Vanderbilt University Medical Center nurses say they have the best working environment among 277 of the nation's top hospitals, according to results from the National RN Satisfaction Survey conducted by the National Database for Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI).

Survey participants represented 136 Magnet hospitals, 77 academic medical centers and 64 hospitals with 500-plus beds.

“The essential elements of Magnet we have in place are working,” said Marilyn Dubree, R.N., M.S.N., executive chief Nursing officer. “We've created the right environment for our nurses to do their best work for our patients and their families.”

Nearly 220,000 nurses from across the country were asked 31 different questions that resulted in measurements to gauge job enjoyment and satisfaction with their work environment. New to the survey this year was the “Practice Environment Scale,” which is defined as characteristics of a work setting that facilitate or constrain professional nursing practice.

Eighty-five percent of Vanderbilt nurses participated in the survey, the highest participation level of any hospital, and Vanderbilt scored above the national mean (2.93) compared with 2.86 nationally.

The survey questions distilled into five key areas: nurse participation in hospital affairs, foundations for quality of care, nurse manager leadership and support, staffing adequacy and collegial nurse-physician relations.

Vanderbilt nurses scored higher in four out of five categories than all other hospitals in the survey and matched exactly the fifth item. Additionally, the Vanderbilt scores surpassed the expectation for Magnet designated hospitals, which is 2.7.

Holly Tyler, R.N. 2 in the hemotology/oncology unit at the Monroe Carell Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, isn't surprised by the findings. She worked as a care partner at another hospital before joining Vanderbilt three years ago and sees a difference in culture.

“On our unit, we all get along well, genuinely care about our patients and each other,” said Tyler. “Additionally, structures like the unit board have worked by being our collective voice with hospital administration that allows us to raise issues and get matters addressed.”

The survey results will be rolled out via nurse managers to the individual units throughout the Medical Center for further review and discussion during the next few weeks, but the overall figures are impressive, said Dubree.

“This wonderful response only happens when you value your nursing staff and give them a voice in continually enhancing the way we do things,” said Dubree.

“Earning Magnet was just the beginning for us. We are committed to being a place where nurses like to practice, and we will continually launch new initiatives to make that happen.”

Examples of new efforts include the summer '08 nurse residency program that netted more than 400 applications from candidates in 30 different states, and the introduction of the Nursing Staff Councils serve to enhance lines of communication between the Vanderbilt Medical Group and Clinics, Vanderbilt Hospital, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital, Children's Hospital and VUMC administration.

“These results are a reflection of our quality culture at Vanderbilt,” said Dubree. “The key now is to keep building our momentum at the same time we are gearing up for projected growth.”

Current plans call for VUMC to add 700 nurses during the next fiscal year.

Contact: Kathy Rivers, (615)322-3894  
Kathy.rivers@vanderbilt.edu

Written by Kathy Rivers in the VUMC Reporter.