Four appraisers from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) are visiting Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) this week as the final step toward the Medical Center earning a third Magnet Designation.
The April 24-28 Magnet Site Visit is the culmination of more than two years of comprehensive planning and preparation, including the creation of a lengthy, evidence-based Magnet document and education efforts for nurses throughout VUMC.
The purpose of the visit is for the appraisers to determine the Medical Center’s culture by listening to as many nursing and staff members as possible. Appraisers participated in more than 40 meetings with staff nurses, physicians, administrators and leaders representing all departments and units throughout the main VUMC Campus, One Hundred Oaks and network of clinics. Appraisers also solicited feedback from the community and Vanderbilt staff and held an open meeting that anyone could attend.
“Our nurses, physicians, staff and leadership have made the most of this extraordinary opportunity to tell the story of Vanderbilt in their own words,” said Marilyn Dubree, MSN, R.N., executive chief nursing officer. “I am very appreciative of the efforts of everyone in the Medical Center who have worked to make this a success. It is truly a team effort.”
An Incident Command Center was set up for the visit, operating from 7 a.m. until the appraisers left campus in the evening each day. The center was staffed with representatives from multiple entities, including Vanderbilt Adult Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hosptial, Vanderbilt Medical Group, human resources and information technology and others handling any additional information or last-minute requests by the appraisers.
More than 30 staff nurses, called Magnet escorts, guided the appraisers to their meetings and kept them on schedule.
“It has been inspiring to see so many areas of the Medical Center working together to make this effort a success,” said Michele Hasselblad, MSN, R.N., Magnet Incident Commander and Associate Nursing Officer of the Medicine Patient Care Center .
The ANCC’s Magnet designation is the most prestigious honor an organization can receive for the provision of nursing care and inter-professional collaboration. Only about 6 to 7 percent of hospitals have the distinction, and VUMC has received it twice — in 2006 and 2012.
Preparation for VUMC’s third Magnet designation began in summer 2014. In April 2016, VUMC submitted its electronic Magnet document, consisting of evidence-based examples from across the organization in response to 72 questions. The document, which would have been 275 pages if printed, provided demographic information including data on quality and patient and staff satisfaction.
In October, VUMC submitted supplemental information at the request of the ANCC. Having satisfied those questions, VUMC was determined to be ready for a visit.
The ANCC appraisers are expected to announce the outcome of VUMC’s third Magnet designation in the next several months. Nursing leaders are eagerly awaiting the result.
“Magnet designation affirms the patient-centered, evidence-based culture that Vanderbilt has had for many years,” said Sabrina Downs, MSN, MBA, R.N., director of Professional Practice and Magnet. “We are excited about the opportunity to share our story for a third time.”
