Professional Contributions of Nursing at Clear Lake Hospital

Houston Methodist Clear Lake Hospital nurses use the Magnet® Model as a framework for nursing excellence. Through Transformational Leadership, Structural Empowerment, Exemplary Professional Practice, and New Knowledge, Innovation and Improvements, excellent empirical outcomes are achieved. Houston Methodist Clear Lake nursing supports the Houston Methodist vision for unparalleled safety, quality, service and innovation.

Mission: Houston Methodist nursing provides an environment in which excellent nursing practice, interprofessional collaboration, leadership, education and research ensure that patients, families and the community experience compassionate, value-based care through unparalleled safety, quality, service and innovation.

Vision: We lead the world of nursing in an innovative and collaborative environment of excellence in patient care, education and research.

Philosophy: We believe the cornerstone of the Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model is a triad of:

• Leadership: Building value-driven partnerships with patients, families and the interprofessional team that yield high-quality care.
• Art: Caring for patients and families in a holistic way to meet clinical, psychological, educational and spiritual needs.
• Science: Improving outcomes through evidence-based practices, research, innovation and professional development.

Transformational Leadership

Nurse leaders and nurses at the bedside are transformational leaders who keep nursing goals aligned with the vision and mission of the hospital. They participate in leadership development and mentorship programs and demonstrate advocacy and support on behalf of staff and patients. 

Structural Empowerment of Nursing

Shared Governance — A Model for Nursing Leadership 

Nurses at Houston Methodist Clear Lake are empowered to share experience and knowledge by participating in collective decision-making with interprofessional colleagues. Shared Governance is a decision-making model that offers clinicians the means to influence professional practice and the quality of patient care, as well as to build leadership skills. Shared Governance supports the strategic goals of nursing, thus providing better care to our patients and families. The Shared Governance model allows nurses to independently exercise judgment in the clinical setting, which has been described by nurses as one of the most significant factors affecting job satisfaction and retention. 

Houston Methodist Clear Lake Shared Governance Model

Recognition for Contributions to Professional Nursing

• Nurses at Houston Methodist Clear Lake are routinely recognized for professional accomplishments throughout the year by receiving the following awards:
  • DAISY Award
  • Good Samaritan Foundation Nurse Excellence Award
  • Houston Chronicle Salute to Nurses Award
  • Texas Nurses Association District 9 Nurse Excellence Award
  • Annual Nursing Excellence Award
  • I CARE Award

• Houston Methodist Clear Lake recognizes nurses for dissemination of research and evidence-based practice by providing resources to:
  • Attend conferences to present our findings to national and international health care professionals.
  • Publish articles in professional journals.

• Nurses are recognized to volunteer locally, nationally or internationally by providing paid time off (I CARE in Action) and additional resources (supplies/educational material/donation).

• Nurses are recognized by the organization for professional development and are encouraged to be life-long learners by providing: 
  • Tuition assistance of $4,000 a year
  • Professional certification vouchers and/or reimbursement
  • Graduate Nurse Residency Program
  • Clinical Scholar Program for evidence-based practice and research
  • Shared Governance Leadership Series for Shared Governance front-line leaders

Exemplary Professional Practice 

Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model 

• The Houston Methodist I CARE values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence provide the overarching values that guide service and practice. The Houston Methodist Professional Practice Model describes the patient care delivery system and the practice of professional nursing. 

• The patient care delivery system keeps the patient and family at the center, with the staff nurse leader in communication and collaboration with the interprofessional team to affect outcomes of safety, quality, knowledge, efficiency and satisfaction. The graphic depiction below shows our Professional Practice Model, which is built upon evidence-based practice, research and innovation.  

New Knowledge, Innovations and Improvements

Contributions to Nursing Publications:

• Heasley, R., Brown, S., Parker, C., Villasana, K., Vela, G., Cofield, P., & Shi, Y. (2025). The 2024 Vizient connections summit report:  The impact of palliative care interventions on 30-day hospital readmissions. American Journal of Medical Quality 40(3S):p S1-S127, May/June 2025. | DOI: 10.1097/JMQ.0000000000000226 (Professional Publication)
• Heasley, R. (2023, June 7). The impact of teach-back method on hospital readmissions. Sigma. https://sigma.nursingrepository.org/handle/10755/23186 (Online repository of DNP projects)

• Green, C. (2023, July 14). Certification was a critical step along my oncology nursing career journey. ONS Voice. https://voice.ons.org/stories/certification-was-a-critical-step-along-my-oncology-nursing-career-journey (Online professional editorial article)

Poster and Podium Presentations:

• Armesto, A., Esquivel, V., & Novak, A. (2024). Fall reduction in an acute care unit. Houston Methodist System Quality and Patient Safety Symposium: Unparalleled Safety and Quality – The Road Together. Houston, TX. April 26, 2024 (EBP Poster Presentation)

• Vincent, B, & Godfrey, L. (2024). Supplementing with donor milk to promote exclusive breastfeeding in well neonates. Houston Methodist System Quality and Patient Safety Symposium: Unparalleled Safety and Quality – The Road Together. Houston, TX. April 26, 2024 (EBP Poster Presentation)

• Lee, J. (2024). Improving door to needle times for stroke patients. Houston Methodist System Quality and Patient Safety Symposium: Unparalleled Safety and Quality – The Road Together. Houston, TX. April 26, 2024 (EBP Poster Presentation)

• Deckert, A., & Cegielski, R. (2024). Implementing change management with a multidisciplinary team. Houston Methodist System Quality and Patient Safety Symposium: Unparalleled Safety and Quality – The Road Together. Houston, TX. April 26, 2024 (EBP Poster Presentation)

• Doughty, S. (2024). Outpatient palliative Care. Imagine Nurse Quality and Innovation Symposium: Transitioning Healthcare. Houston, TX. May 2, 2024 (EBP Poster Presentation)

• Duncan, B. et al. (2024). Nursing involvement in shared decision-making in Magnet® and Pathway to Excellence® recognized hospitals. Texas Nurses Association Annual Conference: Nurses Driving Change. San Antonio, TX. May 31 – June 1, 2024 (Research Poster Presentation)

• Duncan, B., & Green, C. (2024). Strengthening professional governance through system collaboration. AONL Professional Governance Leadership Conference. Chicago, IL. June 27, 2024. (Podium Presentation)

• Lee, J. (2024). Improving door to need time for stroke. 2024 DNV Healthcare Symposium. Charleston, SC. Oct. 21-24, 2024. (Podium Presentation)

• Heasley, R., & Dizon, M. (2024). Advanced care planning for special babies. Charleston, SC. Oct. 21-24, 2024. (Podium Presentation)

• Heasley, R. (2024). Palliative care interventions to reduce 30-day readmissions. ANAE Research Symposium. New Orleans, LA. Oct. 29, 2024. (Poster Presentation)

• Heasley, R., & Donaho, E. (2025). Transitioning patients from acute care to community-based palliative care. Texas-New Mexico Hospice & Palliative Care Conference. Houston, TX. Feb. 19-21, 2025. (Podium Presentation)

• Morales, R. (2025). Evidence-based prehabilitation. 2025 Vizient Nurse Residency Conference. Lake Buena Vista, FL. March 24-27, 2025. (Poster Presentation)

• Green, C., Doughty, S., & Grannemann, K. (2025). Enhancing oncology patient care through interprofessional collaboration: A multidisciplinary team approach. Oncology Nursing Society Conference. Denver, CO. April 9-13, 2025. (Poster Presentation)

• Morales, R. (2025). Evidence-based prehabilitation. 32^nd National EBP Conference. Coralville, IA, April 16-17, 2025. (Poster Presentation)

• Ortez, S. (2025). Don’t be LAST to know. 32^nd National EBP Conference. Coralville, IA, April 16-17, 2025. (Poster Presentation)

• Curtis, A. (2025). From bed to better: A nursing-led initiative to improve patient outcomes through early mobility. Imagine Conference. Houston, TX. May 30, 2025. (Poster Presentation)

• Grannemann, K., & Gibson, A. (2025). Get your move on! A nurse-led physical activity intervention to combat cancer-related fatigue. Texas Nurses Association Annual Conference. Houston, TX. June 6-7, 2025. (Podium Presentation)

• Franklin, D., McElwee, A., & Clawson, S. (2025). Human trafficking taskforce: An interprofessional initiative to combat a humanitarian crisis. Texas Nurses Association Annual Conference. Houston, TX. June 6-7, 2025. (Podium Presentation)

• Heasley, R., & Duncan, B. (2025). Mentoring nurses 1:1 to increase EBP confidence and competence. AONL Professional Governance Leadership Conference. San Antonio, TX. Aug. 11-12, 2025. (Poster Presentation)