The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) announced today that Christiana Care Health System in Wilmington, DE, is the recipient of the 2018 ANCC Magnet Prize®, sponsored by Cerner.
The prize was presented at the 2018 ANCC National Magnet Conference® in Denver. It honors innovative nursing programs and practices in ANCC Magnet®-recognized organizations. Cerner supports these programs and practices by sponsoring the $50,000 purse attached to the prize. The money will help Christiana Care further develop its winning proposal.
Christiana Care received the ANCC Magnet Prize for its use of virtual reality (VR) technology to improve the patient experience in the chemotherapy suite. The process is two-fold. Nurses use VR as part of pre-chemotherapy education, providing an immersive learning experience to familiarize patients with what to expect. The goal is to decrease anxiety and increase preparation for the first day of treatment. The technology is also used to provide a positive distraction while patients receive chemotherapy. They can relax on the beach, view scenic attractions, or surround themselves with nature’s beauty.
"ANCC is proud to recognize Christiana Care for its novel use of technology to create a more positive experience for patients and families," said Jeff Doucette, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CENP, LNHA, FAAN, FACHE, Vice President Magnet Recognition Program® and Pathway to Excellence®. “This nurse-led innovation highlights the vision inherent in Magnet organizations to find unique solutions that break the mold of standard nursing practice.”
Results of the Christiana Care pilot program were overwhelmingly positive. Patients created new connections with each other and with their caregivers through the VR experience. The use of VR created an enhanced opportunity for nurses to listen to stories of past patient travels, hear about happy moments they recalled, and better relate to their patients.
“With relationship-based care as our professional practice framework, the enhanced focus on human connection that virtual reality technology creates honors the key relationship between our patients and families, and caregivers,” said Ric Cuming, EdD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Christiana Care’s Chief Nurse Executive. “This high-tech, positive distraction improves their experience and gives our exceptional nurses an opportunity to demonstrate our system’s value of serving together with love. We are thankful and humbled to receive the ANCC Magnet Prize in recognition of our efforts to improve patient care and outcomes.”
The Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and uphold the tradition of professional nursing practice. ANCC Magnet Prize-winning organizations must meet specific criteria, such as extraordinary nursing activities that have been sustained over an extended period of time, innovations that are beyond the characteristics of Magnet organizations, or positive outcomes that have been demonstrated and empirically linked to the innovation.
“Christiana Care is a shining example of the excellence in nursing that can be achieved when combining innovative technology with high-quality care and compassionate clinicians,” said Eva Karp DHA, MBA, RN-BC, FACHE, Senior Vice President and Chief Clinical and Patient Safety Officer, Cerner. “We look forward to working with Christiana Care as it continues to use health IT to engage patients and improve their experiences.”
