Graduate of Stony Brook’s Nurse Residency Program Receives First-Ever National Vizient®/AACN Award
During her time as an ICU nurse at Stony Brook University Hospital, Sabrina Sloan, BSN, RN, CCRN, made such an impression on her colleagues that she was awarded the 2024 Vizient/AACN Nurse Resident of the Year Award. This first-ever recognition from Vizient, Inc., the nation’s largest healthcare performance improvement company, and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) honors outstanding achievements, dedication and innovation in nurse residency programs. It also shines a spotlight on individuals who embody excellence in their roles. Sloan was recognized for her clinical skills, compassion, leadership and commitment to learning.
Sloan, who was a graduate of Stony Brook’s Nurse Residency Program, was both grateful and surprised to have been presented with the award at the Vizient, Inc./AACN Nurse Residency Program Conference and was moved by the chance to be with other nurses.
“It was the most incredible experience being there with a ton of nurses, including Stony Brook nurses,” she said. “Everyone was so supportive. The event was not just about my award. It was about supporting other nurses and networking with everybody.”
“Clinically, Sabrina Sloan’s practice is exceptional. She provided detailed, expert care to complex patients in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit using advanced skills and administering expert care,” said Carolyn Santora, MS, RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Chief of Regulatory Affairs. “She demonstrates the values of boldness, inclusivity and accountability. She is personally accountable for her own growth and practice, she is accountable to her peers as noted in her attention to teaching and well-being, and most importantly she is accountable to her patients through her excellent practice.”
Sloan was nominated by Katherine Lewin, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CCRN, Nurse Residency Coordinator, who said, “Ms. Sloan’s strong clinical reasoning abilities complement her detailed, meticulous nursing practice. She continuously seeks out opportunities to grow professionally. Her commitment to patient safety and clinical excellence are evident in the care she provides, and the feedback received from patients. Ms. Sloan cared for some of the most critically ill patients in the hospital, displaying compassion and empathy not only for the patient but also the caregiver.”
Drawn to the ICU
Sloan began her nursing career in Stony Brook University Hospital’s Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) in August 2021. But she was not new to the hospital as she had volunteered in the Emergency Department and in the Mother-Baby Unit when she was in high school. She also completed a trauma/surgical ICU internship while she attended Sacred Heart University and then worked as a per diem nursing assistant in 2021.
“I grew up nearby and was drawn to Stony Brook,” she said. “Completing the internship solidified how much I love ICU nursing and when it came time to look for a full-time job after graduation, I didn’t look anywhere else besides Stony Brook, because I just I love it there.”
Sloan toured the CTICU and fell in love with the unit after discovering the complex and critical care that provided in the unit. She applied to the CTICU Fellowship Program and was granted a spot in the 12-month Cardiothoracic ICU Fellowship.
In addition to her Cardiothoracic ICU Fellowship, she participated in the 12-month Nurse Residency Program, which entailed attending seminars and workshops that build skills including communication and bedside nursing competencies, among others. One of the requirements is to conduct an evidence-based project. Sloan focused on using venous arterial blood management protection (VAMP) arterial line tubing with the goal to prevent infection for patients who require frequent blood draws. She presented the evidence to support this practice change at the Clinical Practice Council and ICU Committee. Her findings have since been implemented on the unit and are also being adopted hospital wide.
Santora said she was also outstanding among her peers. In May 2023, after completing her fellowship and residency, Sloan received a peer-nominated award for Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit Rookie of the Year in recognition of her accountability, dedication and passion for the nursing profession.
“I was really honored to get that award because being a new grad nurse is hard, especially in the ICU,” she said. “It was very nice to be recognized by my peers and that they felt like I was doing well because sometimes it’s hard to know if you’re making a difference.”
Working with Peers
After meeting practice hour requirements, Sloan pursued a critical care registered nurse certification, which she successfully completed in 2023. She then volunteered to be Stony Brook University Hospital’s first participant in the 12-month AACN Clinical Scene Investigator Program, working with her peers on a quality initiative for national recognition and potential publication to improve outcomes for the unit and hospital. Sloan said their focus was preventing medical device pressure injuries. The result is protocols for preventative dressings, adjustment to multiple disciplinary rounding sheets and a wound care supply cart that is readily available in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.
Sloan is also compelled to care for patients outside of the hospital. In October 2023, she participated in a five-day medical mission trip to Ecuador. It was an ENT surgery trip to help pediatric patients with cleft palates and other congenital issues.
“It was an eye-opening experience to see healthcare where there were extremely limited resources. We had to bring literally every piece of equipment that we used there,” she said.
She said she also worked at a roadside clinic where people waited four hours just to get access to care.
While the experience was an emotional one, it fit into her goals as a nurse. “Volunteering has always been a part of my life. This was just another medical way to give back.”
Sloan will continue to seek other opportunities to grow professionally. In September, she will be attending the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) — Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), DNP Program full time at Hofstra University. “It was everything I have done at Stony Brook that has pushed me out of my comfort zone to explore new opportunities. I love Stony Brook, and I hope to continue my career there after I get my new degree,” she said.