Stanford Health Care was first designated as a Magnet Hospital in 2007, and was re-designated in 2012.
Magnet Recognition is a prestigious award developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to recognize health care organizations that provide nursing excellence. Magnet not only recognizes nursing excellence, but also quality patient care and innovations in professional nursing practice. A Magnet hospital provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care that they can expect to receive.
The foundation of the Magnet model is composed of elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership, patient outcomes, coordination and collaboration across specialties, and processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.
"Magnet recognition is a tremendous honor and reflects our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to our community. To earn Magnet recognition once, as we did in 2007, was a great accomplishment and an incredible source of pride for our nurses. Our achievement of Magnet designation for an additional four years underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drives our entire staff to strive harder each day to meet the health care needs of the people we serve."
-Nancy Lee, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care Services
In order to achieve Magnet Recognition, hospitals must indicate how they meet the foundational elements of the Magnet Model, which include:
- Structural Empowerment
- Transformational Leadership
- Exemplary Professional Practice
- New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements
Examples of these elements at Stanford include the Shared Governance Structure, Role-Based Practice Program, Evidence Based Practice Fellowship, rich educational opportunities including the Stanford Center for Education and Professional Development, on-site BSN and MSN programs, and the Transformation Scholarship.
Above all, a Magnet Hospital culture is an environment that promotes:
- Collaboration and teamwork
- Decision-making at the bedside
- Continual improvement
- A culture of nursing excellence
See public notice for the latest Magnet recognition site visit: 2016
Magnet champions
Stanford Health Care Magnet Champions facilitate the ongoing work of sustaining a Magnet culture by maintaining and supporting Magnet awareness, keeping up the momentum attained during site visit preparation, and focusing on the 14 Magnet Forces, and the Magnet model components.
- Include 50+ staff nurse Magnet Champions from all areas where nurses work, and all shifts.
- Meet monthly, and more frequently as site visits approach.
- Are allotted time outside meetings to work on and support other important initiatives:
- National Nurse Week celebrations
- Magnet Website/Publication of Magnet Moments
- Planning Annual Magnet Retreat
- Open House Day
- Innovations Day
The Magnet champion council
- Creates unit-based experts who support the evolving culture of nursing excellence at SHC through education and engagement of peers about Magnet principles.
- Enhances the nursing professional practice environment through promotion of specialty certification and engagement in patient outcomes.
- Supports CNO rounding on units.
- Prepares units/departments for Magnet site visits.