Medical Center, Again, Achieves Highest Nursing Recognition
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The prestigious distinction of Magnet® nursing status has for the third time been awarded to North Carolina Baptist Hospital at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the nation’s leading credentialing organization.
The Magnet® award is bestowed by the ANCC, the accrediting body of the American Nurses Association, to recognize and honor the nursing staffs of hospitals that meet the nation’s highest standards for nursing excellence.
“Achieving redesignation of our Magnet status is a tremendous accomplishment and validates the professionalism of our staff,” said A. Patricia Johnson, R.N., M.A.,Ed., M.A., vice president of operations/chief nursing officer at Baptist. “With this being the third time that our designation has been reaffirmed, the AANC notes that we are among the top 2 percent of Magnet hospitals.”
Based on research, the Magnet Recognition Program® was developed to recognize health care organizations that provide the best in quality patient care and uphold excellence in professional nursing practice. Magnet® designation is achieved after successfully completing a process whereby a team of professionals with experience in quality indicators, nursing administration, and nursing care appraises a hospital’s nursing services, clinical outcomes and patient care. Research data and extensive interviews help evaluate the nursing practice with respect to the patient, family, community and nursing services.
“Magnet status is the ultimate benchmark to measure quality of nursing care and serves to attract and retain quality employees,” said Donny Lambeth, president of Baptist.
Baptist received its original four-year Magnet® designation in 1999 and was the first in the state to achieve the designation. Today, there are 332 health care organizations recognized by the Commission on Magnet® in the United States and internationally. When U.S. News & World Report publishes its annual guide to "America's Best Hospitals," being a Magnet® facility contributes to the total score for quality of inpatient care.
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