Nurses attend 2021 ANCC National Magnet Conference

The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital earned Magnet designation in 2019 and its interim monitoring report was accepted in September of 2021, which is due halfway through the four-year Magnet designation. In November, seven representatives from the hospital attended the ANCC National Magnet Conference® in Atlanta to learn about innovations other hospitals have undertaken to improve their practice environments.

Among the delegates from BWFH were Cori Loescher, MM, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services, Beth Waters, MSN, RN, CPEN, Professional Development Manager for the Emergency Department, Nursing Supervisors and PCA Float Pool, Rose LaPlante, MBA, MSN, RN, Program Manager for Nursing Quality and Magnet, Lynne Morrison, MS, RN, Associate Chief Nurse of Inpatient Nursing, Brenda Miele, MSN, RN, Nurse Director for 7 North and the Float Pool, Jennifer James, BSN, RN, Float Pool Staff Nurse, and Erica Babine, MSN, RN, 7 South Clinical Leader.

Between them, the group attended over 35 different sessions where presenters shared new ideas on improving the practice environment, patient experience and staff experience. The team has brought some of these ideas back to BWFH in hopes of implementing them here. During some sessions, the team found BWFH is already ahead of the curve. “Sometimes it’s validating to go to a session and be able to say, ‘We already do that!’” says Loescher.

All seven attended the general sessions, which included keynote addresses from photographer and filmmaker Carolyn Jones, Big Little Breakthroughs: How Small, Everyday Ideas Drive Gigantic Results author Josh Linker and Marcus Engel who was blinded and severely injured by a drunk driver and speaks about the nursing care he received. “This was my first time at the Magnet Convention, and I thought the keynote speakers were really inspiring,” says James.

For Loescher, who has attended the Magnet Convention in the past, this year’s event was especially impactful. Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the convention was canceled. This year, under strict precautions, the event was able to take place. “A number of the presenters were prepared and ready to present last year. They came this year with their pre-pandemic information, which they had to update to include what was sustained or retained during the pandemic. There was a lot of good work presented, but it was clear the pandemic put a monkey wrench in a lot of it,” she says. “I look forward to next year and seeing how the work has changed two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. But, at the end of the day, I just love that we could bring a group from the hospital to go and enjoy each other’s company and learn. The environment was inspiring.”

And for LaPlante, who will lead the effort to submit our Magnet redesignation documents in 2023, the convention was a chance to take stock of how we are doing and the areas where more focus is needed. “It was exciting to learn what other hospitals are doing and what we might be able to implement here,” she says. “We were already able to share some of what we learned with the Magneteers committee, and we plan to share it more widely as well.”

Watch highlights from the 2021 ANCC National Magnet Conference here.