WDH 2020-2021 Nursing Report - Flipbook - Page 20
Exemplary Professional Practice
Gene Harkless Joins
the WDH Quality
Improvement Council
Expanding Scope of
Practice for Women’s
Health Nurses
Katharine Weeks, BSN, RN
The Wentworth-Douglass
Hospital Quality
Improvement Council
(QIC) provides oversight
for the organization-wide
quality improvement
functions. This year,
Gene Harkless, DNSc,
ARNP, an Associate Professor and Chair of the
Department of Nursing at the University of
New Hampshire (UNH), was invited to serve
on our board-level council. Sheila Woolley, RN,
MPH, BSN, CNO/VP of Patient Care Services,
proposed Gene to the Quality Council Executive
Committee, and the Board of Trustees approved
her nomination. Sheila felt having an individual
who helps define and mold nursing curriculum
and develops future nurses would be a valuable
asset for both WDH and nursing education. A
Family Nurse Practitioner for over 40 years, Gene
brings a wealth of patient care experience, as well
as perspectives from the UNH nursing education
program.
Gene is the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
(APRN) Representative on the NH Office of
Professional Licensure and Certification Nursing
Board. As WDH expands the number and role of
APRNs in our system, her expertise is timely.
Director of Clinical Operations,
Wentworth Health Partners
In March 2021, the registered nurse team at OBGYN and
Infertility and Women’s Health Center at Pease (at the
time of request consisted of Rachel Myers, Annie Cox, Jen
Cash, Jordan Quale, Adeline Bouras, and Donna Taylor)
requested review of the scope of practice for Registered
Nurses related to External Fetal Monitoring (EFM)/NonStress Test (NST) in the outpatient offices. Prior to this
request, NSTs in the outpatient offices were performed
by Midwives, though it was in scope for Registered
Nurses with additional training. Many of the nurses
in the outpatient offices had previous experience with
EFM and related training, so were aware of the process
and scope of practice considerations. They proposed
to nursing leadership that RNs in the offices complete
additional training that would allow them to initiate and
read the NST. With the help of Diane Proulx, RN, COB,
CEFM, CPPS, MEd, Clinical Quality and Safety Director
for the Women’s Health Service Line, a workflow was
created and training requirements outlined to ensure all
appropriate steps were followed during completion of
the NST to enhance patient safety.
Gene’s participation on QIC is an also a way
for her to remain current with both inpatient
and ambulatory patient care concerns. Being a
member gives Gene insight that is invaluable
to the nursing program, ensuring its relevance
in our continually changing healthcare
environment.
Pictured: Jennifer Cash, RN and Rachel Myers, BSN, RN
20
Wentworth-Douglass Hospital