Dayan Nguyen holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Foods from the University of Houston, where he also completed nursing school prerequisites to maintain flexibility for a potential clinical career path. He is currently the senior manager of Data Services at Tipton Health. We made some time to speak to Dayan about his experiences at Tipton Health and beyond, as well as his advice for our nursing partners at any stage of their designation journeys.
What did you do before joining Tipton Health?
Following graduation, I was fortunate to begin my career as a data analyst at Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, supporting the Magnet® Program Director (MPD). In this role, I immersed myself in nursing data, gaining a deep understanding of how information is structured, analyzed, and presented throughout the organization and their Magnet Designation journey. My responsibilities ranged from organizing Magnet stories and analyzing data to coordinating Nurses Week activities and organizational initiatives. I contributed to the hospital’s second Magnet Designation as the project manager for the document submission process, conducted a mock site visit, created educational games to prepare nurses for the site visit, and coordinated logistics for the official Magnet site visit. This experience provided invaluable exposure to nursing practice, data strategy, and healthcare operations, and I’m especially grateful for the mentorship and leadership I received from the MPD.
How would you describe your experience leading the Data Services team?
I would like to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Tipton Health Data Services team. What began as a one-person operation has evolved into a dynamic team of four, thanks to the growing demand for our services and the expanding needs of our nursing partners. As our scope increased, we brought in additional experts with diverse backgrounds and valuable experience, strengthening our capabilities and enhancing the quality of support we provide. I am so proud to be a leader of this incredible team!
Is there anything that you wish our nursing partners knew at the beginning of their Magnet Designation journeys?
If you are new to an MPD role or organization, I recommend taking the time to clearly differentiate nursing units from other departments within the hospital, particularly when working with vendors and data systems. For instance, if you request patient experience reports from your Patient Experience Manager, you will likely receive data that reflects the hospital-wide perspective. While this information can be useful, Magnet documentation specifically requires data focused on nursing units and responses to nursing-related questions/categories from the patient experience survey. It’s important to be precise in your request by providing a list of nursing-specific units and identifying the relevant nursing-related survey questions. Many vendors offer a Patient Experience Magnet-Approved Questions Crosswalk, and only data from these approved questions can be included in the Magnet document.
Do you have any advice for our partners as they move further into their designation journeys?
My advice regarding nursing data on the Magnet Designation journey is to treat each vendor and their database as separate silos. For example, the database for your nursing quality clinical indicators (such as NDNQI) will likely use different unit names and classifications than your Patient Experience vendor. Similarly, if your RN Satisfaction survey is conducted by a different vendor, their database may also define and label units differently. This variation is exactly why the ULDC is essential; especially when appraisers review the “Fab 5” empirical outcomes: EP3EO, EP19EO, EP20EO, EP21EO, and EP22EO. I highly recommend to create your own crosswalk for internal purposes, listing all your nursing units and the different unit names used in each vendor’s database.
Speaking of advice, is there anything you can tell us about the Fab 5 that will make it easier for our partners?
Organize your data, align different vendors and databases, and establish a structured approach to collecting and reporting nursing metrics. This will take time upfront; however, this initial investment will provide a strong foundation for future success. When it comes time to present your graphs in the Fab 5 narratives, you’ll find the process much clearer and more efficient, with far less confusion or rework.
What would you say is the most rewarding part of working on the Data Services team?
One of the most rewarding aspects of my role is working with MPDs from around the world. I enjoy collaborating with professionals who are at the forefront of the nursing profession. Many MPDs are clinical experts with deep knowledge of patient care, but they may have limited experience with data analytics. I see myself as a bridge; someone who provides the support and guidance they need to succeed in their roles. What inspires me most is their unwavering commitment to doing what is right and highlighting the incredible work of their nurses. Knowing that I play a part in showcasing their impact makes me feel like I am, in some small way, helping to improve the health of the communities they serve.
Do you have a favorite Magnet® example or one that you think does a better job than most to showcase the hard and excellent work our partners put in along their journeys?
EP19EO (Inpatient Nurse-Sensitive Indicators) and EP20EO (Ambulatory Nurse-Sensitive Indicators) are among my favorite examples within the Magnet Document, as they highlight the dedication and impact of nursing teams. Watching the data improve over time as a result of collaboration between nurses and interdisciplinary teams is incredibly inspiring. These impressive outcomes are driven by frontline staff who identify challenges, review best practices and current literature, collaborate on implementation strategies, and evaluate post-implementation results. It’s a rigorous process, and seeing those efforts translate into measurable improvements in patient care is both rewarding and a powerful testament to the value of nursing excellence.
What are you most proud of working at Tipton Health so far?
Working at Tipton Health is rewarding in many meaningful ways. Our organization mirrors the structure and culture of a healthcare system: we have an inspiring CEO and CNO, and our internal Tipton Council promotes work-life balance and fosters a fun, engaging work environment. We even celebrate Nurses Week by recognizing our team members with and without nursing backgrounds. We also have our own Rapid Response Team when there is a need to put all our heads together to formulate a solution to a client specific situation. What truly sets Tipton Health apart is our leadership’s commitment to listening, supporting, and empowering us. They ensure we have the resources we need and make each of us feel valued and essential to our success. I’m incredibly proud of the growth we’ve achieved and the continued evolution of Tipton Health as a leader in driving transformational nursing excellence.
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