Great Expectations: Linking Vision to Everyday Work

In a Magnet® organization, leaders must continually seek out opportunities to improve patient outcomes and processes associated with the delivery of high-quality, safe patient care. Using the Magnet model as a framework helps to guide leaders to link an organization's vision to the everyday work. Outstanding patient care experiences are at the heart of Exeter Hospital's mission, vision, and values. In an effort to enhance the patient care experience, Exeter introduced several evidence-based initiatives designed to provide staff with the tools needed to deliver an exceptional experience. Service communication, relationship-based care, TeamSTEPPS™, and lean thinking concepts were all introduced sequentially over a 4-year period. Grounded by nursing's professional practice model, the tools became critical components of everyday clinical practice and guided the work of the unit-based practice councils.