Phoebe Valenton was nominated because she is an accomplished preceptor and mentor. Her commitment to staff is Marilyn Sakis, RN, Associate Director Nursing/Patient Care Services, started her career in HHC at Metropolitan Hospital in July 1964. She was promoted to supervisor of nurses in 1966 and was selected to attend a course in cardiovascular nursing at Cornell Medical College in 1967. On her return to Metropolitan Hospital Ms Sakis taught basic EKG courses to all nursing staff and developed courses in cardiovascular and pulmonary nursing for CCU and RICU RNs.

In 1969, Marilyn Sakis came to Queens Hospital Center, school of nursing as a nurse instructor. She taught ICU nursing and Medical–Surgical nursing until the school closed. In 1981, she became a member of the Department of Medical Nursing. Her positions ranged from staff nurse in the MICU to nurse clinician in Medicine-Surgery. In 1990, the Department of Cardiology opened a Telemetry Unit. Marilyn developed and implemented a Telemetry program including courses in cardiovascular nursing, basic EKG, as well as annual theoretical and skills competency reviews. In collaboration with the Director of Cardiology, she developed joint practice protocols and innovative, expanded roles for the registered professional nurse.

In 1999, Marilyn Sakis and the Sr. Associate Director Nursing/Patient Care Services developed a Performance Improvement Program. Marilyn in collaboration with the Associate Director of Medicine and interdisciplinary teams used “best practices” to develop clinical practice guidelines for Community Acquired Pneumonia, Alcohol Withdrawal, Acute Myocardial Infarction and Congestive Heart Failure. Marilyn Sakis developed patient education forms, discharge instructions and monitoring forms to QA the processes and educated the nursing and other clinical staff on the clinical practice guidelines. The Alcohol Withdrawal Guideline received a “Good Practice “award from JCAHO and an honorable mention for Patient Safety from HANYS.

Marilyn Sakis has been part of the QHC team involved with HHC and IPRO to improve care for community acquired pneumonia. Outcomes improved over time and the gains have been maintained. She has collaborated with the HHC task force teams on DVT/PE and CAP and with the QHC Associate Director of Medicine developed a draft for DVT/PE prophylaxis, patient education and discharge instructions.

Marilyn is a senior leader for the HHC Heart Failure Collaborative at QHC. She revised inpatient forms and patient education materials to use in all care setting to improve outcomes for chronic disease management. Most recently, Marilyn was asked to be a member of the HHC/ ICU Collaborative. Marilyn Sakis has exemplified the role of the nurse in multidisciplinary efforts towards improving performance and patient outcomes. Ms. Sakis has demonstrated outstanding clinical practice and has influenced nursing practice throughout Queens Hospital Center, fostering quality care in an ever-changing health care delivery system.