Magnet Recognition Program Update

A message from Brenda Fischer: I let you know in May that we submitted our Infirmary Magnet redesignation documents to the American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program on June 1. We are awaiting the results of the appraiser’s evaluation of this documentation and I expect this to happen in September and no later than October. Pending the results of this evaluation we could potentially be asked to submit additional documentation or go directly to scheduling a site visit.  A site visit would be late 2017 or early 2018.  A successful site visit will complete the redesignation cycle and the Infirmary will be recognized for another four years. When the redesignation process is completed for the Infirmary we will begin the Magnet designation journey for Hot Springs.

We will be scheduling a practice Infirmary Magnet site visit in October with dates and preparation details to be announced in September.

It is important that we build an infrastructure to continually improve and support our nursing excellence efforts for our hospitals that are Magnet recognized and also for our hospitals that are recognized as Pathway to Excellence organizations.

Opportunity exists for our clinical nurses at the Infirmary to serve as Magnet Champions.  Additionally, I will be creating a professional development training program with me for two of our nurses to be mentored into the Magnet Program Director role. One for the Infirmary and one for Hot Springs. Both of these roles will also support Morrilton and potentially North for the Pathway to Excellence program. The details on the application and selection process for this Magnet Program Director training program will be announced in September.

Details on how you can volunteer to serve as a Magnet Champion and apply for the Magnet Program Director training program will be announced in September.

I welcome your questions and creative ideas.

You can contact me at [email protected].

Brenda Fischer, PhD, RN, MBA, FACHE, CPHQ, is the Magnet Program Director.