Magnet Nursing
Nursing Care on Par With the Best
John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital is a Magnet facility. Only 4 percent of the nation's 6,000-plus hospitals have earned Magnet status—and fewer than half in that group have garnered redesignation. North Mountain Hospital was first recognized for excellence in nursing with the Magnet designation in December 2004.
To patients, the Magnet designation is a seal of approval, an assurance that they'll receive quality nursing care. To nurses, it's an assurance that they will work in an environment that values and respects them and provides resources for giving the best care to patients.
No Resting on Our Laurels
Awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (an affiliate of the American Nurses Association), Magnet recognition is not a permanent award. Continued excellence must be demonstrated during the four-year recognition period, and the entire application process needs to be repeated for redesignation to occur.
John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital applied for redesignation in the fall of 2007 and was officially redesignated in April of 2009. It has become the first medical facility in the Valley to reconfirm its Magnet status.
The Magnet Journey
Magnet status is based on the 14 Forces of Magnetism, which are measurable criteria for patient care. Magnet designation is considered the nation's gold standard for nursing quality. The process of gathering the required evidence and preparing documentation for both the original award and redesignation was a long journey that lasted over two years and required tireless efforts by a large team of nurses and other staff.
Yet, the journey was not just about paperwork and not even about the coveted trophy. It was a journey of growth, learning and discovery, which gave birth to several successful programs for nurses.
We feel that the changes brought by the journey were more important than the award itself.
Programs Started During the Magnet Journey
- The Center for Advanced Nursing (CAN): This program was designed to support John C. nurses in their professional development and nursing research. Nurses can apply for funding from CAN (up to $850 a year) to attend professional conferences and seminars that have clinical relevance, organizational benefit or that foster professional development.
- RN Refresher Course Program: Opportunity for nurses who have been out of the profession for awhile to retrain and get reactivated while receiving pay based on years of experience.
- Mentoring Program: A way for RNs who are new to the profession or John C. Lincoln to get adapted to the hospital culture and procedures, under the guidance of an experienced RN.