Press release
from Charles George VA Medical Center
The Charles George VA Medical Center (CGVAMC) Nurses will roll out a new Professional Practice Model for 2013 at 11 a.m., Friday, Jan. 11, which will serve as a uniting theory, a guide to practice and an inspiration for the CGVAMC Nursing Staff,
The new model includes a CGVAMC Nursing Pledge to Veterans. It also includes a shared governance structure which allows bedside nurses to take part in solving problems that they have experienced at a patient’s bedside.
David Przestrzelski, chief nurse executive, explained, “In developing our model, our Nursing Practice Council called on an Asheville resident, internationally known nurse theorist and former dean of Florida Atlantic University College of Nursing, Dr. Anne Boykin, who taught us to tell our stories about caring for our patients.”
“As we told our stories, they came together around one common theme, the unique privilege we have to care for America’s military Veterans,” said Julie Azar, R.N., co-chair of the Nursing Practice Council and staff nurse in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
“Our stories centered on the commitment to our Veterans,” explained Sabrina Thomas, R.N., Council co-chair, “and one of our council members suggested that the special bond we have with our Veterans be put into a statement pledging that commitment. Our Veterans earned their health care in some of the most hostile combat and natural environments that anyone can imagine.”
The mission and vision of the CGVAMC staff is “to respect and honor America’s Veterans by working together to provide each Veteran with excellent care in the right place, at the right time – every time.”
“The professional practice model that we will sign on Friday publicly commits us to cultivating an environment that encourages nurses to make evidence based changes in a shared decision making process to attain positive
outcomes for the Veteran, the Veteran’s family, and for the nursing staff,” said Natalie Parce, Clinical Nurse specialist and Magnet® Coordinator.
The Nursing Pledge to Our Veterans states:
While in the Service, you were taught to be part of a unit, a
finely oiled machine, working together toward a common
goal to protect our country. In that spirit, we pledge
to care for you and your family with the
same respect and integrity with which you have served us.
· We pledge to be part of your unit or team, working toward the goal of getting you the help that you need in order to achieve your healthcare goals.
· We respect the sacrifices you made in service to our Country, and we pledge to treat you, your family, and each other with the respect, compassion, and trust that we all deserve.
· We pledge to treat you as an entire person, not a bundle of diagnoses. We will listen to you in order to understand your concerns and needs.
· We pledge to honor, respect and support your choices.
· We pledge to advocate for you when you have a voice and when you have none.
· We pledge to work with you as part of your care team to provide safe, competent care and earn your trust.
· We pledge to consult with you, your family, your Doctor and the Clinical staff to get you the tools and assistance you need to meet your healthcare needs.
· We pledge to work to better ourselves by furthering our education and professional development in order to provide you the highest quality of healthcare possible.
“As a nursing force, we are bound by these important duties, and we push one another to advance our knowledge and share understanding of the leading evidence based nursing practices. We aim to bring those best practices to every Veteran’s encounter, whether it is at a bedside, on the phone, in our clinics, even in the parking lot – everywhere,” said David Przestrzelski, the chief nurse executive.
The CGVAMC employs 366 nurses who are part of a total staff of 1,529 doctors, nurses, medical technicians and support specialties.
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