Theresa Lawless with Barbara Prior, MSN, associate director of CPUP Clinical Operations
Last month, Penn Medicine’s Distinguished Nurse Clinician Academy welcomed 10 new members from across Penn Medicine, all of whom exemplify clinical excellence in the direct care of patients and their families. Included in this year’s cohort are Teresa Lawless, BSN, of the Rena Rowan Breast Center and Maura Gallagher, BSN, of Ravdin 6.
Her True Passion
Lawless has spent 18 years caring for the oncology population. “My true passion is direct care of the patient and their families,” she wrote. “It is difficult to put in words how rewarding it is to care for patients over the long span of their life.”
These strong feelings of caring mirror those of former patients. When they return for a follow-up cancer free, “you will see Teresa talking with them. Whether a few or 15 years ago, they remember her, one nominator said. She leaves a lasting impression on patients and families as she becomes close to them, treatment to treatment. Patients will sometimes wait until she is available to place their IV or give their injections – they trust her so much.”
Said another, “If I or a member of my family were a patient coming through Penn Medicine, Theresa is exactly the type of nurse I would like taking care of us.”
Her importance on the unit was summed up by quote by Kevin Fox, MD, medical director of the Rena Rowan Breast Center, in one of her nomination letters. In looking back on the growth of the Breast Center as both a regional and national leader, “I want to acknowledge that Teresa has been essential to our success, and we could not have achieved any of it without her.”
Exemplifying Academy Ideals
According to nomination letters, Gallagher is a “role model to others, helping new to practice nurses develop their clinical knowledge.” And these efforts have made a significant difference on the unit. For example, she helped plan and implement retreat days for all staff to educate nurses on effective communication in the workplace, understanding the patient perspective, and caring for the care provider to raise the unit’s HCAHP (Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) scores on RN Communication. In one year, their score increased from 81 percent in FY17 to 89 percent the following year – a significant improvement!
Gallagher also led education efforts on quality-focused care delivery and prevention of hospital acquired infections (HAIs). “Her persistence and conscious efforts have reduced HAIs on the unit from 12 in FY16 to just three in FY18.”
“Maura exemplifies clinical excellence in all the ways she functions as a clinical nurse at HUP. She has mastered clinical skills and continues to pursue new knowledge to always improve the level of care she provides to her patients. Maura exemplifies the ideals of the Distinguished Nurse Clinician Academy in every way.”