Dana-Farber Is Awarded for Excellence in Nursing and Patient Care
The cancer institute was recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for the fourth consecutive designation.
Photo courtesy Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Nurses endure a lot. The hours are long, the work is physically and emotionally taxing, and many lives are dependent on them to do their job not only correctly, but quickly. It’s a lot of pressure. So it’s nice when they are celebrated—albeit, they should be celebrated everyday.
Yesterday, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute celebrated their nurses in a big way. The hospital was awarded the Magnet status of excellence in nursing practice and patient care for the fourth consecutive year in a row recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
“Our fourth consecutive Magnet designation is a moment of immense pride for our nurses,” Anne Gross, Dana-Farber’s senior vice president for patient care services and chief nursing officer, said in a press release. “It says they are among the best of the best in the country. It is the highest honor bestowed on a hospital or health system by the ANCC, and it reflects the incredible quality of care and teamwork across our entire clinical service.”
To earn Magnet status, facilities must apply (which requires filling out a 2,500-word document) and carry out a two-day site visit with a Magnet appraiser. According to the ANCC, Magnet-awarded institutions (which is considered the gold standard for nursing) show high-quality care with higher patient satisfaction, lower risk of 30-day mortality, and higher job satisfaction. Even more, through the Magnet program nurses are able to receive ongoing career support and education. The designation is given every four years.
Currently, 498 facilities in the United States are recognized as Magnet facilities. Eight hospitals and care facilities in Massachusetts, including Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s, and Massachusetts General—all hospitals receiving top ranks in the U.S. News and World Report rankings this year—are Magnet credentialed facilities.
But we can’t forget about this year’s proposed nurse staffing ratio ballot and the Tufts Medical Center nurse strike in 2017—both raising important awareness around how nurses are treated everywhere. So while we celebrate this win for Dana-Farber, let’s not forget about the work that still needs to be done to ensure nurses are treated fairly and appropriately everywhere.
“Magnet recognition is really a reflection of the entire hospital,” Laurie Glimcher, Dana-Farber president and chief executive officer, said in a release. “This says Dana-Farber is absolutely outstanding in the quality of care that it delivers so, if you have cancer, this is the place to come.”
This post has been updated.
