Vanderbilt University Medical Center has completed its Magnet document and submitted it to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), taking a giant step forward in its third Magnet designation process.
VUMC received its first Magnet designation in November 2006, becoming the first hospital in Middle Tennessee to receive the honor. In April 2012, Vanderbilt received its second designation.
“The Magnet tenets are the culture for our organization,” said Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, Executive Chief Nursing Officer. “We welcome the opportunity to show our continued advances in patient care, evidence-based practice and transformational leadership. Obtaining our third Magnet designation will solidify our desire to continue to be a member of the leading health care organizations in the country. Less than 6 percent of the nation’s more than 6,000 health care organizations have Magnet designation.”
The ANCC will review the document to ensure it meets criteria. If so, the Medical Center would receive a site visit within a year.
The web-based submitted document consists of examples from across the organization in response to 72 questions and demographic information including quality data and patient and staff satisfaction.
In the latest designation process, there is an increased emphasis on outcomes and showcasing improvement data. With our first two designations, there was a limit of 15 inches for the paper bound documents, which both were about 3,000 pages.
Guidelines have changed and the document now has to be web-based or submitted on a USB drive. The 2016 Magnet document would be 275 pages if printed.
Lindsay Miller, MSN, R.N., manager of Patient Care Services at the Burn Center at Vanderbilt University Hospital, participated in writing the examples for the document.
“I have learned so much from participating in the Magnet writing process,” she said. “I think sometimes we forget all of the wonderful things going on around us. We work in our own environments and do not get exposure to other areas and the amazing things they do. Participating in this process makes me even more proud to work for this institution.”
Writing for the Magnet document provided an opportunity to better understand the components required to attain the designation, said Janet Myers, DNP, APRN, director of Professional Development in the Office of Advanced Practice.
“I feel like my perspective of VUMC is forever changed with a heightened awareness of our organizational complexity but also a deep sense of pride of being associated with an organization that truly recognizes, applauds and supports nursing and nursing leaders at all levels,” she said.
Johnny Woodard, R.N.-B.C., nurse educator at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, said he provided examples of nurses’ and the hospital’s work in the areas of exemplary professional practice, new knowledge, innovations, improvements and structural empowerment.
“Crafting these examples gave me an opportunity to highlight the dedicated efforts of our nurses and staff,” he said. “This has made me incredibly proud to be a Vanderbilt nurse, and more specifically, a psychiatric/mental health nurse, as well as a lifelong learner.”
“Magnet is an opportunity to highlight the value of Vanderbilt nursing to patients, the organization and the community”, said Vickie Thompson, MSN, R.N., manager of Nursing Special Projects for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
“Every time that I get to participate in the Magnet process, I am amazed at the things that nurses are doing and the impact that we are having on our community and profession,” she said. “It always makes me reflect on my career here at Vanderbilt and reassures me that I am working at one of the best organizations in Nashville.”
Sabrina Downs, MSN, MBA, R.N., director, Professional Practice and Magnet, recognized the milestone of submitting the Magnet document.
“It is an honor to coordinate the representation of our great work and achievements throughout the organization for recognition within our Magnet document,” she said. “I believe the Magnet recognition is the gold standard of nursing care, professionalism, and outcomes within our organization, the community and the global health care field. Magnet organizations are also recognized by health care accrediting organizations for their impact on patient safety and quality care.”