Saint Peter’s University Hospital has been redesignated as a Magnet hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center of the American Nurses Association for 2020-24, making Saint Peter’s one of only five hospitals worldwide to receive this designation for six consecutive terms.
Magnet recognition is the highest honor for nursing service excellence that any hospital can receive.
Saint Peter’s was the 10th hospital in the nation to first receive Magnet designation in 1998, according to information provided by the hospital. This recent designation was awarded after a three-day virtual survey completed in mid-September.
The Magnet Recognition Program designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their nursing strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes. Magnet status is awarded to hospitals that deliver an extraordinary level of patient care, meet high levels of nursing excellence, establish an environment that encourages the pursuit of professional development and an emphasis on teamwork. To nurses, Magnet Recognition means education and development through every career stage, which leads to greater autonomy at the bedside, according to the statement.
“The nurses at Saint Peter’s are among the best in the nation. To be recognized with this prestigious honor that only five hospitals worldwide can claim is truly an honor for our nurses and our nursing leadership,” Leslie (Les) D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, said in the statement. “Our redesignation confirms the clinical excellence that is integral to patient care at Saint Peter’s. It is especially meaningful in these challenging times. The Magnet survey appraisers noted several key areas where the value of our nursing teamwork was exemplary.”
Magnet-recognized organizations are expected to uphold five key principles that support global issues in nursing and healthcare. These include: Transformational Leadership, Structural Empowerment, Exemplary Professional Practice, New Knowledge, Innovation and Improvements and Empirical Quality Results.
“Compassionate care complemented by the highest skill level is what truly sets us apart from other hospitals,” Linda Carroll, MSN, RN-BC, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, said in the statement. “While the COVID-19 crisis put us all to the test, I’m proud to say that our nursing team has always been comprised of outstanding individuals that deliver extraordinary care based on an interdisciplinary approach to quality and patient safety. Our philosophy of care is based on the five Cs of nursing – calling, caring, culture, commitment and collaboration, and each of these is reflected in the level of care provided at Saint Peter’s each day.”