University of Vermont Medical Center - Nursing Podcast

In this episode, we welcome nurses: Cynthia Peterson, Heidi Pecott-Grimm, Leilani Schnoor, Ashlee Brigham, and Genevieve Chandler to teach us about the Changing Minds, Changing Lives program (CMCL). CMCL is a ten week nurse-led, strengths-based resiliency development program offered at UVMMC.  

In this episode, we welcome Erin Phelan, RN and Rachel Preston to the podcast in celebration of Donate Life Month. Erin and Rachel work with the UVMMC    Transplant Program, which anticipates their 1,000th kidney donation this year!   Tune in to learn more about what it means to be a living kidney donor!  

In this episode, we welcome Rebecca Turner, RN to the podcast to discuss the PRAISE project, developed by the Nursing Professional Governance Practice Council. The Peer Recognition And Inspiring Stories of Excellence (PRAISE) program, allows for colleagues to nominate each other for the amazing work we do every day.  

In this episode we welcome Vanessa Rose and Alicia Hill to the podcast to discuss the Hair Equity project at UVMMC. This innovative grant-funded initiative brings exciting new hair products to UVMMC patients. Their thoughtful, well-executed project will help to meet the needs of our larger community. It is a great project with long lasting impacts.    

As 2023 comes to a close, we share some of the great work that nurses and staff are doing to support one         another. We welcome Amanda Young, RN and Andrew Gregg, Interfaith Chaplain, who talk about the Code Assist Program they created which will provide extra support to staff in difficult and challenging situations. In the second part of the episode, Kelsey Pasteris, RN discusses the incredible work of the Experience and Wellness NPG committee, including a new Wellness website.  

In this episode we talk to three RNs, Cynthia Peterson, Anna Marie Carlson and Jean Freeman from UVMMC who participated in the April 2023 MEDLIFE global health volunteer program to Ecuador. They share their experience with the program and how this inspiring trip impacted their lives.

We welcome two exciting guests to the podcast.  Mindy Pariser-Schmidt, RN discusses the Pathways to Excellence program, what it is, and how this nursing led initiative is creating a positive impact for all nurses at UVMMC. In the second part of our interview, Mike Kenney, RN discusses the Clinical Nurse Supervisor Role and how this role supports our nurses at night.  

Workplace violence in healthcare is on the rise nationally. In this episode we welcome Matt Looft, an RN IV in the UVMMC Emergency Department, to talk to us about the state of workplace violence at UVMMC and the actions being taken at the institutional and legislative levels.

Happy New Year! Please join us as we talk to the dynamic Bridget Corriveau, RN, the new UVMMC Nursing Professional Governance (NPG) chair. We had a wonderful discussion about the changes happening with NPG this year, her goals and visions for nursing and UVMMC's journey towards Pathways to Excellence.  

Phew, the last few years have been super challenging for healthcare workers. In this episode we welcome Debra Niemasz, a counselor from the Employee Family and Assistance Program (EFAP) at UVMMC, to talk to us about some of these challenges, the many services EFAP has to offer us, and how we as employees can most easily access this valuable resource .

Join us as we highlight the Forensic Nursing Team at UVMMC. On the podcast, we interview Charissa Rettew, RN, Abigail Garrett, RN,  Raenetta Liberty, RN and Louisa Smith, RN about their role as Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE), how they got involved with this program and why they do this challenging work. Its an episode you don't want to miss!  

Happy Nurses Week! Please join us for 2 great interviews that highlight how nurses are cultivating a culture of excellence at UVMMC. Rory House BSN, RN & Peg Gagne MSN, RN, CNO, join us to talk about the new UVMMC Nursing Professional Practice Model and how we as nurses are using transformational leadership to advance the profession of nursing.  Travis Beebe Woodard BSN, RN, Magnet Program Manager, joins us to discuss our journey to Magnet, what Magnet is and what it means to nursing at UVMMC.  

Please join us as we talk to Dr. Marissa Coleman: EDI Senior Advisor & Lead Staff Psychologist about the important work that the hospital is engaging with on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), EDI tools that we as nurses can use and steps the hospital is taking towards being an anti-racist organization. 

We have three really great interviews on the podcast. Rebecca Freeman, Network VP of Health Informatics, explains some important changes effecting how information will be released to the Electronic Record. Afterwards, Tory Forsyth, Cristina Price, and Crystal Krull, join us to share their amazing experiences as resource nurses as well as highlighting this important role in the hospital. Our final interview is with Peg Gagne, UVMMC's new Chief Nursing Officer. In this interview, we discuss her career journey, her new role as CNO and her vision for nursing in this upcoming year.   

Please join us as we have an exciting conversation with Dr. Timothy Lahey, infectious disease physician and director of medical ethics at UVMMC about the newly available COVID vaccine.  Dr. Lahey discusses all of our top questions about the vaccines, how they are different, the most recent research about their safety and efficacy, potential side effects, and how life may or may not be effected as the vaccine becomes available.  

Please join us as we visit with Dawn LeBaron, Vice President of Operations at UVMMC about her incredible career at the hospital. Afterwards, we talk to Aaron Early and Michelle Monahan about the past year as well as what the new year will bring in Nursing Professional Governance. Disclaimer: These interviews took place prior to the cyber shut down.  

Meet a few of our highly skilled Nurse Clinicians at UVMMC as we discuss their very important roles and the impact they are making at the hospital.  Donna Benway and Kari Frederick join us from the Wound Care team while Valerie Adams discusses her role as the Geriatric Nurse Clinician. They share useful nursing interventions that we can all incorporate into our daily  practice.

In this episode, Leslie and Steph have a great conversation with Shaun Akin, UVMMC Patient and Family Experience Partner, about patient satisfaction, how we are doing at UVMMC, and what it means to nursing. Also, Sue Murdock, Director of Nursing Systems, Practice, and Outcomes comes to discuss our innovative approach to quality improvement, and the collaborative leadership model.  

June’s podcast features two exciting conversations with UVMMC ‘s infectious disease physicians Dr. Kemper Allston and Dr. Cindy Noyes. Dr. Allston explores all aspects of employee exposure and the impact of infection prevention at UVMMC. Dr. Noyes returns and discusses COVID testing, the different types of testing available and what the tests tell us about our patients.

Happy Nurses Week! Join Leslie and Steph as they talk to Colleen Roach, RN and Bronwyn Becker from Spiritual Care about their recent experience caring for COVID positive patients at Birchwood Terrace. Afterwards, Steph and Leslie are joined by Peg Gagne, CNO and Michelle Monaghan, NPG chair where they discuss nurses week activities and their gratitude for all of the nurses at UVMMC.

Join UVMMC’s Nursing Podcast Hosts Steph Rettew and Leslie Twitchell for a conversation with Dr. Cindy Noyes. Together they explore the Coronavirus, what we know about the virus, how to stay safe, and ways to stay up to date on current evidence and practice related to COVID-19.

Meet the new cohosts of the podcast, Leslie and Steph. In this episode they talk to the new president of the hospital, Stephen Leffler, to discuss his new role as well as the current state of hospital affairs.  

December’s podcast features a conversation with Michelle Monahan the new chair of Nursing Professional Governance, highlights around the changes in tuition reimbursement process, and a farewell from Colleen and Robert as they pass the torch on to two new podcast nurses. 

November’s podcast features a conversation about how a nurse is focusing on improving healthy work    environment on her unit and learn more about a sister duo family local chocolate business….  This podcast is short and sweet!

October’s Podcast features great insight about what the next few weeks will look like for the EPIC go live and also talks about the daily PULSE check that happens at the hospital to help ensure units/site are getting the support in real-time.  Don’t have a green thumb for gardening, no worries, learn more about a great program at the hospital that teaches you the basics about gardening.

September’s Podcast features a conversation with Kate FitzPatrick, RN and Peg Gagne, RN talking about the last four years and the special moments we have had with Kate.  We also look forward talking about what the next few months at our hospital will look like.

August’s Podcast features a program that only takes an hour to get trained in and has already saved two lives this year alone.  Hear from Amanda Young, nurse educator, within the ED on their movement to include family in critical moments for patients while at the hospital.  आशा छ कि तपाईंले यस पोडकास्टको आनन्द लिनुभयो। No that isn’t a typo, learn how our language access services can help you better facilitate care with your patients who may not speak English or who are deaf or blind.  आशा छ कि तपाईंले यस पोडकास्टको आनन्द लिनुभयो। means “Hope you enjoy this podcast.” in Nepali.   

Congratulation on the great work that was done on the launch of the Miller Building.  During our June Podcast we feature Kate FitzPatrick, CNO talking more about the cultural findings and next steps for our hospital.  Also, everyone’s journey through nursing is different, during this podcast we highlight two nurses very different journey through nursing one that started as a refugee and one that currently has them becoming the next chair of our hospitals board of directors.

We have been working as busy as a Bee on May’s Podcast it features information about the NEW Bee Award to celebrate our support staff and some pretty sweet information from a nurse whose passion is about bees.  Also, learn more about all the planning and how the nurses voice helped to define the upcoming Miller move.

April’s Podcast features Kate FitzPatrick touching base about how things are going at the hospital, she takes some time to connect with a nurse around gratitude, and find out who our guest speaker is for nurses week. Hint, Hint, he is big on YouTube and Instagram.

March’s Podcast features a nurse that hangs out with Stone Cold Steve Austin and jumps over fire for fun.  I guess CATS don’t have 9 lives, find out why we moved away from the CATS team to the new and improved rapid response team and how that is going to improve the patient experience. Crickets no more, learn more about the changes to competencies coming to the hospital soon.

  February’s Podcast features “Art from the Heart” a program run at our hospital that uses art to improve health, wellbeing, and has been shown to decrease patient’s pain and anxiety. Also, find out about a new bakery that opened in St. Albans that is owned by one of our nurses. In addition there is some great updates about Nursing Professional Governance and the Nurse Specialty Forum.

January’s Podcast features the Miller building launch team highlighting some great information about the new building. Also, learn about how the Peace Corps can give you a whole different perspective on life.  There is a lot of great energy around Miller building, but find out a little bit more about the new floor being created by the move.  

December's Podcast features Kate FitzPatrick highlighting great work that is being done at the hospital. Also, learn about a nurse who used art to replicate Jennifer Lopez's famous dress.  If you are thinking about applying for your RN III or RN IV you don't want to miss this podcast for tips and info about the process. Applications are due January 1st.  

In this podcast, nurses discuss the importance of the involvement of nurses in the current Epic electronic health record system at the UVM Medical Center, as well as in the future of Epic here and at other UVM Health Network partner organizations. We also feature nurses from the Mother-Baby Unit, who talk about the creation of the Safe Sleep Program at the UVM Medical Center, and continue our conversations with nurses about what they do outside of work.

In this episode, our nurses discuss Nursing Professional Governance: what it is, how it gives nurses a voice in making change and improving care at the UVM Medical Center. Also included is a nurse about her work in cardiology at the UVM Medical Center and the hobby she pursues outside of her work at the hospital.

In this episode, our nurses discuss the nurse mentorship program at the UVM Medical Center, which will help create and foster relationships among nursing colleagues that will help us support and retain our nurses. Also included is a discussion with a wellness coach about wellness and self-care for nurses.

This is the first podcast in our regular series – created for nurses by nurses – to share information on new initiatives, current events, and to celebrate the great work of our nurses. This episode includes an interview with a UVM Medical Center nurse about her journey to becoming a Staff Nurse IV, who also shares her experience with Team Heart, a team of volunteers that goes to Rwanda to provide heart surgery to patients with severe heart disease. Also included is an update on the Culture of Quiet work at the UVM Medical Center, along with other initiatives and wellness activities for staff.