Solid structures and processes developed by influential leadership provide an innovative environment where strong professional practice flourishes and where the mission, vision and values come to life to achieve the outcomes believed to be important for the organization.
Further strengthening practice are the strong relationships and partnerships developed among all types of community organizations to improve patient outcomes and the health of the communities they serve.
This is accomplished through the organization’s strategic plan, structure, systems, policies and programs. Staff need to be developed, directed and empowered to find the best way to accomplish the organizational goals and achieve desired outcomes. One size does not fit all, and empowerment is created through a variety of structures and programs.
Working with patient Tiffani Brown inspired Debbie Kittel, BSN, RN, CCRN, to create a support group for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension, improving their quality of life.
Ohio State, alongside a host of community partners like CelebrateOne and Ohio Better Birth Outcomes, helped Franklin County achieve its lowest infant mortality rate in recent history.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center earned a spot on the 2023 Forbes list of America’s Best Employers For Diversity. We are one of 49 hospitals on the list and the highest-ranking health system in central Ohio to be awarded. Of the hospitals recognized, we ranked No. 8.
The list was compiled by surveying 45,000 Americans working for businesses with at least 1,000 employees. Participants were asked to anonymously rate their organizations based on criteria such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability and LGBTQ+ equality, as well as general diversity.
Beth McGuire, MBA, BSN, RN, NE-BC, and Adara McCarty volunteered to educate market-goers at the Dublin Farmers Market about our burn programs and trauma just in time for 4th of July festivities in 2023.
Alanna Miller, BSN, RN, CEN, was nominated by the Emergency Medicine residents for the Nurse of the Year Award for 2022-2023.
The Ohio Nurses Association honored Nicole Baltich, MS, APRN, CNS, a critical care clinical nurse specialist, with the 2023 Excellence in Nursing Practice Award — Advanced Practices. Baltich supports patient care and nursing practice in the PCU population and holds expertise in many areas, including improving patient outcomes related to sepsis, as well as decreasing risk of hospital-acquired infections and injuries.
She currently leads the Clinical Nurse Specialist Shared Governance Council as co-chair and advocates for the CNS role to practice at top of licensure.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Program granted accreditation for four years, from Dec. 19, 2022, to Jan. 31, 2027, for the Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship program.
The James Oncology and Critical Care Advanced Practice Fellowship was first accredited in 2016 and 2019. In 2019, the fellowship programs combined to one health system fellowship. With this new accreditation, we’ve been accredited as one health system with the addition of a primary care fellowship. The Ohio State University Health System APP Fellowship is one of only 26 accredited PTAP APRN programs.
Laura Ferguson, BSN, RN, CNOR, staff nurse at the Jameson Crane Sports Medicine Institute, signed up for the only accredited certification for perioperative nurses, the CNOR exam. Imagine her surprise when she was contacted by the Competency & Credentialing Institute (CCI) to notify her that she had the HIGHEST score out of 2,700 nurses who took the CNOR exam in 2022. This is an impressive accomplishment, considering the CNOR exam has a 67.6% pass rate.
Lifeline of Ohio honored Chelsea McVay, BSN, RN, CCRN, with a Champion of Hope Awards in October 2023. McVay, nurse manager over the Neuro Critical Care Unit, received the Lifeline of Ohio Nurse Champion Award.
Clinical Nurse Specialist Kristen Hill, MS, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC received the Distinguished Recent Alumna Award by The Ohio State University College of Nursing Alumni Society in October 2023.
This award is presented to a College of Nursing graduate in recognition of and appreciation for exceptional achievement over their career. The recipient of this award exemplifies the mission and vision of the College of Nursing while providing inspiration for current students, faculty and alumni. Professional areas for consideration include practice excellence, education, administration, professional writing, evidence-based practice, research or public service.
Each year, the Ohio Organization for Nursing Leadership recognizes both nurse leaders who have held positions within its board and aspiring nurse leaders who possess a desire to advance professionally. The primary focus is on their leadership abilities and their desire to promote nursing.
Ruth Labardee, DNP, RN, CNL, NEA-BC, CPPS, LSSGB, director, Health System Nursing Quality and Evidence -Based Practice, was nominated for the OONL Leadership award.
The 8 West Rhodes PCU team received the Spirit of Teamwork award in November 2023 for participating in and fundraising for several events that raise awareness for people with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
The medical center’s Excellence Awards acknowledge overall excellence and achievement of quality patient care and service through the Clinical Excellence, Excellence in Service, Excellence in Leadership and Preceptor Excellence awards. The Excellence Award is the highest honor an employee of the medical center can receive, and each year it recognizes some of the incredible difference makers here.
In May 2023 and 2024, several team members were honored with the Excellence award. Those receiving the award from University Hospital and the Ross Heart Hospital included:
The health system has partnered with the DAISY Foundation, dedicated to honoring excellence in nursing, to present the DAISY Award. The DAISY Award was created to recognize nurses who treat patients and families with compassion, instill faith and hope in patients, exceed expectations by understanding and anticipating needs of their patients and look for opportunities to create a welcome and special environment for patients.
Congratulations to these nurses who we honored with a Daisy Award in 2023:
The Bringing the Utmost Kindness to Individuals (BUCK-I) Award recognizes health system ancillary nursing staff (non-RNs who report to a nurse manager) for extraordinary acts of compassionate care they demonstrate in their work with patients. Winners of this award are known for exemplifying the mission, vision and values of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and truly making a connection with the patient and family through trust and emotional support, often going above the call of duty.
Congratulations to these staff for being selected as our 2023 BUCK-I award winners: