13,000+ Nurses Gather in New Orleans for Annual ANCC Magnet® and Pathway to Excellence® Conference

Nurses convene to highlight achievement, innovation, and philanthropy

MEDIA CONTACT: Keziah Proctor | [email protected] | (202) 446-8182

(October 30, 2024, NEW ORLEANS, LA) --The American Nurses Credentialing Center, along with the American Nurses Association and American Nurses Foundation, today kicked off its annual ANCC National Magnet Conference® and ANCC Pathway to Excellence Conference® with a press conference and celebration featuring local partners. The 2024 convening brings over 13,000 nurses into Crescent City to celebrate their profession, share knowledge and experiences, and support local communities. This year's agenda features a range of topics from health equity to novel care delivery models to nurse wellness, while the exhibit hall houses the latest in health tech and nurse-led innovations.

In Louisiana, five Magnet-recognized health systems and one Pathway-recognized health system positively impact their surrounding communities by providing safe and culturally relevant care to diverse patient populations in health care settings recognized for excellence. They include:

• Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans (Magnet)
• Children's Hospital New Orleans (Magnet)
• East Jefferson General Hospital (Magnet)
• University Medical Center New Orleans (Magnet)
• Rapides Regional Medical Center (Pathway to Excellence)

Press conference speakers highlighted the value of Magnet and Pathway recognition, the significance of this year's conference taking place in New Orleans, and the vital role nurses play in health care. Louisiana partners helped localize the discussion, underscoring the value of nurses in their respective organizations and communities, and the work being done in the state to enhance nursing education and quality patient care.

ANCC Senior Vice President, Accreditation & Organization Credentialing, Rebecca Graystone, PhD, MBA, RN, NE-BC, moderated the kick-off event, which featured representatives from local conference co-host hospital Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans; the Louisiana State Nurses Association; the American Nurses Foundation; and NAMI of Southeast Louisiana, the local charitable partner for the 2024 conference.

Graystone remarked, "Each year our conferences draw thousands of nurses from around the globe to share proven best practices and recognize the healthcare systems and hospitals that have achieved prestigious Magnet and Pathway to Excellence recognition. This year we are excited to welcome our largest number of conference attendees yet -- 13,000+ nurses to New Orleans -- who all understand that being Magnet and Pathway recognized means providing safe, high-quality nursing care in health care settings that value and invest in them."

This year's Magnet and Pathway to Excellence Conference is special for Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans, as it celebrates a fifth Magnet redesignation -- a recognition fewer than 1% of U.S. hospitals achieve. Louisiana now has two hospitals who have achieved Magnet status five times; East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie received its fifth designation in 2022.

"At Ochsner, we are proud of our collective efforts to create a strong, engaged culture where our team members play an active role in shaping our shared future -- it is because our nurses and the ideas they bring to the table, we are able to support and invest in them to ensure we are exceeding the standard in which Magnet recognizes," said Ruth Sagastume, MSN, RN, CPHQ, Chief Nursing Officer, Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans. "We are excited to participate as a co-host hospital this year to support and recognize how ANCC propels the nursing profession and to share more about our nursing philosophy at Ochsner - how it drives our patient care and outcomes and meet with other like-minded nurses from across the country."

Ahnyel Burkes, DNP, RN-BC, NEA-BC, Executive Director, Louisiana State Nurses Association, Louisiana Nurses Foundation, shared, "The achievement of Magnet and Pathway to Excellence designation by Louisiana's hospitals is challenging and worthy work, deserving of our recognition and celebration. The Louisiana State Nurses Association is proud to support nurses in creating inclusive and healthy work environments that value the contributions and excellence of nursing professionals, which is the hallmark of Magnet and Pathway hospitals."

Today was also the launch of the American Nurses Foundation's annual Text to Give campaign, benefitting both the Foundation in its work to support health and well-being programs for nurses and the communities that they serve, and NAMI Southeast Louisiana, an organization of families, friends and individuals whose lives have been affected by mental illness. Past giving campaigns have raised more than $50,000 to support local charities in the Magnet and Pathway conference host cities.

The Text to Give campaign is generously supported by three companies -- Fresenius Kabi USA, HD Nursing, and Nurse Math -- which have collectively donated $15,000 in support of the fundraising effort.
"Nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system, delivering exceptional care and advancing healthcare innovation," said Kathy Driscoll, President, Board of Trustees at the American Nurses Foundation. "Your generous support enables the American Nurses Foundation to expand our investment in the well-being and success of all nurses, ensuring they continue to thrive and lead in their vital roles."

"I am grateful to ANCC for bringing more attention to the impact of mental health in our community, region and country," said Nick Richard, Executive Director of NAMI Southeast Louisiana. "We are so grateful for the pivotal role that nurses play in healthcare, especially mental healthcare. Free services, support and resources are only possible because of organizations like yours."

ANCC invites residents of New Orleans to join the 13,000 nurses attending the conference in a text-to-give campaign challenge that remains open through November 1, 2024.

People can get involved by texting "Nurse" to (301) 960-7161 to receive a link to an online donation form.

Special guests the New Orleans Saints mascot, Sir Saint, and members of the Saints Cheer Krewe joined the press conference to celebrate the Magnet and Pathway to Excellence achievements by Louisiana hospitals.

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About the ANA Enterprise
The ANA Enterprise is the organizing platform of the American Nurses Association (ANA), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the American Nurses Foundation. The ANA Enterprise leverages the combined strength of each to drive excellence in practice and ensure nurses' voice and vision are recognized by policy leaders, industry influencers and employers. From professional development and advocacy, credentialing and grants, and products and services, the ANA Enterprise is the leading resource for nurses to arm themselves with the tools, information, and network they need to excel in their individual practices. In helping individual nurses succeed-across all practices and specialties, and at each stage of their careers-the ANA Enterprise is lighting the way for the entire profession to succeed.

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center
The mission of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is to promote excellence in nursing and health care globally through credentialing programs. ANCC's internationally renowned credentialing programs certify and recognize individual nurses in specialty practice areas. ANCC recognizes health care organizations that promote nursing excellence and quality patient outcomes while providing safe, positive work environments. In addition, ANCC accredits health care organizations that provide and approve continuing nursing education and accredits transition-to-practice programs that prepare nurses for new practice roles. For more information about ANCC, visit us at www.nursingworld.org/ANCC and follow us on Twitter. ANCC is the only nurse credentialing organization to successfully achieve ISO 9001: 2015 certification.

About American Nurses Foundation
American Nurses Foundation is the charitable and philanthropic arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), with the mission to transform the nation's health through the power of nursing. The Foundation supports research, education, and scholarships, which improve health, wellness, and patient care. For more information visit www.nursingworld.org/foundation

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