Nursing Excellence

at McKay-Dee Hospital

Who we are

McKay-Dee Hospital is proud to serve as a Level II Trauma Center with a longstanding legacy of clinical excellence and deeply rooted commitment to patient-centered care. Our nursing team, comprising approximately 900 dedicated professionals, embodies the heart of our mission. Each nurse brings passion, skill, and an unwavering dedication to advancing the profession of nursing and improving the lives of the patients and communities we are privileged to serve.

Journey to Magnet excellence - American Nurses Credentialing Center

Journey to Magnet excellence

Being “on the Journey to Magnet Excellence” refers to a healthcare organization’s commitment to achieving the prestigious Magnet® Recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)- a designation that validates excellence in nursing and patient care. The Magnet journey is a transformational process that fosters a culture of nursing excellence, professional growth, and improved patient outcomes. It involves:

  • Creating a culture of excellence through shared governance, evidence-based practice, and continuous quality improvement.
  • Empowering nurses at all levels to lead innovations, amplify their voices, and practice to the top of their license.
  • Engaging all departments to achieve high standards in clinical outcomes and patient experience.

Our Care Delivery Model: Patient-Centered Care

At McKay-Dee Hospital, our care delivery model is rooted in patient-centered care. Our caregivers partner closely with patients and their families to understand and respond to each individual’s holistic needs, ensuring that every aspect of care is thoughtful, personalized, and deeply compassionate.

The Nursing Professional Practice Model graphic

Intermountain Health Nursing Professional Practice Model

At McKay-Dee Hospital, our nursing practice is grounded in Intermountain Health’s Nursing Professional Practice Model (NPPM), which aligns seamlessly with our mission, vision, values, and the fundamentals of extraordinary care. The NPPM is more than a framework; it is the heartbeat of our profession. It defines who we are as nurses, what we do, why we do it, and how we deliver care. It serves as both our foundation and our compass, guiding us to provide compassionate, evidence-based, and patient-centered care. Through this model, we honor the art and science of nursing, elevating our commitment to excellence and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.
Nursing shared governance model

Professional Shared Governance Councils

Professional Governance in nursing emphasizes empowering clinicians through shared decision-making and accountability. It fosters a culture based on partnership, equity, ownership, and accountability, thereby enhancing the profession's standards and the quality of patient care. Decision-making is grounded on evidence.

McKay-Dee Hospital has an integrated Professional Shared Governance structure consisting of the following councils and committees:

  • Unit Professional Governance Councils
  • Experience Professional Governance Council
  • Magnet Champions Council
  • Clinical Inquiry Professional Governance Council – EBP & Research
  • Leadership Professional Governance Council
  • Nursing Professional Development Council
  • Practice Professional Governance Council
    • Safe Mobility
    • Clinical Informatics
    • HAPI
  • Hospital Coordination Council 

Career Ladder Program

iAspire, Intermountain Health’s Professional Development Program, is a voluntary career ladder designed to recognize and reward nursing excellence for nurses working 50% or more in direct care roles.

The program supports the following and is aligned with our Nursing Professional Practice Model and the fundamentals of extraordinary care:

  • Encourages professional growth and development
  • Differentiates levels of nursing expertise
  • Fosters a culture of inquiry through evidence-based practice, research, and lifelong learning
  • Increases retention
  • Recognizes and rewards accomplishments achieved by the clinical nurse for their impact and the difference they make in safety, quality, patient experience, and professional practice
Tiffany Bears

A message from our Chief Nursing Officer - Tiffany

At McKay-Dee Hospital, nursing is at the heart of everything we do. We are proud of our long-standing tradition of compassionate, high-quality care and excited about the future we are building together. Our nurses are trusted professionals, leaders, and advocates who make a meaningful difference for patients, families, and our community every day.

We are deeply committed to nursing excellence and the Magnet culture, supporting an environment where nurses are empowered to grow, innovate, and practice at the highest level. The dedication, skill, and humanity our nurses bring to their work are what set McKay-Dee Hospital apart.

I am continually inspired by the passion and purpose of our nursing teams as they live the Intermountain mission of helping people live the healthiest lives possible.

Tiffany Bears, MSN, RN
Chief Nursing Officer
Intermountain Health McKay-Dee Hospital

Awards

HealthGrades Awards:

  • Outstanding Patient Experience
    • #1 Critical Care Excellence
    • #1 GI Care Excellence
    • #1 GI Surgery Excellence
    • America’s 250 Best Hospitals in Utah 

PINC AI/Fortune Awards:

  • Top 100 Hospitals: Top Teaching Hospital
  •  Top 50 Hospitals: Cardiovascular Hospitals 

mPINC: 

  • MKD outperforms the national average in maternity practices in Infant Nutrition and Care

Lown Institute Hospitals for Social Responsibility:

  • Grade “A” for Social Responsibility 

U.S. News and World Report Best Hospitals: 

  • #3 in Utah and Salt Lake Metro Area
  • “High Performing” Specialty: Pulmonary and Lung Surgery 

Becker’s Hospital Review Awards: 

  • Only hospital in Utah to receive this award
  • Teaching hospitals without cardiovascular residency program 

The American Heart Association: 

  • Get With The Guidelines® - Stroke GOLD PLUS with Target: Stroke Honor Roll Elite Plus, Advanced Therapy, and Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll 

Clinical Excellence

  • CMS Hospital: 5-Star Rating
  • Vizient: Top Decile Performance
  • LeapFrog: Safety Grade “A”
  • Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD Quality Leadership Awards by Vizient: McKay-Dee Hospital won #14 in the large, specialized complex care medical center cohort  

Certifications

  • The Joint Commission Accredited
  • The Joint Commission: Spine Surgery Center
  • Joint Commission | American Heart Association | American Stroke Association:
    • Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center