Tina has been instrumental in the monumental job of educating our Women’s Obstetric Nurses to become skilled, knowledgeable, and experienced in the Surgical and Scrub Nurse role in order to open our Obstetric Surgical Suite at Sussex. Tina’s tireless efforts have included creating a didactic, clinical mentorship approach, collaborating with our Surgical Services experts to ensure standardization and continuity of care in the Pre-Op, Surgical, and PACU landscapes.

She has taken it upon herself to go above and beyond to plan monthly cohorts months in advance, working around multiple schedules, location needs, and individual learning and development needs. She ensures she has an in-depth understanding of every individual nurse’s unique needs and tailors the program to ensure each nurse is ready to work in this critical environment upon completion.

Of her own volition and funds, she has made sure that her cohort “graduates” have been provided with a momento of appreciation, a scrub cap, a reflection of each RNs commitment to excellence and successful completion of their training. The RNs whom she has educated and mentored have exceedingly expressed their sincere gratitude for Tina’s ongoing support, patience, and diligence that has contributed to their success.

One of her cohort participants stated, “Tina helped me to overcome being terrified to feeling competent and ready to jump in the OR whenever I am needed.” An immediate example of this important work occurred following the completion of the first OB OR Nursing Cohort. One of the nurses from the first cohort was working night shift when an obstetric emergency occurred, necessitating a stat c/section.

Ordinarily, we would have to wait for our Surgical Services on-call team to come to Sussex within 30 minutes to open the Main OR. Because this nurse had been educated and trained, he was able to quickly open the OR, prepare the resources necessary for a stat c/section, and the baby was delivered within 16 minutes of calling the c/section, effectively saving the life of mom and baby. This outcome is a direct correlation with the education Tina is providing our team.

In addition to the full-time focus of the Obstetric OR Cohort education, Tina has facilitated the education and implementation of the JADA, FT-10, Fetal Pillow, CBR, Paragard, Monica Novii, all of which significantly contribute to the improvement of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. She has facilitated OB OR Fire Drills, planned and implemented multidisciplinary simulations and drills monthly at both campuses, all shifts. She has collaborated with our Lactation team for successful Baby Friendly redesignation readiness and developed yearly lactation skills and education.

Tina has overhauled our orientation processes, making orientation more streamlined and supportive, meeting each new team member where they are in their professional development. Regardless of their previous experience, Tina ensures a warm, supportive mentorship for everyone individually. She has created Needs Assessment surveys to create Unit-Based competencies, and her daily work involves ensuring each team member has the education and mentoring needed. She has facilitated the implementation of the new Drager Bilimeter, collaborated with our Lab partners to facilitate Amnisure Competencies for Kent and Sussex staff members.

Tina has taken on the role of liaison with our NRP and RQI partners. She is a member of statewide initiatives such as DHMIC, FIMR, DPQC workgroups, aimed at continuous improvement for maternal-child health in our communities. She is a member of the Perinatal Safety & Quality Collaborative, OB Anesthesia Taskforce, OB Leader Policy Review, and is the WCS representative for Bayhealth's Value Analysis group and Professional Development Council.

Since overhauling our orientation processes, she has onboarded hundreds of employees to Bayhealth WCS. She maintains the following certifications: RNC-OB, C-EFM, and C-ONQS. She has successfully earned her NPD certification, moving her into her NPD Specialist role. She is a member of the following professional organizations: ANA, MNA, AWHONN. Tina volunteered to be the Coordinator of Bayhealth's DAISY program and has taken this program to its fullest potential, ensuring DAISY and Sunshine winners and nominees are specifically recognized every month. She takes her passion for maternal-child health outside the walls of our hospital and supports our community with multiple volunteer actions. Tina’s dedication to her role at Bayhealth truly embodies our Bayhealth values through her every action, interaction, and intent. There is never a day that her goal is not to ensure patient-centeredness and team member support. 

This is Tina's Second DAISY Award!