Children's Memorial Hospital using Magnet award to battle nursing shortage: Nurse turnover half national average, employee satisfaction 22% higher than national average
August 8, 2002 — In the wake of a report blaming the national nursing shortage for medical errors and patient deaths, Children's
Memorial Hospital is sharing its keys to success in
recruiting and retaining top nurses.
Children's Memorial, which has less than 10 percent turnover per year in
nursing staff (approximately half the national average of 17 percent), has a
task force dedicated to attracting and keeping nurses. “With competitive pay,
scheduling flexibility, recognition programs, an emphasis on work-life balance
and opportunities for career advancement and continuing education, we're doing
everything possible to make this a great place for qualified nurses to work,”
said Michelle Stephenson, chief nurse executive.
The effort is apparently paying off: Employees – approximately one-third who
are nurses – have overall satisfaction scores 22 percent above the national
norm.
A report by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
found that low levels of nursing staff were a contributing factor in 24 percent
of patient deaths and injuries since 1996. More than 126,000 nursing positions –
about 12 percent of the total – are currently vacant throughout the nation,
according to the commission. Children's Memorial's nursing vacancy rate is below
10 percent.
One way the hospital is attracting nurses is through external recognition.
Earlier this year Children's Memorial was the first freestanding pediatric
hospital in the nation to become one of the American Nurses Association's
‘magnet' hospitals. Magnet status has been awarded to 55 hospitals nationally.
Among other things, hospitals must submit data on quality of care, nursing staff
levels and patient outcomes.
“The magnet program recognizes hospitals like Children's Memorial that foster
an environment that attracts and retains competent nurses through respect for
the values, art and science of nursing,” said Linda D. Urden, chair of the ANA
credentialing program. “It is the highest level of recognition we can accord to
nursing professionals.”
Children's Memorial will be featured in a promotional video the ANA is
producing to show other hospitals the value of becoming a magnet hospital. “The
video will illustrate the importance of this national recognition – to patients,
employees and physicians – in creating an environment were nurses can provide
excellent care, build a career and be an active participant in the decision
making process,” Stephenson said.
Children's Memorial is the pediatric teaching facility for Northwestern
University's Feinberg School of Medicine, and is consistently recognized as one
of the top pediatric hospitals in the country and number one in Illinois by
rankings published in U.S. News & World Report.
For more information, call Public Affairs and Communications at 773.880.4500
or send e-mail to Chris
James.