Prestigious Magnet Award cites UI Hospitals and Clinics for nursing excellence

Cheers erupted and confetti flew when word arrived that University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics had become the first hospital in Iowa to receive the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence.

The announcement came in January 2004 during an official phone call to Linda Q. Everett, Ph.D., R.N., associate director and chief nursing officer. Everett received the call in the company of 200 nursing staff and hospital administrators, including Director and CEO Donna Katen-Bahensky.

The prestigious award--only 101 hospitals nationwide have received the designation--is given to hospitals that undergo a rigorous, voluntary evaluation process. UI Hospitals and Clinics completed that process in late 2003, following 18 months of preparation.

Given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the Magnet Award is more than a certificate of recognition. Independent studies show that patients who stay at hospitals with Magnet status spend less time in the hospital and go home more satisfied.

Furthermore, nurses working in Magnet hospitals are more satisfied with their work and the care they provide, and Magnet hospitals have an increased rate of nursing retention.

Katen-Bahensky said she was "delighted" that the nursing staff's excellence was now recognized on the highest possible level. "The dedication and professionalism of our nurses have always been outstanding."