Nursing Newsletters

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 […]

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 1st, 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 […]