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Community Medical Center announced today that it has been granted the esteemed Magnet Status for Nursing Excellence. This distinction is bestowed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the credentialing arm of the American Nurses Association (ANA), is granted only to hospitals which undergo a rigorous, voluntary evaluation process. It is called “magnet” because the ANA has demonstrated that hospitals who meet their stringent requirements have a superior ability to attract high quality nurses, recognize excellence in the provision of nursing services and reward professional nursing.
The ANCC is the nation’s largest and foremost accrediting and credentialing organization. The Magnet Recognition Program provides important national and international recognition to health care organizations that demonstrate sustained excellence in nursing care.
Nancy L. Wollen, Executive Director of Community Medical Center, said, “We have always known the value of and excellence of our nursing staff at Community Medical Center. Now, a well-respected, independent national accrediting body has also documented our nursing quality and for that we are exceptionally proud.”
She added, “Achieving Magnet status was truly a hospital-wide effort. Although the award recognizes nursing excellence, every employee played an important role in achieving this prestigious accolade. Together we are able to demonstrate the commitment of all hospital staff members to the development and promotion of nursing excellence.”
Community Medical Center is only the 68th hospital in the entire nation to earn Magnet status, and is only the second hospital in the Saint Barnabas Health Care System to be named a Magnet hospital. Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood earned this recognition in 2002.
Ronald J. Del Mauro, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System, said, “I am exceptionally proud of Community Medical Center’s achievement in receiving the Magnet award and congratulate all the employees who continually provide superb levels of patient care.”
He added, “Nurses are a vital component of care in all of the Saint Barnabas facilities. Achieving Magnet status will allow our system to recruit and retain the most highly qualified, skilled nurses in the industry.”
Wollen explained the process the hospital underwent to achieve Magnet status.
“First, we compiled a comprehensive application which outlined the fourteen standards of care and performance criteria which the institution was measured against. Then we prepared for an on-site evaluation by members of the ANCC which took place in mid-January,” she said.
The ANCC reviewed all the information and notified the hospital of its Magnet designation on March 10, 2003.
“This is such a rewarding outcome; the result of a very diligent, dedicated process by so many of our employees,” Wollen added. “Being a Magnet hospital has a great distinction surrounding it, and that distinction is really an extension of the outstanding work performed by our nursing staff on a daily basis.”
Independent studies of Magnet hospitals have shown that patients average a shorter length of stay and higher rate of satisfaction, nurses are more satisfied with their work and the care they provide, and hospitals have an increased rate of retention among nurses.
The Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program was established in 1993 to recognize health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and uphold the tradition within nursing that supports professional nursing practice. It is the highest level of recognition that the American Nurses Credentialing Center can accord to organized nursing services in the national and international health care community.
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