NCH nurses earn hospital fourth Magnet designation

Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH) has been named a Magnet hospital for the fourth consecutive time, a designation that recognizes excellent nursing care. This accomplishment puts NCH in the top 2 percent of the U.S. for this recognition.

NCH received the designation Thursday from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an arm of the American Nurses Association.

Less than 10% of U.S. hospitals earn Magnet designation just one time.

According to the American Nurses Association Credentialing Center, the Magnet Recognition Program designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their nursing strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes. The Magnet Recognition Program provides a roadmap to nursing excellence, which benefits the whole of an organization. To nurses, Magnet Recognition means education and development through every career stage, which leads to greater autonomy at the bedside. To patients, it means the very best care, delivered by nurses who are supported to be the very best that they can be.

“This designation is considered the gold standard for nursing excellence. It is a true testament to our more than 1,400 outstanding nurses and their focus on providing the best care possible for our patients and the community,” said Steve Scogna, CEO of NCH. “It also is a direct result of the inspiring work across NCH – including our ambulatory services – by all of our team members. I cannot thank the nursing leadership team enough for their magnificent work.”

“As in much of the country, NCH was in a region experiencing a second surge of COVID-19 and the nurses were amazing dealing with the day to day operations of patient care during the pandemic, as well as the challenges of virtual meetings and social distancing throughout the Magnet evaluation visit,” said Eileen Gillespie, D.N.P., R.N., and Chief Nursing Officer. “Nurses and other staff expressed their support for each other and felt supported by the organization during this challenging year. Strong structures and processes built in non-COVID-19 times have served NCH nursing well in 2020, including their shared decision-making, teamwork, collaboration with other disciplines and departments, evidence-based practice and outcome measurement.”

There are 548 Magnet facilities worldwide, 38 in Illinois.