ROME– Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center and its affiliated facilities have earned national recognition for supporting nurses and strengthening patient care.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center awarded Atrium Health Floyd its Pathway to Excellence designation with distinction.

The recognition includes Atrium Health Polk Medical Center, Atrium Health Cherokee Medical Center, Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health, Atrium Health Floyd Chattooga Emergency Department, and Atrium Health Floyd Heyman Hospice Care.

With the designation, Atrium Health says all its facilities in Georgia and Alabama now hold either Pathway to Excellence or Magnet recognition from the credentialing center.

Four Atrium Health Floyd nurses also earned places on Georgia’s inaugural Great 100 Nurses list.

Pathway Program Recognizes Nursing Environment

The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Pathway to Excellence program recognizes health care organizations that create positive working environments for nurses.

Credentialed organizations must demonstrate continued excellence in six areas. Those standards include shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being, and professional development.

The review process includes surveys of front-line nurses and accounts from employees about their experiences within the organization.

Atrium Health officials said a supportive nursing environment can improve job satisfaction, staff retention, and recruitment. It can also strengthen safety, patient outcomes, and the overall care experience.

“Designation as an ANCC Pathway to Excellence reflects the environment we create for our nurses so they can deliver the highest quality care to our patients every day,” said Sheila Bennett, senior vice president and chief of patient services at Atrium Health Floyd.

Bennett said patients benefit when leadership and other members of the care team support, engage, and empower nurses.

“We are committed to maintaining an environment that allows our teams to provide that level of care for every patient we serve,” Bennett said.

The credentialing center also administers the Magnet Recognition Program. The program uses extensive documentation and a four-day site visit to evaluate nursing excellence.

Atrium Health said research has linked Magnet recognition with higher patient satisfaction and a lower risk of death within 30 days following discharge.

Magnet and Pathway organizations must seek renewed accreditation every four years.

Atrium Nurses Named Among Georgia’s Great 100

The Great 100 Nurses Foundation selected 18 Atrium Health nurses for Georgia’s first Great 100 Nurses list.

Atrium Health Floyd had four nurses selected. Atrium Health Navicent had 14 nurses named to the list.

The foundation selects nurses based on their concern for humanity, contributions to the profession, and work mentoring others.

Recipients are scheduled to be honored Thursday, Sept. 3, during a celebration in Atlanta.

“This Great 100 Nurses list makes a strong statement about our nurses,” said Tracey Blalock, Georgia area chief nursing executive and chief nursing officer for Atrium Health Navicent.

Blalock said Atrium Health nurses represent about 3% of Georgia’s nursing workforce but account for 18 of the 100 nurses on the statewide list.

“Our organization works hard to attract, retain, and support the most qualified and compassionate nurses to care for our patients,” Blalock said. “We are thrilled to see so many of them recognized for their dedication, hard work, and professionalism.”

The Great 100 Nurses Foundation began nearly four decades ago in New Orleans. Its recognition programs have since honored nurses in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Georgia.

Money raised through the recognition events supports nursing advocacy, scholarships, and research.

RELATED ARTICLES: 

Rome Pediatrician Offers Back-to-School Health Tips for Families

Extended Family Receives $10,000 Grant From Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center