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When Dan Lose, DNP, RN, CNML, returned to UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital last year, he was stepping into familiar territory.
He was returning to the organization where his healthcare career began – reconnecting with the people, values and commitment to exceptional care that shaped him throughout his professional journey.
Lose joined St. Luke’s in 2014 as a registered nurse in the Admission Center. Today, he serves as Director of Acute Adult Services.
“The return has been everything I hoped it would be,” Lose says. “The people have been welcoming and supportive – from the interview process through my first months on the job. You can see our values reflected in the way team members work together to care for patients.”
Ongoing Commitment to Patient-Centered Care
Since returning, Lose has helped lead the relaunch of the St. Luke’s Discharge Lounge, a space where patients can comfortably wait for transportation home following their hospital stay. The lounge has improved patient flow by making inpatient beds available sooner, while providing a more convenient experience for patients and families.
He has also partnered with multidisciplinary teams on a cardiac telemetry improvement project focused on strengthening the timeliness and reliability of patient monitoring and improving communication among caregivers.
For Lose, those projects are examples of what he likes most about working at St. Luke’s. Team members are encouraged to identify opportunities, work across departments and help make things better for patients and coworkers alike.
“One of our greatest strengths is the expertise of our nurses and front-line team members,” says Kristin McVay, MSN, MHA, RN, St. Luke’s Chief Nursing Officer. “They see opportunities, solve problems and improve care every day. Our job as leaders is to listen, remove barriers and create an environment where their voices help drive decisions.”
Nationally Recognized for Nursing Excellence
That focus on listening to the clinical frontline and engaging their voice is consistent with the principles behind Magnet nursing recognition.
St. Luke’s is the only hospital in Cedar Rapids and one of only four hospitals in Iowa to earn the Magnet designation, which is the highest national recognition for nursing excellence. The hospital first achieved Magnet status in 2009 and is currently in its fourth redesignation cycle. Only about 2% of hospitals nationwide have achieved Magnet designation four times, and fewer than 10% of hospitals hold Magnet status.
For nurses, Magnet recognition signals a workplace where nursing leadership is valued, professional development is supported and team members have a voice in decisions that affect patient care.
Lose says those qualities are evident throughout the organization.
“Magnet recognition reflects the commitment to excellence that exists throughout St. Luke’s,” he says. “It’s evident in how team members support one another, collaborate across disciplines and stay focused on providing the best possible care for patients. Being part of an organization that values nursing excellence and empowers nurses to make a difference is one of the reasons I was excited to come back.”
When asked what he would tell someone considering a career at UnityPoint Health - Cedar Rapids, Lose’s answer came easily.
“I believe it starts with the people,” he says. “It’s the small things, making eye contact, saying ‘hi’ in the hallways, how team members talk with one another and work collaboratively, and the unwavering commitment to our patients and team members from the senior executive team. All of it shows that we are an organization that values the right things. We’re committed to helping every team member live out their ‘why’ in healthcare.”
Ready to join a supportive team? Explore current openings and learn more about careers at UnityPoint Health – Cedar Rapids today!
