The Magnet Recognition Program provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. Only 9% of U.S. health care organizations have achieved this credential. Magnet organizations meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence, including professionalism, superior patient care, leadership, teamwork and sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity.
Angie Scartezina, the Chief Nursing Officer who led Primary Children’s during the rigorous 5-year process to seek Magnet status, said, “I always believed this honor was truly within our reach because I know our nurses are among the most skilled, empowered, and supportive nurses in the profession.”
Before designating the hospital as a Magnet facility, the ANCC conducted an extensive evaluation of all Primary Children’s nursing services, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and overall patient care, culminating in a three-day site visit in July 2023, when Magnet inspectors visited every nursing unit at the hospital.
“The Magnet inspectors’ site visit was such a great time to recognize and celebrate nursing excellence here at Primary Children’s Hospital. We brought our appraisers to tears. They said they could feel the love and support from our team,” Scartezina said.
Scartezina shared some of the things nurses told ANCC inspectors about their experiences working at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital:
- “I saved that child’s life.”
- “Primary Children’s Hospital is my work family.”
- “I drive past six hospitals to get to Primary Children’s Hospital to work here.”
- “I feel empowered.”
- “We are all on the same playing field, everyone can speak up for safety.”
- “I absolutely advocate for my patient and families.”
During the site visit, one inspector was so delighted with Primary Children’s Hospital that she told Scartezina, “I want to work here.”
The term Magnet was developed by the American Academy of Nursing to describe hospitals that could attract and retain top nursing professionals. Magnet facilities demonstrate excellence in five areas:
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Transformational Leadership
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Structural Empowerment
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Exemplary Professional Practice
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New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements
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Empirical Outcomes
Magnet-recognized organizations have lower mortality rates, shorter lengths of stay, and increased patient and staff satisfaction. Magnet status improves a hospital's ability to recruit and retain nurses, physicians, and other staff members.
To nurses, Magnet Recognition means education and development through every career stage, which leads to greater autonomy at the bedside. To patients, it means the very best care, delivered by nurses who are supported to be the very best that they can be.
Thank you and congratulations to all Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital nurses on this well-deserved recognition of your unmatched skill and passion. A special thank you as well to Angie Scartezina, Ann Reed, and the entire Pediatric Nursing Excellence Team for their years of dedication to make this recognition possible!
Contributors
Angie Scartezina, MSN, RN, CENP
Chief Nursing Officer
Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital
Austin Moynier, MHA, MBA
Administrative Coordinator for Pediatric Excellence
Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital
Hannah Robinson, MBA, MPH
Senior Project Manager
Intermountain Children's Health
Jessica Taylor
Senior Executive Assistant
Intermountain Primary Children's Hospital
James Lowe, MS
Marketing and Communications Director
Intermountain Children’s Health
April Young-Bennett, MPA
Marketing and Communications Manager
Primary Children’s Hospital