June 20, 2003

Magnet site visit completed

Spirits were high. Grateful appreciation was given. Hard work and preparations were proudly demonstrated. The much-anticipated site visit for the Magnet hospital recognition survey at the MGH came to an end June 12. Two appraisers from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, spent three intensive days at the MGH, probing and observing how nursing is practiced at the hospital. They had one ultimate goal — to see if the MGH should be awarded the ANCC's highest nursing honor: Magnet hospital recognition.

The appraisers attended meetings and forums, visited patient care units and departments and met with nurses, physicians, hospital leaders, trustees and representatives from the community. The two appraisers will submit a report to the Magnet Commission within the next two weeks. The commission is slated to review the hospital's application and the report in early September.

At a final meeting with the appraisers and key nursing staff, Jeanette Ives Erickson, RN, MS, senior vice president for Patient Care Services and chief nurse, thanked the appraisers for their time and commended MGH staff for their hard work in preparing for the site visit. "It is not often that clinicians have the opportunity to reflect upon the art and science of nursing and the interdisciplinary nature of care delivery at the MGH," she said."This has been an incredible week. Staff members were so articulate in describing their practice and sharing their stories with the appraisers and others. They truly are the hospital's shining stars. And I want to extend our appreciation to the entire MGH community for supporting nursing practice at the MGH and helping to make this site visit so successful."

Ives Erickson also commended several groups and individuals, including the Magnet champions, the four Magnet workgroups, the Magnet steering and core teams, the Magnet writers group, as well as Magnet co-chairs Marianne Ditomassi, RN, and Lori Clark Carson, RN, and Magnet staff support, Lauren Holm, RN, and Ed Coakley, RN.