‘Educate, Innovate and Celebrate:’ Brigham Nurses Attend Magnet Conference
Kristen Reed, left; Emilie Schlitt, top right; and Monica Tucker-Schwartz and Cory Gallant, bottom right
This year’s Magnet conference was an opportunity to form connections, learn from and share knowledge with peers nationally and celebrate the profession of nursing.
“I left rejuvenated and with a new energy, along with validation of how important it is for nurses to have a say in their practice,” said Cindy Labins, MSN, RN, CCDS, a clinical documentation specialist. “I also left this conference prouder than ever to be a nurse and with continued validation that BWH is a leader in professional nursing practice.”
Labins was among a group of Brigham nurses who attended the conference, entitled “Educate, Innovate and Celebrate,” in Atlanta, Georgia, earlier this month. During the conference, nurses attended lectures and sessions spanning a variety of topics related to the components of the Magnet model.
Three Brigham nurses were selected to present their work on wellness and resilience.
Kristen Reed, BSN, RN, HN-BC; Jaimie Medina, BSN, RN; and Monica Aurilio, BSN, RN, of the Neurosciences Intermediate Care Unit, presented “Reconnecting Staff on an Inpatient Neuroscience Unit through Reiki Training and Monthly Wellness Days,” a project they led in partnership with Mary Pennington, MSN, RN, nursing director.
“It was an absolute honor to present our Wellness Days program,” said Reed. “It was a pleasure to share our work prioritizing wellness and fostering resilience, and also to learn from and be inspired by brilliant colleagues and nurses from all over the world at the conference.”
Emilie Schlitt, BSN, RN, CWOCN, a Wound, Ostomy and Continence nurse, was inspired by what she learned during sessions on wound care education.
“I found it helpful to get to know what programs and interventions have worked in other hospitals to decrease their hospital-acquired pressure injury rates,” she said. “I’ve already had a discussion with my manager about some of the take-aways from the conference and look forward to enhancing wound care education.”
Monica Tucker-Schwartz, DNP, RN, NE-BC, director of Interventional Cardiology and co-Magnet Program Director for the Brigham, noted the new connections she made with both Brigham nurses and nurses at other institutions.
“I formed more than 15 new relationships and got to know nurses in other areas of the Brigham,” she said. “A constant theme running through the sessions was the natural ability of nurses to solve problems and come up with innovative solutions to enhance patient care and the experience of patients and staff.”
The conference also underscored the importance of self-care for nurses and health care professionals.
“I realized after the wellness session how easy it actually is to take even just a few minutes each day to be present and take care of myself,” said Labins.