Maria Ducharme has been named the chief nursing officer at The Miriam Hospital. Ducharme has held various leadership roles throughout her 23-year career at the hospital. She previously served as administrative director of patient-care services. Ducharme is a graduate of Rhode Island College and received an M.A. in nursing from the University of Rhode Island.
PBN: Can you talk about the meaning of the Magnet Recognition Program?
DUCHARME: Magnet hospital characteristics have been shown to be positively aligned to a rich patient-safety climate, a work environment with greater nurse satisfaction and retention. In addition, continuous education and professional development of these individuals produces a work force that has great levels of expertise. We are looking forward to a site visit in September of this year where the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the organization that oversees the Magnet Recognition Program, will determine our accreditation status.
PBN: What responsibilities are you looking forward to in your new position as chief nursing officer?
DUCHARME: It’s an extremely exciting and thought-provoking time to be in the position of chief nursing officer. Health care will be facing many challenges in the very near future. As a Magnet hospital recognized for its nursing excellence, participation in organizational problem solving, and multidisciplinary collaboration, my goal is to take on these challenges and become even more influential as a major contributor to patient quality and safety.
I look forward to leading the hospital to a fourth Magnet designation. Engaging staff in decision-making and providing a framework for quality improvement – which the Magnet Recognition Program provides – encourages the professional development of individual caregivers, thus driving enhanced outcomes for patients.
PBN: In 23 years at Miriam Hospital, what types of improvements have you seen?
DUCHARME: One of the most striking improvements has been the shift from nurses’ personal accountability. … They understand they contribute to the overall delivery of care and strive for programmatic changes that help meet quality and safety metrics, such as reducing patient falls. Over the years, nurses on the front lines have partnered with leadership to develop programs to improve patient outcomes. One of the hallmarks of a Magnet organization is this shared governance approach. The Magnet Recognition Program has provided guidance, a sense of pride, ownership and accountability for our nurses. •
