First-year nurses turn evidence-based project into systemwide change, present innovative care solution at national conference

After starting their careers in Reid Health’s inaugural Nurse Residency Program cohort, a team of nurses has grown from new graduates into confident professionals by developing a solution to prevent pressure injuries now used hospital-wide and presenting their work at a national conference.

The team was recently invited to share their evidence-based project at the 2026 Vizient Nursing Programs Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, held March 23–26.

The presenters were Kenzi Chenoweth, RN, Progressive Care Unit; Lindsay Glover, RN, Emergency Services; and Baylee Petry, RN, Orthopedics, Urology, and Medical-Surgical Unit.

“No Pressure, Just Prevention” highlights innovative wound care strategies aimed at improving patient outcomes and strengthening frontline nursing practice.

As part of the project, the teams paired bedside nurses with a wound care nurse during patient admissions to identify areas at risk for pressure injuries, or bedsores, earlier and more accurately.

By refining an existing process, the team created a practical, cost-effective solution to improve patient outcomes.

“All the tools were in place,” Chenoweth said. “We selected this project to support healthy skin, promote healing of pre-existing skin conditions, and prevent new skin issues from developing during the patient’s hospital stay.”

As bedside nurses, Petry said the team regularly cares for patients at high risk for pressure injuries or patients who might have pressure injuries already present, which can impact overall health.

“I’ve witnessed our project help patients by catching areas at risk of hospital-acquired pressure injuries and preventing them from becoming worse,” Petry said.

Petry has also seen how the process has helped nurses to identify and begin treating wounds earlier, reducing pain and discomfort and improving healing.

To keep the patient’s skin healthy, the team used the four-eyes skin assessment – two nurses evaluating a patient’s skin at admission for problem areas at risk or to identify active wounds or other skin issues.

Glover said the team had a shared goal to improve care for both patients and the nursing team.

“We saw a potential problem in the process with our patients admitted to the hospital and the process of the four-eye skin assessment,” Glover said. “Even in a short time, we saw a decrease in hospital-acquired wounds.”

Early results from a pilot on the Orthopedics and Urology Unit showed a reduction in pressure injuries, leading to adoption hospital-wide.

For the nurses, presenting their work nationally was a meaningful milestone and an opportunity to reflect on their achievements since starting the residency program in August 2024. The Nurse Residency Program is an initiative of the Nursing Excellence, Resilience, & Development (NERD) department at Reid Health.

“It was very nerve-racking presenting in front of so many people, but at the same time, it was wonderful to be able to tell others about the project we had put in over a year of work into,” Glover said. “I’m so thankful for this opportunity and representing the place where I work.”

While at the conference, Petry was empowered and inspired by a talk from Olympic athlete Chaunté Lowe, who shared how nurses played a critical role in her life.

“It was such an amazing experience to be able to present our project at the Vizient nursing conference,” Petry said.

“It felt so surreal to be surrounded by nurses with so much experience from all over the country and being able to learn from them. Not only that but to also meet young nurses that have been a part of a nurse residency program and are navigating the beginning of their nursing career.”

Chenoweth is from Lynn, Indiana, and received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Indiana University East in Richmond, Indiana.

Glover is a resident of Centerville, Indiana, and received her Associate of Nursing from Ivy Tech Community College in Richmond, Indiana.

Petry is from Hollansburg, Ohio, and is a current resident of Arcanum, Ohio. She received her Bachelor of Nursing from Miami University.

A second presentation was featured at the conference by Erika Millsaps, Manager of Clinical Education for Reid. Together, the presentations reflect Reid Health’s commitment to developing confident, practice-ready nurses while improving patient care.

Millsaps’ presentation, “Academic Alliances: Strengthening Nurse Residency Pathways,” addressed the role of academic partnerships in supporting new nurses.

Millsaps said attending the Vizient conference was an incredibly meaningful experience.

“Our program was featured twice on the conference agenda, which reflects the outstanding work of our bedside teams and the NERD team,” Millsaps said.

“This recognition highlights our shared commitment to innovation and best practice. It was especially inspiring to see our former nurse residents recognized for their achievements. Their work, along with the support behind it, truly showcases the impact of our program.”

About Reid Health’s Nurse Residency Program
Reid Health joined the Vizient and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Vizient/AACN) Nurse Residency Program™ to ease the transition of newly graduated nurses to clinical practice. The program promotes quality, safety, and reduces turnover rates for first-year nurses.

For more information on Reid Health's Nurse Residency Program, call (765) 983-3000 ext. 4548. Information on nursing careers at Reid Health is available at https://reidhealth.org/Career-Opportunities/Nursing-Careers/Nursing-Residencies.