Nursing

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet recognition is the highest international recognition for excellence in nursing (ANCC, 2008). This recognition is given to organizations demonstrating sustained excellence in nursing care. Organizations who achieve the recognition are Magnet designated for a period of four years.The American Nurses Credentialing Center has recognized Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic, Rochester General Hospital, Unity Hospital, Newark-Wayne Community hospital, United Memorial Medical Center, and PCASI with the highest honor available for nursing excellence.

To be considered, nursing organizations are rigorously evaluated on the five Magnet components:  Transformational Leadership, Structural Empowerment, Exemplary Professional Practice, and Empirical Outcomes. The documentation is evaluated by a team of experienced nurses trained in Magnet appraisal procedures. After the initial review of the application and receiving a rating of excellent, the hospital receives a visit from the Magnet appraisal team. During the three-day onsite visit the team reviews, clarifies and verifies the written documentation by visiting all nursing units and meeting with groups such as the Board of Directors, Senior Leaders, Nursing Leaders, Advanced Practice Nurses, direct care nurses, shared governance committees, providers and community members.

Achieving magnet status indicates that a hospital emphasizes the role of nursing as key to the overall hospital team. Although this designation focuses on nursing, the entire hospital team plays an integral role in achieving this honor.

What is NICHE?

Established in 1992, NICHE is a program of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University College of Nursing. As the only national nursing geriatric initiative to improve the care of older hospitalized adults, it is comprised of more than 300 hospitals throughout North America.

NICHE provides materials and services necessary to stimulate and support the planning and implementation process. Unlike other programs, it does not prescribe how institutions should modify geriatric care; rather, it provides the materials and services necessary to stimulate and support the planning and implementation process.

The focus is on programs and protocols that are dominantly under the control of nursing practice; in other words, areas where nursing interventions have a substantive and positive impact on patient care.

• Goal: To achieve a systematic nursing change that will benefit hospitalized older patients
• Vision: For all patients 65 and over to be given sensitive and exemplary care
• Mission: To provide principles and tools to stimulate a change in the culture of healthcare facilities to achieve patient-centered care for older adults

Features & Benefits

In today's healthcare system there seems to be a shortage of professionals educated in geriatric care. NICHE designated hospitals make sure that every patient's specials needs can be met.

For example, emergency room personnel, who are often the first to see the patient, will have a greater understanding of age-specific presentations of disease and are likely to have participated in the NICHE protocols that address these issues.

Why is the care different?

NICHE is a collaborative enterprise in which experienced NICHE nurses, along with NICHE faculty at the Hartford Institute, provide guidance and support to new members.

Along with an onsite coordinator, there are calls and consultations between the new NICHE team and a NICHE faculty member from the Hartford Institute and/or a senior NICHE mentor who has several years’ program experience. This hands-on support, coupled with NICHE’s comprehensive portfolio of proprietary tools and resources, facilitates and assists system wide adoption of geriatric programs.  And with NICHE designation, hospital staffs become members in a healthcare community that is passionate, vocal and dedicated to providing better care for older Americans.

NICHE at Rochester Regional Health

NICHE is the largest national geriatric care program for hospitals. NICHE hospital staff are more knowledgeable and qualified in caring for older adult patients and, as a result, NICHE hospitals have higher patient and family satisfaction overall.

NICHE Hospitals are committed to improving care for geriatric patients. Over 50% of all hospital patients are over 65-years-old and have unique needs that can only be met by nurses with specialized geriatric education and training. They have invested time and resources in the further education of their staff on the unique needs of geriatric patients. As a result, NICHE Hospitals have higher patient and family satisfaction ratings.

Because we care about all our patients and recognize that our older visitors require and deserve special attention, a collaborative effort by our staff and nurses with extensive training is implemented to ensure we provide excellent bedside nursing to hospitalized older adults.

Awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Pathway to Excellence^® designation is granted to healthcare organizations that empower and engage nursing staff in creating and sustaining an environment where nurses grow and thrive. As a Pathway-designated organization, our nurses live Pathway through the work they do every day. By engaging in the Pathway Standards of shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, wellbeing, and professional development, nurses in the St. Lawrence Region bring their voices forward to build and sustain a positive practice environment.

The journey to this designation involved every nurse in our three northern NY hospitals and off-site campuses alike, and we are the only system of hospitals in New York State to achieve this standing. 

We are proud of our nursing team, many of whom are already actively involved in building a positive practice environment, the foundation of a Pathway to Excellence^® designation.

Learn more about the Pathway to Excellence^® journey.