Nursing

Elizabeth (Betty) Craig, DNP, RN, FACHE, serves as senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Main Line Health and brings numerous levels of progressive leadership throughout an impressive career.

Betty Craig leads and oversees nearly 3,000 nurses while cultivating the nursing education, nursing leadership and nursing research within the organization. She also shares responsibility for Safety, Quality, Equity and Affordability within the system while ensuring consistent standards of practice across the clinical setting. As a member of the executive team, she supports and facilitates a collaborative, interdisciplinary team approach to the delivery of care.

Read more about Betty Craig, DNP, RN, FACHE

Nursing leaders at Main Line Health are committed to the professional growth and advancement of its nursing staff. Whether new to the profession or seasoned professionals, Main Line Health nurses are encouraged to further their knowledge and training, develop new skills, and keep abreast of all the rapid and dynamic changes taking place in healthcare. We offer many opportunities to take on greater responsibilities and move on to leadership and management roles as their skills and experience develop.

Among our programs for professional development:

Clinical ladder program — This multi-level career advancement program nurtures and recognizes nurses' performance and progress as they move from the novice stages of their careers through to higher levels of proficiency. Nurses are evaluated and elevated based on their competence, clinical expertise, leadership abilities and role model behaviors.

The Clinical Ladder Program provides opportunity for both professional and clinical growth in nursing practice, above and beyond day-to-day nursing activities. The focus of this program is to advance professional nursing practice at Main Line Health and to continue to raise the standard of clinical excellence. Consistent bedside nursing excellence is the expectation of all nurses at Main Line Health. This is compensated annually through merit increases at the time of the performance appraisal.

Advancement in the Clinical Ladder Program is a voluntary and selective process designed to recognize and compensate those professionals who contribute more than routine clinical excellence; demonstrate a greater depth of clinical and leadership practice and assume additional responsibilities that benefit their areas of practice and impact positively on nursing and patient care at Main Line Hospitals.

Shared decision making council — This shared-decision making approach to problem-solving promotes unit and nursing excellence. There are six system councils with representation from bedside nurses, educators and leaders in the areas of:

• Professional development
• Clinical practice
• Research and innovation
• Management
• Healthy work environment
• Quality and safety

These councils report up through the Nursing Executive Council with representation of the chief nursing officer, nursing vice presidents and an elected unit council chair from each hospital. Each unit develops measurable, concrete goals/ground rules for their council that reflect the scope and needs of the unit. Main Line Health nurses regularly meet as a unit with a structured process to encourage individuals to contribute to the unit's activities and work environment, as well as to cultivate leadership, ownership and job satisfaction.

Continuing education — Main Line Health offers materials and assistance for nurses to get the Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to maintain their certification and licensure including classes, coursework, presentations and the ability to attend conferences and symposia.

Tuition reimbursement — Main Line Health nurses are encouraged to seek advanced academic degrees and certification through a generous tuition reimbursement package. Reimbursement is for tuition, certification, exam, or re-certification costs. Full-time benefits eligible employees will be reimbursed 100 percent of their eligible expenses up to $6,000 annually. Pro-rated reimbursement for part-time employees according to bi-weekly hours worked. Eligibility: following 90 days of service; authorized to work at least 32 hours per pay period.

Computer-based training — Main Line Health makes it easy for nurses to stay up-to-date on the latest technology and developments in nursing and medicine with access to educational software, presentations, and training materials that can be viewed 24/7 through workstations at all Main Line Hospitals locations or remotely via the internet.

Seminars and workshops — From informative lectures by guest speakers to group presentations by our own leaders and peers, Main Line Health nursing hosts many opportunities for members of the staff to mix, mingle, share and learn new ideas and techniques.

The Nursing Professional Practice Model illustrates that Main Line Health nurses are key partners in providing superior patient care, every day, through leadership, collaboration, best practices and professional growth.

What is a professional practice model? A professional practice model is a system or framework that supports professional nurses in their everyday practice. This model supports our belief in the importance of superior patient care based on partnerships between nursing and other clinicians, patients, families and the community.

Why is it important to have a model? A professional practice model defines the components of nursing practice in a way that brings significance to our daily work. At Main Line Health, this professional practice model unifies nursing practice throughout the system.

What is the significance of the sun? The rising sun represents a new day, every day, while the sun itself symbolizes comfort, energy, light and something that is ever present.

Main Line Health has received its second System Magnet^® designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the nation's highest recognition of excellence in nursing care, as well as exceptional multidisciplinary teamwork, awarded to only eight percent of hospitals in the nation.

In addition to Magnet designation, Main Line Health also received five "exemplars" from the ANCC. Exemplars are determined by the Commission on Magnet Recognition and represent a best practice among Magnet hospitals. Main Line Health was recognized for exemplary professional practice in the following areas:

• Nursing Leadership Advocacy – providing a superior patient experience and offering integrative and holistic therapies (Reiki, Deaver Wellness Farm at Lankenau, etc.)
• Transformational Leadership – Culture of Safety
• Transformational Leadership – communication strategy/change management – human trafficking screening program implementation
• Professional Nursing Certification – clinical nurses and nurse leaders
• Legislative Impact – Keeping Nurses Safe – advocacy of the Main Line Health Culture of Safety

Although the Magnet designation is a widely recognized term among nurses and other health care professionals, not everyone is aware of what Magnet means. Below, Barbara Wadsworth, DNP, RN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer at Main Line Health, answers some common questions about what Magnet recognition means for patients.

What is Magnet recognition?

Magnet recognition is widely accepted as the gold standard for nursing excellence. Achieving Magnet status benefits patients, nurses and health care organizations by attracting and retaining top talent, improving patient care, safety and satisfaction, fostering a collaborative culture, advancing nursing standards and practice, and growing business and financial success. Healthcare organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality. An organization reapplying for Magnet recognition must provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff members sustained and improved Magnet concepts, performance and quality over the four-year period since the organization received its last recognition.

What benefit does a Magnet hospital offer for patients?

Patients who are treated at a Magnet hospital will receive high-quality care from a nationally recognized and accredited nursing staff. Studies have shown that patients who are treated at a Magnet hospital as opposed to a non-Magnet hospital can experience benefits like increased patient satisfaction and patient safety and shorter hospital stays.

In addition to allowing us to better serve our patients, our Magnet designation also allows us to attract top nursing talent from across the country to build a robust and skilled nursing staff.

Is this the first time that Main Line Health hospitals are recognized as Magnet?

This is the second time that Main Line Health has earned System designation, making us one of only a few health systems in the country to achieve this. In 2019, Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr Hospital and Paoli Hospital have been designated for the fourth time, and Riddle Hospital, Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital and Main Line Health HomeCare & Hospice have received designation for the second time.

How can I find a Magnet hospital?

All four Main Line Health acute care hospitals—Lankenau Medical Center, Bryn Mawr, Paoli, and Riddle hospitals—are Magnet hospitals, as well as Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital. For a list of Magnet-recognized hospitals across the country, visit the ANCC website.