Nothing has a greater impact on hospitalized patients’ health than the quality of the nursing care they receive. Do their bedside nurses know how to use sophisticated medical technology? Do those nurses’ managers know how to best deploy their staffs to meet patients’ needs? Are nursing leaders well-versed in the evidence-based best practices that significantly reduce the likelihood their patients will be among the tens of thousands of Americans who die each year as a result of preventable medical errors? 
 
Demand for excellent nurses in the United States far exceeds supply, and this imbalance is expected to worsen as the population ages. But some hospitals have a competitive edge in attracting and retaining top nursing talent: the elite 6.5 percent that have earned the Magnet Recognition Award for Excellence in Nursing—the gold standard of nursing—from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

To date (August 1, 2011) there are 386 Magnet hospitals: in 45 states, four international hospitals; 32 Illinois and 23 in the Chicago-metro area.  Magnet institutions are recognized for nursing excellence, and identified as providing outstanding patient-centered quality care. Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital embarked upon its Magnet journey in 2011, and expects to complete it in 2014. Continuing education, nursing certifications and participation in clinical research all play an important role in maintaining high-quality nursing care and obtaining Magnet status.

Nursing excellence is our goal so that we can provide the best care for our patients and their families.