Vanderbilt University Medical Center has received a third consecutive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the organization announced in a conference call on July 20.
The announcement was the culmination of an intensive appraisal process that lasted more than three years and involved nurses and staff in all areas of Vanderbilt University Adult Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and The Vanderbilt Clinic.
The ANCC’s Magnet designation is the highest 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 Vanderbilt has previously received it in 2006 and 2012. No other hospital system in Middle Tennessee has achieved Magnet designation.
“For our hospitals to be Magnet designated once is wonderful. For Vanderbilt to be designated for the third time as being among the nation’s top 6 or 7 percent for nursing care is just incredible,” said C. Wright Pinson, MBA, M.D., Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Health System Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC).
“I want to congratulate every nurse who has been a part of this. I want to thank you for your ongoing contributions, your continued dedication to patients, families and colleagues and your spirit of collaboration that has made this achievement possible.”
Magnet recognition measures organizations for excellence in five areas — transformational leadership; structural empowerment; exemplary professional practice; new knowledge, innovations and improvements; and outcomes.
“You are part of the best nursing community in this country,” said Marilyn Dubree, MSN, R.N., Executive Chief Nursing Officer. “I know that; the Magnet commission knows that. I particularly am honored to serve with you and to lead this organization every day, and I am so, so proud of you.”
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 more than 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.
That was followed by a Magnet Site Visit, held from April 24 to 28. Four ANCC appraisers spent a week at VUMC to determine the organization’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.
Hospitals typically earn Magnet Recognition for a four-year period, and the ANCC conducts annual reviews requesting updated documentation. At the end of four years, the Medical Center will repeat the Magnet Recognition process.
“Congratulations to everyone,” said Sabrina Downs, MSN, MBA, R.N., director of Professional Practice and Magnet. “It doesn’t matter what your role is at Vanderbilt. It doesn’t matter what your title is, what your badge says. If you’re an individual who comes to work at one of our many, many spaces that we have here at Vanderbilt, on campus, off campus, you are an integral part of what makes us a Magnet organization.”
