September 27, 2010
Rush University Medical Center Again Awarded Magnet® Recognition, the Highest Seal of Approval for Quality Nursing
For the third time, Rush University Medical Center has received Magnet® status, the highest recognition given for nursing excellence. The designation recognizes Rush’s nursing staff for overall excellence and for providing the very best care to patients.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center – an independently governed organization within the American Nurses Association – first awarded Rush the four-year Magnet designation in 2002 and then again in 2006. Rush was the first hospital in Illinois serving both adults and children to achieve Magnet status and is the only one in the state serving both adults and children to receive the designation for a third time.
Hospitals that receive Magnet status are noteworthy for their excellence and innovation in nursing, and evidence suggests that organizations with these characteristics deliver better patient outcomes than non-Magnet organizations. Independent studies of Magnet hospitals have suggested that they have shorter lengths of patient stays, higher rates of patient satisfaction, increased time spent with patients, lower patient mortality rates and increased nurse retention rates.
“Receiving Magnet recognition again is a testament that our nursing staff continues to provide the very best care to our patients,” said Jane Llewellyn, PhD, RN, chief nursing officer, Rush University Medical Center.
To earn Magnet status, organizations undergo a vigorous, multi-faceted evaluation. The Magnet appraisal team interviewed more than 600 members of the Rush staff and visited 38 locations, including all nursing units, during a site visit held in August.
The review evaluated Rush nursing with regard to quality patient outcomes; innovative, patient-focused initiatives; nursing and interdisciplinary efforts to improve patient safety; the work environment and patient care; professional development of the nursing staff; and efforts to reduce turnover. The review also considered patient complaints, references, and community perspectives.
The concept of a “Magnet” hospital for nursing services was initially developed in the 1980s and refers to institutions that attract and retain highly skilled nurses and foster an environment that promotes quality patient care. In all, a little more than 370 hospitals out of approximately 5,000 nationwide – about 6.47 percent of hospitals – have received Magnet designation since the program was established in 1993. Only 34 have received Magnet status three or more times.
“Everyday our nursing staff demonstrates excellence in patient care with their expertise, compassion and dedication,” said Llewellyn. “Magnet status gives patients another reason to choose Rush by showing them they can rely on our nursing staff for the high level of care they need.”
