Today, St. Joseph Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia cemented its status as one of the highest quality hospitals in the world when it comes to nursing service. It received its fourth consecutive Magnet recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an achievement that only 30 hospitals globally have ever accomplished.
Magnet recognition is based on a series of rigorous standards established by the ANCC that include in-depth research as to how hospitals administer care to patients. The Magnet designation is also based on the level of education represented in nursing staff and by the nurses’ personal input. Nurses at hospitals with a Magnet designation receive increased support and attention from their hospital administrators and are more vested in the overall operations of their hospital as a result.
St. Joseph Candler’s evaluation process began two years ago, rigorously measuring leadership and management as well as the education level of their front line staff. The hospital performed exceedingly well, scoring extremely high on magnet standards for reducing bedsores, bloodstream infections, wait time for EKG’s, and stroke education.
Marta Queveras, one of the 1,323 nurses employed at St. Joseph Candler said, “It encourages you to want to do more for the hospital.” She also felt that the hospital helped and encouraged her to achieve higher levels of education and certification, both to aid their Magnet designation and for her own well being.
Research into Magnet hospitals has shown that they exhibit better communication, problem solving, and safety practices than standard hospitals. With only 423 institutions recognized worldwide, St. Joseph Candler has proven its willingness to go the extra mile in delivering outstanding nursing care to its patients. Its Magnet designation will last until the end of 2019, when it will come up for evaluation once again. If the hospital continues to provide such an excellent standard of care, it is likely that they will maintain their Magnet status well into the next decade.