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 Creating an environment that attracts, values and retains top-notch nurses has been a goal for years at Saint Joseph Health Center. Achievement of that goal has been verified with the awarding of Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This summer, the health center joined approximately 110 health care organizations in the country that have met the toughest standards in nursing care.
Pursuing Magnet designation requires a tremendous dedication of time and manpower but the rewards for nursing staff far outweigh the effort. According to Janet Woulfe, clinical nurse liaison in surgical services, and Nancy Walrafen, clinician 3 in oncology, being a Magnet facility has meant three things.
First, it has meant tremendous receptivity and freedom provided by leadership to explore new ideas. A year ago, Woulfe thought the health center needed a regular staff person in Surgical Services to communicate with families during surgeries and follow up the day after. "Leadership told me to go for it," said Woulfe, "so I designed the job description. It was presented to senior management and our manager found the dollars to make it possible."
Today, Woulfe's new position has helped increase patient satisfaction and enhance the patient representative/complaint resolution system that the health center already had in place. "When we have ideas or issues, they don't get lost or stalled in the works. We follow up on them." Walrafen added that, "with a more proactive than reactive approach, people are more willing to roll up their sleeves and find a solution."
Two more benefits that these nurses have experienced with a hospital worthy of Magnet status are strong physician relationships and retention. The health center has 99 nurses with over 25 years of experience, one-fifth of its nursing staff. "When you have that high skill level, you have a good reputation with physicians," said Woulfe.
To Woulfe, patients seem more satisfied in an environment where retention is high. "We see a lot of repeat business. It comforts the patient to have someone there who is familiar with them because we cared for them on a previous visit."
Most importantly, being of Magnet caliber means knowing your patients well. "I really have become friends with many of my patients or even become their family when they have none. They send me thank you letters. I send them cards," said Woulfe. "When management supports the work you do," added Walrafen, "you have the time and resources to meet the most intimate needs of people."
Even though Saint Joseph Health Center just received Magnet status, "when you look at the requirements for becoming a Magnet hospital, it's not a punch list," said Walrafen. "Those items have to be in place for years."
Woulfe agreed. She knew where she worked provided good care. "I knew we did it. We just had to prove we did."
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