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.
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.
