Remembering why we began the Journey toward Magnet Excellence

As Chief Nursing Officer Mary Shehan noted in an e-mail to employees yesterday, our on-site visit from Magnet surveyors this week was very positive. Although we will not know full results of the survey until May, the surveyors said the Magnet culture and a strong focus on quality was clearly evident throughout the hospital.

I am very proud and thankful to all of you for showing these Magnet surveyors how great our hospital and our nurses truly are. Although Magnet recognition is nursing-driven, our journey has clearly been supported from all areas of the organization.

Among all of this excitement and hard work toward Magnet designation, it’s important to remember why we began this journey three years ago: Magnet organizations recruit and retain high caliber nurses, demonstrate improved patient outcomes, achieve employee and patient satisfaction and are the gold standard of excellence in nursing which our community relies upon when selecting their health care.

What more could we want for our hospital and our patients?

I am truly proud of our entire team for recognizing the importance of this designation and for their many, many efforts toward this point. It is exactly the type of attitude and hard work that is needed throughout the organization for our continued success.

Only 5 percent of hospitals in the nation have achieved Magnet designation, so the fact that we have reached this point in the Magnet journey is truly an accomplishment in itself. I look forward to seeing where this journey takes us, and we’ll be sure to keep you posted.

If you would like to read the e-mail from Mary Shehan, click here and scroll down.

Mark