A Nurse at NYEE Offers “Comfort and Connection”

Updated on Nov 9, 2023 | Nursing, Stories of Excellence

Inna Tsekhan, RN, works in the Comprehensive Eye Clinic at New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. Min Jeon, RN, CRON, MBA, nurse manager at NYEE, says that when Inna interacts with patients, “her empathy and compassion come through each time. Inna always greets her patients with a smile, and she does her best to make sure they feel at ease.”

One day at the Comprehensive Eye Clinic is a case in point: “One of Inna’s patients was highly nervous because of a recent, sudden vision loss,” Ms. Jeon recalls. “Inna explained to the patient that she would guide her through the clinic visit, and even walked the patient to different testing areas. The patient later asked to speak to me about the excellent service she received and how Inna went out of her way to help her. The patient explained that Inna spoke to her in such a caring manner, it calmed her anxiety, as she was extremely nervous about her eye condition. The patient was so appreciative that each time she came for her follow-up visit, she asked for Inna.”

Ms. Jeon continues, “I have worked with Inna for eight years, and she continues to be highly dedicated to her work. She is an integral part of Mount Sinai, adored by her patients, and respected by her colleagues.”

Inna says her approach to the patient experience is quite simple. “I treat all patients as members of my family. I am committed to creating a great environment for their care where there is comfort and connection.”

 

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Environmental Services Aide Is “Sign of Hope” for Patients and Families

Updated on Nov 9, 2023 | Stories of Excellence

Hopie Brown, Environmental Services Aide, Mount Sinai South Nassau, was recently recognized for offering hope to a patient’s family during his “darkest hour.”

When the patient’s fever kept climbing, his daughter knew things “weren’t looking good,” she recently wrote in a heartfelt letter of appreciation for Hopie. So she “dropped everything” and flew to New York to be with him, and got special permission to spend the night with him as his fever spiked to more than 104 degrees.

She writes: “In the morning the most warm and cheerful woman came into the room mopping the floor. Her name was Hopie, and I felt in that moment that she truly was a sign of hope. The next day, she asked someone to bring me a recliner, which was so much more comfortable than the hard chair, to catch a few winks. There were many days of uncertainty, but each day I would see Hopie, and she would offer encouragement and a kind word. I was grateful for her uplifting attitude and how she blessed my dad and me with hope during his darkest hour.”

Stefanie Bradley, Supervisor of Environmental Services, Mount Sinai South Nassau, is familiar with Hopie’s ability to spread hope. “I am grateful for the compassion and human connection Hopie provides for patients and families,” she says.

Hopie says she begins each day determined to spread optimism to every patient she meets.

“I want to help patients by bringing a ray of light into the darkness that can surround them when they are a patient,” she says. “I want to see them smile.”

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Social Worker Shows “Extraordinary Compassion” in a Patient’s Taxi Ride Home

Nov 1, 2023 | Stories of Excellence

Ebony Williams, LMSW

Ebony Williams, LMSW, a social worker at the Mount Sinai Morningside inpatient adult psychiatric unit, was commended recently for going above and beyond in caring for a discharged patient. The patient, who has had multiple psychiatric admissions over the past year, had no one to assist her in returning home from the hospital.

Given the patient’s fear of riding in a taxi alone and her history of returning to the Emergency Department, Ebony personally escorted the patient home in a taxi, chatting with her throughout the ride, and ensured that she returned safely to her family. Elisandro De La Cruz, LCSW, Director of Social Work, Acute Psychiatry Services, Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai Morningside, says, “I am so proud of Ebony’s extraordinary compassion and excellent patient care, especially in this patient’s time of need.”

Ebony joined Mount Sinai in 2022. “Working here has been a long-time goal, as I was raised in the Harlem community,” she says. “I want to change the narrative surrounding social work. We are not just people who take away from communities—we contribute to them as well.”

Ebony is also committed to total patient care. “I believe in wrap-around care,” she says. “Even after discharge, patients continue to be our patients, and it is important that we set them up for success. Social work is lifelong and worldwide.”

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Patient Recovers From Two Brain Surgeries With Help From “Wonderful” Mount Sinai Team

Updated on Oct 24, 2023 | Featured, Stories of Excellence

Shannon Hickey, patient, right, with her occupational therapist, Aura Weltman

Shannon Hickey, 29, never imagined a case of double vision shortly before Valentine’s Day in February would lead to an Emergency Department visit, two brain surgeries, and months of rehabilitation therapy. It has been a long journey, made easier by her medical team, and on one memorable day, by an unexpected word of kindness and cheer.

Shannon had always been very healthy, and only a week before her symptoms began, she was sightseeing in Paris with her best friend. At most, Shannon thought her symptoms might simply be due to a vitamin deficiency. Imaging revealed that was not the case. She had a brainstem brain tumor, and on February 14, Shannon underwent surgery to remove the tumor at The Mount Sinai Hospital, performed by a team headed by Isabelle Germano, MD, MBA, Director of the Mount Sinai Comprehensive Brain Tumor Center. When she awoke, her double-blind vision was much improved but she developed a new difficulty with her peripheral vision on the right. She also had difficulty recalling words and moving the right side of her body, as consequence of a small stroke that occurred during surgery. After a few days in the Intensive Care Unit, Shannon spent two weeks as an inpatient in the Rehabilitation Unit at the hospital.

Shannon describes herself as extraordinarily positive, and says she never felt the severity of all she was going through. “A right-sided deficit was fortunate,” she says. “I am left -handed.” And she gives a lot of credit to her “wonderful” team of therapists. Shannon praises Emily Teitelbaum, MS, OTD, Senior Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Specialist, “Emily was my inpatient OT. She had been a professional ballet dancer before becoming an OT, and I was a volunteer dance instructor, so Emily designed my exercises based on ballet moves, which clearly were personalized for me. It was just so nice.”

“My physical therapist, Will Long PT, DPT, was such a happy and positive person,” Shannon continues. “He made everything fun. I had to learn all the basics, basically how to walk again, but it never felt like work.”

“It was an amazing meeting, to have all of these professionals, in one room, in person and virtually, supporting me in this way.”

Shannon returned home in late March, but needed to continue physical and speech rehabilitation therapy. She still required a brace to walk and had challenges reading. As the spring progressed, Shannon was eager to return to work despite her limitations, as she had taken a three-month leave and wanted to meet her self-imposed deadline. At that point, my wonderful outpatient occupational therapist, Aura Weltman, MS, Senior Occupational Therapy Rehabilitation Specialist was instrumental in my emotional recovery as well as my progress physically. Shannon says. “She set up an interdisciplinary meeting with my team, including my therapists, social worker, and Aveniel Klein, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Rehabilitation and Human Performance. They helped me understand that I was doing all the work I needed to do to recover, but there was no timeline I could measure myself against. I needed to be patient. It was an amazing meeting, to have all of these professionals, in one room, in person and virtually, supporting me in this way.”

Unfortunately, the tumor had formed another cyst in her thalamus, so a second surgery was scheduled for June. Shannon admits she was nervous this time. “I had so many changes after the first surgery, I was scared.” But she says, she felt incredibly supported by the Mount Sinai team she had come to consider family. She recounts a small, but meaningful gesture by Dr. Germano. “I gave Dr. Germano a valentine on the day of my first surgery. For the second surgery, she was wearing a Snoopy surgical cap and told me she knew I liked Snoopy. I was confused, but a few minutes later, I recalled I had given her a Peanuts valentine featuring Snoopy. It was incredibly sweet of her.”

During this surgery, a biopsy confirmed that Shannon had pilocytic astrocytoma, a type of brain tumor that originates from glial (brain) cells called astrocytes and seen primarily in children. Most cases are benign, as was Shannon’s. Shannon says the day she was informed of her diagnosis was “the best day of my life.” She explains, “It was my lucky day to learn this tumor does not multiply. Literally, I can thank my stars, because these glial cells are star-shaped.”

Shannon is taking oral targeted-therapy specific for her tumor’s molecular signature and may have long-term decreased peripheral vision on the right side. But she remains upbeat and unfazed. “I have adapted to my vision deficit. I no longer need speech therapy and will cut back on OT soon,” she says. “And, I am so lucky, the hospital is near my home so I get to practice walking on my way to PT.”

Shannon with Prince Allah, parking attendant

Shannon is grateful to another special Mount Sinai staff member: On her walks back home along Fifth Avenue after therapy, she says she had to be hyper-focused to avoid falling. “I could not really pay attention to my surroundings or people.” But one day, she heard someone say to her: “Oh, progress.” The voice was that of Prince Allah, a parking attendant at 1176 Fifth Avenue. Shannon introduced herself, and thanked Prince for his interest and support. Prince says he had seen Shannon walk by for months, first on crutches, and then on her own, and noted how she worked at her gait, but still had her smile.

“I could not hold back, I had to tell her she was so impressive,” he says. “And when she came up and introduced herself, it made my day.” Mount Sinai is his first hospital work experience. “I love working at The Mount Sinai Hospital,” he says, “helping people in any way I can.”

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Mount Sinai West Obstetrics Team Gives Patient the Wedding of Her Dreams

Updated on Oct 13, 2023 | Nursing, Stories of Excellence

Kehana Bonagura, patient, center, at her wedding organized by the Mount Sinai West antepartum team at the hospital chapel.

Kehana Bonagura had planned to combine her baby shower with a surprise wedding in late September 2023, about a month before her planned delivery date. However, a week before the event, Kehana was diagnosed with vasa previa, a rare pregnancy complication that can cause a fetus to lose a significant amount of blood. As a result, Kehana would need to stay at Mount Sinai West until giving birth so she could be closely monitored. She and her fiancé were devastated and hoped it would be possible, at the very least, to have a bedside wedding.

The Mount Sinai West 11A antepartum team wanted to do something more, specifically, plan a wedding for the couple in the hospital chapel. Niesha Canselo, Nurse Manager of 11A, knew this might be a challenge due to logistics and the patient’s condition, but she was determined to make it happen if at all possible. Once she received the go-ahead from senior leadership, she enlisted her team to give Kehana a magazine-worthy ceremony and reception. Niesha is humble when talking about her role in coordinating the details. “My team rose to the occasion,” she says. “We all came together knowing how much this celebration would mean to Kehana and her fiancé.”

Friends, family, and staff walked into a transformed chapel. A wedding aisle was covered with rose petals, leading to a flowered canopy for the ceremony. The staff wrote a special wedding song and set a beautiful dinner table for two in her room, complete with sparkling apple cider and wedding cake. Guests received personalized chocolate favors, and a keepsake photo for the couple was signed by the 11A staff.

Kehana called her wedding day, September 23, “the most magical day of my life.” She says that many of her family members described it as the most intimate and special wedding they had ever been to. “I cannot thank Niesha and everyone else who contributed to our special day enough,” she says.

But Kehana’s thanks go beyond the special wedding. She delivered a healthy baby girl on September 28. “The care I received for the past two weeks has helped me remain positive during a challenging time. I can’t wait to tell my daughter the story of how the nurses and doctors at Mount Sinai not only made sure she arrived safely into the world, but also gave her mommy and daddy the wedding of their dreams. Thank you, Mount Sinai! You are all now forever a part of our growing family.”

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Contributing to Nursing Knowledge: A Talk With Bevin Cohen, PhD, MS, MPH, RN, Director of the Center for Nursing Research and Innovation

Updated on Oct 9, 2023 | Nursing, Stories of Excellence

Bevin Cohen, PhD, MS, MPH, RN

Nurses represent the largest and most trusted segment of the health care workforce. The reasons are not surprising: nurses command expert clinical knowledge, interact with virtually every member of the care team, and are the providers closest to patients and family members, the ones who know them best.

Less well known is that nurses are also leaders in clinical and public health research, working to improve health care delivery and health outcomes across the globe. Mount Sinai’s Center for Nursing Research and Innovation (CNRI) is home to a cadre of such nurse-researchers who work across a range of specialty areas and earn competitive grant funding from the National Institutes of Health, foundations, and industry partners.

The Center was founded at The Mount Sinai Hospital in 2014, and in 2020, Beth Oliver, DNP, RN, FAAN, Senior Vice President, Cardiac Services, and Chief Nurse Executive at Mount Sinai Health System, expanded its scope to serve as a resource to nurses throughout the Health System. Bevin Cohen, PhD, MS, MPH, RN, is the Center’s Director.

The CNRI, one of only a few of its kind in the country, supports continuous improvement of nursing care through rigorous implementation, adaptation, and evaluation of new practices. The Center’s staff of full-time researchers approach this in two ways.

The first is traditional and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration. As members of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai faculty, CNRI researchers lead and partner on large-scale studies within well-developed programs of scholarship. For example, they may focus on identifying biomarkers to detect subclinical heart disease with point-of-care testing in patients who visit the Emergency Department, streamlining communication about patients’ care preferences when they are unable to speak for themselves, or advancing equity in postpartum cardiometabolic outcomes.

The second way is unique and characterizes the ethos at the core of the Center.

Mount Sinai nurses are widely recognized clinical experts with innovative ideas and first-hand knowledge of how to improve care. As scientists embedded in clinical practice, CNRI researchers partner with clinical nurses who have practice innovations they wish to adopt, adapt, or test in their clinical specialty. The training and mentorship the researchers provide can help clinical nurses formally study and share their observations, ideas, and innovations.

“We’re here to guide and mentor nurses at each step as they plan, design, and execute a nursing research project, and then analyze and disseminate their findings,” says Dr. Cohen. “Who better to study the impact of nursing on care delivery than nurses themselves?”

Examples of this research include measuring the impact of repositioning on healing pressure injuries for patients using air fluidized therapy support surfaces or using video visits to enhance telephone triage for homebound patients. “Ultimately, our focus is on improving patient outcomes,” says Dr. Cohen.

Paving the Way for More Clinical Nurse-Led Research

“Clinical nurses are innovative and have great ideas about improving care delivery,” says Dr. Cohen. “But embarking on a research study to test those ideas can be pretty daunting, particularly to someone just starting out. Our goal is to demystify the process, eliminate roadblocks, and provide guidance at every step.” The vast amount of nursing knowledge that resides at the point of care is immense, and one of the Center’s goals is to help bring that forward.

With this in mind, the CNRI team developed a dedicated nursing page on the Icahn Mount Sinai “Research Roadmap,” an online reference tool designed to help nurses interested in conducting evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research projects. This resource offers practical information about key topics, including writing an abstract, performing a literature search, crafting a meaningful research question, selecting an appropriate design, and navigating the Institutional Review Board. The team is also broadcasting detailed guidance through its dedicated playlist on Mount Sinai’s YouTube Channel.

“One area that we are most proud of is our journal, Practical Implementation of Nursing Science (PINS), which we launched in partnership with Icahn Mount Sinai’s Levy Library Press in 2021,” says Dr. Cohen. “There are so many barriers to publishing, which limits the spread of important clinical knowledge, as well as the visibility of clinical nurses’ contributions to improving patient outcomes. PINS is an open access, peer-reviewed journal that we designed for nurses to more quickly and easily disseminate results of practice-based interventions, whether on a large or small scale.”

Through partnerships with the schools of medicine and nursing at Mount Sinai, the CNRI is also dedicated to educating those new to the profession and new to research. An Evidence-Based Practice Fellowship guides undergraduate students through the process of conducting an evidence-based practice project on a clinical unit. An eight-week Interdisciplinary Collaborative Research Training Program provides hands-on and classroom research training for undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate students in nursing, medicine, and the allied health professions.

“We are also focused on building a more active and cohesive nursing research community within the Health System,” says Dr. Cohen. The Nursing Research Council provides a monthly opportunity for clinical nurses, nurse leaders, and nurse researchers to share updates on new and ongoing research initiatives. A Nursing Research Day Planning Committee is instrumental in selecting topics, themes, speakers, and abstracts for each year’s event, a forum designed for sharing research findings on critical or emerging topics. A Nursing Project Approval Council ensures that all nurse-led evidence-based practice and quality improvement projects are compliant with local and federal regulations governing data privacy and advises nurses on institutional review board requirements for research with human subjects.

Pathway to Leadership

Dr. Cohen has been interested in health care and research from an early age: “I started college as a pre-med student but quickly felt that wasn’t for me. There was a heavy focus on basic science, and less about our systems and policies, which were more of my interests.” A course in epidemiology and biostatistics taught by a great professor inspired her to switch to a public health track.

“I learned two things in that course,” she says. “One was that epidemiological thinking is applicable to every clinical, public health, or policy question one could wish to study. The other was that nurses are incredibly creative and resourceful. This class had one nurse enrolled who was getting her master’s degree, and she sat in front of me for the whole semester. For our final exam, the professor said we could bring one sheet of paper with notes and formulas. The whole class was in awe when the nurse arrived on testing day and pulled out a three-foot-long sheet of paper. She followed the rules, but she thought outside the box. That was the moment I decided I wanted to be both an epidemiologist and a nurse.”

Dr. Cohen received her Bachelor of Arts degree with an individually designed major in Public Health and minor in Statistics from the University of Vermont. She went on to earn her Master of Public Health and Doctor of Philosophy degrees, both in Epidemiology, from the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and her Master of Science in Nursing from the Columbia University School of Nursing.

While at Columbia, Dr. Cohen began working as a project coordinator for a preeminent researcher in nursing and epidemiology, who became a lifelong mentor. “Having a mentor who is principled, practical, ethical, and able to lead by example was tremendously impactful. My goal is for the CNRI to center these values along with research training as we educate the next generation of nurse researchers.”

Initially joining The Mount Sinai Hospital as Director of Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Dr. Cohen today serves as the Director of the Center for Nursing Research and Innovation for Mount Sinai Health System, and as an Associate Professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at Icahn Mount Sinai. Dr. Cohen is also dedicated to bringing research methods to life in the classroom and maintains teaching faculty roles in Columbia School of Nursing’s Doctor of Nursing Practice program and in the public health track of Bard College’s Bard Prison Initiative.

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