Interview with Joanna Gorczyca

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ocated in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Woods Edge Harborside Healthcare Rehabilitation and Nursing Center is a 176-bed facility. Joanna Gorczyca is the administrator and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the facility. Joanna's main priorities are to provide residents with an environment similar to home and to ensure that residents get whatever they need. Joanna feels it is important to maintain an environment in which a resident's family will feel free to ask questions. Among her responsibilities at Woods Edge, Joanna maintains adequate staff and supplies. Following, she answers some of our questions about her facility.

       How is your facility managed, and by whom?
       Joanna: Each unit is overseen by a unit manager who is responsible for the unit 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The nursing department consists of the director of nursing (DON), assistant director of nursing (ADON), three unit managers, a 3-11 nursing supervisor, a weekend supervisor, two MDS coordinators, a medical supply clerk, and a scheduler. We have 12 active physicians on staff. There is an additional nurse who visits our facility on a routine basis and provides additional oversight for nursing.
       What are your strategies for retaining and motivating staff?
       Joanna: We conduct salary surveys to ensure that we offer competitive salaries. We have employee appreciation days and hold monthly or quarterly events, such as international food day or pizza day. We actively solicit ideas from our employees and have a retention committee consisting of one representative per department from the nursing staff, one representative from human resources, one representative from the business office, and one representative from the dietary staff.
       What are some of the equipment, devices, and products used at your facility?
       Joanna: Each resident has a MaxiFloat Pressure Reduction Mattress (BG Industries, Northridge, California), and some of our residents require specialty beds, such as the Clinitron Air Fluidized Therapy Unit (Hill-Rom Home Care, Batesville, Indiana). We also administer nutritional products and supplements to our residents.
       What type of continuing education opportunities are provided to staff members?
       Joanna: Smith & Nephew provides an educational inservice once per quarter. We also have ongoing education provided by our pharmacy and pharmacy consultant. In addition, staff attend selected conferences.
       Do you have a wound care team and a skin care team?
       Joanna: Our wound care team consists of the ADON, a physical therapist, and a dietitian. The team meets every Tuesday to assess the residents' wounds. At Woods Edge, we place emphasis on caring for the resident as a person rather than just treating the wounds.
       We have a skin care team that performs skin assessments. The skin care team is supervised by the unit managers, and the nurses conduct direct patient care. We train our certified nursing assistants to assess and report skin conditions as well. We stress the importance of nutrition, vitamins, and supplements in skin and wound care.
       I believe that the success of our facility is dependent on the support of our staff. My goal as administrator, and the goal of every staff member, is to see the patients leave the facility. With terminal patients, I emphasize the importance of a resident's quality of life and sensitivity to the dying process. I treat every patient the way I would want to be treated.

ECPN will spotlight an administrator or director of nursing from a long-term care facility, acute care facility, or home care agency in every issue. Please contact Renee Olszewski by phone at (800) 237-7285, extension 209, or by e-mail at rolszewski@hmpcommunications.com for submission criteria and a questionnaire.