MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital’s Shared Leadership Council marked the end of 2025 by reflecting on the year’s progress and beginning its journey toward Magnet certification. Rather than focusing on the milestone itself, the celebration centered on what mattered most: the meaningful work and accomplishments led by Tacoma General nurses throughout the year.
In 2025, Tacoma General nursing teams advanced patient care, safety and operational efficiency through several impactful initiatives:
- Cardiac resource nurse program. Launched to provide expert support for high‑acuity cardiac patients, offering real‑time guidance, mentorship and improved continuity of care.
- Intermediate care team. Created to help progressive care nurses build confidence and capability in caring for higher‑acuity patients, supported by strong leadership and a structured development pathway.
- Reduced ventilator‑associated pneumonia in trauma patients. By adopting evidence‑based practice — administering antibiotics within 12 hours of intubation — the team exceeded its goal, performing at 86 percent compliance (goal: 75 percent).
- Gratitude program. Introduced as an evidence‑based recognition effort to boost caregiver engagement, morale and well‑being, reinforcing a positive workplace culture.
- Workplace violence resource binder. Developed by the 6‑Rainier/7‑Olympic council to support caregivers in de‑escalation, safe response and post‑event resources. Their work contributed to a drop in violent incidents from 32.99 in February to 9.77 in July.
- Rental bed management improvements. Through an innovative idea from health unit coordinator Kim Morales, Tacoma General partnered with supply chain and vendors to implement RFID tracking. This reduced hallway clutter and saved more than $140,000 in the first quarter alone.
Improving safety for trauma patients
In 2025, MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital strengthened its efforts to reduce ventilator‑associated pneumonia (VAP), a serious complication that can affect recovery for trauma patients. After identifying rising VAP rates, the hospital brought trauma and intensive care teams together to improve coordination, strengthen communication during daily rounds and update care practices to ensure prevention steps were followed consistently.
These efforts included focused nursing education, earlier mobility for eligible patients and streamlined workflows in Epic, all aimed at supporting safer, more reliable care. By improving how teams worked together day to day, caregivers were better equipped to identify risks early and respond quickly for patients who rely on ventilator support.
As a result, Tacoma General has reduced the risk of VAP and strengthened teamwork across trauma and ICU teams, contributing to better outcomes for patients. The work was also shared on a national stage when one of Tacoma General’s trauma nurses presented the initiative at the 2025 Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP) conference, hosted by the American College of Surgeons. By focusing on collaboration and evidence‑based care, Tacoma General continues to enhance patient safety and strengthen trauma services for the community.
Provided by: The frontline nurses at MultiCare Tacoma General Hospital, Magnet Journey