LUHS nurses earn professional certifications

Several Loyola University Health System (LUHS) nurses have earned professional certifications in their clinical areas of expertise. This indicates that LUHS nurses meet strong professional development standards and competencies.

"These accomplishments demonstrate that Loyola nurses are equipped to meet the growing demands of the health-care industry," said Paula Hindle, MSN, MBA, RN, vice president, Health Care Services and chief nurse executive. "Our patients should feel confident knowing that our nurses possess skills and knowledge that affords them the highest quality of care."

Loyola Nurses Earn Critical Care Certifications
Lisa Ann Rolnicki, RN, earned her Cardiac Medicine Certification (CMC) while Kelly Gallagher, RN, Soo Howell, RN, Kylie Hughes, RN, Lisa Infantino, RN, Jayme Saulters, RN, and Anna Smaga, RN, earned their Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) certification. Rolnicki, Gallagher, Howell, Hughes, Infantino and Saulters work in the intensive care unit and Smaga works in rehabilitative nursing at Loyola University Hospital (LUH). Karen Thomas, MS, RN, recently received her Certification for Progressive Care Nurses (PCCN). Erin Cahill, RN, and Valentina Chapa, RN, became Certified Medical-Surgical Registered Nurses (CMSRN).
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Loyola Center for Clinical Effectiveness Employees Become Certified in Health-care Quality
Mary Altier, Anne Porter, PhD, RN, and Lu Ann Vis became Certified Professionals in Health-care Quality (CPHQ). Altier, Porter and Vis work in LUHS' Center for Clinical Effectiveness.
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Loyola Nurses Receive Oncology Certifications
Margaret Zimowska, RN, became an Advanced Oncology Certified Clinical Nurse Specialist (AOCNS). Zimowska works with oncology patients admitted to LUH. Tara Dedic, RN, Anna Jenero, RN, Vanessa Jennings, RN, and Gina Michaels, RN, became Oncology Certified Nurses (OCN). Dedic, Jenero and Jennings work in LUHS' bone marrow transplant unit while Michaels works at Loyola's Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center.
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Loyola Nurse Educator Receives Leadership Award
Pam Clementi, PhD, APRN, BC-FNP, received the Pinnacle Award at The Power of Nursing Leadership Program in Chicago. Dr. Clementi, who is manager in the Department of Nursing Education at LUHS, was celebrated for her accomplishments as a nurse leader.
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Loyola Nurse Presents Before Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses
Ramute Kemeza, RN, was invited to present before the Chicago Chapter Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses. Her talk was titled, "Oral Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week - It's Time in Chicago." Kemeza also was elected to the national nominating committee of the society, and she serves as the Chicago Chapter president. Most recently, she took on the position of chairperson of ENT Update 2009. This was an ear, nose and throat nursing educational conference. Kemeza works in the ambulatory surgery center at LUHS. Pam Morano, RN, was elected as vice president of the Chicago Chapter Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Head-Neck Nurses. Morano is the multidisciplinary nurse coordinator for Loyola's Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center.
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Loyola Nurses and Faculty Publish Study on Pregnancy Loss in the ED
Vicki Bacidore, MSN, RN, ACNP-BC, CEN, Christine Chaput, MSN, RN, CEN, and Vicki Keough, PhD, RN-BC, ACNP, published an article in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing titled, "A Collaborative Framework for Managing Pregnancy Loss in the Emergency Department."
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Loyola Nurse Educators and Administrators Publish Article on Changes in Nursing Practice
Pam Clementi, PhD, APRN, BC-FNP, Paula Hindle, MSN, MBA, RN, Deborah Jasovksy, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, and Mary Morrow, PhD, RN, recently published a paper in Nursing Science Quarterly titled, "Theories in Action and How Nursing Practice Changed." Hindle, Jasovsky and Morrow work in the Department of Health Care Services and nursing administration at LUHS.
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Loyola Nurse Educates on Eye Care
Nancy Quandt, RN, was invited to speak at FOCUS 2009 on age-related macular degeneration. She also volunteered to conduct vision screenings for homeschooled children. Quandt works in the Department of Ophthalmology at LUHS.