Avril Keldo
June 2024
Avril
Keldo
,
DNP, ANP-BC, NP-BC, RN-BC, OCN
Nursing Administration
Saint Peter's University Hospital
New Brunswick
,
NJ
United States
Avril was instrumental in starting an in-house PCT training program. To date, over 200 PCTs have graduated from the program. Recently, SPUH received a grant from the NJDOL in support of the PCT training program.
Avril Keldo is an outstanding nurse leader, educator, and nurse mentor who is admired by many for her dedication to the nursing profession.
She is an Adult Nurse Practitioner and the Director of Professional Practice at the Nayan Kothari Simulation Center for Inter-professional Learning and Medical Library.
She is responsible for Nursing Grand Rounds, HealthStream Education, Acute Care Skills Day, CE Direct assignments, Research Committee, and Simulation Lab Competencies. Avril always keeps healthcare staff up-to-date on best practices.
Her passion for the nursing profession is palpable. She is a nurse leader known for advocating for both patients and staff.
Avril has been the Nurse Leader on the Marketing and Mentoring Committee for the past 15 years and has led the committee to new heights. Traditionally, nurses' day is celebrated with a luncheon and awards ceremony, but ten years ago, under Avril’s guidance, a new approach to celebrating nurses’ month was introduced.
Day 1-Midday Mass
Day 2-Nursing Motivational Speaker/Scholar Day
Day 3 – Luncheon & Awards Ceremony/Nursing Parade showcasing units’ accomplishments.
Nursing Research Day
School Pride – Nurses wear T-Shirts from their Alma Mater
Massage Therapy Day
Hospital Donation Week – to support the food pantry at the SPUH Family Health Center
This year the Nurses' Week celebration was the best since its inception based on feedback to the committee by the staff. The energy that she created for Nurses' Week was extraordinary.
Avril exemplifies SPUH’s mission of fostering a healthy work environment by advocating for amenities conducive to a healthy work environment. She is approachable, recognizes others for their efforts, and expresses gratitude.
During the initial phase of the COVID pandemic, Avril was a team lead for our healthcare system’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics, which has resulted in over 30,000 vaccines administered to date. Avril handles all situations with skill, grace, and composure. For any participants who require additional screening prior to vaccination due to medical issues or allergies, Avril is the go-to person to assess the situation. Avril collaborated on this important health initiative with pharmacy, Child Life Specialists, administrative assistants, Information Technology, patient care techs, infectious disease physicians, and nurses from various departments and shifts. Clinics were intricate and required absolute organization, as Moderna, Janssen, and Pfizer were offered concurrently.
Additionally, during this sensitive pandemic time, Avril saw the need for Serenity Spaces for the staff to unwind away from the bedside.
Avril reached out to a company in New York City and procured two massage chairs for the first two serenity spaces. She partnered with the foundation to provide additional massage chairs and serenity spaces. Today, a total of eight chairs are available for staff use throughout the hospital and at the Family Health Center.
Additionally, Nursing Certification Day, which Avril coordinates, was enhanced to include a certification day fair, full of fun filled activities with prizes to celebrate all certified Nurses. The first annual certification day fair was initiated to encourage certification among nurses. A book drive was established for sharing certification textbooks.
An advocate for nursing certification and enhancing professional pride, Avril was the first nurse leader to showcase her nurses certifications on the walls entering the nursing unit. This was later launched on all units throughout the hospital .
When the BSN mandate was launched, Avril, the Then-Oncology Nurse Manager, encouraged and supported all her staff to pursue further nursing education, which resulted in 17 nurses completing MSN/APN and BSN degrees. She consistently serves as a great resource for all staff to promote education and professional development. She manages contracts with schools and coordinates with instructors to learn on dedicated units to accomplish their academic goals. Avril is a pivotal support to those who desire to further their education.
Upon graduating from all nursing programs, most graduates were unable to afford graduation due to the financial burden created by rising tuition costs. Avril quickly established an annual graduation ceremony in the Oncology Nursing unit to celebrate their accomplishments, which was later expanded to the entire hospital in 2016.
Today, graduates look forward to the annual nursing graduation at St. Peters, where they are celebrated for their achievements along with their families, friends, peers, and leaders. To date, over 300 graduates walked the stage to pomp and circumstance, in caps and gowns, in the MOB in celebration of their accomplishments.
Two years ago, Avril was instrumental in starting an in-house PCT training program. To date, over 200 PCTs have graduated from the program. Recently, SPUH received a grant from the NJDOL in support of the PCT training program.
She was the first Leader to introduce the near miss award to the Oncology care unit, which was adopted and is now a monthly award in-house. It has improved patient outcomes.
Avril organizes fundraisers for various causes. In the past, she arranged a kickboxing fundraiser for those battling Breast Cancer. Avril coordinated with Saint Peter’s Foundation to sponsor nurses for the Magnet Conference, which has resulted in 25+ nurses set to attend the Magnet Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. It is evident that Avril is an ambitious and dedicated nurse leader who will forever be a champion for the advancement of nursing.
Avril initiated and continues to facilitate the annual Oncology Kids Holiday Party for children who have lost parents due to cancer in the Oncology Unit. She collects gifts for the kids, wraps the gifts, and distributes them to the kids at the party. Scholarships are also awarded at this event, and this holiday tradition has been going on for the past 17 years
Avril is constantly seeking ways to mentor new nurses and foster a healthy work environment and is very well respected by all who work with her.
She is an Adult Nurse Practitioner and the Director of Professional Practice at the Nayan Kothari Simulation Center for Inter-professional Learning and Medical Library.
She is responsible for Nursing Grand Rounds, HealthStream Education, Acute Care Skills Day, CE Direct assignments, Research Committee, and Simulation Lab Competencies. Avril always keeps healthcare staff up-to-date on best practices.
Her passion for the nursing profession is palpable. She is a nurse leader known for advocating for both patients and staff.
Avril has been the Nurse Leader on the Marketing and Mentoring Committee for the past 15 years and has led the committee to new heights. Traditionally, nurses' day is celebrated with a luncheon and awards ceremony, but ten years ago, under Avril’s guidance, a new approach to celebrating nurses’ month was introduced.
Day 1-Midday Mass
Day 2-Nursing Motivational Speaker/Scholar Day
Day 3 – Luncheon & Awards Ceremony/Nursing Parade showcasing units’ accomplishments.
Nursing Research Day
School Pride – Nurses wear T-Shirts from their Alma Mater
Massage Therapy Day
Hospital Donation Week – to support the food pantry at the SPUH Family Health Center
This year the Nurses' Week celebration was the best since its inception based on feedback to the committee by the staff. The energy that she created for Nurses' Week was extraordinary.
Avril exemplifies SPUH’s mission of fostering a healthy work environment by advocating for amenities conducive to a healthy work environment. She is approachable, recognizes others for their efforts, and expresses gratitude.
During the initial phase of the COVID pandemic, Avril was a team lead for our healthcare system’s COVID-19 vaccination clinics, which has resulted in over 30,000 vaccines administered to date. Avril handles all situations with skill, grace, and composure. For any participants who require additional screening prior to vaccination due to medical issues or allergies, Avril is the go-to person to assess the situation. Avril collaborated on this important health initiative with pharmacy, Child Life Specialists, administrative assistants, Information Technology, patient care techs, infectious disease physicians, and nurses from various departments and shifts. Clinics were intricate and required absolute organization, as Moderna, Janssen, and Pfizer were offered concurrently.
Additionally, during this sensitive pandemic time, Avril saw the need for Serenity Spaces for the staff to unwind away from the bedside.
Avril reached out to a company in New York City and procured two massage chairs for the first two serenity spaces. She partnered with the foundation to provide additional massage chairs and serenity spaces. Today, a total of eight chairs are available for staff use throughout the hospital and at the Family Health Center.
Additionally, Nursing Certification Day, which Avril coordinates, was enhanced to include a certification day fair, full of fun filled activities with prizes to celebrate all certified Nurses. The first annual certification day fair was initiated to encourage certification among nurses. A book drive was established for sharing certification textbooks.
An advocate for nursing certification and enhancing professional pride, Avril was the first nurse leader to showcase her nurses certifications on the walls entering the nursing unit. This was later launched on all units throughout the hospital .
When the BSN mandate was launched, Avril, the Then-Oncology Nurse Manager, encouraged and supported all her staff to pursue further nursing education, which resulted in 17 nurses completing MSN/APN and BSN degrees. She consistently serves as a great resource for all staff to promote education and professional development. She manages contracts with schools and coordinates with instructors to learn on dedicated units to accomplish their academic goals. Avril is a pivotal support to those who desire to further their education.
Upon graduating from all nursing programs, most graduates were unable to afford graduation due to the financial burden created by rising tuition costs. Avril quickly established an annual graduation ceremony in the Oncology Nursing unit to celebrate their accomplishments, which was later expanded to the entire hospital in 2016.
Today, graduates look forward to the annual nursing graduation at St. Peters, where they are celebrated for their achievements along with their families, friends, peers, and leaders. To date, over 300 graduates walked the stage to pomp and circumstance, in caps and gowns, in the MOB in celebration of their accomplishments.
Two years ago, Avril was instrumental in starting an in-house PCT training program. To date, over 200 PCTs have graduated from the program. Recently, SPUH received a grant from the NJDOL in support of the PCT training program.
She was the first Leader to introduce the near miss award to the Oncology care unit, which was adopted and is now a monthly award in-house. It has improved patient outcomes.
Avril organizes fundraisers for various causes. In the past, she arranged a kickboxing fundraiser for those battling Breast Cancer. Avril coordinated with Saint Peter’s Foundation to sponsor nurses for the Magnet Conference, which has resulted in 25+ nurses set to attend the Magnet Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. It is evident that Avril is an ambitious and dedicated nurse leader who will forever be a champion for the advancement of nursing.
Avril initiated and continues to facilitate the annual Oncology Kids Holiday Party for children who have lost parents due to cancer in the Oncology Unit. She collects gifts for the kids, wraps the gifts, and distributes them to the kids at the party. Scholarships are also awarded at this event, and this holiday tradition has been going on for the past 17 years
Avril is constantly seeking ways to mentor new nurses and foster a healthy work environment and is very well respected by all who work with her.