Penn Medicine Princeton Medical Center (PMC) has earned redesignation as a Magnet recognized organization, the gold standard for nursing excellence.
The designation — PMC’s third — was announced last week by the Commission on Magnet during a virtual meeting with nurses, other staff, and senior leaders from across the Penn Medicine Princeton Health system. The decision was based on exceptional quality and patient experience outcomes documented in the extensive Magnet application and a three-day virtual site visit.
“At PMC and across Penn Medicine Princeton Health, we have a strong culture of pursuing excellence and challenging ourselves to meet higher standards of quality care and patient experience,” said Princeton Health CEO James Demetriades. “This is definitely true of our nurses, as evidenced by receiving Magnet designation for a third time.”
Approximately 180 hospitals — less than 4% of hospitals nationwide — have earned Magnet designation three or more times, noted Sheila Kempf, RN, PhD, NEA-BC, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Princeton Health.
“This is an impressive distinction,” Kempf said. “Magnet is the result of a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation of our professional practices, leadership, clinical outcomes, staff nurse satisfaction, and patient experience. Congratulations to our staff who went above and beyond to earn this achievement. Their dedication to excellence and passion for this organization, our patients, and each other are exemplary.”
The Commission on Magnet, part of the American Nurses Credentialing Center, commended PMC for 11 exemplars, or exemplary professional practices, during the virtual meeting last week. Three exemplars related to nurse certification rates; the percentage of nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or higher degree; and nurse satisfaction results that outpace national benchmarks.
Additionally, PMC excelled in four nursing-related clinical outcomes, including prevention of:
- Falls that cause patient injury.
- Hospital-acquired pressure injuries.
- Central line-associated bloodstream infections (better known as CLABSI).
- Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI).
Finally, PMC was commended for exemplary performance in four nursing-related patient experience measures: patient engagement, patient education, courtesy and respect, and careful listening.
While Magnet is a nursing recognition, Kempf thanked physicians, other professionals, and staff members throughout Princeton Health whose contributions support the Magnet journey and influence crucial factors such as quality care and patient satisfaction.
The Magnet designation is effective for four years. PMC previously received Magnet designations in 2012 and 2017.
Penn Medicine Princeton Health is one of the most comprehensive healthcare systems in New Jersey, providing acute care hospital services through Princeton Medical Center; behavioral healthcare through Princeton House Behavioral Health; in-home nursing, rehabilitation and hospice care; primary and specialty care through Princeton Medicine Physicians; ambulatory surgery and wellness services. For more information, visit www.princetonhcs.org.
Princeton Health is part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS), which, together with the University of Pennsylvania’s Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, forms Penn Medicine, one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research and excellence in patient care.