Magnet Components - Inova Fair Oaks Hospital

I started at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital as a Clinical Technician and when I graduated from nursing school, I transitioned as a new graduate RN in the Clinical Decision Unit. I was later able to cross-train in the Emergency Department. I have grown and am now an RN4 and Charge RN in the Emergency Department.

Inova Fair Oaks Hospital has helped me grow. Through my work in the Sepsis Committee, I have become familiar with the sepsis bundle and now serve as a resource for physicians and nurses. I can approach my leaders and advocate for any changes we need to give patients excellent care. I helped establish a Smart Note that extracts data for our sepsis bundle care. This has improved efficiency in the Emergency Department and is a nurse satisfier. I am proud of the work we have done for our patients!

In nursing school, I completed most of my clinical rotations at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital. I chose to return once I was an RN to work in the Intensive Care Unit. I am now the Clinical Educator of the Emergency Department and the Float Pool. Direct patient care nurses at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital can impact meaningful change. Magnet means nurse empowerment and the voice of the nurse is listened to.

Nurses at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital are the best of the best. We embrace our mission and values. You see that in the senior leadership to Environmental Services. We recognize and reward the contributions of our team members. An example of this is the implementation of the Daisy award and the Peach award for non-nurses. I am proud of the work accomplished in the Emergency Department's Professional Development Committee. We increased the number of Emergency Department certified nurses by offering a free CEN review course and vouchers to offset the exam fee cost. We did this through the generous support of the Foundation. As a result, we have one of the highest certification rates in the hospital.

I started my career at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital fifteen years ago. I was hired as a new graduate nurse in the Surgical Unit. From the beginning of my career at IFOH I was encouraged and mentored. During my time as a clinical nurse I participated in the ADVANCE program and became a Charge RN, attended nursing conferences, and was supported by my leaders and team to pursue a Master's Degree. I later became a Nurse Manager in the Medical Unit and progressed into my current role as the Senior Director of the Emergency Department and Acute Care Services.

Nurses at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital are patient-centered and quality focused. I am driven as a leader because I am surrounded by people who all care about patient outcomes and quality. One of the initiative I am most proud of is modifying patient-nurse ratios. Using benchmarks from with the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) against the health system we created a lasting impact on nurse satisfaction, improved quality outcomes, and better patient experience results.

Magnet allows us to advocate for resources, use data and ensure that the quality care is available for all our patients. Our nurses have a seat at the table and impact decisions at the care site and care system organizational levels. IFOH nurses embody front line influence, great quality, and the respect of hospital leaders.

When I first arrived at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital sixteen years ago, I had just relocated as a NICU nurse from the west coast. The Operating Room had always been an area of interest for me, and I saw an opportunity to participate in the OR Fellowship at IFOH and rotate through all the system service lines where I found my niche with the vascular team.

Here at IFOH I became preceptor and involved with the retina program when it launched in 2008. I am now the service line leader for the Retina Program. I love my role because it blends my clinical and administrative experience. My knowledge and skill are valued here and I am encouraged by leadership.

Working at a Magnet hospital means having leadership that supports you in providing the best possible care for the patient. Patients are going to receive quality care at IFOH because of how well nursing is championed here. I love my job and work alongside the best nurses! We hold each other accountable and we also have fun.

I have been working at Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Radiation Oncology for over a year. Previously, I had a travel nurse but made the decision to stay at IFOH as I had a special interest in oncology. In the Radiation Oncology department we have cohesive communication and great teamwork. Everyone has been supportive as I transitioned from inpatient nursing to Radiation Oncology and I have enjoyed learning the different modalities.

Magnet facilities are great learning environments and IFOH is an organization that propels its staff in a more educated direction. I am always learning and grateful I found a new home here.

I came to Inova Fair Oaks Hospital to complete my clinical rotation three and a half years ago. I have worked at other organizations in both inpatient and outpatient units, but came to IFOH for an opportunity in the GE Lab. What I really like about this area if nursing is the quick pace and hands-on experience.

To me Magnet means top-notch, high-quality patient care. When we speak to potential nursing candidates the bar is set high. We give excellent patient care and expect the same from our team members. We are a close knit group at IFOH. Without hesitation, I would send a friend or family member to Inova Fair Oaks as a patient.