15 Methodist nurses complete AgeWISE program; next cohort begins in February

Fifteen registered nurses graduated from the AgeWISE geropalliative care nurse residency program on Nov. 30. These committed nurses from two Methodist Health System hospitals represented numerous nursing units and departments.

November 2023 Graduates

Rose Anderson
Susannah Black
Darcie Consbruck
Teresa Frost
Chelsea Hines
Haley Johnson
Nellie Johnson
Melissa Kovy
Dee Dee Leinen
Amy Pavka
Devan Ridenoure
Madison Schwarting
Tina Sibbernsen
Alyssa Sloup
Mady Vogel

More About AgeWISE

AgeWISE is a four-month specialty nurse residency that promotes the crucial role nurses play in enhancing the hospital experience for older patients and their families, as well as people receiving palliative care. AgeWISE nurses gain enhanced knowledge in geropalliative care to provide more specific and sensitive care to patients. They also gain a sense of empowerment and increased confidence when having difficult conversations with patients, families and physicians related to geropalliative and end-of-life care. Additionally, these nurses report renewed enthusiasm in their calling, having gained skills that are useful in their personal lives. AgeWISE uses the Age-Friendly 4Ms Model of Care – focusing on What Matters to the older adult, Medications, Mentation and Mobility.

Participating nurses are required to take a professional nursing certification exam six months after they graduate. Nurses enrolled in a BSN, MSN or DNP program have one year to sit for certification. The Methodist foundations support funding for nurse certifications. Nurses can also take advantage of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Success Pays program for selected certifications supported by Methodist. Certification demonstrates a nurse’s commitment to the profession and lifelong learning. ANCC certification provides evidence to the public and the profession of the strength of nurses’ knowledge, and it contributes to improved patient care.

New in the past year: The Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care (ADDC) seminar from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) was incorporated into the AgeWISE curriculum. AgeWISE graduates gained a better understanding of dementia and dementia care, and they learned nonpharmacological techniques to prevent and de-escalate behaviors in individuals with dementia. Completion of the ADDC seminar is a requirement for obtaining Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP) certification, and all graduates completing the seminar are now eligible for certification.

Methodist Health System continues to be a national leader in AgeWISE. Over 325 nurses have graduated since 2010, which is greater than any of the original participating hospitals. At Methodist, AgeWISE is a collaborative program between Methodist Hospital and Nebraska Methodist College. Hilary Applequist, DNP, APRN-NP, NP-C, ACHPN, represents the college as a faculty member and is a palliative care nurse practitioner in the palliative medicine department at Methodist Hospital.

The next cohort of AgeWISE begins in August. For more information, contact @email or @email.