Emergency Department

2009 Nurse of the Year

ED Clinical REWARDS Recipient for 2008
Amy Davis

Location:

Arnold Building, 1st Floor

# Beds:

33; this includes a 4-bed MECA (Minor Emergency Care Area)

Assistant AVP:

Jennifer Blank, RN, BSN, MA

Unit Manager:

Karen Carden, RN, CEN

Assistant Unit Managers:

Lara Devero-Williams, RN, BSN
Kathy Floyd, RN, CEN

Typical nurse to patient ratio:

1:4 (Flex 1:5)

Skills/Certifications Required:

CPR, ACLS, PALS, NRP, Advanced Stroke Life Support, knowledge of Pyxis medication stations, computerized charting, ENA Standards and Scope of Practice.

Most common meds / those nurses must be familiar with:

All emergency code meds (ACLS)

Care extenders used:

Nursing Care Techs, Patient Care Techs, Nurse Techs (RN students), Paramedics, Health Unit Coordinators

Certification for Differential:

CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse)

Selling points for Unit:

• Winter Haven Hospital’s Model of Professional Nursing Care Delivery is based upon the Theory of Human Caring by nurse theorist Dr. Jean Watson.  This patient-centered model is the prevalent theme across every nursing unit—beginning in the E.D.! 
• We are part of superior programs & centers of excellence.  For example:
• Our Joint Commission Certified Stroke Center was recently awarded “GOLD” by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With the Guidelines for consistently excellent stroke care & outcomes.  We are proud to be part of the multidisciplinary team that works to stop strokes in their tracks!
• Our Bostick Heart Center is a center of excellence for comprehensive cardiovascular care—confirmed by data submitted to national databases (STS, ACC).  We work collaboratively with the Cath Lab to ensure our ACS patients have the shortest D2B times! 
• Despite our large staff, we boast a 0% RN vacancy rate!
• We have great people to work with—competent, professional & compassionate—and utilize a team approach. 
• Our Physicians, Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners are contracted through the University of Florida.  Go Gators! 
• We have an active Shared Governance Team and an open door management policy. 
• Support personnel located in the Emergency Department include Pharmacists, Social Workers, Care Managers and Access Counselors for our psychiatric patients. 

Our computerized charting system is supported from within by our EDIS System Analyst, an experienced E.D. nurse who is also an IT expert.

More about what's happening in the E.D.