Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Earns Prestigious Magnet Hospital Designation, Nurse Recognition for Outstanding Care for Patients

Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital has been named a Magnet Facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center – the nation’s highest honor for nursing excellence and recognition of its outstanding and innovative care for children. 

Magnet facilities meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence, including professionalism, superior patient care, leadership, teamwork, and sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity. 

Magnet facilities have lower mortality rates, shorter lengths of stay, and increased patient and staff satisfaction. 

Fewer than 10 percent of the nation’s hospitals have achieved the designation.

“This is a reflection of the dedication and hard work of every staff member to providing outstanding care to every patient, every day,” said Angie Scartezina, RN, chief nursing officer at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. 

“Our nurses are among the most skilled, empowered, and supportive nurses in the profession,” Scartezina added. “Now, as a magnet organization, we will continue the work of providing the highest level of nursing care to our patients and families in putting ‘The Child First and Always.’” 

The Magnet Recognition Program was developed by the American Academy of Nursing to highlight hospitals that could attract and retain top nursing professionals. 

Magnet facilities demonstrate excellence in five areas: 

• Transformational Leadership
• Structural Empowerment 
• Exemplary Professional Practice 
• New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements 
• Empirical Outcomes 

The ANCC report noted Primary Children’s nurses demonstrate a strong safety culture and “laser-focus” on accountability, a welcoming and collaborative environment. Nurses are highly respected, dedicated to evidence-based practices, and devoted to patients and families. 

This devotion to patients is what makes Intermountain Primary Children’s a beacon of hope to generations of children. 

Several children treated for cancer at Primary Children’s Hospital grew up to become Primary Children’s oncology nurses and provide the same loving care – from painting fingernails to playing games – to their patients. 

Patients treated for long-term illness often return to the hospital to visit, and even celebrate birthdays, with their favorite nurses. 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses donned Santa suits and cradled tiny infants to ensure the neonatal ICU’s “My First Christmas with Santa” photo tradition would continue. 

“Our beautiful boy stayed in the Primary Children’s newborn ICU for 34 days, where he received outstanding care and met his favorite nurse, Sam,” baby Sutton’s mother, Amber, said when nominating Sam for a Daisy Award recognition. “Sam brought her positive radiating energy, and you couldn’t help but feel happiness in her presence, even after a stressful day. She also never let me miss a precious moment or time to celebrate Sutton’s milestones, even when I had to travel back and forth to Wyoming.” 

The ANCC report also highlighted the hospital’s support of nursing professional development, including tuition and certification reimbursement, flexible scheduling, educational programs and incentives.  

“This credential is testament to the countless contributions your nurses, in collaboration with other team members, have made in their commitment to provide quality patient care through innovations in professional nursing practice,” the ANCC said in its Magnet Recognition Program Executive Summary Report for the hospital. “Congratulations to the entire organization on your significant achievement.”

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MEDIA NOTE: Video and photos available upon request.