UK HealthCare and Eastern State Hospital earn elite Magnet distinction

UK HealthCare and Eastern State Hospital have earned Magnet designation, the highest institutional honor for nursing excellence granted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. 

Less than 10 percent of U.S. hospitals currently have Magnet status. Health care organizations earn the distinction by satisfying rigorous criteria measuring strength and quality of nursing. Magnet status recognizes environments that the ANCC believes attract and retain high-quality nurses who provide exceptional patient care. 

The goal of Magnet status is to identify and highlight nursing excellence. Magnet hospitals tend to have: 

• A low patient-to-nurse ratio. 
• Lower mortality rates for surgical patients. 
• Lower hospital-associated infection rates. 
• A shorter average length of stay for stroke patients. 

“We’re proud that UK HealthCare has once again been honored for attracting exceptional nurses and for the incredible care those nurses provide to our patients,” Marc Woods, UK HealthCare Assistant Chief Nurse Executive for Behavioral Health, said. “It’s also a huge honor for Eastern State Hospital to join the family of Magnet institutions. With the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, our nurses have risen to the occasion and continue providing our patients with the best possible care.” 

Hospitals must reapply for Magnet status every four years and undergo a demanding review process that requires widespread participation from leadership and staff. Organizations must provide qualitative and quantitative evidence on patient care and outcomes, then participate in a thorough on-site assessment by ANCC officials. 

During its most recent assessment, UK HealthCare retained the Magnet status it earned in 2016. This is the first Magnet recognition for Eastern State Hospital, owned by the state and managed by UK HealthCare since 2013. 

Magnet status signifies a sound organizational structure and culture. It speaks to how leaders value the nurses within their organization and provide the tools and environment necessary to foster exceptional care. 

Magnet hospitals routinely demonstrate: 

• A higher rate of nursing satisfaction. 
• Lower turnover. 
• A higher percentage of nurses with graduate degrees and national certification. 

“Earning Magnet status shows we’re doing things the right way, but we aren’t going to be satisfied with what we’ve already achieved,” Woods said. “With the help of our exceptional nurses and a bold vision, we’ll push UK HealthCare and Eastern State to even greater heights.”