From the Chief Nursing Officers

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It is with immense pride and gratitude that we share UW Medical Center's 2025 Nursing Annual Report.

Every day, our nurses make a profound difference in the lives of patients, families, and colleagues through their expertise, compassion, dedication, and commitment to excellence. This report captures just a small sample of the extraordinary work taking place across UWMC and serves as a reflection of the exceptional nurses who continually inspire, innovate, and advance the profession of nursing.

Throughout 2025, our nurses demonstrated what is possible when professional excellence is paired with curiosity, innovation, and collaboration. Whether expanding access to care, advancing nursing research, improving patient outcomes, or investing in one another's professional growth, nurses across our system continue to lead meaningful change. At UWMC Northwest, nursing teams played a critical role in supporting the successful opening of the fifth floor of the Long-Term Civil Commitment (LTCC) unit. These investments in expanding access to specialized care reflect UWMC’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of our patients and community while creating an environment where nurses can thrive.

That same spirit of innovation could be seen across our organization. We launched the Sepsis Awareness Program, expanding education and rounding efforts to improve the early recognition and treatment of sepsis, and implemented new patient safety workflows, expanded specialty procedures, and developed innovative educational programs in Surgical services, designed to strengthen nursing practice and improve patient outcomes.

Our commitment to evidence-based practice and nursing research remains a defining strength of UWMC Nursing. This year, two of our nurses led a research study examining the impact of preoperative gabapentin administration on PACU length of stay, contributing valuable evidence to guide clinical practice. Their podium presentation at the Seattle Nursing Research Conference highlighted the important role nurses play in generating the knowledge that advances our profession and improves patient outcomes.

The collective expertise of our teams was also recognized through several extraordinary achievements. UWMC ECMO program was awarded ELSO's Platinum Level Center of Excellence designation, the highest recognition awarded by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization. UWMC is the only organization in Washington State and one of just 31 programs nationally to receive this distinction. UWMC Northwest, was recognized with the 2025 LifeSaver Award from LifeCenter Northwest, with a record-setting year of seven organ donors and 24 organs transplanted, changing countless lives through the gift of donation. These accomplishments reflect not only clinical excellence, but also the compassion, teamwork, and commitment that define our profession.

Just as importantly, we continued to invest in the growth and development of our nursing teams. More than 1,000 nurses across our campuses now hold specialty certifications, demonstrating a remarkable commitment to lifelong learning and professional excellence.

Across both campuses, more than 1,500 nurses received hands on education on topics such as pressure injury prevention, CLABSI prevention, and CAUTI prevention, strengthening the quality and safety of care across our campuses.

Underpinning all of these accomplishments is our continued commitment to fostering a healthy work environment. Through shared governance, professional development, collaboration, and meaningful engagement, we are strengthening a culture where nurses are empowered to lead, innovate, and influence practice. We were proud to earn the Bell Seal Award Recognition in 2025 for supporting mental health in the workplace.

As we look toward the future, we are preparing for an exciting milestone in our Magnet journey. We will seek our eighth Magnet designation in 2026 and, if successful, UWMC will become the first organization in the world to achieve this distinction. While this achievement would be historic, it is ultimately a reflection of the unwavering commitment of our nurses to excellence, innovation, professional practice, and compassionate care.

As we read through the stories in this report, we are humbled and honored to work alongside such talented individuals. The accomplishments highlighted here represent only a fraction of the remarkable work happening across UWMC every day. Thank you for your dedication to our patients, your commitment to one another, and your commitment to advance the profession of nursing. Together, you are shaping the future of healthcare and making a lasting difference in the lives of those you serve.