Excellence. Innovation. Teamwork. Passion. These are just some of the words that nurses at Children’s Minnesota use to describe what it takes to earn Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Considered the gold standard in nursing excellence, Magnet designation recognizes quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice.
“Receiving Magnet designation is a reflection of the talent and knowledge of our nurses, and the excellent patient care every Children’s Minnesota employee provides to kids and families,” said Pamala VanHazinga, interim chief nursing officer and vice president patient care services at Children’s Minnesota. “It’s an honor to be recognized for our commitment to high-quality care and innovation, but also for the remarkable work environment we provide for our nurses.”
Currently, only 8 percent of U.S. health care organizations out of over 6,300 U.S. hospitals have achieved Magnet recognition. To achieve Magnet designation, organizations must pass a rigorous and extensive process, requiring multidisciplinary participation from leadership and staff. Organizations must reapply for Magnet designation every four years.
ANCC evaluates organizations seeking both initial Magnet recognition and recertification, judging how well organizations perform in the five foundations of the Magnet Model, which correlate to global issues in nursing and health care. ANCC looks at the degree to which leaders:
- Transform the organization to meet changing needs.
- Empower staff members and prepare them to face all challenges.
- Promote exemplary professional practice.
- Foster innovation within staff knowledge, clinical practice, and systemic improvements.
- Measure and evaluate outcomes throughout the entire organization.
“The journey to Magnet has taken years of dedication and hard work from teams across our organization,” said Rachael Lamsal, MSN, RN, NE-BC, clinical excellence program manager at Children’s Minnesota. “Our Magnet designation continues to push us to re-evaluate our strengths and opportunities for improvement so we can continue to provide remarkable patient care, but also foster a collaborative, empowering culture where each nurse can operate at the top of his or her license.”
According to the ANCC, Magnet hospitals improve patient care, safety and satisfaction. They also experience increased nursing job satisfaction rates, recruitment and retention.
To learn more about what Magnet means to nurses, patient families and our organization, watch the video below featuring nurses from across Children’s.
For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program, visit www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet.
