More than 2,000 nurses at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., have achieved what few others in their profession have. They have earned Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program — a feat accomplished by only five other hospitals in Illinois and less than two percent of the estimated 6,000 hospitals in the United States.

The Magnet award is the highest award a hospital can receive for outstanding quality and excellence in nursing care. Hospitals that achieve Magnet status are noteworthy for their excellence and innovation in nursing. Research indicates that health care institutions with these characteristics improved overall patient outcomes, that Magnet hospitals have shorter lengths of patient stay, higher rates of patient satisfaction and greater cost-efficiency.

�As consumers become more sophisticated and have more choices about where to turn to for health care, we think Magnet status will serve as a strong indicator that they can expect excellence in nursing care at Christ Medical Center,� said Darcie Brazel, RN, MSN, CNAA, BC, vice president of operations and chief nurse executive at Christ Medical Center.

�Many hospitals can make claims about delivering superior care, but Magnet status gives Christ Medical Center credible, third-party validation that nursing care here is outstanding,� said Brazel.

�Christ Medical Center received Magnet designation after a rigorous, two-year evaluation process that included an extensive application, interviews and a four day, on-site inspection by ANCC reviewers,� said Wendy Tuzik Micek, RN, DNSc, director of special projects at Christ Medical Center, who spearheaded the application process.

�In order to qualify for Magnet status, Christ Medical Center first had to meet criteria in 14 different standards and several subcategories,� said Micek.

ANCC reviewers were particularly interested in how the nurses at Christ Medical Center reduce medical errors, improve patient satisfaction, raise patient care standards and have a voice to help improve the work environment.

Christ Medical Center’s application included solid examples of innovative approaches to providing health care and the nursing staff’s unique professional commitment to strengthening existing skills. Many nurses at Christ Medical Center have certification in specialty areas, including rehabilitation nursing, anesthesia, cardiovascular nursing, obstetrics and neonatal nursing, chemotherapy administration, emergency nursing and critical care nursing. Also hundreds of Christ Medical Center nurses are pursuing advanced nursing degrees.

Magnet status is likely to help Christ Medical Center maintain or lower its already low nursing vacancy rate, which stood at a mere three percent as of April 2005. Other hospitals with Magnet status have been able to reduce their vacancy rate by 50 percent or more. Brazel believes that Magnet status will attract quality nursing professionals who are interviewing for jobs and have the luxury of choosing where to work in a field with large vacancy rates.

�Even before we were awarded Magnet status, nurses came here to interview because they had heard we were pursuing Magnet designation,� she said.

The concept of a magnet hospital for nursing services was initially developed in 1982. The American Academy of Nursing’s Task Force on Nursing Practice in Hospitals conducted a study of 41 hospitals to identify and describe variables that foster an environment that attracts and retains well-qualified nurses and promotes quality patient care through excellence in nursing services.

These institutions were called magnet hospitals because they serve as magnets to attract and retain professional nurses. In 1995, the ANCC began to officially recognize hospitals with the Magnet designation.

The ANCC is a separately governed and operated subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, and is the largest most prominent nursing credentialing organization in the United States.

About Advocate Christ Medical Center

Located at 4440 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn, Advocate Christ Medical Center is a 695-bed, world-class institution that is part of the Advocate Health Care system, one of the Chicago area’s leading providers of health care. Now in its 44th year, the medical center is the Chicago area’s largest and most comprehensive provider of heart care and is nationally recognized for its use of innovative technologies and advanced procedures in the treatment of heart disease and stroke. Cancer care, pediatrics, care of high-risk mothers and infants, women’s health services and general surgery are other specialties for which Christ Medical Center is noted.

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