Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital (PPMH), in partnership with Memorial Hospital & Manor of Bainbridge (MHM), is leading the way in creating a culture of nursing excellence in southwest Georgia through its Perinatal Fellowship Program. As one of six designated regional perinatal centers in Georgia, PPMH not only provides the region’s most advanced neonatal intensive care for premature and critically ill babies from 22 counties, it provides expert nurses who share their knowledge with colleagues at hospitals throughout the region. Five MHM nurses recently completed the program which is designed to help hospitals throughout the region elevate their level of care and improve outcomes for their patients.
“Providing high-quality care means more than just serving those within the walls of our hospital. It also involves serving those within our region,” said Mindy Spencer, RNC, PPMH Neonatal Outreach Educator. “As a regional perinatal center, Phoebe has the responsibility to educate staff in referring hospitals throughout our region, and we’re grateful for our partnership with the hospital in Bainbridge and their commitment to this program and the continuing education of their nurses.”
The 18-week Perinatal Fellowship Program involves rigorous self-study, classroom education and clinical training at Phoebe that includes participation in deliveries and direct patient care.
“We’re taking everything we learned and passing it on to other nurses at our hospital. We’re able to teach them what we learned, and we know that will benefit our patients,” said Shelby Smith, RN, one of the recent graduates of the program from MHM.
Veteran nurses and newer nurses agree the program has boosted their skills and confidence and strengthened their relationship with the team at Phoebe.
Jennifer Landrum, a nurse for 21 years, said, “Even after being a nurse for a long time, I’m still learning things that make me more comfortable in difficult situations. It’s also great to see the rest of the story – what happens when we send our babies to Phoebe.”
During the first 16 weeks of the program, Phoebe Perinatal Outreach Educators traveled to Bainbridge to teach in the environment the nurses work in every day, utilizing the tools and equipment they use to care for their patients. Once that portion was completed, the nurses spent time in Phoebe’s Labor & Delivery Unit and Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
“Doing everything hands-on instead of just from a textbook helps me with learning new skills. I believe what I’ve learned will help me be able to stabilize patients and keep them in our hospital whenever possible,” said Regina Leal-Kimble, RN, who began her nursing career two and a half years ago.
The program would not have been a success without the support and leadership of both PPMH and MHM. Success comes through commitment to excellence and investment in the staff.
“With collaboration among nursing leadership and access to valuable resources, Phoebe is able to innovatively enhance the professional development of perinatal nurses within our region,” said Ashton Petersen, RNC, PPMH Maternal Outreach Educator. “This ultimately improves the qualify of care our mothers and neonates receive throughout southwest Georgia.”
The five Bainbridge nurses are the first to complete the Phoebe Perinatal Nurse Fellowship Program in several years, but others will soon follow.
“We’re working with several other hospitals in the region to schedule courses for their nurses,” Spencer said. “We’re excited to re-energize this program because it teaches the most up-to-date and evidence-based care for obstetric and neonatal patients, and we know it truly benefits families in communities throughout southwest Georgia.”
Pictured L to R are: Gaby Santiso, Regina Leal-Kimble, Jennifer Landrum, Judy Godwin, Larsyn Gill, and Shelby Smith.
Congrats to: Gaby Santiso, Regina Leal-Kimble, Jennifer Landrum, Larsyn Gill, and Shelby Smith for participating in and completing this program!