Illustrating the power of a “Magnet,” more than 10,000 nurses and other health care stakeholders attended the 2019 ANCC National Magnet Conference last week in Orlando, according to a press release. The event included a wide range of educational and innovative sessions, celebratory events, and networking opportunities.
At the conference opening, attendees already were treated to performances by Opera Orlando, gained insights from speaker Gretchen Rubin on understanding personality tendencies to create better work environments, and learned firsthand about the 2020 “Year of the Nurse.”
Welcoming attendees and laying out the upcoming days’ events were ANA Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Loressa Cole, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, and Rebecca Graystone, MS, MBA, RN, NE-BC, American Nurses Credentialing Center vice president of the Magnet Recognition Program and Pathway to Excellence.
In his remarks, ANA President Ernest Grant, PhD, RN, FAAN, shared his excitement at being at the conference to celebrate with all attendees, as well as to recognize their dedication to nursing excellence. He also announced another important celebration that is taking place in 2020.
“In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the World Health Assembly officially designated 2020 as the “Year of the Nurse and Midwife,” Grant said. “In support, ANA Enterprise will celebrate the ‘Year of the Nurse’ and we encourage all nurses to engage in activities [held throughout the year].”
As part of this initiative, the ANA Enterprise plans to highlight and promote nursing excellence, infuse nursing leadership across the spectrum of health and health care, and foster, stimulate and diffuse nursing innovation to benefit patients and communities.
ANCC President Patricia Reid Ponte, DNSc, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, noted the shared vision and common goals of the ANA Enterprise, Magnet and Pathway organizations, and nurses who work in those facilities. Among those goals are to advance outstanding care by developing the highest evidence-based standards; implement a culture of innovation, quality and safety; and support practice environments of collaboration, autonomy, scholarship, and other important factors.
For more information about the Magnet Conference, visit https://magnetcon.org/.
