MVH nurse among top in U.S.
A Miami Valley Hospital nurse has been named among the top nurses in the nation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) National Magnet Nurse of the Year Awards.
Tracy Morrison, MSQ, BSN, RN, FELS, quality coordinator in the Neo- natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Miami Valley Hospital, was honored Nov. 12 with the Magnet Transfor- mational Leadership Award at the International Magnet Conference in Atlanta,
Ga. Morrison, a registered nurse with more than four decades of experience, has worked at Miami Valley Hospital since 1985.
“This is the greatest honor a nurse can achieve,” said Morrison. “Being recognized by Magnet demonstrates the excellence and dedication of each person I work with at Premier Health and Miami Valley Hospital. My entire career as a bedside nurse has shown me that you can make a difference and posi- tively affect the lives of thousands of patients and their families.”
As the quality coordinator in the NICU, Morrison leads an interdisciplinary team comprised of nurses, providers, occupational and respiratory therapists, hospital unit coordinators, and patient care technicians. Additionally, she is a part of the Vermont Oxford Network, through which she and staff drive qual- ity outcomes recognized in papers and presentations. Morrison’s projects include improving alarm safety, ther- moregulation, breastfeed- ing, support of infants and mothers with neonatal absti- nence syndrome, and reduc- ing chronic lung disease with targeted oxygen saturation monitoring.
As a role model, Morrison has provided continuous education and mentor- ship of nurses in the care of critically ill infants. A recognized authority on the provision of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for the critically ill infant or adult, she provides monthly simulation training to ensure beginning and continuous competency, with implementation of best practices. In addition, she provides consultation and patient evaluation anytime.
Morrison’s influence extends far beyond the bedside. As one of the founding members of the inter- national Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO), Morrison has trav- eled extensively in the United States and Europe, teaching nurses, physicians, and per- fusionists best practices in the provision of ECMO support to infants. In addition to education and consultation, she has written chapters for ELSO reference publications. She also provides on-site program evaluation and consul- tation on behalf of ELSO for NICUs in the United States and Europe to help drive the best outcomes for infants. In 2020, Morrison was elected to serve as the worldwide ELSO Organization Quality Chair through 2023.
Premier Health hospitals are the only Dayton-area adult hospitals recognize as Magnet hospitals.