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COMMUNITY
“OUR MOST IMPORTANT RESPONSIBILITY
AS CLINICAL
NURSE LEADERS IS
TO
LOOK AT THE WHOLE PATIENT,”
JESTES SAID. “WE ROUND ON PATIENTS FIVE DAYS A WEEK, HELP
MANAGE EXPECTATIONS
THROUGHOUT THEIR HOSPITAL
STAY, AND
PROMOTE A TEAM-BASED APPROACH
TO
CARE BY
KEEPING AN OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN THE CARE TEAM AND THE PATIENT.”
They’re like the “Laverne and Shirley” of the medical-surgical unit at
Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Allen.
When it comes to coordinating patient care, Emily Goldblatt
Jestes ’95 (BSN) (’12 MSN-CNL) and Holly Haddad (’12 MSN-CNL), the
hospital’s first Clinical Nurse Leaders, can be found doing just about
everything together.
“Our most important responsibility as clinical nurse leaders is to look
at the whole patient,” Jestes said. “We round on patients five days a
week, help manage expectations throughout their hospital stay, and
promote a team-based approach to care by keeping an open line of
communication between the care team and the patient.”
Haddad noted another component of the new team’s duties.
“A major advantage of being a CNL is still having the bedside
interaction with patients,” Haddad said. “We serve as a resource for
the unit nurses, helping identify risks, and educate patients before
they leave the hospital to help prevent readmissions.”
The CNL role is a fast-emerging nursing role developed by the
American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). It is the first
new nursing role in four decades.
In practice, a CNL oversees the care coordination of a distinct
group of patients. CNLs evaluate patient outcomes, assess risks and
have the decision-making authority to change care plans when
necessary. The CNL serves as the focal point for the patient, family
and health care team in coordinating the patient’s plan of care and
providing information.
Texas Health Resources nurses are among the first in North Texas to
complete certification to become CNLs. There are currently 15 CNLs
across the THR system.
The stars aligned for the dynamic duo when Jestes, a labor and
delivery nurse from Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano, and
Haddad, an ICU nurse from Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital
Hurst-Euless-Bedford, enrolled in the CNL master’s degree program
at TCU nearly three years ago. The Texas Health-TCU partnership
allows eligible THR nurses to work as patient care facilitators
while earning their MSN-CNL degree at TCU with generous tuition
reimbursement.
During their time at TCU, both nurses were recognized for their
outstanding course work. Earlier this year, Jestes was honored for
Academic Achievement at Harris College’s annual academic awards
banquet. Haddad won first place for her immersion project, “The
Effect of Nursing Pain Management Strategies on Length of Stay and
Patient Satisfaction,” which was implemented at Texas Health. Upon
completing the CNL program, Jestes convinced Haddad to transfer
to Texas Health Allen.
The rest is history.
“The clinical nurse leader role was developed to prepare highly-
skilled nurses at the master’s level for improvement of quality and
safety outcomes,” said Jane Cook, chief nursing officer at Texas
Health Allen. “We are delighted to have Emily and Holly making a
difference for patient care in this role at Texas Health Allen.”
CNL:
NEW NURSING
ROLE IN HOSPITALS
By Andrea Hein
FEATURES
Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences ·
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