At Baylor, it takes all kinds of nurses to help fulfill the College’s mission of excellence in patient care, research and education. Every day this week, BCM Family will share a Q-and-A with a nurse who works at Baylor College of Medicine.

Read more about some of these special healthcare professionals, and be sure to wish them and others a Happy Nurses Week this May 6 – 12!

Q: How long have you been working at Baylor College of Medicine?

A: I have worked for BCM in various roles for 19 years. I left BCM once to go to nursing school and then again after having my daughter, but I kept coming back to my BCM home!

Q: Describe your role as a nurse working in IT.

A: I was working as a nurse in BCM outpatient clinics when we implemented Epic as our electronic medical record system. That background of using Epic as a nurse combined with my experience on the IT side helps me to better understand the challenges and needs of our Epic customers and how we can use the tools in Epic to make improvements. The improvements we make in Epic can trickle down to create a more positive experience for our BCM patients, so I still feel like I’m helping patients with the work I’m doing in IT.

WATCH: Anna Newman describes her job on Baylor’s YouTube.

Q: What kind of education / training is required for your role?

A: I have an associate’s degree, however my experience using Epic in our clinics was a big part of my education for my current role in IT.  Since starting on the IT team 10 years ago, I have obtained an Epic Ambulatory certification as well as an Epic Bones (Orthopedics) certification. 

Q: What is the best thing about being a nurse at Baylor College of Medicine? A: I love that BCM supports different roles for nurses. It’s because of the opportunities BCM provides that I have the best of both worlds professionally.  I get to partner with some remarkable people on the clinical side to help improve the experience of BCM providers, support staff and patients.  I also have the privilege of working with and learning from the absolute best and brightest people that make up BCM IT!

Read more about Anna Newman’s work as an Epic nurse in the Baylor Blog Network.

By Dana Benson