Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, NE-BC, Chief Nursing Officer and Jennifer T. Hall, MSN, RN, CNL, Director Nursing Professional Practice
Magnet® Designation is a prestigious recognition that acknowledges healthcare organizations for their dedication to patient care, collaboration, nursing excellence and innovation. We recently sent 12 clinical nurses and nurse leaders to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) National Magnet Conference®, where they joined over 13,000 attendees – a record-setting turnout! I wanted to use this opportunity to talk about our journey toward earning Magnet® re-designation and why it's crucial for all of us to be part of this effort. I reached out to Jennifer T. Hall (JT), MSN, RN, CNL, Director Nursing Professional Practice, and Kathy Baker, PhD, RN, NE-BC, our Chief Nursing Officer, to get their insights from the conference and where UVA Health stands in its Magnet® journey.
Magnet® status is the gold standard for creating an outstanding practice environment. And as JT wisely said, "While Magnet® is 'nursing-centric,' it is a team sport, and it takes all levels of the organization committed to the spirit and intention of the Magnet® standards to be successful." JT noted our ASPIRE values provide a solid foundation for reaching these high standards. When these standards are embraced, patient outcomes are achieved at the highest level and the engagement of the entire healthcare team rises.
The team attending the Magnet conference represented multiple areas of nursing practice at UVA including inpatient nursing, ambulatory, peri-op and the Children’s Hospital. This great team of UVA nurses all found inspiration in the scientific sessions and poster presentations that validated our best practices at UVA Health. These include strong nursing and organizational governance, evidence-based clinical practice and innovative career pathway programs - all of which align with our nursing strategic planning. Kathy Baker also took great pride in watching the UVA team network with nurses from across the country and share the great work that is happening in Charlottesville.
Our re-designation document is due in October 2024, and we're gearing up for a site visit from our Magnet® appraiser team in early 2025. We're not just sitting back; we're actively working on the documentation and preparing our team members for this crucial visit. We're on the right track, and remember that these distinctions are indicators of our efforts, but our primary goal remains unchanged – ensuring a strong nursing staff and top-tier outcomes for our patients.
Take care and be well,
Wendy