Christian Health Care Center Celebrates its Nurses on National Nurses Week

Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) in Wyckoff appreciates its nursing staff all year around, but National Nurses Week provides another opportunity to recognize their fine work. In addition to nursing staff who are responsible for direct patient care, there are a number of specialty nurses at CHCC.

“The roles of nurses today are quite a contrast to the Center’s original nursing staff in 1911,” said Douglas A. Struyk, CPA, LNHA, CHCC President and CEO. “In the more than two decades that I have been at the Center, their scope of
responsibility has increased significantly.”

For example, some nurses hold leadership positions. Sandra DeYoung, RN, EdD, brings an invaluable nursing perspective to her role as Chair of the CHCC Board of Trustees.

“The quality of care at CHCC could not be maintained without the many specialty
nurses who are part of the team,” said Dr. DeYoung. “These are nurses such as the Employee Health nurse, a wound-care specialist, and a nurse specializing in infection control. While the majority of nurses provide direct patient care,
these specialty nurses support the direct-care nurses and supplement their skills. As a nurse myself, I know the value that such specialists bring to the team that is caring for the patient.”

In her role as Vice President/Administrator of Mental Health Services, Cathy Pilone, RN, MSN, NEA-BC, oversees Ramapo Ridge Psychiatric Hospital, Ramapo Ridge Partial Program, Christian Health Care Counseling Center, and Pathways.

Sofia Magnifico, RN, BSN, Geriatric Nurse Manager in the psychiatric hospital brings her expertise to caring for patients with mental illness and reassuring their family members.

Other nurses ensure quality and adherence to regulations. Sara Cilderman, RN, CPHQ, Mental Health Quality Manager, and Elisabeth Micich Otero, MSN, RN-BCCC, Long-term Care Quality Manager and Clinical Educator, spearhead efforts
to monitor, evaluate, and improve quality and safety with respect to organizational, state, and federal rules and regulations.

Other nurses specialize in specific clinical areas. For example, Judy Dedio, RN, BSN, CWOCN, CDE, and Terry Walsh, LPN, are wound-care specialists. Barbara Lucia, RN, BSN, oversees the health and well-being of our staff as Employee Health Nurse. June Bangma, RN, C, Heritage Manor Minimum Data Set (MDS) AssessmentCoordinator, completes and submits an MDS form, a uniformed formalized assessment, to the state for all residents on regular intervals.

“These are just a few examples of our specialty nurses, but we are extremely proud of our entire  nursing staff,” said Mr. Struyk. “They are at the heart of the Center’s mission.”

Christian Health Care Center provides a broad continuum of high-quality, compassionate care, offering superior mental-health, elder-care, residential living, and rehabilitation services. As a non-profit organization, we deliver care to our community based upon the Christian principles on which we were founded more than a century ago.