Nurse Practitioner, Children’s of Mississippi acclaimed for achievements

Published on Monday, September 30, 2024

By: Gary Pettus, gpettus@umc.edu

Medical Center faculty and staff often are recognized regionally, nationally and internationally for their academic or medical achievements. These accolades place UMMC among health science centers worldwide.

FNP Sabins’ support of cancer patients merits national honor

Bethany Sabins, a nurse practitioner in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, is the recipient of the 2024 See, Test & Treat Outstanding Partner Award from the College of American Pathologists.

The award honors a non-pathologist for contributions and service in support of the See, Test & Treat, which is a free cancer screening and health education program for medically underserved women.

“I absolutely love what I do,” Sabins said. “I love getting to know our gyn-oncology patients, but this event allows me to help educate women about cervical cancer and how to prevent it.

“I’ve told others before that the goal for me with See Test & Treat is to provide enough education to women to, hopefully, prevent them from becoming one of our gyn-oncology patients with a cancer diagnosis.”

Through See, Test & Treat, UMMC provides women with pap smears, mammograms and oral screenings with same-day results.

“Since joining See, Test & Treat in 2017, Bethany has led the gynecology component with exceptional commitment and leadership,” said Dr. J. Martin Tucker, professor and chair of obstetrics and gynecology at UMMC.

“Her proactive approach to problem-solving, dedication to patient care and efforts in educating women on screening and medical resources have made a profound impact on our program. The review team chose Bethany based on her role, level of engagement and the resulting impact she has had on the UMMC See, Test & Treat program and the Jackson community.”

Sabins earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Mississippi College in May 2009 and started as a surgery nurse at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, working in general surgery, urology and gynecologic oncology. In 2012, she earned her Master of Science in Nursing at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Since 2011, she has worked alongside Dr. Mildred Ridgway, professor of OB-GYN and chief of the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, caring for patients and educating them about gynecologic cancer prevention.

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Children’s of Mississippi named a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety

The Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN), representing more than 200,000 surgical nurses across the country, has named Children’s of Mississippi as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation.

This award recognizes a commitment to patient and workplace safety through a comprehensive approach to ensuring a smoke-free environment wherever surgical smoke is generated.

AORN’s Go Clear Award signifies that surgical teams at medical centers/hospitals have successfully completed the comprehensive, evidence-based program and adopted technologies to ensure a surgical smoke-free environment for its patients and staff.

“Surgical smoke occurs every day in operating rooms and poses health risks to those exposed to it. AORN created this program so that every facility can understand the urgency and take steps to protect the health and safety of patients, nurses, doctors and support staff,” said Linda Groah, AORN CEO and executive director.

“This Center of Excellence for Surgical Safety designation shows the community that the surgical teams at Children’s of Mississippi are committed to providing high-quality care.”

Surgical smoke is a hazardous byproduct of any surgery involving a laser or an electrosurgical unit. Although research, professional organizations and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration identified surgical smoke as harmful many years ago, this byproduct continues to be a safety hazard in the operating room.

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NICUs ranked at top in national Babies with Books Read-a-thon

The Children’s of Mississippi neonatal intensive care units at Wiser Hospital for Women and Infants and the Kathy and Joe Sanderson Tower placed in the top 10 overall and first in its division in the annual Babies with Books Read-a-thon.

The friendly competition among NICUs around the world had 224 participating, with 61,054 story times shared over 11 days.

In 2023, Children’s of Mississippi ranked in the top 20 and third in its division, with 2,767 reading sessions. The reading rate in the NICUs more than doubled this year, with 5,704 reading sessions.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends reading with babies to “promote … social-emotional development … and language and literacy skills during this critical period of early brain and child development.”

Books are available in the NICUs, and family members of NICU patients are encouraged to read to their babies all year.

Children’s of Mississippi supporters can replenish books at the NICUs through an Amazon wish list with titles in English and Spanish.