Mahaska Health Partnership Celebrates Nurses Week

Mahaska Health Partnership

MAHASKA COUNTY – In recognition of National Nurses Week, May 6 through 12, Mahaska Health Partnership honors the Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN), Registered Nurses (RN), Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (P/MHNP), Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP) and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) who are making healthcare personal at MHP.

According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), nursing is a profession described as an art and science. Nurses play many roles, from caregiver and educator to researcher and advocate

“Our nurses are dedicated and committed to making healthcare personal for our patients,” MHP Chief Nursing Officer Darlene Keuning explained. “They take the time to ensure patients have the best possible experience at MHP, regardless of the circumstances.”

Keuning said that the theme of this year’s nurses week, “‘Nurses: Leading the Way”’ is a perfect description of how MHP nurses strive to be the best advocates for their patients. “In a rural healthcare environment, it is especially important that our staff be well-rounded leaders at every level of practice,” Keuning stressed. “Doctors and other medical providers rely on nurses to help be their eyes and ears when it comes to patient care. Our nurses and providers have great working relationships, which I truly believe leads to better patient outcomes.”

National Nurses Week is always celebrated through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale. According to the Keuning, Nightingale was the founder of modern nursing and a great example for all nurses to look up to. Keuning said Nightingale was quick to recognize that the accepted way of doing things was not always the best and strived to discover new ways to care for patients and create healthy environments.

“A commitment to continued learning is a professional responsibility that nurses owe to themselves and to their patients. MPH promotes continuous learning for our nurses, and many have or are pursuing advanced degrees and professional certifications.”

MHP is currently in the process of implementing Nursing Shared Governance, a nursing model with decision-making based on the principles of partnership, equity, accountability and ownership at the point of service.

“Shared Governance will provide an opportunity for our nurses to grow their leadership skills and knowledge through working in a team environment and looking at current evidence to support their practice,” Keuning explained. “Research shows that Shared Governance leads to improved patient outcome.”

If you would like to recognize a nurse who made a difference during your experience with MHP, please visit us online at mahaskahealth.org and click “Contact Us.”

Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit www.mahaskahealth.org.