It’s National Nurses Week, a time to raise public awareness of the value of nursing and to educate the public about the vital roles registered nurses play in health care. To express our gratitude to our nurses, we wanted to tell you a bit about them.
The nursing staff of Penn Medicine Metabolic and Bariatric surgery program includes nurse practitioners and registered nurses who provide care throughout all phases, before and after surgery.
“Education is our role, and I think we do a very good job with our patients in making sure they are prepared [prior to surgery],” says nurse practitioner, Renee Bearman, MSN, CRNP.
Out of everyone on the team, patients probably have the most contact with and work the most closely with nurses. They give their expertise at office visits and support groups to address the concerns that are unique to the bariatric surgery patient population. They're with you through every part of your journey, sharing your most important milestones and your toughest days with you.
“With this particular job, I like the amount of interaction,” Renee says. “If you have a hernia, we see you, we fix your hernia and you go away. Here, the patients are going through this process for anywhere from three to six to twelve months, and I'm actually with them. The best part of this job is on Mondays when a patient comes in, and they're one year out and the sticker says ‘at goal weight.’ That's the best part of this job.”
The nursing staff attends national conferences, so the support and education you receive is based on the most current research in obesity and weight loss surgery.
Moreover, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Chester County Hospital have achieved Magnet® status—the highest institutional honor awarded for nursing excellence—from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In fact, all of our nurse practitioners and registered nurses are board-certified and have professional certifications, such as Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) and Certified Bariatric Nurse (CBN). That means you can trust in their care and advice because these nurses are the best of the best.
To take advantage of the amazing nursing staff, attend a free information session. There, they and other members of the team will give you an in-depth look at the bariatric surgery process and what to expect. You'll see just how dedicated and compassionate these nurses truly are.