Nurses at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) are gearing up for “Magnetfest,” a day of fun, festivities and prizes, as the institution seeks a third Magnet designation.
The event will be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, in the lobby of Langford Auditorium.
Magnet, a designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), is the most prestigious honor an organization can receive for the provision of nursing care and interprofessional collaboration. Only about 6 to 7 percent of hospitals have the distinction, and VUMC has received it twice — in 2006 and 2012. 
In order to seek the designation again, VUMC submitted its Magnet document to the ANCC in April. Nursing leadership is now working with the ANCC to answer questions and provide further information before the date of a site visit is announced. That may come late this year or early next year.
“Magnetfest” will offer a variety of activities to raise enthusiasm and provide education for the site visit, all centered around the five essential elements of Magnet: transformational leadership; structural empowerment; exemplary professional practice; outcomes; and new knowledge, innovations and improvement.
“Our hope is that people will come and have fun while they’re learning about how their work at Vanderbilt exemplifies those essential elements,” said Chris Wilson, MSN, R.N., director of Nursing Education and Professional Development.
Wilson said the event is available for nurses to drop in at any time. A traveling version of the event will be announced later for nurses who aren’t on the main Medical Center campus.
Nicole Smith, BSN, R.N., a nurse in the GI Endoscopy Unit, said being part of a Magnet organization is something to be proud of.
“I think that “Magnetfest” is an opportunity to not only learn more about our Magnet journey as a Medical Center, but also as an opportunity to meet other staff members and be proud to be a part of such a great community,” she said. “This festival is meant to bring together our staff and get excited for the upcoming site visit. It is a time for us to enjoy ourselves and learn about the qualities that each one of us here at Vanderbilt already exhibits but may not be aware of.”