Nursing Excellence Newsletters

Nursing is not just what I do, it is who I am! When I decided to go back to school to become a nurse, I was already an educator. I understood the power of learning, growth, and creating environments where people could thrive. I was excited to be able to combine nursing and my passion […]

Most of us enter nursing with a noble mission of serving and caring for others. You may have experienced the illness of a loved one during your childhood or had family members that were in healthcare that influenced your decision to join nursing. You may have experienced health crisis or circumstances in which you received […]

Guest Writer: Donna Elrod, PhD, RN, Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Executive Director of Clinical Programs, Institute for Digital Health and Innovation What if your patient complained of pain, you brought the pain medication to the patient and as you administered it, documenting their current pain score, you said to them, “In about 30 minutes, you […]

Hello from Atlanta, GA! A team of UAMS RNs has been at the ANCC Magnet Conference this week, and we have enjoyed representing all of Team UAMS here! The ANCC Magnet conference is the largest annual nursing conference (over 13,000 RNs this year!) with hundreds of organizations represented, both Magnet-designated and those on the journey […]

It’s 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 documentation […]

Shared governance, the engagement of frontline nurses in the decisions that impact the work environment and patient care, is a critical component of nursing excellence. Involving frontline workers in the decisions that impact their work started in the automotive industry and is definitively recognized as the best methodology to enhance the work environment and improve […]

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 […]

I recently had the honor of receiving the Mary Helen Forrest Legacy in Nursing award at the UAMS Awards of Excellence (a total shock, considering I had only found out I was a nominee the day before the ceremony). I stood among other nurses who have spent their careers pouring out their knowledge, skills, expertise, […]

Besides a heart to serve and the knowledge and skill learned for specific conditions and patient populations, nurses use an enormous number of things in the provision of care –tools, medical equipment, healthcare supplies, assessment scales, monitoring devices, and others. Every single device or supply, or psychometric tool was designed by someone who recognized the […]

One of the most exciting and important parts of a project is getting to share and celebrate the outcomes through the dissemination of information in written publications, outcome posters, and podium presentations at conferences. However, dissemination of information is often overlooked as a key component of the project. I would venture that so much energy […]

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’ […]

When nurses are hired at UAMS, they are set up with an appointment at Student and Employee Health for a New Employee Medical screening. A brief history and physical is taken, vaccinations are reviewed, titers are drawn, among other things, and a color-blind test is administered. Color blindness is the inability to distinguish between color […]

This week the campus released the public signs, indicating our successful Magnet designation. It includes large signs posted throughout the hospital, in addition to signs around the outside of campus and a very large banner that will hang on the side of the building outside the discharge area (coming soon!) We want the whole world […]

In September 1787, the Convention of state delegates met to determine the fate of the United States Constitution, the framework for a new government. After speeches, debates, considerations, and ultimate consent, the delegates signed the Constitution, adopting the new framework and establishing the United States government. Upon leaving the convention, someone asked Benjamin Franklin, “what […]

The 2024 Employee Engagement Survey is now live! Feedback on your workplace environment and UAMS as an organization is vital in evaluating current processes, programs, and what is working for Team UAMS, in addition to considering opportunities to improve. The UAMS Vision 2029 outlines the goals for UAMS to become the employer of choice and […]

We had a fabulous week last week hosting the ANCC Magnet Site Appraisers. They were very impressed with UAMS and mentioned that they submitted several exemplars on our behalf to the Magnet Commission in their report. The Commission will meet in November and we have been told our hospital’s designation will be determined at this […]

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.