Pathway to Excellence: The St James's Story

St James's Hospital became the first hospital in Ireland to achieve Pathway to Excellence — an international accreditation from the American Nurses Credentialing Centre that recognises a genuinely positive working environment for nurses. This episode is the story of how a nursing team got it over the line, in their own words. Marie Kilduff talks to some of the people behind the success — from the Director of Nursing to the staff nurses on the wards — about what Pathway actually asks of a hospital, why the staff survey was the hardest part, and how link-nurse meetings, ward competitions and even a viral video helped bring more than 2,000 nurses with them. It's a candid conversation about culture, voice and what respect looks like in daily practice — including the moments when the effort dipped, and the day, right before St Patrick's weekend, when they finally heard the result. In this episode: What Pathway to Excellence is, and the six standards behind itThe submission, and the staff survey that had to clear a high barMaking it stick: link nurses, competitions and the ward trolleysThe honest part — when momentum dipped, and what carried them throughThe nursing councils, and what an equal voice looks like in practiceHearing the result, and what changes once you have it Featuring from St James's Hospital: Sharon Slattery, Director of NursingCharlotte Stuart, Assistant Director of NursingMarian Broderick, CNM 3Anne-Marie McKenna, CNM 2Ajin Ragavan Selvi, CNM 2Maria Begley, Staff Nurse Credits: Presented by Marie Kilduff Guests: Sharon Slattery, Charlotte Stuart, Marian Broderick, Anne-Marie McKenna, Ajin Ragavan Selvi and Maria Begley, St James's Hospital