Nurses Week just wrapped, and I hope you felt celebrated because you deserve every bit of recognition that came your way.
Leaders across this institution showed up for you. They cooked breakfast, catered meals, hosted ice cream parties, even dressed up like superheroes and pushed a cart clinic to clinic serving dirty sodas. I hope you enjoyed the celebrations. But more than that, I hope you felt valued not just this week, but every week. Because the work you do matters, and you deserve to know that.
This past week belonged to you. Not just because of a calendar date or a national designation, but because every single day, you show up and do work that matters. You make clinical decisions that save lives. You hold hands when words aren’t enough. You advocate fiercely for your patients. You mentor the next generation of nurses. You innovate, you problem-solve, you lead. And you do it all while navigating complexity, uncertainty, and challenge with grace and grit.
At our CNO Kick-off on May 5, we unveiled our “All In” pledge. You took time leading up to that day to complete a survey, sharing how 12 statements resonated with you. Those responses became our pledge our commitment to ourselves, to each other, and to the patients and families we care for every day. This wasn’t something handed down to you. It was built from your words, your experiences, your commitment. It reflects who you already are.
Five core values shape nursing at UAMS and building on that solid foundation will allow us to sustain this elevation for years to come.
Integrity. Excellence. Advocacy. Growth. Teamwork.
We are nurses at UAMS. We all lead with integrity, carry excellence not as something we pursue but as who we are, and we advocate without hesitation for our patients, for our colleagues, for the standards this profession deserves. We grow on purpose, because growth is intentional for us, and we believe in teamwork that doesn’t just work alongside people but lifts them. We don’t just show up. We elevate every shift, for every patient, for every person we work with. We are All In.
And here’s the thing: appreciation isn’t just about ice cream and breakfast. It’s about listening. It’s about creating space for you to tell us what you need to do your best work. That’s where the RN Engagement Survey comes in.
The survey opens June 2nd and closes June 24th at 11:59 pm EST. This is your opportunity to tell us your reality, what’s working, what’s not, and where we need to do better. Your responses shape our priorities. Your honesty drives real change. We celebrate you during Nurses Week, and we listen to you through this survey. Both matter. Both are how we show you that your voice isn’t just heard it’s valued.
Over the past several weeks, nursing leaders have been discussing the seven survey categories during huddles and staff meetings making sure we all understand what the questions are asking. Autonomy isn’t about doing whatever you want; it’s about being trusted to practice at the top of your license. Leadership support isn’t about popularity; it’s about whether you feel heard, valued, and equipped to do your job well. This education wasn’t about coaching you toward a score. It’s about making sure we’re speaking the same language, so your feedback comes through clearly.
And here’s what I love: our units are getting creative about promoting participation. Some units are turning participation into friendly competitions with celebratory rewards. Across our organization will be thermometer banners that will track progress, will your team lead the way? The goal? Make it easy. Make it meaningful. Make it count.
I’ll be rounding starting day one of the survey to encourage you to participate and to support our leaders’ efforts. I want to hear directly from you about your experience and answer any questions you have. This matters, not just to me, but to our entire leadership team. We’re listening. And we’re ready to act on what you tell us.
In 2024, we had strong results. We improved in five of the seven categories. We outperformed benchmarks in Leadership Access and Responsiveness. That didn’t happen by accident…it happened because you do exceptional work and because leadership listens and responds. Let’s build on that. Let’s strengthen where we’re already strong and fix what needs fixing.
This is Magnet 2.0: An Encore of Excellence is the shift from description to action. Your voice shaped our first designation. Your voice will shape what comes next. Maya Angelou said, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
Your experiences write the story. This survey paints the picture so we can frame your excellence and cultivate areas that need to grow.
Tell your story. We’re ready to listen.
