Engaging and Empowering Nurses Into Action

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Engaging and Empowering Nurses Into Action

• Denise Choiniere, RN, BSN
• Lisa Rowen, RN, DNSc
• University of Maryland Medical Center
• November 12, 2008

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Beginnings

• CEO and CNO Vision
• Role for an individual and also a way of life for
  all employees

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Vision

• Engagement promoting staff buy-in,
  understanding of vision
• Empowerment employees can carry their personal
  values into the workplace consistency in
  practices at home and work

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It Makes Sense

• Individual health and the environment are
  intertwined
• Health care workers know that environments affect
  health for patients and for employees

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UMMC Nursing Governance
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Nurses Have Highest Rates of Work-Related Asthma
The Lancet 2007 370336-341, Exposure to
substances in the workplace and new-onset asthma
an international prospective population-based
study
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Pesticides

•  Many are linked to chronic diseases and
  conditions such as
• Cancer
• Birth defects
• Neurological disorders
• Reproductive disorders
• Development of chemical sensitivities

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Food Miles

• Typical produce item now travels about 1,500
  miles from farm to plate
• Indirect impacts
• Diesel air pollution
• Oil dependence

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Recycling Initiatives

• 14,000 pounds of fluorescent tubes were
  recycled.

• 20,250 pounds of mixed paper was recycled.

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Reusable Sharps Containers

• 25,000 total pounds collected in the 10 months of
  the program.  
• Of that 25,000 lbs only 17,560 lbs was actual
  sharps that were burned.  
• 7,440 pounds was the weight of the needle boxes
  that we spared from burning.

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Is This the Best Option?
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Menu of Options for Nurses

• Get involved
• Join (or form) the Green Team
• Join your hospitals new product committee
• Consider products entire life cycle
• Educate and be educated

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Thank You