Iowa: Why Nurses should care about Magnet Hospitals
Higher Education Articles November 9, 2013Iowa: A Brief Overview of Nurses and Hospitals
Residents of Iowa can choose from 118 hospitals in the state, according to the State Health Facts published by the Kaiser Family Foundation. These hospitals employ over 131,400 healthcare workers. Approximately 33,230 of these healthcare workers are registered nurses, which translates to a ratio of 1,085 registered nurses to every 100,000 Iowa residents.
The State Health Facts also report that hospitals spend an average of $1,288 for each day of inpatient care.
What’s a Magnet Hospital and Why Should Nurses Care?
Magnet Hospitals are healthcare facilities that have received recognition from the American Nurses Credential Center. These hospitals are known for their ability to provide quality patient care and a positive experience for nurses. The ANCC first offered this designation in 1990 in order to identify hospitals that were dedicated to professional nursing practice innovation, nursing excellence and good patient care. The goal of the designation is to help nurses find good employers. Magnet Hospitals also have a better reputation among patients seeking high quality care.
“The staff was intensively involved at all levels during our application process and real participation in this experience profoundly affected their commitment to the profession and to the organization.” – Catherine Lyons, James P. Wilmot Cancer Center.
Magnet Hospitals are expected to:
•Be committed to advanced nursing practice and standards
•Encourage collaboration among medical professionals
•Attract and retain the nation’s best nurses
Characteristics of Magnet Hospitals
To obtain an ANCC designation as an Iowa Magnet Hospital, a healthcare facility must develop and implement a plan to provide nurses with a positive work environment. The plan must become a part of the hospital’s culture. Before deciding whether to designate a facility as a Magnet Hospital, the ANCC reviews:
•The facility’s quality of patient care
•The amount of autonomy offered to facility nurses
•The level of nurse involvement in educational activities
•The amount of professional development opportunities available to nurses
•The facility’s nursing leadership
•The number of MSNs in the workforce
•The number of BSNs in the workforce
•The percentage of nurses in leadership positions who hold advanced graduate degrees
•The average length of RN employment
•The facility’s turnover rate for RNs
What does the Magnet Hospital Designation Mean to Nurses
When a healthcare facility is designated as an Iowa Magnet Hospital, the hospital can be expected to possess the following characteristics:
•Ample leadership opportunities
•A culture of autonomy and interdisciplinary teamwork
•Plenty of opportunities for professional growth
•Low vacancy/turnover rates among healthcare professionals
•High levels of collaboration among healthcare professionals
•Recognition/rewards for competence
•Opportunities for continuing education/ independent study
•High levels of job satisfaction among professionals
•Dedication to the continuous improvement of patient outcomes
Iowa: Magnet Hospitals
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Address: 200 Hawkins Drive
Iowa City, IA 52242
Recognized: 2004
Re-recognized: 2008
St. Luke’s Hospital
Address: 1026 A Avenue, NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3026
Recognized: 2009
Mercy Medical Center
Address: 250 Mercy Drive
Dubuque, IA 52001
Recognized: 2004
Re-recognized: 2009
Genesis Medical Center, Davenport
Address: 1227 East Rusholme Street
Davenport, IA 52803
Recognized: 2005
Alegent Creighton Health Mercy Hospital
Address: 800 Mercy Drive
Council Bluffs, IA 51503-3128
Recognized: 2005
Re-recognized: 2010
