Colleagues,
It’s hard to believe, but this is the last CNO message before our Magnet site visit on Oct. 2-4. So many thoughts and words are coming to mind, but the one that keeps coming up the most is “proud.” I am so incredibly proud of our nursing team, our nursing leaders, our Magnet champions and ambassadors, our provider partners, the clinical teams who support us, our executive leadership, I could go on and on . . . Team UAMS has rallied to help achieve this goal.
During last month’s mock site visit, our teams shared stories that demonstrate how our culture, teamwork and commitment to patients exhibit the traits of a Magnet hospital. The next step in our Magnet journey is to share these same things with the ANCC representatives at our site visit next month.
Our mock site visit summary report included several pieces of advice for the upcoming site visit, and I’ve included them below. Please share them with others in your department or in your unit:
- Be prepared to share examples of what makes you proud to work at UAMS. What have you been able to do at UAMS that has helped your patients or the institution? Be as specific as you can without sharing HIPAA.
- If you use acronyms in talking with the ANCC representatives, make sure they know what the acronyms mean.
- Be available and don’t make the appraisers wait to meet with staff. They have a lot of ground to cover in just a few days. We plan to staff up when they’re here so people will be able to step away when needed.
- Engage with your Magnet Champions and Ambassadors now to learn more about what to expect during the site visit.
- Everything doesn’t have to be “rainbows and unicorns” during the site visit. Be honest and talk about challenges but try to leave sessions on a positive note and talk about what your group is doing to address any issues that are brought up.
- Don’t feel like you must use a script in answering questions. Use your own words and be yourself. The appraisers know what it’s like to work in post-COVID healthcare and aren’t expecting perfection. They do want to see that nurses are included in efforts to make improvements, though. Talk about the change you’ve seen in your area and how nurses participated in decision-making.
- Engage with the appraisal team. Don’t get distracted by text messages or phone calls and pay attention to the discussion.
Remember, Magnet designation is awarded to an institution, not a nursing department. We are fortunate to have the support of so many colleagues on this journey. For all who support patient care, Magnet designation serves as a sign of excellence and recognition of the type of care and clinical environments that both healthcare workers and patients are attracted to. It’s truly a reflection of the entire team, not just one group or player.
Despite the challenges we face, Team UAMS stays focused and committed to being the best we can be for our patients and each other. The fortitude and resilience you exhibit are inspiring because the challenges are many, and our team members feel them every day, but we stay the course through it all. The course, the vision, the shared goal of excellent patient care — no matter what it takes. That is what Magnet means, and that is who we are.
I’ll send my next newsletter message on the final day of the Magnet site visit. I’m certain “proud” will be the word at the top of my mind then, too. Let’s do this!!
Tammy Jones, PHD, RN, NE-BC
Chief Nursing Officer
Associate Vice Chancellor for Patient Care Services & Clinical Operations
Perioperative, Interventional & Imaging Services Division