FMC Nurse Published In National Journal

GREENFIELD — Ginger Newell-Stokes, MS, RN, a clinical nurse specialist at Franklin Medical Center, was recently published in the Journal of Infusion Nursing, a national publication of the Infusion Nurses Society. Her article, “Applying Evidence-based Practice: A Place to Start,” appeared in the November/December 2004 issue.

In her article, Newell-Stokes describes the importance of using evidence-based best practices, and suggests ways for nurses to identify and apply these practices to improve patient care. She focuses particularly on the many studies available on best practices in infusion (IV) therapy.

Newell-Stokes, who has been a clinical nurse specialist for the past 18 years at Baystate and Franklin Medical Centers, chairs the Baystate Health System Clinical Practice Committee. She has co-authored several articles describing the use of evidence-based practice.

“I’m proud to say that nurses at FMC have actively participated for some time in the selection of practices which are evidence-based and which have been introduced across Baystate Health System,” Newell-Stokes noted. “Baystate Health Systems has a Clinical Nurse Practice Committee with representatives from FMC, Mary Lane Hospital, Baystate Medical Center, and Baystate Visiting Nurse and Hospice. Evidence-based practices related to wound care, pain management, and falls prevention are just a few that have been implemented at Franklin Medical Center and its sister hospitals, thanks to the excellent work of these nurses.”