MyNorth News Service
(Press Release provided by Munson Healthcare)
TRAVERSE CITY: The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) named Northern Regional Bleeding Disorder Center nurse practitioner Michelle Witkop, D.N.P., F.N.P.-BC, its nurse of the year for transformational leadership. Witkop is a nurse practitioner at Munson Medical Center, a Northern Michigan medical and health facility in Traverse City.
The world’s largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization names five nurses nationally who best represent the five components of the prestigious Magnet nursing model. The ANCC is a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association and its mission is to promote nursing excellence through credentialing programs such as the Magnet Nursing Program.
In giving her the transformational leadership award, the ANCC recognized Witkop for her ground-breaking research related to pain management in hemophilia patients.
“She conducted research with adult hemophilia patients in a tristate regional survey and then progressed to several national surveys,” the organization stated. “The results were published in the highly acclaimed World Journal of Hemophilia, presented nationally and internationally, and have been cited by authors and presenters around the world. As the lead clinician in the only bleeding disorder center in the United States that is medically managed by nurse practitioners, she provides primary care and education to patients and their families on how best to live with hemophilia.”
Witkop recently accepted her award at the ANCC National Conference in Georgia. She characterized the award as an “incredible honor” for a Magnet institution and a reflection on hospital leadership.
“This award is a reflection of the quality of nursing demonstrated at Munson Medical Center and within the community,” she said. “I received this award, but no one works in a silo; there are many people who made this body of work and research a success. So although I was recognized, I accepted the award on behalf of all of our nurses.”
Munson Medical Center Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer Jim Fischer, who nominated Witkop for the award, called her the “epitome of a professional.”
“Michelle is extremely dedicated to the patients she cares for,” he said. “She is very knowledgeable and continuously learning, and she also collaborates with a multitude of other professionals for the best patient outcomes.”
Witkop recently completed a federally funded demonstration project comparing a nurse practitioner-led blood disorder treatment center to a physician-led center. She planned to share the results at a national meeting in Chicago this week.
“We will be reporting that the nurse practitioner medically managed hemophilia treatment center did not have more adverse outcomes and is a collaborative model of care that can be utilized across the United States,” she said. “This is an avenue to increase adult patient access to the hematologist.”
Munson Medical Center was first named a Magnet nursing facility in 2006 and redesignated in 2011. It is in the process of applying for a third designation.
More information on the Magnet Nurse of the Year awards can be found at nursecredentialing.org/2015-NationalMagnetNurseoftheYear-Winners.
More Northern Michigan Medical & Health
-
November Northern Michigan Blood Drives
-
Northern Michigan COPD Rehabilitation
-
Petoskey’s McLaren Northern Michigan Breast Cancer Support
#2015 #Grand_Traverse #Traverse_City #Medical_&_Health #Live_Here #Work_Here