What Makes a Medical-Surgical Unit Excellent?

This study analyzed PRISM unit applications to identify key characteristics of units that did and did not achieve recognition. Results may provide unit leaders with a roadmap for achieving excellence in medical-surgical patient care. Aim Analyze PRISM award applications for key characteristics of medical-surgical units awarded PRISM designation. Characteristics assessed in award applicants included six domains: leadership, recruitment and retention, evidence-based practice, quality patient outcomes, work environment, and lifelong learning. Method The sample consisted of 75 applications from 50 unique units representing 27 applications of awarded and 23 applications of non-awarded units. Content analysis was used to analyze applications for themes within each of the application categories. Results Six themes (support and empowerment, a welcoming environment, a foundation for professional practice, providing quality for patients and families, a positive place to work, commitment to professionalism) emerged consistent with the question prompts representing six domains from the PRISM application. Saturation was reached with 13 applications. Limitations and Implications Themes were influenced highly by application question prompts. Few differences were identified among awarded and non-awarded applications. The major difference was in depth of description and examples illustrating clinical nurses in leadership roles in awarded units. Conclusion A content analysis study of applications for PRISM recognition resulted in identification of six themes representing excellence in medical-surgical nursing.
The Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) developed the Premier Recognition In the Specialty of Med-surg (PRISM) Award[R] to recognize medical-surgical nursing units on which exemplary professional practice and care are [...]