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Nursing at William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans
Hospital
Introduction to Nursing
 Nursing Staff are key players in the interdisciplinary health
care team that functions in a collaborative manner in providing
quality/safe patient/family care to veterans and their families.
Nurses use critical thinking based on scientific principles to
assess, plan, implement, evaluate and document physical,
psychological, social, educational and discharge planning processes.
Veterans and their families participate with clinicians in
identifying needs and planning care. Health promotion, disease
prevention and disease management are key components to the health
care provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Continuity of
care and seamless transition is emphasized as patients move through
the continuum of health care.
The care of Veterans provides opportunities for meaningful work
in which a sense of personal and professional growth, achievement
and satisfaction may be obtained. The Registered Nurse directs all
nursing care and coordinates patient care activities based on team,
functional and total patient care models. Staff are recognized for
their abilities, skills and knowledge.
Principles of decentralized decision-making guide unit,
service/product line, and interdisciplinary level problem solving.
Accountability and cost effective creative innovations are nurtured.
Investigative inquiry and critical thinking are used by all staff in
problem resolution. Research findings, best practice model, and
national guidelines are applied to practice. Collaborative research
is encouraged and supported.
Nursing Leadership
- Rebecca Kordahl, Associate Director, Patient Care Services
- Mary Hartmann, Chief, Inpatient Nursing Services
- Ila Minnick, Chief, Perioperative and Emergency Nursing Services
- Lynda Everson, Chief, Ambulatory Care Nursing Services
- Beverly Priefer, Clinical Practice Coordinator
The William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital is an 87 bed
acute care hospital and provides over 158,000 outpatient visits
annually at the main hospital inclusive of the CBOCs at Rockford and
Freeport, Ill., Beaver Dam, Baraboo and Janesville. The Wm. S.
Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital and Clinics is dedicated to
providing state-of-the-art surgical and medical care for more than
240,000 veterans. Our medical center is affiliated with the
University of Wisconsin, Madison, one of the leading academic and
research institutions in the United States. This affiliation
produces a challenging and stimulating environment in which to work
and learn.
 The
William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital and the University
of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics are academically and physically
connected. These two institutions pride themselves on their
integrated teaching and medical programs. Programs presently
available include training in general surgery, internal medicine,
primary care, anesthesiology, orthopedic surgery, urology,
ophthalmology, otolaryngology, transplantation, pathology,
neurology, dermatology, neurosurgery, radiology, psychology, social
work, medical technology, occupational and physical therapy, nursing
and pharmacy.
To ensure the provision of quality patient care, our hospital
employs a staff of approximately 910. This includes a diverse mix of
professional and technical staff, each valued as an important link
in the provision of our quality health care services. In addition to
our staff, we are fortunate to have 400 volunteers who donate more
than 66,757 hours of their time each year. These dedicated
individuals provide both support services and patient visitation for
our patients.
Nursing Service is a fundamental component in the interdisciplinary
health care system that functions collaboratively in providing
quality patient/family care. The service retains direct line
authority for most nursing staff, establishes professional standards
and assumes accountability for their implementation, provides
education to ensure the same level of care across the facility and
CBOCs and evaluates nursing staff competencies on an ongoing basis.
Principles of decentralized decision-making guide unit, service and
interdisciplinary level problem solving. Accountability and cost
effective creative innovation is nurtured. Investigative inquiry and
critical thinking is used by all staff in problem resolution.
Research findings and national guidelines are applied to practice as
appropriate within our setting. Collaborative research is encouraged
and supported.
Orientation
 Orientation
is composed of didactic and clinical experiences usually covering a
5 week time frame. Orientation for new graduates usually extends for
12 weeks. All orientees are assigned a preceptor or a team of
preceptors to assist the new employee’s assimilation into the work
unit. Orientation is individualized to meet the needs of the new
employee and the clinical area in which the individual will be
practicing.
Most of our patient records and medication prescribing and
administration processes are computerized to enhance patient safety
and continuity of care. Extensive education in these processes is
provided during the orientation process. Ongoing education is
provided as systems and programs are updated.
Nurse Managers meet frequently with orientees and preceptors to
ensure that new employee needs are being met. Leadership and team
building opportunities are provided in addition to frequent updates
in relation to clinical care.
Opportunities for Development
There are many opportunities available for individuals to
enhance their knowledge base through continuing education
opportunities offered in the community as well as through local
programming. In addition there are opportunities to develop in
specialty areas or change your area of practice through applying and
being selected for opportunities available in the system.
 There
are opportunities to pursue academic education and higher degrees
with the University of Wisconsin, Edgewood College and the Madison
Area Technical College System located in the Madison community. In
addition many colleges and technical programs are available through
the internet and web based course and activities.
Various scholarship programs are available including the debit
reduction program. Information can be obtained through the Office of
Performance Improvement.
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