Lakewood Hospital Receives American Nurses Credentialing Center Pathway To Excellence® Designation

Lakewood Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital, is pleased to announce it has achieved Pathway to Excellence® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Lakewood Hospital is the first hospital in the state of Ohio to receive this distinction.

The Pathway to Excellence designation confirms to the community that Lakewood Hospital is dedicated to nurses, recognizes what is important to nursing practice, and values nurses’ contributions to the workplace. The designation also demonstrates the level of professional satisfaction of nurses at Lakewood Hospital.

“Earning the Pathway to Excellence designation has validated that Lakewood Hospital has a strong commitment to its nursing staff,” says Deb Small, RN, BSN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer of Lakewood and Fairview hospitals. “Our goal is to bring balance to the workplace and create an environment so our nurses feel valued and can excel in the practice of patient care.”

Lakewood Hospital earned the Pathway to Excellence distinction after successfully undergoing a thorough review process that documented foundational quality initiatives in creating a positive work environment — as defined by nurses and supported by research. As a Pathway to Excellence designated organization, Lakewood Hospital is committed to nurses, to what nurses identify as important to their practice, and to valuing nurses’ contributions in the workplace.

“Nurses are on the front line of providing empathetic, compassionate and quality care to our patients. This designation recognizes the commitment and contributions made by our nurses to the workplace, which results in a professional environment that positively impacts patients and their families,” says Sarah Sinclair, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE, Cleveland Clinic Executive Chief Nursing Officer and Chair of the Stanley Shalom Zielony Institute for Nursing Excellence.

“We’re very focused on providing an environment where our nurses are supported for their professional and emotional growth,” says Janice Murphy, RN, BSN, MSN, FACHE, President of Lakewood and Fairview Hospital. “We’ve seen firsthand that a positive and supportive work environment makes a difference for both the nurses and the patients.”

“My hope is that this designation will encourage other nurses to join Lakewood Hospital so they too can reap the benefit of this forward-thinking environment,” says Small.

About The Stanley Shalom Zielony Institute for Nursing Excellence
The Zielony Nursing Institute, one of 26 institutes at Cleveland Clinic, includes more than 11,000 nurses, about 850 of whom are advanced practice nurses. All collaborate to provide high-quality patient care on specialty-based nursing units within inpatient, outpatient and operating room settings at several locations in Northeast Ohio, Florida, Nevada, Canada and Abu Dhabi. Cleveland Clinic hospitals strive for Magnet status (the highest recognition of excellence in nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center). Main campus and Fairview Hospital received redesignation of this prestigious award in 2008. Visit the Zielony Institute at http://my.clevelandclinic.org/nursing/default.aspx

About Lakewood Hospital
Lakewood Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital, is an acute care, community hospital dedicated to providing high quality and patient-focused healthcare. Founded in 1907, Lakewood Hospital offers a dedicated Primary Stroke Center as well as strong clinical Centers of Excellence, which include neurological, senior care, orthopaedic, and diabetes and endocrine services. In 2009, Lakewood Hospital launched its Vision for Tomorrow strategic plan which will shape the future of the hospital for generations to come. For more information about Vision for Tomorrow or Lakewood Hospital, please visit www.lakewoodhospital.org

About ANCC
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association (ANA), provides individuals and organizations throughout the nursing profession with the resources they need to achieve practice excellence. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify nurses in specialty practice areas; recognize healthcare organizations for promoting safe, positive work environments through the Pathway to Excellence Program™; and accredit providers of continuing nursing education. In addition, ANCC provides leading-edge information and education services and products to support its core credentialing programs. www.nursecredentialing.org