The voice of ‘we’: Sentara Leigh Hospital becomes first in Hampton Roads to receive prestigious nursing recognition

Cupcakes, confetti, and over a hundred team members filled a room at Sentara Leigh Hospital this November for a very special celebration. 

On November 20, Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, Va., became the first hospital in Hampton Roads to receive Magnet with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a national honor which recognizes a hospital’s superior quality of nursing, teamwork, and the ability to provide world-class patient care. 

Joanne Inman, president of Sentara Leigh Hospital, celebrated with employees and said, “I continue to learn from each and every one of you. What this distinction represents, not just for nursing but our entire organization, humbles me, and I just loved being part of the survey this year.” 

She added, “I am inspired by how the Magnet process brings us together to be a more integrated team of colleagues who collectively make a difference for our patients. I’m proud with tears.”

Ten Sentara hospitals have earned the prestigious Magnet designation, a national honor for nursing excellence achieved by only 9.8% of hospitals in the United States. Magnet with Distinction takes it a step further, celebrating healthcare organizations which surpass the high standards required for Magnet recognition.

Obtaining Magnet recognition is a rigorous and lengthy process that demands commitment from leadership and the widespread engagement of hospital staff. 

In addition to a three-day on-site visit with Magnet appraisers, Sentara Leigh Hospital submitted over 350-pages worth of detailed stories, data tables, and supporting evidence to demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and patient care.

Left to right: Sentara Leigh Hospital Clinical Nurse Managers Donna Baybay and Dianne Rozier, Director of Patient Care Services Jewel Budden, and Clinical Nurse Manager Zena Carla Escobar enjoy the festivities. 

“It’s not just one thing that gets you Magnet, it’s many, many things,” said Tess Bilyeu, Magnet program director at Sentara Leigh Hospital.

“You’re graded on patient outcomes, employee satisfaction, turnover in the organization, the ability of leadership to lift up a shared voice and have frontline staff be the decision-makers. We recognize the voice of 'we' has so much more power than the voice of 'me'.”

Susan Winslow, Sentara’s vice president of professional practice and clinical education, added, “When nurses partner with housekeeping, food service, and facilities, and listen to the voice of patients and families, the outcomes are always better. It takes time though. It's not being in crisis or jumping to the first and easiest conclusion. It means every day you are listening to the people around you.” 

There’s a culture of collaboration at Sentara Leigh Hospital which empowers team members to think big and test their ideas through pilot programs, many of which end up being used across the Sentara system.

For example, in 2016, Sentara Leigh Hospital nurses worked with researchers, biostatisticians, and other healthcare professionals to develop the Patient Acuity Nursing Tool (PANT), a homegrown algorithm which allows nurse managers to evenly distribute the patient workload among their nurses. 

The PANT tool is now used in more than 100 nursing units across Sentara’s 12-hospital health system and also received national recognition in the nursing field, recently being featured in the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses, and the scholarly journal MEDSURG Nursing.

The “fami-Leigh” celebrates the culture of collaboration which led to them receiving Magnet with Distinction. 

“We feel an obligation to be innovative and set that gold standard, to not only improve outcomes at our hospital, but help other organizations as well,” said Bilyeu. “We have a high-functioning team and are equipped to add to the body of healthcare knowledge and best practices on both a regional and global level.”

Sentara Leigh Hospital is Sentara’s second hospital to achieve Magnet with Distinction. In August 2024, Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center in Woodbridge, Va. achieved their first-ever Magnet designation as well as Magnet with Distinction. 

According to the American Nurses Credentialing Center, as of January 2025, there are 21 organizations across 12 states that hold Magnet with Distinction. Virginia has two Magnet with Distinction organizations and both are Sentara hospitals. 

Karen Kemp, vice president and chief nursing officer at Sentara Leigh Hospital, closed out the celebration and said, “This isn’t the work of any one individual, but the collective collaboration, dedication, and passion of each team member working to serve our patients and our community. I am forever grateful for our fami-Leigh!”