St. Francis Medical Center Nursing

Redesignation as a Magnet Hospital For Nursing Excellence!

For over 130 years, St. Francis Medical Center has been Trenton's leading non-profit acute care teaching hospital. The St. Francis medical staff is a group of highly skilled and dedicated doctors who work side by side with our Magnet nurses, who are among a select group in the nation to receive the prestigious Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence by the American Nurses Association. Together, our caring physicians and nurses work each and every day to continue a proud history of providing the highest quality health care with compassion and respect.

                                                                                                   Mary Anne Suttles
                                                                                                        V. P. of Patient Care Services
The nursing staff at St. Francis Medical Center is proud to be part of a select group of nurses demonstrating excellence of professional practice as defined in the Magnet Standards of Performance.

In March of 2000 we were designated as the 17th Magnet Hospital in the United States. In March of 2004 we demonstrated continued excellence and achieved redesignation as a Magnet Hospital.

In addition, we have demonstrated consistent evidence of the Forces Of Magnetism in our nursing leadership, nursing practice, professional development, and outcomes of patient care.

The forces of Magnetism were identified in the early 1980’s as a result of research conducted to identify hospitals that served as a Magnet for professional nurses. They were able to attract and retain a staff of well-qualified nurses and were able to consistently provide quality care.

The Forces of Magnetism

Quality of Nursing Leadership
Our leadership brings a wide range of experience and education to the organization, patients, and staff. We value, appreciate, and recognize our nurses’ efforts to advance their knowledge and provide quality care to our patients.

Organizational Structure
Ours structure uses a decentralized unit based decision making with strong nursing representation evident in the organizational committee structure.
Management Style
Shared governance has been in place since 1990. This style provides the nurse with control over his/her practice, enhances communications, and impacts patient care.

Personnel Policies and Programs
Salaries and benefits are competitive. Rotating shifts are minimized and flexible staffing models are used. Personnel policies are created with staff involvement, and significant administrative and clinical promotional opportunities exist.

Professional Models of Care
Models of care give nurses the responsibility and authority for the provision of care. Nurses are accountable for their own practice and are coordinators of care.

Quality of Care
All of our nurses provide high quality care to their patients.

Quality Improvement
Quality Improvement activities are viewed as educational. Staff nurses participate in the quality improvement process to ensure the highest quality of care is given to their patients.

Consultation and Resources
We have many consultants available to our nurses. We have experts in education, research, DVT, dialysis, psychiatric, smoking cessation, pain management, etc.

Autonomy
Nurses practice autonomously consistent with professional standards. Independent judgment is expected within the context of a multidisciplinary approach to patient care.

Community and the Hospital
We maintain a strong community presence with a variety of ongoing, long-term outreach programs.

Nurses as Teachers
Our nurses are permitted and expected to incorporate teaching in all aspects of their practice.

Image of Nursing
Our nurses are seen as essential by other members of the health care team.

Collegial Relationships
Our nurses work closely with all interdisciplinary disciplines to provide the highest level of patient care.

Professional Development
Our nurses are provided with many opportunities for professional growth and development. We provide orientation, inservice education, continuing education, formal education, and career development opportunities. We also provide competency based clinical advancement along with the resources to maintain competency.

Nursing

Redesignation as a Magnet Hospital For Nursing Excellence!

The Forces of Magnetism

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