Page 12 - 2016 Nursing Annual Report | Summa Health

Structural Empowerment

GRNs improve care
for seniors at Summa
Health System –
Barberton Campus

Geriatric Resource Nurses (GRNs) are an important component to
providing the best care for older adults. The nurses at Summa Health
System – Barberton Campus have embraced this role to enhance their
geriatric care delivery model.

With the full support of nursing leadership at the By the end of 2016, Summa Barberton had 12 GRNs
Barberton Campus, Joyce Restifo, MSN, RN, GCNS-BC, strategically placed on several inpatient units, the
Geriatric CNS, brought the GRN training program to the Emergency Department and the Outpatient Clinic. As
Barberton nurses around the same time period it was of May 2017, four more GRNs were added to bring the
being implemented at Summa Health System – Akron total to 16. Recently, Nursing Assistants were added as an
Campus. To earn the certification, nurses complete additional geriatric resource. Training was provided that
20 hours of training on a variety of geriatric-specific was tailored to their role on the patient care team.
needs and concerns. After completing the courses they
serve as mentors and resources for their peers on their The nurses who chose to complete the certification are
units and have the opportunity to take the Certified geriatric sensitive. They value the quality of life for older
Gerentological Nurse certification from the American adults. GRNs are an essential component to high quality
Nurses Credentialing Center. care of the elderly. The goal is to increase the number
of GRNs in hopes of sharing their expertise and patient
Practicing as a GRN also provides opportunities for advocacy across the continuum of care as our older adult
professional growth through the Summa Health System patients’ transition across our healthcare system.
Clinical Ladder Recognition Program. For example, several
of the new GRNs on the Barberton Campus are working
on an enhanced mobility program for seniors.

There are two major keys to quality of life for older adults.
One is their cognition, which our Delirium Protocol
addresses, and the other is mobility. Since the GRN
program was established, patient outcomes at Summa
Barberton have improved, including a decrease in
delirium.

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