“Excellence in Clinical Practice Award”

Diane Swintek, RN, BSN, CPAN

 

I have had the pleasure of working with Diane for the past 6 years.  Diane is currently the President of the Baltimore chapter of CBSPAN.  She has motivated many of the staff members in the Ambulatory Surgery Center to become members of the professional association and to pursue certification in CAPA. Diane is an excellent practitioner. She provides high quality, safe, patient centered and compassionate care to all of her patients in the PACU.  A letter from one of her patients commending her care was read by the CEO at one of the hospital’s Management Council meetings. I receive many cards and letters from patients that she has cared for commending her for the nursing care she provided as well as the compassion and caring she shows by going above the call of duty to relieve their anxiety.  Diane is proactive in reuniting patients and loved ones post operatively. She knows how much that can mean and how it can benefit all parties involved.  She has developed guidelines and family member information for visitation in our PACU. When patients have longer than usual stays in the PACU or must “board” there overnight, Diane does whatever is necessary to make them as comfortable as possible. She involves family in their care, provides all comfort measures and even goes out of her way to see that they have whatever they want to eat if and when it is allowed.  Patients that are admitted to Critical Care units frequently receive a visit from Diane the next day. She is concerned about their progress and can many times answer questions about their immediate post operative that they typically do not remember.  She is a true patient advocate in many ways.

Diane is an excellent clinical resource to other staff in the PACU and other units. She keeps current with trends in nursing and perianesthesia care by attending educational programs, ASPAN conferences, and with on line educational programs. Whatever she learns, she shares with the staff in many different ways- informal conversations, mentoring, bulletin boards, posters, bedside reminders,- to name a few. She makes learning convenient and fun. Diane developed a “Survival Guide” that lists basic needed information, phone numbers, resources, facts and a who’s who for new staff members.  On peer feedback forms, staff has said “she is a walking encyclopedia” “I have learned so many things from her” She is extremely knowledgeable but does not make others feel intimidated. She is a great teacher and can break down complex topics into the need to know basics.

Diane is a hospital CPR Instructor. She is also a Pain Resource Nurse.  In this role, she is a resource to PACU and other staff for pain management issues. She works with the Pain Management Coordinator to provide consults and resolve issues for patients thus improving patient satisfaction. She provides on going education on this topic and assists in reviewing compliance with pain management documentation.

 

Diane takes professional development seriously. She is a member of Maryland Nurses Association, ASPAN, is certified in her specialty CPAN, is a member of the Nursing Department’s Professional Development Council, a past member of the Nursing Department’s Retention and Recruitment Council, and is an RN III on the hospital’s Professional Nursing Ladder   I think one of the best compliments one can receive is praise from peers. As part of the Professional Nursing Ladder, random peer reviews are done.  Some of the comments on these forms are: “She is an incredible nurse with high standards of care- not only for her patients but of those around her”; “Diane has personally helped me to be the best nurse that I can be”.

 

These are a few of the reasons I feel Diane Swintek should receive the Excellence in Clinical Practice Award. She is a well rounded representative of professional perianesthesia nursing practice and a true asset to Franklin Square and our PACU. Thank you for your consideration of this nominee.

 

Sincerely

 

 

 

 

Lynnette Schultz RN MS,CNA