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NYP Queens

NewYork-Presbyterian Queens

Journey to Excellence

NYP Queens Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Queens is a teaching hospital affiliated with Weill Cornell Medical College, serving residents of Queens and metro New York. The 535-bed tertiary care facility provides 14 clinical departments and numerous subspecialties, with 15,000 surgeries, 4,000 infant deliveries, and 124,000 emergency service visits each year. Through its network of affiliated primary and multispecialty care physician practices and community-based health centers, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens also provides approximately 162,000 ambulatory care visits annually. The Hospital is affiliated with Weill Cornell Medicine.

At NewYork-Presbyterian Queens we are passionate about providing high-quality care to New York City’s most culturally diverse borough. Located in Flushing, New York, you do not have to leave your neighborhood to access outstanding care from Weill Cornell Medicine Physicians. As a patient you can expect to receive comprehensive care and a full range of support services from our award-winning centers dedicated to treating cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurologic disorders and digestive conditions.

We are committed to helping our community thrive and addressing some of the most pressing health issues facing the Queens community. Our hospital offers inpatient services, world-class treatment brought directly to patients through our network of care sites.

2023 Measures of Distinction

33%

National Board Certification Rate

90%

Percent of RNs with BSN and Higher Degrees

39

Newly Obtained National Board Certification

28

Formal Degrees Conferred

4

Nursing Research Studies in Completed

1

Nursing Research Studies in Progress

1

Professional Publication(s)

0

Podium Presentation(s)

1

Poster Presentation(s)

Contributions of Nurses

Clinical nurses in the operating room noted an increase in delays of surgery first case on-time starts (FCOTS). A thorough review revealed several contributing factors, including setting up rooms, patient not being ready, generally related to toileting, and lack of available work¬stations to complete consents in time.

Targeted interventions were aimed at increasing the number of RNs who have the skills and knowledge to build and maintain surgeon preference cards, instruct patients to arrive 15 minutes earlier and complete toileting prior to being called to the OR, and advocate for and receive additional workstations to timely complete consents led to improvements in FCOTS.

As part of its commitment to the continuing professional development of nurses and in support of nurses obtaining professional board certification, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens held a “Race to Certification” contest in 2023. Nursing teams were encouraged and supported by leaders, Nursing Professional Development, and Recruitment, Retention, Recognition, Respect (R4) Committee peers to pursue professional board certification. Strategies such as weekly practice test questions and review sessions contributed to the fun and success! NewYork-Presbyterian Queens met its campus goal of increasing the percentage of certified nurses by one percent in 2023.

Nurses on 6N, a 50-bed adult inpatient unit specializing in the administration of chemotherapy, noted an increase in fall rates on the unit. A review of the fall incidents revealed that bed alarms, which should have been in use, were not activated at the time of the fall. To address this gap in practice, nurses created a yellow card to be placed at the foot of the bed of patients at high risk for falls who require the bed alarm. The yellow card serves as a visual reminder that the bed alarm should be activated at all times. Nursing staff, providers, and environmental services team members were educated on the purpose of the yellow card to enhance the consistency of practice. Fall rates decreased by the end of 2023.

Nurses played an essential role as front-line caregivers during the pandemic. In the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the absence of clear treatment guidelines inspired emergency department nurses to “go back to basics.” Nursing Back to Basics (NB2B), a completed nursing research study by NewYork-Presbyterian nursing investigators, demonstrated a reduced length of stay and mortality rates in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who received a bundle of basic, evidence-based nursing interventions. The interventions – keeping patients in an upright position; encouraging incentive spirometry, ambulation, and fluids; and performing manual chest percussion and/or frequent change of position – were previously demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of respiratory ailments. The nurses applied the same principles to patients with the novel virus with good results.

Research findings from the Nursing Back to Basics research study have been internally and externally disseminated. The applicability of the findings to other distinct patient populations is also being considered.

Publications

Pugh, S., Chan, F., Han, S., Lindo, R., Krzewski, D. G., D’Orazi, M. A., Narayanajaya, D., Gao, Z., & Norful, A. A. (2023). The impact of a nursing-led intervention bundle with a bedside checklist to reduce mortality during the initial COVID-19 pandemic and implications for future emergencies. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration, 53(5), 292-298.

Awards and Recognitions

External Honors

Christine Buividas, MSN, RN-BC - 1199 Nurse of Distinction Award/Nurse Leader of the Year

Joanna Banas, MSN, RN - 1199 Higher Education Recognition Award

Clinical Excellence Recognition 2023

Clinical Nurse Excellence Award

Devena Sallah, MSN, RNC-OB, RNC-MNN, C-EFM, CLC - Mother-Baby Unit

Nurse in Advanced Practice Role

Jinto John, DNP, RN, NNP-BC, Nurse Practitioner – NICU

Nurse Leader Award

Angela Augustine, MSN, RN, CNS, CCM, CMSRN, C-CDI, Manager, Case Management

Nurse Preceptor Award 

Wayne Bersamin, BSN, RN RCIS, Cardiac Cath Lab

Rising Star Award 

Melissa Joya, BSN, RN, 3 North

Nursing Support Partner Award

Beverly Ewers, Perioperative Turnover Assistant, Operating Room

Friend of Nursing Award

Rosie Alvarez Helena, Environmental Services

Structural Empowerment Unit Award

6 North

Daisy Awards

Q3 2023

Greg Sheehan, BSN, RN, Emergency Department

Roberta Torres, BSN, RN, 4 West

Jotika Duggal, BSN, RN, 3 North

Q4 2023

Jimmu Chau, BSN, RN, 2 North

Karen Plotsker, BSN, RN, 5 West

Quality Cup 2023

3 South

Poster Presentations

Florinda Chan, MSN, RN, CEN; Nicole DelVecchio, BSN, RN; Victoria Santos, BSN, RN. The impact of multidisciplinary teamwork to secure patient belongings effectively. 2023: 1199 Nursing Symposium, Tarrytown, NY.