UK HealthCare, Eastern State earn renewal of prestigious Magnet designation
Leadership and staff from UK HealthCare and Eastern State Hospital recently celebrated the successful renewal of the highest institutional honor for nursing excellence — Magnet status, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program.
“This designation acknowledges the skill and compassion to elevate the experience of every patient we serve,” said University of Kentucky Co-Executive Vice President for Health Affairs Robert S. DiPaola. “Magnet designation confirms what we already knew — that exceptional patient care is part of who we are, and it drives everything we do. It reinforces our promise to deliver safe, evidence-based, patient-centered care — today and for the future of our community.”
Currently, only about 10% of hospitals in the U.S. have earned Magnet status, and just seven hospitals in Kentucky have earned the designation. Considered the “gold standard” for nursing, health care facilities that seek Magnet status undergo a lengthy, thorough application process that requires documentation of qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding patient care and outcomes, followed by a four-day on-site evaluation. After the on-site review process, the Commission on Magnet Recognition reviews the completed appraisal report to determine whether Magnet recognition will be granted.
“Achieving our third consecutive Magnet designation is a testament to our nurses’ commitment to excellence, innovation and compassionate care,” said UK HealthCare Chief Nurse Executive Gwen Moreland, D.N.P. “This recognition reflects the strength of our professional practice environment and our focus on continuous improvement. We remain dedicated to advancing nursing practice and delivering exceptional outcomes for the people of Kentucky, every patient, every time.”
Hospitals must reapply for Magnet status every four years. Eastern State Hospital, which is managed by UK HealthCare, joined the system’s Magnet designation in 2021 and is included in this year’s renewal.
“We’re proud to say that we were the first state psychiatric hospital in the country to receive Magnet designation back in 2021, and I’m incredibly proud of our staff for earning this renewal,” said Marc Woods, chief nursing officer for Eastern State Hospital. “Earning this prestigious designation is a rigorous process, and I’m thankful for the support we receive from UK HealthCare that enables us to provide the type of top-tier care that Magnet status recognizes.”
The Magnet Recognition Program began in the early 1990s, originating from a 1983 nursing research study that identified common characteristics in hospitals that successfully recruited and retained top talent nurses. More than 30 years of research demonstrate these positive outcomes for health care facilities that achieve Magnet designation compared to non-Magnet organizations:
- Higher nursing-sensitive quality outcomes
- Higher patient experience scores
- Higher nurse satisfaction
- Lower nursing turnover rates and higher nursing retention rates
“UK HealthCare nurses have taken a leadership role in demonstrating that it takes all our caregivers working as a team to meet the needs of patients and their families,” said Moreland. “By achieving Magnet status once again, we not only prove that the power of advanced medicine is being delivered here but also strengthens the University of Kentucky’s Advancing Kentucky Together initiative. This redesignation underscores our commitment to elevating health outcomes across the Commonwealth, ensuring that every patient and family benefits from the highest standards of nursing excellence and collaborative care.”
