributed 50 hours of community service through cemetery clean-up, submitted a research article summary for the Nursing Newsletter, identified an issue with Alaris Pump delivery and collaborated with pharmacy to ensure patient safety, and participated in multiple performance improvement projects focused on work culture, safety, cleanliness, compliance, cost improvement, and cultural humility.

 

“Congratulations to our 11 Clinical Ladder program recipients for their achievements in professional development and contributions to nursing excellence,” stated Greg Hoffman-Fragale, DNP,RN,CCRN,GERO-BC,MHA,NEA-BC,CENP,LNHA, Chief Nursing Officer. “This group of nurses exemplify the culture of learning and patient-centered care that is at the core of our culture.”

 

 

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PHOTO CAPTION:

(Photo from left): Madeline VanGorden, RN; Christina Pierce, RN; Hannah Greco, RN, BSN; Jake Robertson, RN, BSN; Katherine Licak, RN, BS, CNOR; Kyla Ochs, RN, BSN; Angela Law, RN; Theresa Fletcher, RN, CDN; Larissa Jordan, RN; Casey Brooks, RN, BSN; and Greg Hoffman-Fragale, DNP, RN, CCRN, GERO-BC, MHA, NEA-BC, CENP, LNHA, chief nursing officer. (Not pictured: Bailey Slocum, RN.)