The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) named Inova Loudoun Hospital as a Magnet® hospital for the fourth consecutive term. Magnet status is considered the highest organizational honor awarded for nursing excellence. Currently only 9 percent of the approximately 6,100 hospitals in the United States have achieved Magnet status.
In addition to receiving its Magnet designation, Inova Loudoun also was singled out by ANCC with 10 “exemplars” in a variety of Professional Practices including work in research and evidence based practices, RN satisfaction, falls with injury and patient satisfaction (safety). Exemplars are nationally recognized best practice models.
“Inova Loudoun Hospital nurses care for our patients and community with kindness and compassion as well as an unwavering commitment to quality and safety. To have achieved Magnet designation for the fourth consecutive term with 10 exemplars is an amazing accomplishment – I’m honored to be a part of this team,” commented Marissa Jamarik, vice president of nursing for Inova Heart and Vascular Service Line and chief nursing officer at Inova Loudoun Hospital. “This world-class nursing team exemplifies the Inova mission to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve.”
President of Inova Loudoun Hospital, Deborah Addo, said “We are strong because of the work that this exceptional team does. They provide excellent care to our patients, so naturally designations like these follow. Our community deserves nothing less.”
Hospitals applying for Magnet status must meet demanding criteria, including benchmarks in nursing leadership, excellence in patient care, quality clinical standards, and a commitment to continued quality review and improvement. The process for earning the status is lengthy and measures four years’ worth of performance data.
The work environment created by those designated as Magnet hospitals has proven to result in higher job satisfaction for nurses. A growing body of research shows this has a direct effect on the quality of patient care, evident not only in decreased mortality rates and shorter hospital stays, but also in higher patient satisfaction ratings.
To achieve Magnet status, organizations must demonstrate support for education and development through every career stage for its nursing staff including a nurse residency, specialty practice fellowships, a research and evidence-based practice program, and tuition reimbursement for Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and higher education.
Inova was first designated in 2005
Inova Fairfax Hospital was among the first in the country to be recognized as a Magnet hospital in 1997 and maintained the designation through 2015. In 2017, the commitment to once again attain Magnet status was initiated, culminating in the new 2020 designation. Inova Fair Oaks Hospital has maintained Magnet status since 2009. Inova Mount Vernon and Inova Alexandria hospitals are also both actively pursuing the designation.
