In 2022, the American Nurses Credentialing Center unveiled the Magnet with Distinction program to recognize the world's highest performing Magnet organizations. Since then, only a handful of hospitals in the U.S. have achieved the designation.
The ANCC, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, awards hospitals Magnet designations based on quality patient care and nursing excellence. To earn the recognition, hospitals must undergo a comprehensive application and review process. Hospitals with the award typically have high nurse job satisfaction, low levels of RN turnover and lower 30-day mortality rates. Fewer than 10% of the hospitals in the U.S. have earned Magnet status, and only a select few hospitals will earn the new "with Distinction" honor to recognize an "elite level" of performance, according to the ANCC.
The Magnet with Distinction program was created as a special designation to celebrate hospitals and healthcare organizations that exceed scoring thresholds required to earn Magnet recognition.
"It raises the bar to recognize top-tier organizations that have achieved the highest level of nursing excellence while addressing emerging challenges and changes in healthcare moving forward," according to the ANCC.
There are two paths to achieve the special designation: demonstrate no deficiencies in any component and have an exemplar in registered nurse environment; or have no deficiencies in any component and have two or more exemplars in patient experience, and at least two exemplars in nursing-sensitive indicators.
Here are the six hospitals that have earned the Magnet with Distinction recognition since 2023:
Emory St. Joseph's Hospital (Atlanta)
Kaiser Foundation Hospital South Sacramento (Calif.)
Indiana University Health West Hospital (Avon)
Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital (Boston)
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center (Woodbridge)
Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital (Berwyn, Ill.)
Editor's note: This article was updated at 11:30am Central Time on August 19 to add Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital