In January 2021, the American Nurses Association formed the National Commission to Address Racism in Nursing. The purpose of the Commission is to investigate and address the problem of racism in nursing and its impact on patients, communities, and the nursing profession. In January 2022, the Commission released the results of a nationwide survey about […]

Last month, we ventured further into the UAMS Magnet Journey than we have ever been!  Our Magnet Writing Team has been busy writing up the stories of Nursing Excellence from across UAMS Health.  We are inspired to read about your socially/culturally sensitive care, your innovative ideas to address complex problems, how you work with interprofessional […]

One of the most critical spheres of nursing practice is the involvement in quality improvement, evidence-based practice, research, and innovation.  The importance of these activities cannot be overstated; the Institute of Medicine (now National Academies of Science) 2011 report, The Future of Nursing:  Leading Change, Advancing Health, essentially noted that healthcare could not be advanced […]

We have just wrapped up Nurses Week 2022, which felt so different than past years’ celebrations!  Certainly, it was different primarily because we are emerging from under the oppression of COVID.  But this year, the NursesRock Committee brought a whole new feel to Nurses Week with the theme, “UAMS Nurses AR Rooted in Strength”, inspired […]

RaDonda Vaught, former RN at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide on March 25, 2022, after a medical error turned fatal for her patient.  The case has gripped the healthcare community and has many gravely concerned about the long-lasting impacts.  There are many things that could be discussed about the […]

Last week, we debuted the brand new, UAMS Nursing Excellence model at the Inpatient and Ambulatory Nursing QUEST councils and I am happy to share it this week with nursing at large.  As UAMS nurses, it is our greatest desire to embody excellence in the care of our patients, in the advancement of our profession, […]

On February 1, UAMS submitted an application to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for Magnet Designation.  This was a momentous occasion, with the Chief Nursing Officer, Trenda Ray, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Steppe Mette, and Chancellor, Dr. Cam Patterson in attendance.  While this is not the first Magnet application UAMS has […]

In the very first article I wrote for Nursing Excellence, I described excellence not as a state, but a never-ending pursuit; a result of maximizing performance to reach or exceed goals.

Nurses graduate from educational programs with nursing degrees.  They also register with state boards to receive a license to practice nursing in their state.  The scope of a nursing license is decided by the state’s nurse practice act.  But the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) defines the professional practice model as the driving force of […]

There may not have been any other time in history that healthcare needed self-care so much.  Many of you have spent the last 19 months sacrificing in ways that others do not understand and you may be feeling empty and discouraged.  At the same time, your email boxes are likely filling up with recommended ways […]