University Health earns gold-standard Magnet status from American Nurses Credentialing Center
Great nurses=great patient care, and University Health has once again raised the bar for caring and professionalism by earning the status of Magnet for the fourth straight time from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Magnet is the highest credential a health care organization can achieve for nursing excellence and quality patient care. The accreditation is based on validated empirical data and a rigorous review, and only 10% of U.S. hospitals achieve this elite level of performance.
“Magnet really showcases not only the excellent quality our nurses provide but also their professionalism, compassion and kindness,” said Chief Nurse Executive Dina Pérez-Graham. “We are so very proud of our entire team.”
Fewer than 10% of hospitals nationwide ever achieve this “Gold Standard” designation and just 2% have earned it at least four times. Today, we are one of 20 hospitals in Texas – and the only in San Antonio – to achieve Magnet designation four times. The reason this status is so prestigious is because Magnet hospitals consistently provide better work environments for nurses and better outcomes for patients, and Magnet appraisers require extensive proof.
Submitting to intensive review
A four-day site visit with dozens of meetings and scores of tours capped an exhaustive multi-year review process that called for reports on leadership, processes, innovation, engagement and patient experience.
After the final review, Pérez-Graham told the University Health nursing team that “the appraisers saw what I have the privilege of witnessing every single day: your compassion, your strength and your pride in the work you do.
“What resonated most was the genuine heartfelt connection you each have for your work and to our profession. Your love for your work, your unwavering commitment to our patients and your belief in nursing excellence wasn’t something we had to prove. It was simply who we are.”
During the announcement, ANCC Magnet Commission Chair David Marshall highlighted several exemplary attributes they found during the site visit, including our team’s commitment to delivering culturally sensitive care and how they consistently heard our staff say with pride that “we serve all.” They were also impressed with how University Health’s support of nurses’ professional development has resulted in a retention rate far above the industry average.
15 years of Magnet status and counting
University Health first earned Magnet status in 2010, when it was the first and only health system in South Texas to do so after a complex and rigorous 5-year application and review process. It has maintained that status ever since.
“Achieving Magnet designation for the fourth time is a distinguished honor that reflects the exceptional skill, professionalism and commitment of our nursing team,” University Health President & CEO Ed Banos said. “This recognition affirms that our nurses consistently meet the highest standards of excellence in patient care and safety and underscores our unwavering dedication to a culture of clinical excellence.”
