February 2011 The online News Magazine of Saint Mary’s Health Care

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A Day in the Life –

Lisbeth Votruba, Magnet Director and Clinical Nurse Specialist

Attracted to the diverse work in her job title, Lisbeth Votruba, MSN, RN, CNS, serves as both Magnet Program Director as well as the Clinical Nurse Specialist for 7 North unit.

As reported by staff writer Katie Halloran

A Day in the Life of Votruba consisted of switching gears several times, from Magnet Director to Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at Saint Mary’s Health Care.

As I walk into Votruba’s office at 8:45 a.m., she already has all the needed documents printed and ready to go for her 9 a.m. Magnet meeting with Liz Murphy, CNO, and Murphy’s intern, Andrew Dascola, and Kathy Pitzen.

The Magnet Journey for Saint Mary’s is a long and involved process. Magnet predates Votruba’s directorship by about two years and requires input from each department, both inside and outside of Nursing.

Magnet comprises two parts, Votruba explains. “One – doing the actual work of a Magnet-designated hospital, which I believe we currently do, and two – documenting it.

“At Saint Mary’s we have attended conferences, networked with other Trinity Health Magnet Program Directors workshops and plan to consult with experts to help us with the documentation process.” The documentation end will produce a 15”-thick paper document, detailing all of the 88 required components.

Planning for this process was the order of business with Murphy, Dascola and Pitzen. I watched as the group discussed a Magnet expert who will visit Saint Mary’s to assist with the writing and editing process of the documentations.

“Gathering stories that embody the Magnet Journey is our next line of business,” said Votruba. “And we will soon be calling for some ‘Master Storytellers,’ associates who want to share the great stories about Saint Mary’s with others in our organization, and who can act as hubs.”

Multidisciplinary rounding was next in order as I tagged along with Votruba who efficiently changed into her CNS role. A graduate of Columbia University’s Master’s in Nursing program, Votruba’s expertise was shared with the group and her advocacy for patients within this unit was genuine and heartfelt.

Rounding involves the floor nurse on 7 North consulting with an entire group of Saint Mary’s clinical pharmacists, social workers, nutritionists, and many more staff workers.

Votruba allowed me to follow along on PowerChart as they discussed the health, mental, emotional and sometimes familial issues of all the patients on that unit. The group expressed concern over issues that were presented, and provided insight to the floor nurse caring for that patient. Team work, collaboration and respectful communication were very evident to me as I witnessed this group rounding. Votruba especially added her expertise, thoughtfully asking questions of the nurses and making suggestions to the rest of the team.

Rounding is not just for the patients; it’s also for the nurses. “Talking with them in this capacity allows me to engage with the floor nurses, furthering my Magnet information. After rounding, Votruba checks in on patients whose status concerned her during their consultations.

After a full day of Magnet planning, multidisciplinary rounding, and following up with patients, I bid Votruba goodbye. Learning much about not only multidisciplinary rounding at Saint Mary’s, but also about the Magnet Journey, I found that there was plenty to report on with a Day in the Life of Lisbeth Votruba!

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