Tennessee: Why Nurses Should Care about Magnet Hospitals
Higher Education Articles October 22, 2013Tennessee: A Brief Overview of Nurses and Hospitals
Tennessee has 134 hospitals offering 3.3 beds per 1,000 people in the state. The national average for beds per 1,000 is 2.6 so Tennessee residents have ample access to health care, including the services of over 60, 500 nurses and 91 nurse practitioners. Nurse practitioners do not require physician oversight for diagnosing and treating patients, but they do for prescribing medications.
Health spending in Tennessee averages about $6,400 per capita, which is roughly in line with national average of $6,800. The average cost per day for inpatient care is $1,462.
What’s a Magnet Hospital and Why Should Nurses Care?
Magnet hospitals have chosen to undergo the rigorous certification process of the American Nurses Certification Center Magnet program. ANCC developed the Magnet program to help advance the nursing profession and to help demonstrate the contributions that nurses make to healthcare. In addition, the Magnet program focuses on education, innovation, collaboration and providing opportunities for nurses. Magnet hospitals find certification as an aid to retaining top nurses, and allow them to hire the best nurses available when openings occur.
Johns Hopkins, a prominent magnet hospital, calls the Magnet program “the nations most coveted nursing award.”
Characteristics of Magnet Hospitals
Magnet hospitals are exciting and vibrant parts of the community, offering health and wellness outreach programs that contribute significantly to the community’s well-being. In addition, Magnet hospitals offer professional development opportunities for nurses, who enjoy working in the respectful, collaborative environment at a Magnet hospital.
•Magnet hospitals have strong nursing leaders who act as advocates for the nursing staff and who provide role models for advancement.
•Nurses have the autonomy to manage a patient’s care to provide the best outcome for the patient, and to work to develop innovative new methods and standards for care.
•Magnet hospitals continuously strive to improve quality of care and patient outcomes, recognizing nurses as significant contributors to quality.
•Medical professionals work together as colleagues to ensure the best possible patient outcomes at magnet hospitals, which have a respectful and collaborative culture.
What does the Magnet Hospital Designation Mean to Nurses?
Nurses interested in being the best they can possibly be at their chosen profession work at Magnet hospitals because of the opportunities for continued professional development and to work alongside other top quality medical professionals. They enjoy the respect of colleagues and peers, and they find satisfaction in helping their community through the Magnet hospital’s community wellness programs.
UC Davis in Sacramento, CA calls the magnet program the “gold standard for nursing excellence.”
Heidi Crooks, R.N., M.A., chief nursing officer and senior associate director of operations and patient care services at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center says , “In today’s complex medical environment, it is increasingly important that consumers become familiar with the Magnet designation so they can seek out the best health care providers available. Magnet is a seal of approval for quality nursing care.”
Tennessee Magnet Hospitals
Tennessee Magnet hospitals include:
Johnson City Medical Center of Mountain States Health Alliance
- 400 North State of Franklin Rd.
- Johnson City, TN 37604-6094
- Recognized: 2005
- Re-recognized: 2009
The University of Tennessee Medical Center
- 1924 Alcoa Highway
- Box 104
- Knoxville, TN 37920
- Recognized: 2011
Vanderbilt University Hospitals and Clinics-Monroe Carrell Junor Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
- 1161 21st Avenue South
- A-1223 Medical Center North
- Nashville, TN 37232
- Recognized: 2006
- Re-recognized: 2012
Vanderbilt University Hospitals and Clinics-The Vanderbilt Clinic
- 1161 21st Avenue South
- A-1223 Medical Center North
- Nashville, TN 37232
- Recognized: 2006
- Re-recognized: 2012
Vanderbilt University Hospitals and Clinics-Psychiatric Hospital at Vanderbilt
- 1161 21st Avenue South
- A-1223 Medical Center North
- Nashville, TN 37232
- Recognized: 2006
- Re-recognized: 2012
Vanderbilt University Hospitals and Clinics-Vanderbilt University Hospital
- 1161 21st Avenue South
- AA-1204 Medical Center North
- Nashville, TN 37232-2102
- Recognized: 2006
- Re-recognized: 2012
