Orange, Calif.– UCI Health has attained its fifth Magnet recognition, a testament to its continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. This credential is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.
Receiving Magnet recognition for the fifth time is a great achievement for UCI Health, as it continues to proudly belong to the global Magnet community – a small, select group of healthcare organizations and hospitals in the U.S and abroad.
“Magnet recognition is a tremendous honor and reflects the daily commitment our nurses make to delivering the highest quality of care to our patients,” said Anne Marie Watkins, DNP, MSHCA, RN, chief nursing executive for UCI Health and assistant dean of nursing education administration in the Sue & Bill Gross UCI School of Nursing.
“Earning consecutive Magnet recognition over 20 years is not just a great accomplishment and an incredible source of pride for our nurses, it underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drive our entire staff above and beyond to meet the healthcare needs of our community,” she said.
Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges healthcare organizations. 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. Currently, 612 hospitals in the U.S. and worldwide have achieved Magnet recognition, 55 in California. Fewer than 10% of Magnet hospitals have achieved five Magnet designations.
Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to healthcare organizations and their communities, such as:
- Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help and receipt of discharge information
- Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue rates
- Higher job satisfaction among nurses
- Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their positions
UCI Health has a long-standing tradition of nursing excellence. In 2003, UCI Medical Center became the first academic medical center in Southern California to achieve Magnet designation and the first hospital in Orange County.
In recent years, nursing units at UCI Medical Center have earned multiple Beacon Awards for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, including:
- Burn intensive care unit – one of only three burn ICUs in the country to have earned a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence
- Surgical intensive care unit — consecutive Beacon Awards for Excellence
- Neurosciences, cardiac care and medical intensive care units – silver Beacon Award of Excellence
Nearly 52% of nurses at UCI Health are nationally certified in at least one specialty and 83% are prepared at the BSN level or higher.
Healthcare organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality. The Magnet Model provides a framework for nursing practice, research, and measurement of outcomes. These include assessments of the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.
