For the third time, Nebraska Medical Center achieved Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. It’s a designation given to hospitals that demonstrate excellence in nursing and implementation of best practices.
“This is a reflection of the thousands of colleagues who dedicate themselves to extraordinary care each day, and it serves as a reminder to the people throughout the region who count on us for care that they’re in the right place,” said Nebraska Medicine CEO Dan DeBehnke, MD, MBA.
Magnet appraisers visited Nebraska Medical Center Jan. 30 through Feb. 2 and spoke to many different groups including nurses, leadership, physicians, board members and others.
In order to apply for Magnet designation, Nebraska Medicine must provide documentation detailing two years’ worth of patient outcomes. That data includes the rate of hospital-acquired infections, including falls with injury, pressure injuries, central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) and catheter-associated urinary infections (CAUTIs).
“We also submit dozens of personal stories from our nurses that demonstrate the excellent care that we provide and how we make improvements to better outcomes,” said Sue Nuss, Ph.D., chief nursing officer. “After this intensive documentation is submitted, the surveyors come to see if what we said about ourselves is true.”
“We are Magnet,” Dr. Nuss said. “We have the structure and processes in place. It’s a way of life for us; it’s part of our culture.”
Dr. Nuss said the appraisers were very complimentary of the staff.
“One thing that made an impression was that after asking for a wish list, the staff requested things for the patients, not themselves,” she said.
Dr. Nuss noted that only 8 percent of the 5,500 hospitals in the U.S. earn Magnet designation.
“Magnet status demonstrates that we are a highly performance-driven organization internally, as well as externally,” said Brenda Smidt, manager, Nursing Professional Practice. “It enables Nebraska Medicine to promote professional practice quality, excellence in delivering quality nursing services to our patients and that we apply best practices in the nursing services we provide.”
“Our patients can come here knowing we have high-quality nursing care, good outcomes and that our nurses have a voice in their practice,” Dr. Nuss said.
Nebraska Medical Center first achieved Magnet designation in 2007 and then again in 2012.