News and views Spring 2014

Page 1

news views Spring 2014

A Publication of the Department of Nursing and Patient Care Services University of Maryland Medical Center

Magnet Re-Designation: Embedding Excellence into the Culture By Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, FAAN

Excellence is the quality of being outstanding; excellence is the bedrock of University of Maryland Medical Center nursing. In May, Medical Center nurses were honored with a new four-year re-designation as a Magnet hospital – the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) highest honor for excellence in nursing. The gold standard for professional nursing practice, Magnet recognition provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for sustained nursing excellence, evidence-based practice, and outstanding patient outcomes. This prestigious designation recognizes how nurses approach their work to actively lead and participate in purposeful initiatives that provide pre-eminent patient care. Magnet recognition positions UMMC among the best hospitals in the nation. Only 7 percent of hospitals in the country have earned this recognition.

Left to right: Tia Milburn, BA; Carolyn Guinn, MS, RN; Kristin Seidl, PhD, RN; Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, FAAN; and Rachel Hercenberg, MS

Our site visit was conducted by a savvy and seasoned appraisal team. They told us that if they ever wanted to return to work at the bedside, they would love to work here. More important, they told us that if they or a loved one ever needed to be hospitalized, they would want to be here because of the nursing excellence they witnessed. Magnet re-designation can be achieved only through the collective efforts of individuals and teams that advance a culture of excellence. Our original Magnet designation occurred in 2009 and now in 2014, re-designation reflects that excellence has been sustained over the years and is embedded in our culture. For nurses at the Medical Center, “living excellence” is not just an expression; it is a way of life. This practice is supported through the strong collaboration nurses have with the other members of the health care team. We would not be recognized as a Magnet health care facility without the broader collaboration between nursing and the individuals in every other department in the Medical Center. This recognition validates the team excellence found here continued on page 10. and is a tribute to every employee.

Lisa Rowen's Rounds:

PACU receives CNO Award for Team Excellence

Lisa Rowen, DNSc, RN, FAAN Senior Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer

In the Medical Center’s Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), a skilled professional team advances the art and science of perianesthesia nursing through evidencebased practice, focusing on patient and family-centered care. They do all of this with great compassion and flexibility. Comfortable in a dynamic and everchanging environment, the PACU nursing staff does whatever it takes to safely care for patients. The census fluctuates by the hour, depending on the Medical Center’s need to expand beds on any given day. The staff members skillfully accommodate patients across the continuum, from preoperative preparation and post-procedural recovery to boarding of ICU, IMC, and acute patients when the beds on the inpatient units are full. In addition, the staff is crosstrained to care for both adult and pediatric patients. Jim McGowan, DHA, Vice President of Procedural Care Services, says, “This is a team that transcends geography while maintaining their practice focus around the patient populations they serve. You can approach any staff member at any bedspot and the response you will encounter is one that is identical: open, receptive, supportive, continued on page 20.


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News and views Spring 2014 by UMMS - Issuu