Nursing at Shannon

Welcome to Shannon Medical Center (SMC). My name is Becky Fuentes, DNP, RN, NE-BC, and I am privileged to be the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for SMC. I have a long nursing career in direct patient care, and healthcare leadership and have served in the CNO role since January 2022. Prior to that, I served many years as the Associate CNO. I started my career as a graduate nurse here at Shannon in 1992.

My deep respect for nurses and my commitment to excellence in nursing practice fuels me every single day. I work to understand the challenges of the internal and external healthcare environment and the impact on nursing practice, as well as the experiences and capacity of nurses and nursing teams. My goal is to create the best place for exemplary nursing practice, to optimize the contribution of nurses in the delivery of care, and to create the best places for nurses to work. It is quite a joy to be here. Shannon Medical Center is a place where our nurses and staff call home; we are family.

As the CNO, I believe in Servant Leadership. The Nurse Directors and I support our nursing staff in a way that allows them to take excellent care of our patients. We support Shared Governance and believe all nurses should have a voice in their clinical practice. Our nurses take pride in the care they deliver and it shows by having excellent quality and service outcomes. Our nurses are highly skilled in their specialties with many who have received additional degrees and certifications. As your leader, I have a passion for nursing and love working with nurses who have the same passion. We welcome nurses who love their profession and want to make a difference.

Becky Fuentes, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CNO

Nurse Intern Program

Are you a senior nursing student looking for additional experience on a Medical-Surgical or Step-Down unit? If so, Shannon Medical Center’s Nurse Intern Program was created for you! The Nurse Intern Program was designed for senior nursing students interested in gaining summer healthcare employment and valuable experience before their graduation.

The intern program focuses on the professional nursing role. Key benefits include assisting the Registered Nurse (RN) in a practice of professional nursing, expanding clinical experiences, building a professional nursing foundation, and educating self effectively and assisting in peer education.

The internship will be held on one of Shannon’s Medical-Surgical or Step-Down units. You will receive a formal orientation, be assigned a home unit, and matched to an experienced preceptor where you will have the opportunity to provide direct and indirect patient care. During this nine (9) week time, you will work towards honing your critical thinking and decision-making skills while building lasting professional relationship with the interdisciplinary healthcare team.

As you continue your journey towards becoming a professional nurse, please let us know how we can be of assistance to ensure that you have nothing less than an excellent experience. Shannon is dedicated to your success, and we hope that you choose to join the Shannon team upon graduation from nursing school.

Eligibility requirements to apply for Shannon’s Nurse Intern Program include:

1. A senior professional nursing student from an ADN or BSN program
2. Maintains a GPA of 3.0 or higher
3. Demonstrates excellent verbal, written, and computer communication skills
4. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
5. Letter of recommendation from nursing school faculty (Recommended)

For questions please contact:
Cameron Wilson, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, EBP-C cameronwilson@shannonhealth.org
Sarena Salvato, RN, Nurse Manager sarenasalvato@shannonhealth.org

Nurse Residency Program

Since 2018, Shannon Medical Center is proud to offer our Nurse Residency Program, a program which effectively supports new nurse graduates as they transition into their first professional roles.

The one (1) year program is built upon an evidence-based practice (EBP) curriculum which focuses on critical areas such as leadership, quality outcomes, scholarship for nursing practice, and the professional nursing role. Key benefits include: Transition to practice, mentorship, guidance, support, incorporating EBP into actual practice, and the opportunity to gain experience. Structured educational seminars will be held monthly and you will collaborate on an EBP, quality improvement, or lean project pertinent to your unit and/or Shannon. This program does not replace orientation but is a supportive layer on top of this. Shannon Medical Center is dedicated to your success.

We look forward to visiting with you about joining our team. Our team members demonstrate an unwavering commitment to our patients and the mission, vision, and values of Shannon. As you begin your nursing journey, please let us know how we can be of assistance to ensure that you have nothing less than an exceptional experience.

Eligibility requirements to apply for Shannon’s Nurse Residency Program include:

1. Graduation from an LVN, ADN or BSN program
2. Less than six (<6) months of experience as a newly licensed nurse
3. Must pass NCLEX within two (2) attempts
4. Demonstrates excellent verbal, written, and computer communication skills
5. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification

For questions please contact:
Cameron Wilson, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, EBP-C cameronwilson@shannonhealth.org

Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program

The Shannon Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program was designed to continue professional growth and development of our experienced Emergency Department (ED) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse team members. The program offers both interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary experiences to broaden our team member’s ability to holistically care for each patient they encounter across the healthcare spectrum. Our Fellowship participants are selected by a Manager and/or Director panel based upon an initial interview and multiple criteria (see below initial eligibility requirements).

This 12-month program provides the critical care nurse with the opportunity to experience various areas within our organization and the community, including:

• San Angelo Fire Department Ride-along
• Women’s & Children’s
• Operating Room
• Intensive Care Unit
• Emergency Department
• Cardiac Cath Lab
• Respiratory Therapy
• Trauma Team
• Additional critical care educational opportunities

Initial eligibility requirements to apply for Shannon’s Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program include:

1. Two years of Registered Nurse (RN) experience with at least one (1) year in ED or ICU
2. Resume
3. One letter of recommendation from a Physician, Manager, and/or Director
4. No disciplinary action within the past 12 months
5. Live Shannon’s organizational culture (Mission, Vision, & Values): Good understanding of the culture and available resources; behavior in alignment with cultural norms
6. High performer: Successful within and committed to Shannon
7. Excellent interpersonal skills: Patient, cooperative, empathetic, strong communicator, non-judgmental
8. Excellent role model: honest, respected, insightful, focused on solutions, strong networks and connections

Year Two (2) eligibility requirements to continue as a Shannon Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program graduate include:

1. No disciplinary action within the past 12 months
2. Active Preceptor in good standing on ED or ICU unit
3. Ten (10) hours of nursing continuing professional development outside of job description
4. Injury Prevention Event participation
5. Advanced educational presentation (topic approved by committee) to Graduate Nurse Cohort or Unit/Department
6. High performer: (participate in committees, projects, hold national certifications, etc.) (Recommended)

Year Three Plus (3+) eligibility requirements to continue as a Shannon Critical Care Nurse Fellowship Program graduate include:

1. No disciplinary action within the past 12 months
2. Active Charge Nurse in good standing on ED or ICU unit
3. Active Preceptor in good standing on ED or ICU unit
4. Instructor for basic certification class (ACLS, PALS, etc.)
5. Ten (10) hours of nursing continuing professional development outside of job description
6. Injury Prevention Event participation
7. Advanced educational presentation (topic approved by committee) to Graduate Nurse Cohort and Unit/Department
8. High performer: (participate in committees, projects, hold national certifications, etc.) (Recommended)

For questions please contact: Courtney Dean, BSN, RN courtneydean@shannonhealth.org

Nurse Mentor Program

The Shannon Nurse Mentor Program was created to continue support of our Nurse Residency Program graduates as they transition into the second year of their professional roles. Our Nurse Mentors are selected by their Manager and/or Director based upon multiple criteria, including their unwavering commitment to our patients and the mission, vision, and values of Shannon.

The six (6) month program provides the Mentee the opportunity to:

• Seek advice and guidance from an experienced Registered Nurse regarding professional development
• Seek ongoing professional learning
• Gain knowledge of various Shannon programs to assist with professional development
• Continue their integration into Shannon’s culture by means of knowledge and social skills
• Commit to Shannon’s mission, vision, and values

Eligibility requirements to become a Mentor include:

• Have at least 2 years of experience as an RN
• Live Shannon’s organizational culture (Mission, Vision, & Values): Good understanding of the culture and available resources; behavior in alignment with cultural norms
• Life-long learner (Participate in committees, projects, hold certifications, etc.): Committed to growing and developing others
• High performer: Successful within and committed to Shannon.
• Excellent interpersonal skills: Patient, cooperative, empathetic, strong communicator, non-judgmental
• No disciplinary action within the last year
• Excellent role model: honest, respected, insightful, focused on solutions, strong networks and connections
• Hold a BSN degree (Recommended)
• Completed Shannon’s Nurse Residency Program (Recommended)
• Have experience completing an EBP, QI, or Lean project (Recommended)

For questions please contact:
Cameron Wilson, DNP, RN, NPD-BC, EBP-C cameronwilson@shannonhealth.org

Nursing Continuing Professional Development

Let’s enhance the quality of healthcare together.

Shannon’s Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) Program is here to help you choose the course that will move your career forward. Our goal is to provide evidence-based practice ongoing professional learning opportunities for all nursing professionals, assisting you in providing exceptional healthcare for our family, friends and neighbors.

MISSION

The Provider Unit is guided by the organization’s strategic focus areas of quality, service, people, growth and mission by providing NCPD education courses to increase nursing professional development of the registered nurses in the organization.

ACCREDITATION

Shannon Medical Center is approved as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by New Mexico Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Let’s discover and deliver together.

Our courses are planned and provided by content experts and team members in our organization, as well as other experts in healthcare, innovation, wellness, and mental health. The program includes conferences, courses and online learning education nursing professionals in our local and regional areas.

We are very interested in your feedback. Please contact patriciavanover@shannonhealth.org with any suggestions for future courses or programs.

Shared Governance

Shared Governance is a professional practice model that empowers nurses, and others in patient care, by giving them a voice in decision-making processes that affect their practice and the care they provide to their customers.

The 4 Principles of Shannon’s Shared Governance committee include:

• Partnership
• Ownership
• Accountability
• Equity

Why join Shannon’s Shared Governance committee? Shared Governance leads to:

• Empowered Nurses
• Improved Nurse Satisfaction
• Increase Nurse Retention
• Improved Patient Care and Safety Conditions
• Improved Patient Satisfaction
• Engagement Among Members and other Team Members

We are very interested in your feedback. Please contact sarenasalvato@shannonhealth.org for additional questions.

Nurse Scrub Donation Program