System News

Roper Hospital on Thursday earned its first Pathway to Excellence designation, marking a significant milestone for Roper St. Francis Healthcare as all four of its hospitals now hold American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) recognitions.

The news was met with an outpouring of joy.

Applause erupted from teammates who gathered in the Irene Dixon Auditorium this morning. Balloons floated from the ceiling, confetti flew around the room, and pom poms shimmied in the air.

With tears welling up in her eyes, Roper Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Susan Bennett said that achieving this designation demonstrates what she’s known all along.

“We have what it takes,” Bennett said. “I’ve known for a long time how special our nurses are. I’m so proud of every Roper Hospital nurse. You all deserve this so much.”

Pathway to Excellence is the premier designation for healthy work environments, and it recognizes organizations that demonstrate a commitment to establishing the foundation of a healthy workplace for staff. The Pathway to Excellence framework is built on six standards: shared decision-making, leadership and safety, along with quality, well-being and professional development. These pillars support the creation of positive practice environments across various healthcare settings.

To have a successful Pathway to Excellence survey, the following conditions must be met:

• 60 percent of all eligible RNs/LPNs must finish the survey.
• All 28 survey items must have a 50 percent favorable response of “agree” or “strongly agree.”
• 21 out of the 28 survey items must have a 75 percent favorable response of “agree” or “strongly agree.”

Roper Hospital surpassed these benchmarks with a 70 percent survey response rate and all 28 survey items receiving a 75 percent favorable response. Remarkably, 16 out of the 28 questions received a 95 percent favorable response.

Nursing Excellence Program Manager Allyson Colvin has been a nurse at Roper Hospital for nearly a decade. She reflected on what this recognition means to her.

“Roper Hospital has for so long had this culture of excellence,” she said. “We just didn’t have the designation to match it. Now, we do. My cup is full.”

Pathway-designated organizations are recognized as top workplaces for nurses because of their high satisfaction and strong retention rates, demonstrating a commitment to fostering a culture of positivity, engagement and empowerment.

“This team has been working hard on achieving designation for so long,” Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Marissa Jamarik said. “The recognition is very well-deserved.”

She shared her excitement for Roper St. Francis Healthcare’s continued efforts to advance nursing excellence.

“Investing in our teammates and cultivating a culture of engagement are two key drivers of our Strategic Plan 2030,” Jamarik said. “Earning this designation is part of that plan, and our next goal is for all four hospitals to achieve Magnet designation by 2030.”

• Roper Hospital is the fourth Roper St. Francis Healthcare facility to achieve an ANCC designation, earning its first Pathway to Excellence designation.
• Last month, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital teammates became the first in the state to achieve Magnet designation four consecutive times — this time with the prestigious recognition of Magnet with Distinction.
• Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital earned its first Pathway to Excellence designation in April 2023.
• Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital received its third Pathway to Excellence designation in October 2021. The team now is working to compile its Magnet document for a 2025 submission.