2006 Melanie Minton Award Recipient

Cynthia "Cindi" John, MSN RN CNRN

Cindi John has been involved in neuroscience nursing for 28 years. She graduated from Washington State University in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In 1978, she moved to Chicago, Illinois where she worked on a specialty neuroscience unit at Northwestern Memorial Hospital so that her husband could attend school at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

They moved back to Spokane, Washington where she began as a staff nurse on the neuroscience unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center. The two defining moments of her passion for neuroscience nursing occurred before she even became an RN. The first was when she flunked the cadaver neuroanatomy portion of her anatomy course at Washington State University. She was determined when she had to repeat the course, that she would learn neuroanatomy so well that she would ace the entire class, and she did. The 2nd turning point was when she was an upper graduate nursing student caring for a patient with a craniotomy for a Grade IV glioblastoma. He awoke from his coma, and she would never forget the joy of his family when he awoke and the devastation of their hopes when the diagnosis was confirmed. He died 3 weeks later with his family at the bedside. Rather than feeling hopeless, she became determined to make a difference, if not for him, then for all neuroscience patients.

She continued to gain skills as a bedside nurse making rounds with the neurosurgeons and neurologists, and watching them do focused assessments. She became team leader, charge nurse and interim nurse manager. Cindi first passed the CNRN exam in 1984, and has been certified ever since except for a one-year lapse in 1989. Neuroscience is her passion and she has encouraged staff nurses to become certified as a measure of their knowledge and as reward for their dedication in caring for these patients with complex needs. Most recently, in 2005, according to her peers, she provided a fun and well-organized preparatory class in which all five nurses who attended passed the CNRN exam.

She became a member of American Association Neuroscience Nurses in the early 1980s. In 1989, she helped charter the local AANN Inland Empire chapter. She has been on the board ever since. This Inland Northwest Chapter of AANN has had as many as 25 members to as few as 5 active members, yet the will to keep this small band of dedicated neuroscience nurses active has not diminished.

In the early 1990s Cindi decided she wanted to share her passion for neuroscience by becoming a neuroscience clinical nurse educator for Sacred Heart Medical Center. She came to love sharing her knowledge and expertise with novice and experienced nurses, as well as other allied health care professionals, such as PT, OT, and Speech. Her biggest thrill is seeing the “light bulb go on” when someone finally understands the importance of monitoring neurological status in a patient with impending increased intracranial pressure.

In 2001, she obtained her Master’s Degree in Nursing from Gonzaga University (Go Zags!). The findings of her master’s thesis titled “Neurological Complications Following Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery” are used today in the care of cardiac patients.

For almost 10 years Cindi has worked collaboratively with experts in radiology, emergency, pharmacy, and the neuroscience unit to provide the most advanced care for stroke patients. In 2003, the stroke team at Sacred Heart Medical Center achieved initial JCAHO Disease-Specific Primary Stroke Certification. Most recently, in January 2006, Sacred Heart Medical Center became the first to receive recertification of its Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

At the community level, she has been involved in bicycle safety rodeos, “Think First” head injury prevention programs, stroke prevention screenings, walks for Multiple Sclerosis, women’s health, Crosswalk (Volunteers of America) and Camp Fire Boys and Girls. Whether she is working or volunteering, neuroscience is her passion and is evident in every interaction.

As many of you can appreciate, she has worn many “hats.” As a wife, mother of 2 teenagers, and daughter to 2 sets of parents, professional nurse, and community volunteer, she continues to find it rewarding to be a certified neuroscience registered nurse.

To quote her colleagues on this nomination, “We feel this nominee is an extremely qualified applicant to receive this award as she has inspired others through her passion for the care of the neuroscience patient, the support of those just learning the field, and the encouragement of those who share her love of neuroscience nursing. She has never sought out to be recognized, but has preferred to work quietly behind the scenes. We, as her colleagues, would like for her to be recognized for the achievements she has accomplished.”

Her passion for this patient population has never dimmed. She continues to educate and mentor staff nurses and colleagues. She will go wherever the needs are to provide consultation in the care of neuroscience patients with complex needs.