Aloha … from BetheSeveral nurses promoted at Gifford
Hospital announces a variety of ‘new,’ and local, nurse leaders
RANDOLPH, Dec. 18, 2008 – A host of experienced and highly skilled nurse leaders have taken the helm of various departments at Gifford Medical Center during 2008.
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Chelsea’s Brooks Chapin, the former director of nursing at Gifford’s award-winning Menig Extended Care Facility, was promoted to director of inpatient services in May. Randolph Center’s Cindy Richardson, a long-time Gifford nurse and diabetes educator, filled Chapin’s previous role. Richardson was named director of nursing at Menig in November.
Erin Boettcher of Bethel is the hospital’s new infection prevention nurse. Nurse educator Andra Perreault of Barnard added assistant nurse manager of the Emergency Department to her title in June.
And, finally, in the surgery department this fall Braintree’s Marc Fournier, a Gifford nurse since 1992, was promoted to Surgical Services director. Greg McConnell of Randolph filled Fournier’s prior role as Surgical Services supervisor. And Ella Armstrong of Northfield was named manager of the surgery department’s “central supply” area.
The promotions, and in one case a new hire, mean some highly-skilled local nurses are providing oversight and fresh energy in essential areas of the Randolph hospital – the operating rooms, Emergency Department, inpatient units and nursing home.
“Gifford and its patients are incredibly fortunate to have these individuals at the helm. Not only are they all outstanding caregivers, but all are local residents committed to bettering their community and their community hospital,” Linda Minsinger, vice president of Patient Care Services, said.
“These are very exciting changes for Gifford. It’s always great to bring new people and talent into our community; it’s also wonderful to support the professional growth of our long-time nurses, some of whom have dedicated many years to Gifford and the health of this area,” she said.
Chapin spent seven years as director of nursing at Menig. Under her leadership, the nursing home has
earned a pair of state awards – the nursing home Quality Award and the Gold Star award – for the last four consecutive years. Chapin, who grew up in Chelsea and still resides there with her family, was also 2005’s Director of Nursing of the Year.
“My new role takes me to more hospital-based nursing and overseeing the nursing department,” she explained, noting providing the highest quality of care is her emphasis.
“I love my job,” she said. “I can’t think of one negative about my job or Gifford.”
Richardson, who first started at Gifford as a nurse’s aide while in high school, was a certified diabetes educator and the nursing home’s minimum data set (MDS) coordinator prior to her new role. She’s also been the hospital’s nurse educator and a practice manager.
Her new position includes overseeing nursing home staff, preparing for state surveys and “in general making sure the residents have whatever they need to live here in their home,” she said. “My most important job is to be a resident advocate and work with the families of the residents.”
“I love working at Gifford,” she added. “It’s so family-oriented and I am proud of the care that we provide our residents.”
Before moving to Vermont and joining Gifford, Boettcher helped treat critically ill patients in the air as part of the Royal New Zealand Flying Doctors Service. She’s also worked in a number of other nursing roles.
She found Gifford on the Internet from New Zealand and has already earned an award for her work at the hospital.
Perreault was at Mass General Hospital’s Emergency Department in Boston – one of the largest, mostly highly acute Emergency Department’s in the nation – before coming to Vermont. She was honored last year with an Excellence in Clinical Education award from the Vermont Organization of Nurse Leaders.
Fournier has held a variety of surgery leadership roles at Gifford, including serving as interim director. Now the post, which includes overseeing the safe and efficient operations of the surgery department, is permanent.
He calls the hospital “such a rewarding place to work.” “As a registered nurse, I have always been given full support from administration in pursuit of further education and career development. I’m proud to be part of an organization that promotes initiatives to improve the health and quality of life for the surrounding communities,” he said. “I get a lot of positive feedback from the people we serve and from my colleagues and peers that makes my job all the more rewarding. When I applied for a job in 1992, I stated that I’d like to finish my career at Gifford, and so far this has been the right choice.”
McConnell too has served as an interim director of the department. He first joined Gifford in 1996 and has also worked as staff nurse, charge nurse and advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) instructor.
Armstrong, who also heads the surgery department’s sterile processing area, joined Gifford in 1995 after retiring from the U.S. Air Force. “I work at Gifford because I like to provide care to family and friends,” she said. She grew up on a small dairy farm in Calais and worked as both a law enforcement specialist and surgical technologist in the Air Force.