Select from the following questions
What is the purpose of the Pathway to Excellence nurse survey?
The nurse survey is an integral part of the assessment process for organizations that apply for Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The survey invites nurses throughout the organization to share their perceptions of the workplace environment. Responses from the nurse survey provide complementary information to the application materials an organization submits to ANCC.return to top
What kinds of questions about the workplace environment does the nurse survey ask?
The survey asks questions relevant to the presence of essential elements of a positive work environment as defined by 2012 Pathway to Excellence criteria. It covers the following topics:
- Decision making about nursing practice
- Input into daily staffing decisions
- Process in place to communicate staffing concerns
- Input into hiring of new staff
- Injury, illness, and accident prevention in place
- Process in place when sustaining a safety-related event at work
- Report concerns about patient care without negative consequences
- Report concerns about practice of professionals without negative consequences
- Feedback given throughout orientation
- Staffing patterns accommodate orientation needs
- CNO accessible
- CNO advocates for nurses
- Staffing patterns accommodate educational activities
- Input into selection of educational programs
- Wages based on education, expertise, experience, or experience
- Retention incentives in place
- Recognition for professional achievements
- Recognition for nurse-driven initiatives
- Flexible scheduling in place
- Support programs for personal issues in place promotes personal health
- Education on respectful communication or collaboration
- Non-retaliatory protections for disrespectful conduct in place
- Knowledge of procedure to report disrespectful conduct
- Nurse managers advocate for patients
- Nurse managers advocate for nurses
- Outcomes of quality initiatives shared
- Participation on interdisciplinary quality teams return to top
Why does the survey ask for the last four digits of my Nurse License number as an identifier?
With online survey administrations, it sometimes happens that a respondent can accidentally submit two sets of survey answers. It is important to eliminate accidental duplicate responses before preparing a summary report. The last four digits of your nursing license number gives ANCC a method for identifying and eliminating duplicate survey submissions without being able to connect them to an individual.return to top
If I don't want to provide the last four digits of my license, can I put in a random number?
No. The potential exists for two people to enter the same number. return to top
How is my confidentiality protected if I participate in the survey?
The answers you provide in the Pathway to Excellence Nurse Survey are completely confidential. Your survey responses are submitted to ANCC through a secure web site, and only authorized ANCC staff will have access to those responses. No one at your organization can obtain access to your individual responses. return to top
What if I have a concern about how this survey is being conducted?
For Concerns about how this survey is being conducted at your organization, please notify the Pathway Program Office at 301-628-5222 or patience.harris@ana.org. return to top
How are the results reported to my organization?
Your responses will be combined with the responses of all the other nurses in your organization to produce a summary report. The survey report your healthcare organization receives will include only the total number of respondents who participated in the survey and a summary of the average aggregate response for each item about the workplace environment. return to top
Why am I getting a blank screen after I answer question 1?
Question 1 is a mandatory field that cannot be skipped. You must enter only whole numbers in order to proceed. return to top
Why am I getting a blank screen after I answer question 12?
If you're getting a blank screen after question 12, go back and make sure you entered only whole numbers into questions 8 and 9. return to top
How do I know I have completed the survey?
You have only finished and submitted the survey when you are redirected to the following message: "Congratulations! You have successfully completed the nurse survey. You may now close the screen. Thank you for your participation."
If you do not reach this screen, you have not completed the survey and your results have not been collected. return to top
Can I go backwards in the survey to change my answers if I want to?
Yes, you may click the "back" button from any screen to return to previous screens. return to top
If I cannot finish the survey in one sitting, can I return to finish it at another time?
Yes, you may click the "Save" button at the bottom of any screen, and a URL will appear in the address bar at the top of the computer screen. You must save this URL to return to the survey at a later time, and it will take you back to where you left off. return to top
Who is eligible to take the survey?
All Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses, including direct-care, non direct-care, full-time, part-time, per diem or float pool, advanced practice nurses, and contract or agency RNs and LPNs, must be invited to participate in the survey. return to top
How many nurses must take the survey for my organization's application to be successful?
The minimum response rate required is for 51% of all eligible nurses to participate in the survey. ANCC's survey administrator for the Pathway to Excellence program will give the organization a status report on the current participation rate once a week for each of the three weeks that the survey remains open. return to top
What difference does it make whether I answer the survey or not?
The survey collects feedback from all nurses throughout your organization on the degree to which they perceive essential elements of a positive workplace environment to be present in the organization. It is your opportunity to share your feedback on your work environment. return to top
If you have any questions about the Pathway to Excellence Nurse Survey, or concerns about how this survey is being conducted at your organization please notify the Pathway Program Office.
Contact Patience Harris, Senior Pathway Specialist for ANCC's Pathway to Excellence program, at 301.628.5222 or patience.harris@ana.org.
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