Warren Memorial Hospital Stands Tall in Nurse Empowerment

Front Royal’s Medical Beacon Sets Standards in Nursing Excellence.

In a remarkable achievement, Warren Memorial Hospital (WMH) in Front Royal, VA, finds itself bathed in the limelight, having been honored by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for its steadfast dedication to its nursing staff. The recognition lauds the hospital’s commitment to ensuring high job satisfaction among its nurses and its success in retaining them.

This isn’t the first time WMH has crossed paths with such an accolade. In September, the hospital was redesignated as an ANCC Pathway to Excellence® organization, a badge of honor for crafting a professional environment that keeps its staff motivated and involved. With this title, WMH finds itself in the elite club of only 203 organizations nationwide that have earned this prestigious recognition.

A triumphant Jennifer Coello, Vice President, Operations, and Administrator at WMH, weighed in on the achievement, saying, “Our nurses are the bedrock upon which our hospital stands. They are pivotal in ensuring our patients receive the compassionate care they have come to expect from us. This recognition mirrors our unwavering commitment to our dedicated caregivers, our patients, and the broader Front Royal community.”

So, what’s the journey to becoming an ANCC Pathway to Excellence organization? WMH had first received this designation back in 2018. But this past September marked the hospital’s maiden attempt at redesignation. The ANCC evaluates hospitals based on six rigorous standards covering areas from leadership to staff well-being to professional development.

For WMH to clinch the redesignation, Mary Beth Moats and her team, composed of frontline nurses, had to craft an expansive 750-page dossier that meticulously detailed the hospital’s adherence to these six standards. Once given the green light, a comprehensive survey was dispatched to WMH’s nursing staff. A whopping 97% participation rate was observed, with 71 of the 73 eligible nurses providing their valuable insights.

The results were clear as day. To qualify, a minimum of 50% of respondents needed to either “agree” or “strongly agree” with all of the survey’s 28 statements. And WMH exceeded expectations. Four standout statements showed overwhelming agreement, focusing on performance updates, shared governance committees, patient safety, and executive accessibility.

Delores Gehr, the guiding light behind WMH’s nursing division, attributes this milestone to team cohesion, a nourishing workplace culture, and a cross-functional effort. In her words, “Despite the daunting challenges posed by the COVID era, our team’s unwavering spirit ensured we never missed a beat. Our primary focus remained patient care, and we stood together as one. This recognition stands testament to that dedication.”