Marilyn Dubree, MSN, R.N., delivers last week’s State of Nursing Address. (photo by Joe Howell)
State of Nursing Address highlights crucial role of patient-, family-centered care
Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s culture of patient- and family-centered care was the main theme of the State of Nursing Address last week.
In a comprehensive presentation in Light Hall, Marilyn Dubree, MSN, R.N., VUMC’s executive chief nursing officer, celebrated the organization’s second Magnet designation, reported on the many accomplishments of the nearly 5,000-member nursing workforce consisting of LPNs, RNs, research nurses and advanced practice nurses, and provided insight into future initiatives.
“I won’t be able to tell you all the individual stories that helped get us to this point of earning our second Magnet designation,” said Dubree. “I assure you that Magnet was awarded to our staff, our nurses, our physicians, our leaders and everyone who works in partnership together at Vanderbilt.
“We heard a lot of feedback from the appraisers about how we are an organization committed to patient and family care, and when you talk to staff, patients and families you can see that they experience that in an authentic way — it’s the center of everything we do.”
Some of the examples of patient- and family-centered care that the American Nurses Credentialing Center appraisers noted were the MyHealth at Vanderbilt online interactive tool, the new visitation policy at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, increased family involvement in adult bone marrow transplant, Vanderbilt University Hospital ICUs and other areas involving patients and families in rounding, patient advisory councils, and the overall commitment to make patients the most important member of the health care team.
Dubree spoke about VUMC Nursing’s dedication to disseminate nursing knowledge through the growing numbers of posters, publications and presentations and how mechanisms such as workforce surveys, a vibrant shared governance structure and lifelong learning help Vanderbilt nurses be their best for patients and families.
In her Light Hall address, Marilyn Dubree, MSN, R.N., discusses the accomplishments of VUMC’s nearly 5,000-member nursing workforce. (photo by Joe Howell)
“Our commitment to patients is the bedrock of our professional practice. People tell me stories every day of how tremendous our nurses are,” said Dubree, who noted that respondents in an annual marketing survey considered Vanderbilt nurses the best nurses in Middle Tennessee.
She followed her comments by recognizing several nurses who have been honored by Vanderbilt and other professional organizations throughout the preceding year.
Dubree shared many accomplishments such as significant decreases in patient falls and various infection rates. She acknowledged the growing impact of advanced practice nurses at the Medical Center in improving patient health.
Dubree also talked about challenges and opportunities for improvement. She noted the continuing work to lower VUMC nurse turnover, which ranged from 13.8 percent to 14.2 percent for the last seven quarters compared with the national average of 11.2 percent, for many reasons including that it has a direct impact on patient care.
She noted that Vanderbilt is not afraid to tackle the tough issues that are national trends in the nursing profession, such as workplace violence and substance abuse.
In addition to Vanderbilt’s strategic plan for Nursing, the Institute of Medicine’s Report on Nursing is guiding VUMC Nursing’s future. Key recommendations include nurses practicing at the full extent of their education and training, doubling the number of doctorally-prepared nurses by 2020, ensuring that 80 percent of the nursing workforce is bachelor’s-prepared by 2020, becoming partners with physicians to redesign health care delivery and building an infrastructure for the collection and analysis of health care workforce data.
“This has been a tremendous year, and it is an honor to work beside you and lead you as we go forward,” said Dubree.