What Magnet Designation Means for Patients and Nurses

The Magnet Recognition Program was developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in 1990 as the highest credential for nursing practices across the world. The program focuses on advancing three goals within each organization: promoting quality in a setting that supports professional practice, identifying excellence in the delivery of nursing services and disseminating best practices in nursing services.

The Magnet® program is recognized as the gold standard of nursing excellence. Currently, only 378 of more than 6,000 U.S. healthcare organizations have received the credential. The Magnet application and review process is rigorous and lengthy and demands widespread participation from leadership and staff.

What does this mean for patients?

Patients who receive care at a Magnet organization can be assured that their hospital holds the top credential for excellence in nursing. In studies of Magnet environments, more positive practice environments have been associated with higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication and availability of help.

What does this mean for nurses?

Magnet-recognized organizations employ the best trained and most qualified nurses with 51.4 percent of RN decision makers holding graduate degrees. Magnet facilities also outperform other hospitals in both recruiting and retaining nursing professionals, resulting in higher employee satisfaction and lower staff turnover.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has awarded Ochsner Medical Center with Magnet Designation status for the fourth time! Less than 1 percent of Magnet organizations receive this designation four times in a row. This recognition is a true testament to the quality of Ochsner’s nursing practice and the caliber of nurses working for the organization.