Colleagues,
We’ve got a lot of news to cover this month, so I’ll dive right in.
First, I’d like to thank the nurses who attended the first “Talk with Tammy” session a couple of weeks ago. I really enjoyed getting to sit down and talk with them, and according to the follow-up surveys, they all said it was time well spent and that they’d recommend attending a session to others. As I had hoped, people seemed comfortable with a small group setting, and we had great conversations.
There are still three spots available for the 7 a.m. session on Sept. 19, and seven spots are open for the lunch session at noon on Nov. 13. Click here to sign up.
Second, we’re getting close to the next step in our Magnet journey. This is a project dear to my heart, as I joined the UAMS clinical team in 2007 as the magnet program director and helped develop the Center for Nursing Excellence and the structures and processes we need to achieve excellence and Magnet designation. It’s been a long journey, but we are getting so close!
As many of you know, we have partnered with HealthLinx, a Magnet consulting firm, and they will be here from August 21 to 23 for a mock site visit in anticipation of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) site visit this fall. These site visits are an opportunity to amplify, clarify, verify, and validate the information we submitted in our Magnet document in February 2024.
When site appraisers visit your unit as part of both the mock survey in a couple of weeks and the actual survey in a couple of months, Magnet Champions will serve as your area lead. These Champions have been meeting with Director of Nursing Research & Excellence Rebekah Thacker, MSN, RNC-NIC, to prepare for these visits. She will share more information about the upcoming site visits in next week’s Nursing newsletter.
When we began the Magnet journey over 17 years ago, we began by assessing the programs needed to support nurses in professional development, establish autonomy and accountability in nursing practice, improve communication between nurses and physicians, and promote shared decision-making. Among the programs we’ve implemented to support these goals are national certification reimbursement, the RN clinical ladder, and councils to support shared decision-making and engagement in quality improvement. Click here to see a timeline of initiatives supporting nursing excellence here at UAMS.
From my role as chief nursing officer to nurses delivering care at the bedside, UAMS nurses now play a key role in decisions that impact both patient care and nursing practice. This is particularly important as we continue to work to address staffing challenges and implement innovative solutions in patient care delivery.
Please know that once we achieve Magnet status, we will not stop our drive for continuous improvement and excellence. We will continue to engage nurses in efforts to improve in all areas. Magnet hospitals are designated as such because of their ability to attract and retain both patients and nurses – hence the magnet reference.
Third, I want to follow up and let you know about progress toward ensuring you have a safe work environment. Our Emergency Department has implemented new procedures to screen patients who come in by ambulance, and we have secured grant funding for weapon-detecting scanners that will be deployed at primary entrances. Thank you for your patience as we continue to pursue every avenue possible to ensure your safety and the safety of our patients and families.
Finally, for the last couple of months, these messages have addressed the importance of teamwork, treating each other with respect, and helping out when you see your colleagues can use an extra hand. I continue to receive feedback from you validating how important this is, especially when things are challenging. One positive outcome I am seeing from bringing up this topic is I have been copied on many emails where nurses and other team members are taking the time to share stories and recognize their teammates for being such great partners. Talk about uplifting! Please continue to include me.
One final thing – COVID is back. Please stay home if you are sick, be careful in the heat, and stay safe. The number for SEHS is 501-686-6565, and you can do the screening at this link.
Thank you for all you do.
Tammy Jones, PHD, RN, NE-BC
Associate Vice Chancellor for Clinical Operations
Chief Officer – Perioperative, Interventional &
Imaging Services Division
Interim Chief Nursing Officer