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More than a year ago, to promote nursing excellence, while building an environment of interprofessional collaboration through leadership, scientific discovery, dissemination, as well as implementation of new knowledge, Cape Coral Hospital began the Magnet Journey to become an A Magnet American Nurses Credentialing Center hospital.
"The leadership of Lee Health in general is so devoted and committed to nursing and their patients. That is why we decided to start this journey," Magnet Program Coordinator Ashley Weichert said.
A summit is held every six months to at Cape Coral Hospital, with the third semi-annual held Friday, Dec. 3, at Cape Christian Church.
"The excitement at this last summit was the most palpable with all the summits we have had," she said.
That excitement was a combination of the time of year, coming down off the COVID surge, getting a little more rest because no longer working crazy extra hours, and looking at the Magnet Journey and how far they have come with council.
"We have improved outcomes with patients. Right where we should be on our journey" Weichert said, adding that they are celebrating those wins to drive positive momentum.
Some of those improved outcomes include better mortality rates and faster times through the bed on a unit. Patients are getting out of the hospital quicker with more timely care.
"It's proof of the commitment to excellence and healthcare . . . the heart of nursing at the center," she said.
Weichert said the designation highlights the work of nursing excellence, which has to be shown through metrics and data through patient outcomes.
"Magnet hospitals that have this designation, the nurses don’t want to leave," she said, which in turn drives better patient outcomes.
Cape Coral Hospital has formed a unit practice council, who are very active in policy and procedure. The shared governance model of nurses is driving the practice of nursing at the bedside.
"They preform research on every one of their units," Weichert said, adding that they look at the unit metrics and what they want to improve, as well as question things that may be done differently. "People wanted to continue learning at every unit. A special time."
More nursing research on a large scale is also a focus. There are currently some research projects going on, with one or two more beginning. She said there are a couple of nurses pursing their doctorates.
Transformational leadership also is a highlight to focus on workplace satisfaction and burnout. Weichert said when nurses are happy there is higher patient satisfaction scores.
"Our patient satisfaction scores are improving. It’s a great driver for everyone. For staff engagement and of course our patients," Weichert said. "We know that happier staff, more engaged staff, has higher satisfaction rates."
One of the units at the hospital is a quiet room with such things as a massage chair and trickling water sounds, which has been so important with the pandemic.
"With this journey it is giving nurses a voice when nurses lost their voice with the pandemic," she said.
There was a lot of fear with the pandemic due to not knowing the outcome. With the Magnet Journey, it is giving those nurses a voice again.
All units, all staff, are participating in the journey. Weichert said every four years newer manuals come out regarding accreditation. One of the aspects of the newer application is interdisciplinary collaboration, which will have better outcomes for patients.
Some of those collaborations are between physical therapist, diabetes educators, occupational health, social workers and case management.
In addition, communication patients receive from their caregiver from an interdisciplinary standpoint is greater, which results in greater health literacy.
"It's all bridged together for improved patient outcome," she said.