American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway To Excellence™ Program: addressing meeting the needs of small and rural

* Control of nursing practice

* Safety of the work environment

* Systems exist to address patient care concerns

* Nurse orientation

* Chief nursing officer

* Professional development

* Competitive wages

* Nurse recognition

* Balanced lifestyle

* Exemplary intradiscipline collaboration

* Leadership accountability

* Quality initiatives

According to Susan Sportsman PhD, RN, President of the Texas Nurses Association and Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human Service at Midwestern State University (Wichita Falls, TX) (ANCC, 2008, p.6):

   The Practice Standards--which include strong nurse leadership,
   control of practice, and safety in the work environment for nurses
   and the patients for whom they advocate--are important components
   in providing quality patient care and nurse job satisfaction. When
   hospitals utilize the research-identified Practice Standards in
   their policies and practices they demonstrate a commitment to a
   practice environment that is consistent with quality patient care
   and nurse retention.

The above criteria are integrated into operating policies, procedures, and management practices of all Pathway to Excellence-designated healthcare organizations. For an organization to earn the Pathway to Excellence designation, it must successfully undergo a thorough review process that documents foundational quality initiatives in creating a positive work environment--as defined by nurses and supported by research. Nurses in the organization verify the presence of the criteria in the organization through participation in a completely confidential online survey.

Recommended Preliminary Organizational Self-assessment

The first step in pursuing recognition as a Pathway to Excellence healthcare organization is an Organizational Self-Assessment. This assessment must be deliberate and honest if it is to serve as an organizational measure of whether or not to pursue the Pathway to Excellence designation. Specific guidance on the following Self-Assessment checklist can be found in the Pathway to Excellence Manual (ANCC, 2008; 2009).

* Are all members of the nursing staff actively engaged in and aware of the Pathway to Excellence application?