Nursing Excellence Newsletters

The Mock Site Visit August 21-23 with our consulting partner, Michelle Trautman, from HealthLinx was an amazing success! We had 1 appraiser on campus who visited 20 care areas, including all inpatient units, the emergency department, PRI, Perioperative Services, TOSH, the Infusion Centers in the Cancer Institute and Paracentesis, Solid Organ Transplant and GI clinics […]

It’s almost here! The Mock Site Visit that will prepare us for the Magnet Site Appraisal will be August 21-23 with our consulting partner, Michelle Trautman, from HealthLinx. Your unit/area Magnet Champions have been attending virtual educational sessions to become familiar with Nursing Excellence at UAMS and common questions asked by Magnet Appraisers. The Mock […]

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine released a report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, which outlined how nursing roles, education, and responsibilities needed to change in order to meet the complex needs of patients and address the ever-evolving world of healthcare. They challenged healthcare organizations to create structures to support three major […]

After September 11, 2001, firefighters from across the nation traveled to New York to assist in recovery efforts and be with the fire stations that had lost responders during the World Trade Center attack. There were news interviews of firemen and firewomen talking about the tremendous sadness they felt, witnessing the loss of fellow firefighters, […]

We are in the thick of celebrating Nurses Week 2024 and this year is especially meaningful because of what we have been able to achieve recently! Last week, Leapfrog published the Hospital Safety Grades, and for the first time, UAMS achieved an A! Leapfrog is a watchdog organization that reports quality and safety performance for […]

UAMS had several nurses participate in the Arkansas Nursing Research Day, held on April 5, 2024, on the 12th floor of Jack Stephens Spine Institute. The theme for the Research Day was “The Essence of Nurses: Nurses as Active Drivers of Positive Change in Health Care”. Hellen Palencia, BSN, Clinical Specialist for Emergency Department presented […]

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now National Academy of Medicine) published a key report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, in which they called on the profession of nursing to advance our education and expand our professional practice for the “health system [to] reap the full benefit of nurses’ training, skills, […]

WE DID IT!  We submitted the final Magnet Document to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), January 30th, two days prior to the due date!  Our Magnet Writing Team diligently completed 122 examples of Nursing Excellence from across UAMS Health.  We have been inspired to read about how nurses lead initiatives to change nursing practice. […]

Next month, we will submit the UAMS Magnet Document to the American Nurses Credentialing Center. I’m going to devote next month’s newsletter to tell you all about that. However, I want to remind you about the UAMS Nursing Excellence model, which drives every part of our nursing practice. As UAMS nurses, it is our greatest […]

“Oh there’s no place like home for the holidays,” sings the crooner. It’s true that this time of year brings about a longing to be home with your family. And that’s no less true for previous UAMS employees who come back to UAMS time and time again. In fact, approximately 25% of people hired at […]

We are entering the season where #thankfulgratefulblessed abounds on social media. The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays naturally lend to the feeling of gratitude and a sense of blessing for the wonderful things that we have and experience in our lives. While the sense of gratitude is enhanced during this season, studies have shown that regular […]

One of the best benefits of a career in nursing is the opportunity to advance in skill, knowledge, expertise, and role. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now National Academy of Medicine) published a key report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, in which they called on the profession of nursing to […]

Grand Rounds has long been a methodology used in medicine to educate upcoming students and present unique or complex cases to multidisciplinary groups. Historically, a junior student would prepare a presentation of the history and physical condition of the patient, diagnoses, and current treatments and a discussion would ensue about the next steps for the […]

Effective July 1, 2023, Improving Health Care Equity became a new Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal (NPSG).  NPSGs are established standards determined by Joint Commission to ensure patients receive safe healthcare in all health care settings.  You may know these as Universal Protocol, Safe Medication Storage, Correct Patient Identification (2 identifiers), and others.  Just […]

We are just 6 months, 16 days, and a few hours away from the final Magnet Document submission, February 1st, 2024!  Our Magnet Writing Team has been busy writing the stories of Nursing Excellence from across UAMS Health.  We are inspired to read about how nurses lead initiatives to change nursing practice.  Your writing team […]

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now National Academy of Medicine) published a key report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, in which they called on the profession of nursing to advance our education and expand our professional practice in order for the “health system [to] reap the full benefit of nurses’ […]

I was recently in a meeting where nurses tearfully shared the burden that they feel in meeting (or failing to meet) the priorities and expectations set forth by leadership and healthcare in general. The underlying sentiment of their stories was, “my best isn’t good enough.” I could hear their disappointment in themselves, in addition to […]

The UAMS Resource Nurse Program was implemented in 2008 with the express purpose of improving patient outcomes through the engagement of clinical nurses in quality improvement projects.  This program started with a focus on infection prevention, skin care, pain, safety, and diabetes for inpatient nurses for 6-month terms.  Over the course of 15 years, the […]

Shared governance is a core tenet of nursing excellence and is a strong mechanism for bringing about change in an organization.   Shared governance is possible when an organization recognizes that nurses have the autonomy and accountability to make decisions about issues that impact nursing practice and patient care.  It is also the venue to bring […]

I first wrote about the importance of shared governance in February 2021.  Shared governance is a core tenet of nursing excellence and is a strong mechanism for bringing about change in an organization.   Shared governance is possible when an organization recognizes that nurses have the autonomy and accountability to make decisions about issues that impact […]

This year marks the 21st consecutive year that nurses have been voted the most honest and ethical profession in an annual Gallup poll. 79% of US adults voted that nurses had “high” or “very high” honest and ethical standards, ranking higher than 17 other professions. In sharp contrast, only 9% of Americans polled voted that […]

Two sisters were swimming off the coast of North Wales in Barmouth. Both were skilled swimmers, having taken lessons at school, but as the girls played, they were carried out farther and farther until they were pulled out to sea. On the beach, their mother, who could not swim, watched in horror as her daughters disappeared from […]

As we close out 2022, I wanted to provide an update on where we are with the Journey to Magnet at UAMS! Our Magnet Writing Team has been busy writing up the stories of Nursing Excellence from across UAMS Health.  We have completed 36 stories about Nursing Excellence at UAMS, which represents 35% of the […]

Research – to some, an overwhelming word.  I think it’s because we conjure up images in our mind about white coats and laboratories, or elite scholars with high-ranking degrees.  But, at the risk of oversimplifying, research is really just investigating causes, effects, and the relationships between variables.  The purpose of research is to contribute new […]

One of the best benefits of a career in nursing is the opportunity to advance in skill, knowledge, expertise, and role. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now National Academy of Medicine) published a key report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, in which they called on the profession of nursing to […]

It’s almost that time again – time for Annual Performance Evaluations. Evaluation of our practice and performance is a hallmark sign of the autonomy and accountability we have for our professional practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) notes that annual evaluations should consist of a self-evaluation, a manager performance evaluation, a peer evaluation, and […]

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 […]

The Arkansas Center for Nursing recently released the winners of the prestigious award, ’40 Nurse Leaders Under 40’.  This award recognizes young nurse leaders who create an environment of trust, compassion, and mutual respect and motivate staff with a shared vision to achieve better outcomes for patients and nurses.  Congratulations to all 23 UAMS nurses […]

In 2011, the Institute of Medicine (IOM, now National Academy of Medicine) published a key report, The Future of Nursing:  Leading Change, Advancing Health, in which they called on the profession of nursing to advance our education and expand our professional practice in order for the “health system [to] reap the full benefit of nurses’ […]

Nursing is a profession which is driven to positively affect the outcomes of patients and the healthcare industry through quality improvement, evidence-based practice, research, and innovation.  Our profession is guided by standards of practice and a code of ethics rooted in the principles of compassion, collaboration, and critical thinking.  As with other professions, nurses have […]

Research is the mechanism by which best treatments, care protocols, and medicines are determined to yield improved clinical outcomes; evidence-based practice (EBP) is the mechanism by which these proven treatments are brought to patients everywhere.  Use of EBP in nursing care has been shown to lead to better patient outcomes and higher nursing job satisfaction.  […]

Nursing theory and philosophy is not a highly desired course in nursing studies.  Most nursing students, regardless of program of study, are either terrified or annoyed at the thought of having to study nursing theory and philosophy.  Likewise, I doubt that many nurses (myself included) spend a lot of time brushing up on nursing theories […]

UAMS supports the advancement of nursing research and the evaluation and use of evidence-based findings in our practice.  The Center for Nursing Excellence is pleased to recognize the research and publication of findings related to PICC device securement and CLABSI by Mark Rowe, MNSc, RNP, VA-BC, and colleagues.  Mark performed a retrospective quality review of […]

The Oxford dictionary describes Excellence as “the quality of being outstanding or extremely good,” (Lexico.com).  Excellence is very different from perfection, which can be thought of as a state of being without mistake, flaw or fault.  Excellence is a state of maximizing performance to reach or exceed goals.  It requires knowledge, skill, focus, commitment and […]