IU Health North achieves Magnet recognition with distinction

Following a comprehensive review process that began more than three years ago, Indiana University Health North Hospital has attained Magnet with Distinction recognition. This is the third time IU Health North has achieved Magnet, and the first time the hospital has earned Magnet with Distinction. This achievement from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice.

Less than 10 percent of hospitals across the United States have earned Magnet status. Even fewer have earned Magnet Recognition with Distinction, a new ANCC designation recognizing the highest performing Magnet organizations around the world. IU Health North Hospital is the second IU Health hospital to earn Magnet Recognition with Distinction, with the first being IU Health West.

Magnet with Distinction celebrates hospitals and healthcare organizations that exceed the scoring thresholds required to attain Magnet designation. It raises the bar to recognize top-tier organizations that have achieved the highest level of nursing excellence while addressing emerging challenges and changes in health care moving forward.

IU Health North nurses were surprised with the news during a retreat on Friday, Nov. 21.

“It’s such an amazing feeling. There was a lot of emotion in the room—it’s a great team. Their heart is there, their enthusiasm is there, their engagement is there,” said Carrie Wing, vice president and chief nursing officer of IU Health North. “It’s a true honor to lead a team that comes into work every single day with the main focus of how they can best care for our patients and provide the best outcomes. The work, the distinction and this redesignation is a validation that that’s what they do, every day.”

Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to health care 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—while it is a nursing designation—it’s not accomplished by just nursing. It is only accomplished by the collaboration among our departments and our teams to make it all happen,” Wing added. “It is 100% a combination of the teamwork that occurs within the four walls of our hospital to take care of our patients the best way that we can.”

IU Health North was also awarded fourteen exemplars, including three in nurse-sensitive clinical quality in inpatient units for care in hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) and device-related HAPIs. Three additional nurse-sensitive clinical quality exemplars were awarded in ambulatory care in the categories of falls with injury, patient burns and surgical errors. Two exemplars were awarded for inpatient patient experience and four additional exemplars in ambulatory patient experience.

Notably, North was awarded an exemplar for organizational achievement of greater than 80% of professional registered nurses earning a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing. Wing was also recognized for her transformational leadership with an exemplar highlighting the hospital's successful virtual nurse program.

To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread engagement from leadership and staff. Healthcare 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 designation must provide robust documented evidence that showcases high quality nursing care, which is demonstrated through exemplary patient outcomes. The Magnet standards must be met throughout the four-year period since the organization received its most recent recognition. After document submission, the Magnet Program Office sends an appraiser team to an organization for a multi-day site visit, where they validate and verify everything shared in the document. Finally, the Commission on Magnet performs a thorough review and makes a final decision regarding re-designation.

Magnet with Distinction will compel higher levels of evidence-based practice, care delivery excellence and optimal patient outcomes. It will give hospitals and healthcare organizations another way to demonstrate the value of nursing care to their communities. Magnet with Distinction is determined based on the review process. Organizations apply and are reviewed in the standard document submission manner.