Above / Celebrating the announcement of Edward Hospital’s fourth designation as a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence are Joe Dant, President & CEO, left; Denise Arp, MS, RN-BC, Clinical Value Analysis Coordinator; Lynn Cochran, MS, RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Patti Foley, BSN, RN, CPPS, Nursing Practice Manager. The 2019 designation means Edward is one of only eight hospitals in Illinois to have achieved Magnet status four times or more. (Edward Hospital Photo)
For the fourth time, Edward Hospital has achieved recognition as a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program distinguishes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence – it is the highest national honor for professional nursing.
Edward, which employs 1,200 nurses, was originally recognized as a Magnet hospital in 2005, was first re-designated in 2010 and again in 2014. Edward Hospital is part of Edward-Elmhurst Health, which includes Elmhurst Hospital, also a Magnet hospital (2015).
2019 designation awarded to only eight hospitals in Illinois and 100 in the U.S.
The 2019 designation means Edward is one of only eight hospitals in Illinois and 100 in the U.S. to have achieved Magnet status four times or more. There are 45 Magnet-recognized healthcare organizations in Illinois. Of the nation’s 5,000 acute care hospitals, only about 500 are recognized as Magnet facilities by the ANCC.
With an audience of Edward nurses, nursing leaders and senior executives in the Edward Hospital Education Center Auditorium, Jeanette Ives Erickson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, Chair of the Commission for the Magnet Recognition Program, made the re-designation announcement during a conference call on Nov. 26.
“It is my absolute honor and privilege to officially notify you that the Commission on Magnet has unanimously voted to credential Edward Hospital as a Magnet organization,” said Erickson. “Your hard work is a testament not only to your organization’s commitment to nursing excellence but the professional nature in which you approach care on behalf of the patients and families you are serving. It’s really a job well done.”
“We are totally honored, proud and thrilled to receive this re-designation. As an organization, we work very hard every single day to fulfill the tenets of Magnet,” said Lynn Cochran, MS, RN, System VP, Operations/Chief Nursing Officer, Edward Hospital. “To earn Magnet recognition once was a great accomplishment and an incredible source of pride for our nurses. Our repeated achievement of this credential underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drive our entire staff to strive harder each day to meet the healthcare needs of the people we serve.”
Research demonstrates that Magnet hospitals provide specific benefits:
- Higher patient satisfaction
- Lower risk of 30-day mortality, reduced readmission rates and fewer complications
- Higher job satisfaction among nurses
- Nurses stay at the organization because they feel supported in their role
To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.
For more information about nursing at Edward and Elmhurst Hospitals, and Magnet status for both hospitals, visit www.eehealth.org/nursing.
For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program, visit www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet.
Story and photo submitted by Keith Hartenberger, System Director, Public Relations, Edward-Elmhurst Health.
