U.S. News and World Report on America's "Best Hospitals"

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

for the first time since it began an annual survey of america's "best hospitals," u.s. news and world report has included whether or not a health care facility has received magnet* recognition as one of the ranking criteria. the annual survey is in the current, july12th issue of the magazine.

the magnet* recognition program is administered by the american nurses credentialing center (ancc) and is based on research conducted by the american academy of nurses in the early 1980s which identified 14 "forces of magnetism" that resulted in higher nurse recruitment and retention rates at certain facilities. more than 100 u.s. health care facilities have received magnet* status since 1994. ana and ancc have worked with the editors of the survey for several years to include more nursing quality indicators in their assessment and are pleased that they have included magnet* status for the first time in 2004.

other criteria used in the survey include: the mortality rate, the rn-to-patient ratio, the key technologies offered, the number of discharges, the patient/community services offered and the reputation of the hospital.

america's best hospitals 2004

[teeituptom, BSN, RN]

welcome one and all to the wonderfull world of nursing

Aint life grand

[MrsWampthang, BSN, RN]

we achieved that this past year. I dunno, but it seems to me that every hospital should be able to achieve that if they apply for it. It seemed like it was based on nursing care that should be standard in all hospitals. We all got our Magnet pins, but mine kept coming unclasped so I keep it in my purse. Oh well.

Pam

[julieK]

Well, I'm very excited. I work for NY-Presbyterian and it has been our goal to get into the top five hospitals. Last year we were #11, and this year #9. I know we are trying to get magnet status, too. Does it really make a difference? I feel like our staffing stinks so badly now that we shouldn't even be eligible.

-Julie

[bluesky, BSN, RN]

I did my preceptorship at a magnet hospital and was honestly dissapointed. Sure they had better equipment but the nursing care was the same as any other hospital. In fact, the nurses were a little overconfident because they were "magnetized" a while ago.