Magnet Nursing
Nursing Care on Par With the Best
John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital was recognized for excellence in nursing with the Magnet designation in December 2004. Only 3 percent of the nation’s hospitals currently hold this prestigious designation, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (an affiliate of the American Nurses Association).
To patients, the Magnet designation is a seal of approval, an assurance that they’ll receive quality nursing care. To nurses, it’s an assurance that they will work in an environment that values and respects them and provides resources for giving the best care to patients.
The award was the result of a long journey lasting over two years. That time was spent collecting evidence that the hospital met the high standards required for the Magnet designation and preparing supporting documentation. But the journey was not just about paperwork and not even about the coveted trophy. It was a journey of growth, learning and discovery, which gave birth to several successful programs for nurses. We feel that the changes brought by the journey were more important than the award itself.
Programs Started During the Magnet Journey
- The Center for Advanced Nursing (CAN): This program was designed to support John C. nurses in their professional development and nursing research. Nurses can apply for funding from CAN (up to $850 a year) to attend professional conferences and seminars that have clinical relevance, organizational benefit or that foster professional development.
- RN Refresher Course Program: Opportunity for nurses who have been out of the profession for awhile to retrain and get reactivated while receiving pay based on years of experience.
- Mentoring Program: A way for RNs who are new to the profession or John C. Lincoln to get adapted to the hospital culture and procedures, under the guidance of an experienced RN.
The Journey Ahead
Magnet recognition is not a permanent award. Continued excellence must be demonstrated during the four-year recognition period, and the entire application process needs to be repeated for re-designation to occur.
John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital is now on its second Magnet journey. It applied for re-designation in the fall of 2007, and a large team of nurses and other staff has been working tirelessly preparing the required documentation and evidence that must be submitted by October 1, 2008.
We are anxiously awaiting the last step of the process—a Magnet site survey, which should take place in late 2008 or early 2009. Then we will await the final decision. Regardless of the outcome, we know this journey will bring about just as much learning and positive change as the one we took several years ago.