CHICAGO -- The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) and Stryker Medical have announced a two-year sponsorship agreement for a comprehensive research program to identify best practices of the nation's top performing emergency departments.

In , Stryker Medical will sponsor an ENA survey of nurse staffing and environmental characteristics from approximately 5,000 hospital emergency departments. The ENA will publish the results of the survey in a benchmarking guide in .  The results will be used to determine the competencies for a certification program of exemplary emergency departments across the nation. Stryker Medical will also sponsor various ENA events, including a diamond-level sponsorship of the and ENA annual meetings and an emerald-level sponsorship of the and ENA Leadership Challenges.

“With the severe nursing shortage, the ENA and Stryker Medical agree that the time has come to recognize those emergency departments that have worked to keep nursing turnover and vacancy rates low, and the morale of emergency nurses on their staff high,” said Mary Ellen Wilson, RN, ENA president.  “Throughout the next couple of years, our survey of 80 percent of the nation's emergency departments will determine performance benchmarks that will be used to recognize top EDs across the country."

The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) is the only professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing and emergency care through advocacy, expertise, innovation, and leadership. Founded in , ENA serves as the voice of more than 25,000 members and their patients through research, publications, professional development, injury prevention, and patient education.

Stryker Corporation is a leader in the worldwide orthopaedic market and is one of the world’s largest medical device companies. Stryker delivers results through a wide range of capabilities including joint replacements, trauma, spine and micro implant systems, orthobiologics, powered surgical instruments, surgical navigation systems, endoscopic products as well as patient handling and emergency medical equipment. Stryker also provides outpatient physical therapy services in the United States.

Source: ENA