University of Iowa Health Care leaders received notice from the American Nurses Credentialing Center for Excellence in Nursing that UI Hospitals and Clinics has again been designated as a Magnet hospital.
Ann Williamson, PhD, associate vice president for nursing and chief nursing officer at UI Hospitals and Clinics, talks about the designation:
Congratulations on receiving the Magnet award. Can you explain what Magnet nursing recognition means to the staff, to patients, and families?
Magnet recognition is a sign of excellence in patient care and nursing practice. There are more than 5,000 health care organizations across the country eligible to achieve Magnet status, but only around 300 facilities are Magnet designated. Magnet status is important for patients because patients and families can compare hospitals and other health care facilities and know the type of product they’re getting. Magnet status is one of the factors considered by U.S.News and World Report when considering facilities to appear on its annual list of ‘America’s Best Hospitals.’
Can you describe the process Magnet applicants undergo to be considered as a Magnet hospital?
Hospitals hoping to achieve Magnet status must show evidence that their nursing department meets or exceeds excellence in all 14 Forces of Magnetism including providing quality care, evidence based protocols in a department with excellent management, and strong leadership. Patient care must be provided in an environment which supports nurses through education, empowerment, and opportunities for professional growth. After submitting data, or evidence, which for us was about 1,500 pages, the Magnet organization decides if the hospital will receive a site visit. Our site visit took place June 11 through 13, so the appraisers had the unexpected opportunity to see our nurses in action during the flood crisis.
How long does the process take?
It’s usually about an 18-month process.
UI Hospitals and Clinics was the first hospital in the state to receive Magnet designation four years ago. Did that make the process of re-designation easier?
Going through the process the second time gave us the advantage of having some experience with the process, but it certainly is not an automatic re-designation by any means. In each re-designation cycle, the bar is raised. Our Magnet Coordinator, B.J. Hannon, worked with other nursing leaders including Heidi Nobiling, the former Interim Chief Nursing Office; and LuAnn Montgomery, as well as our staff Nurse Champions to showcase the very best examples of care provided by our nurses at the bedside and in the clinics every day.
How does Magnet designation improve nurse recruitment and retention at UI Hospitals and Clinics?
Research across the county in Magnet facilities versus non-Magnet organizations demonstrates that Magnet designation is a very important measure of excellence for nurses. Nurses know when they choose a Magnet facility, the type of work environment that they are going to be working in. This is a work environment committed to excellence and to attracting and retaining the best nurses in the field. Our nurses are regarded and respected as the highly educated, competent, and caring men and women that they are.
We know that Magnet status is awarded for the next four years. Is there a standard that must be met to maintain the designation for the next four years?
Absolutely! We were first designated as a Magnet hospital in 2004, however hospitals can loose their Magnet status at any time and they must work very, very hard to maintain nursing excellence in order to become re-designated. We know that we can’t rest on our laurels and we will need to continue to strive for excellence in order to maintain our Magnet designation. |
