One Public Hospital's Journey to Nursing Excellence: Professional Practice as the Foundation

In 2000, the vacancy rate for registered nurses at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (VMC) was 16%, and registered nurses (RNs) were placed on the hospital's "endangered species" list-a list of those healthcare professionals whose recruitment and retention had to be seriously addressed for the organization to remain viable into the future. Implementation of California's nurse-to-patient ratio legislation, which would substantially increase the demand for nurses, was expected to occur in 2004, and we knew we had to create a better work environment to become an employer of choice. © 2009 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.