HOUSTON (Nov. 23, 2020) — Harris Health System's Ben Taub Hospital is the latest hospital in 2020 to receive its Magnet® designation for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The recognition marks the second such designation for Harris Health—Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital received its designation in September. Magnet® is the acknowledged gold standard for nursing excellence and a measure used by the public when evaluating outstanding healthcare facilities.
"Obtaining Magnet® was only made possible by many years of hard work from every member of the entire hospital. It's an interdisciplinary award that reflects an excellent environment for nurses to practice in, and most importantly, being able to provide high quality patient care," says Matthew Schlueter, PhD, MBA, RN, NE-BC, PHN, chief nursing officer, Ben Taub Hospital. "Of critical importance was the support of our board of trustees and our executive administration. Without their genuine moral and financial support for our nursing staff, we could have never achieved this tremendous designation."
Studies from ANCC show that Magnet®-recognized hospitals have higher patient satisfaction scores, lower mortality rates, lower incidence of hospital-acquired conditions and better nurse-to-patient ratios. Additionally, Magnet® designation signals to patients, their families, current and potential employees and the public that Harris Health hospitals support cutting-edge best practices in professional nursing, focuses on data-driven outcomes and values nurses.
The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes healthcare organizations for their nursing excellence programs. In the U.S., only about 9% of all registered hospitals earn Magnet® recognition. Ben Taub Hospital joins a short list of healthcare organizations to earn this prestigious honor.
"Magnet® recognition is a tremendous honor and reflects Harris Health System and our staff's commitment to delivering the highest quality care to our patients," says Maureen Padilla, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, executive vice president and chief nursing executive, Harris Health System. "To earn this recognition underscores the strong foundation of excellence and values that drive our professional nursing team to strive harder each day to meet the healthcare needs of all the residents of Harris County.
"The achievement of Magnet® status is more than something to brag about, it demonstrates to our nursing staff that our organization recognizes their invaluable potential to lead healthcare innovation and improvements at Harris Health," Padilla adds.
To achieve Magnet® recognition, organizations must pass a lengthy process that requires widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation and on-site surveys. Healthcare organizations that achieve Magnet® must reapply every four years for re-designation.
"Magnet® designation assures and demonstrates to our patients, families and our community that our nurses are of the highest caliber and that quality at Ben Taub greatly exceeds national benchmarks," says Dr. Nathan Deal, executive vice president and administrator, Ben Taub Hospital. "It validates our world class nursing staff and formally puts us in an elite category of peers who have achieved the designation."
Research shows that Magnet® recognition provides healthcare organizations and their communities with specific benefits such as:
- Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication and receiving discharge information
- Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue rates
- Higher job satisfaction among nurses
- Lower nurse turnover and burnout
Since the Magnet Recognition Program® was established in 1990, exceptional healthcare organizations have worked tirelessly to achieve and maintain the honor. When a healthcare organization fosters the ideal environment for nursing talent—investment in nursing education and development, inter-professional collaborative practice, autonomy and shared values—the whole organization reaps the rewards, according to ANCC.