HJAR Mar/Apr 2024

62 MAR / APR 2024  I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS Hospital Rounds Baptist Health in North Little Rock Offering Nitrous Oxide Option for Mothers in Labor Women who want to labor with minimal inter- ventions and choose to deliver at Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock now have the option of using nitrous oxide, more commonly known as “laughing gas,” for pain management. The effects of nitrous oxide are different for every woman, but it is said to allow you to relax and cope with labor. Nitrous oxide used for labor discomfort is a mixture of 50% nitrous gas and 50% oxygen. It is inhaled through a hand-held mask and self-administered, allowing mom to use it as needed with each contraction. The gas slows the nervous system, which makes you feel less inhibited. It also can create a sense of well- being or euphoria. Starting to inhale before a contraction allows the pain relief to occur when the contraction reaches its peak, providing the greatest relief. It may be beneficial for women who are prone to anxiety or want the ability to move more freely during labor. It is also less invasive than an epidural and has fewer side effects for both mother and baby. With nitrous oxide, mothers can safely breastfeed after delivery without concern of passing IV medica- tions to their baby. With nitrous oxide, you can choose to stop before your infant’s delivery and instead use another form of pain relief such as IV narcotics or an epidural. However, nitrous oxide cannot be used in conjunction with other forms of pain management. Arkansas Children’s Hosts Investiture Ceremony for Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing Arkansas Children's celebrated the investiture of Heather Cherry, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, as the recipient and steward of the John Boyd Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing on Feb. 1. Establishing endowed chairs provides Arkan- sas Children's the ability to recruit top leaders in the medical field who provide the best care for patients. Those named to a chair are among the most highly regarded leaders and special- ists in the field of pediatric healthcare. Cherry serves as senior vice president and chief nursing officer of Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). As chairholder, Cherry will use the endowed funds to enhance the pursuit of pediatric nurs- ing excellence. Cherry, who has more than 20 years of nursing leadership experience in children’s hospitals, was recruited to ACH in 2023. She earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Cizik School of Nursing at the University of Texas Health Science Cen- ter at Houston, a Master of Health Administra- tion from Saint Louis University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and Allied Health in St. Louis. Cherry is a member of the American Organiza- tion of Nurse Leaders and American College of Healthcare Executives. “I am delighted to congratulate Heather Cherry on this esteemed honor. The generous donors who made this chair possible are the embodi- ment of true champions for children,” said Enid Olvey, president of Arkansas Children’s Founda- tion. “Their philanthropic support has made a tre- mendous impact on our patients and families, and I’m grateful we can honor the Boyd family’s leg- acy in perpetuity.” The Boyds lived in the small Arkansas town of Fountain Hill. John W. Boyd and his wife, Monitte, had two daughters, Mary Ann and Caroline. John and Monitte owned and operated the general store in Fountain Hill for 32 years. Throughout those years, he purchased bits and pieces of tim- berland and other property. When John died in 1986, the Boyds owned over 3,500 acres of tim- berland. Before John passed away, he requested a portion of the family’s estate be left to Arkansas Children’s after his wife and daughters’ lifetimes. Nearly two decades later, Mary Ann fulfilled her father’s legacy. The Boyd bequest to Arkansas Children’s included the creation of the John Boyd Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing. CHI St. Vincent Appoints Megan Bonney as President of CHI St. Vincent North Megan Bonney is now president of CHI St. Vin- cent North. Bonney has served as the CHI St. Vin- cent director of Orthopedics and Cardiovascular Services since 2022. In her new role, Bonney will be responsible for the overall operations of CHI St. Vincent North. Bonney brings more than 10 years of health- care management and leadership to the role. She joined CHI St. Vincent in 2015 as an administrative fellow. In 2019, Bonney was promoted to direc- tor of Orthopedic Services. In 2022, her role was expanded to director of Orthopedics and Cardio- vascular Services. Bonney has a master’s degree in health admin- istration from Cornell University Sloan Program in Health Administration. She also holds a bachelor's degree in health and society from the University of Rochester in New York. Additionally, Bonney has completed the CommonSpirit Emerging Leaders Program, the CommonSpirit Operations Leader- ship Academy, and the Walton College Leader- ship Circle for Healthcare. She is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock. Arkansas Children’s Hospital Recognized for Surgical Care Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) offers surgi- cal services meeting the most rigorous standards Heather Cherry, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC Megan Bonney