– Medical Center Receives Prestigious Magnet® Recognition, reinforces commitment to providing nursing excellence –
News Release 3/20/14 –
PERTH AMBOY – Raritan Bay Medical Center has again attained Magnet® recognition as part of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. This voluntary credentialing program for hospitals recognizes excellence in nursing and is the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice.
“Magnet recognition is a tremendous honor and reflects our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to this community,” said Raritan Bay Medical Center (RBMC) President and CEO Michael R. D’Agnes. “To earn Magnet recognition in 2004 and 2009 were great accomplishments and an incredible source of pride for our nurses. Our achievement of this credential for an additional four years underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drives our entire staff to strive harder each day to meet the healthcare needs of the people we serve.”
Magnet recognition has become the gold standard for nursing excellence and is taken into consideration when the public judges healthcare organizations. In fact, U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.
To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff and demonstrating qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding patient care and outcomes. The Commission on Magnet votes whether recognition will be granted after an onsite review process. An organization seeking to reapply for recognition must provide documented evidence of how Magnet concepts, performance and quality were sustained and improved since its last recognition.
“Since our first Magnet recognition in 2004, we have continued to challenge ourselves and each other to build a culture of excellence,” says Raritan Bay Medical Center Senior Vice President Patient Care Services, Chief Nursing Officer Joan Harewood, DNP, RN, NEA-BC. “Our achievement of Magnet status for the third time is proof of our commitment to continually assess, evaluate and improve how we deliver care. RBMC nurses love what they do and it shows in the exceptional experiences they provide to their patients.”
Studies show improved patient outcomes in hospitals with higher rates of BSN-prepared nurses, those with a four-year college degree. RBMC invests in its nurses providing tuition reimbursement and encouraging them to attend workplace classes and off-site conferences. As a result of this commitment to professional development, forty-seven percent of RBMC nurses are BSN prepared, and nearly half have achieved national certification in their clinical specialty. RBMC nurses are, in turn, committed to the community, with a 14.8 year average length of service.
Only 6.9 percent of U.S. hospitals and 24 out of New Jersey’s 73 hospitals meet Magnet Recognition standards. Hospitals must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality.
