Nashua, NH – Southern New Hampshire Medical Center recently attained Magnet recognition for the fourth time, a testament to its continued dedication to exceptional nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence.
Receiving Magnet recognition for the fourth time is a significant achievement for Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, as it puts the hospital in the top 1% of the hospitals in the country to receive four designations.
The news was received by Chief Nursing Officer Cheryl Gagne, DNP, MBA, NEA-BC, on June 17. She was joined in-person by a small group of nurses, providers, and administrators, as well as virtually by dozens of other staff members.
“Magnet re-designation is no small feat and reflects our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to our community,” says Gagne. “For each 4-year designation cycle, we must demonstrate continued compliance with the Magnet principle components of Transformation Leadership, Structural Empowerment, Exemplary Professional Practice, New Knowledge, Innovation & Improvement, and Empirical Quality Results. The narratives for each of these components intentionally call attention to the impact of nursing’s voice on the work environment as well as patient care quality and safety.”
Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to health care organizations and their communities, such as:
- Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help, and receipt of discharge information
- Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue rates
- Higher job satisfaction among nurses
- Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their positions
The Magnet Model provides a framework for nursing practice, research, and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC evaluates applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. The foundation of this model comprises various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.
To achieve Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.
About The Magnet Recognition Program – The Magnet Recognition Program, administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world — identifies health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program is the highest national honor for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit
www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet.
About Southern New Hampshire Health, a member of SolutionHealth – Southern New Hampshire Health (SNHH) is comprised of Southern New Hampshire Medical Center and Foundation Medical Partners, and is Massachusetts General Hospital’s first clinical affiliate in the region. SNHMC is a 188-bed facility that has two campuses in Nashua. Foundation Medical Partners is a multi-specialty physician group with more than 300 primary care and specialty care providers. SNHH is committed to improving, maintaining, and preserving the overall health and well-being of individuals living in the greater Nashua area by providing information, education, and access to exceptional health care services. Learn more at SNHhealth.org.