Nursing

After receiving his LVAD, patient Brandon Cochran was able to leave the hospital and spend more time with his wife, Amy, and daughters Olivia and Stella.
September 2, 2021

Novel LVAD allows patient to see family, celebrate milestones

Brandon Cochran, a 39-year-old real estate agent in Louisville, Kentucky, was at home with his family in October 2020 when he went into cardiac arrest. His implanted defibrillator shocked him back to life, and he was hospitalized for seven months.

By Matt Batcheldor
Mark Leszczynski, center, husband of Coleen Leszczynski, along with Coleen’s parents James and Alice Devlin, with the bell dedicated in Coleen’s memory and its accompanying plaque.
August 26, 2021

Family’s gift celebrates those who make transplants possible

All Coleen Leszczynski ever wanted was to be normal. Born with a congenital heart disease (CHD), she labored to breathe, having only three-quarters the oxygen capacity of a healthy person. Still, she fought to live, serving as a cardiac nurse in her native Philadelphia area for more than 16 years. She wanted to help people like her.

By Matt Batcheldor
August 25, 2021

Magnet designation leader Downs set to retire

Sabrina Downs, MSN, MBA, RN, NE-BC, is retiring as senior director of Nursing Professional Practice and Magnet Recognition, effective Sept. 3.

By Matt Batcheldor
August 20, 2021

There is a bell on the transplant unit. It rings in celebration — and memory

Coleen Leszczynski’s family dedicated the bell, to be rung every time a transplant patient leaves the hospital

By Matt Batcheldor
August 19, 2021

Jackson elected fellow of American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Heather Jackson, PhD, APRN, administrative director of Advanced Practice for Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, has been elected a fellow of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

By Matt Batcheldor
August 18, 2021

Miniat named director of VUMC Nursing Support Services

Chandler Miniat, MMHC, has been named director of Nursing Support Services at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Miniat will report to Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, Executive Chief Nursing Officer.

By Matt Batcheldor
August 12, 2021

Hasselblad chosen for evidence-based practice fellowship

Michele Hasselblad, DNP, RN, NE-BC, vice president of Adult Ambulatory Nursing, has been chosen for an inaugural cohort of postdoctoral fellows from the Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for Evidence-based Practice in Nursing and Healthcare at The Ohio State University.
By Matt Batcheldor
August 11, 2021

Documents submitted for Magnet designation process

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has completed its four required Magnet documents and submitted them to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a major milestone in its fourth Magnet designation process.
By Matt Batcheldor
August 9, 2021

Malik named chief nursing officer of Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital

Angela Malik, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CPHQ, has been named chief nursing officer of Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital.
By Matt Batcheldor
July 29, 2021

Kapu to direct VUSN’s clinical, community partnerships

April Kapu, DNP, APRN, has left her role as associate nursing officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center Advanced Practice and director of the Office of Advance Practice, and begun a new position as associate dean for Clinical and Community Partnerships at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (VUSN).
By Matt Batcheldor
July 22, 2021

Second quarter 2021 DAISY Awards honor extraordinary nurses

DAISY Awards are given to great nurses all over the United States and in many other countries
By Matt Batcheldor
June 15, 2021

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt earns top honors from U.S. News & World Report

Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has once again been named a national leader in pediatric health care, earning the distinction as the No. 1 pediatric hospital in Tennessee, and in a new regional ranking, sharing first place in the Southeast Region, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Children’s Hospital rankings.
By Christina Echegaray
June 2, 2021

State of Nursing address reviews remarkable year

In her 2021 State of Nursing address, Executive Chief Nursing Officer Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC, looked back on an unprecedented year of nursing care at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as the organization continued to grow.
By Matt Batcheldor