Baptist Health Louisville achieves Magnet Recognition again

Baptist Health Louisville attained Magnet recognition again in March, a testament to its continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. 

Baptist Health Louisville attained Magnet recognition again in March, a testament to its continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence. This credential is the highest international honor for professional nursing practice. The hospital achieved its initial designation in 2008. 

Receiving Magnet recognition for the third time is a great achievement for Baptist Health Louisville, as it continues to proudly belong to the global community of Magnet-recognized organizations. Just 492 U.S. health care organizations out of over 6,300 U.S. hospitals have achieved Magnet recognition. 

“It was so exciting and rewarding to watch our first Magnet designation unfold from start to finish, and I can easily say that it is just as exciting and rewarding the third time,” said Karen Newman, EdD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, vice president and chief nursing officer, who will retiring in Junel with 19 years of service at Baptist Health Louisville. 

“We’re a better organization today because of the Magnet recognition we first achieved 11 years ago. It raised the bar for patient care and inspired every member of our team to strive for excellence every day. In fact, it was our commitment to providing our community with high-quality care that helped us become a Magnet-recognized organization, and the same reason that we continue to pursue and maintain the designation.” 

Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to healthcare organizations and their communities, such as:

• Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help and receipt of discharge information. 
• Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue rates.
• Higher job satisfaction among nurses.
• Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their positions. 
Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges health care organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care. 

Karen Higdon, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, the new Chief Nursing Officer at Baptist Health Louisville, played an integral role when Baptist Health became the world’s first hospital-system to achieve nursing excellence designations at all of its hospitals. “Recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center is more than just a badge of merit. Independent studies have shown that patients go home sooner from Magnet hospitals, experience better outcomes and are more satisfied with their stay.

Higdon added, “Magnet-designation also speaks to our commitment to provide our nurses with a challenging, collaborative, and nurturing work environment that fosters both the mind and the body.” 

The Magnet Model provides a framework for nursing practice, research, and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC evaluates applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. 

The foundation of this model comprises various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care. 
To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition. 

Health care organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet standards and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality. An organization reapplying for Magnet recognition must provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff members sustained Magnet standards, improved patient outcomes, , , as well as nurse satisfaction and retention.   The “bar is raised” every four years and the organization must continually demonstrate higher levels of achievement of the standards.   

“I cannot express the level of pride I have in the team at Baptist Health Louisville,” said Larry Gray, president of Baptist Health Louisville. “While this is a nursing designation, it took the dedication of our entire team to continue to achieve this goal. This is not just a win for Baptist Health Louisville, but for the community. It is a true testament that we are committed to creating a wonderful work environment for our nurses, and the highest level of patient safety and quality care.”