The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) will bring a team of appraisers to Vanderbilt University Hospital (VUH) from Aug. 16-19 as part of the Magnet fourth designation process.
The purpose of the site visit is for the appraisers to confirm and validate the submitted information and culture of VUH by listening to as many nursing and staff members as possible. It 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 the hospital.
“This is a well-earned visit where the Magnet appraisers will spend time with, celebrate and recognize the amazing VUH staff nurses,” said Robin Steaban, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, VUH Chief Nursing Officer. “As nurses tell their remarkable stories of excellence, surveyors will see an extraordinary commitment to patients, excellence, compassion and innovation in nursing practice and exceptional nurse-driven outcomes despite the many challenges nurses experienced and still face. I cannot wait.”
The ANCC’s Magnet designation is the highest honor an organization can receive for the provision of nursing care and interprofessional collaboration. Fewer than 10% have Magnet status, and no other hospital system in Middle Tennessee has achieved the designation. VUMC received its first Magnet designation in November 2006, its second in April 2012 and third in July 2017.
“Magnet culture has been deeply embedded in Vanderbilt for many years,” said Executive Chief Nursing Officer Marilyn Dubree, MSN, RN, NE-BC. “We are excited to demonstrate how our Vanderbilt nurses provide excellent, compassionate care to our patients and families.”
Each of the previous three Magnet journeys required one site visit for VUMC. However, starting with this designation process, separate site visits are required for Vanderbilt Adult Ambulatory Clinics, Vanderbilt University Hospital, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital.
ANCC appraisers previously conducted a Magnet site visit for the clinics in March 2022. Dates for the site visits for the other entities will be announced later. Following the site visits, the Commission on Magnet Recognition is expected to announce the outcome of VUMC’s fourth Magnet designation for each entity.
Hosting the VUH site visit is the result of years of work by nursing staff in the journey toward a fourth designation. In August 2021, VUMC electronically submitted four Magnet documents, one for each entity, which would total hundreds of pages if printed. The documents consist of examples from within the entities in response to questions, as well as demographic information including quality data and patient and staff satisfaction. In previous Magnet journeys, only one Magnet document was required for VUMC.
“I am so proud of our VUH nurses for persevering through the last few years and am grateful for an opportunity to highlight their excellence,” said Ashley Vosilla, MSN, RN, NE-BC, senior Magnet program manager for VUH. “Our nurses continuously go above and beyond for our patients and families and deserve the recognition that comes with the ANCC Magnet designation. I want to extend a sincere thank you because it is their hard work each and every day that got us to where we are today.”
