Four-Peat! ChristianaCare Achieves Magnet^®–the Top Recognition for Nursing Excellence–for 4th Time

Today, hundreds of nurses and their colleagues at ChristianaCare gathered across the organization’s campuses and practices for an announcement they’ve been anticipating for many months. “For your commitment to nursing excellence and quality care, we are thrilled to recognize ChristianaCare with its fourth consecutive Magnet designation,” said David Marshall, J.D., DNP, RN, chair of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Magnet Recognition. “This accomplishment is a powerful testament to your dedication to the nurses who practice there, the entire health care team, and — most importantly — the patients you serve.” Shouts erupted, balloons and streamers floated up and, in the happy commotion, there was even a little cowbell. As the only four-time Magnet-designated health care organization in Delaware, ChristianaCare has achieved this global recognition — the highest honor in nursing practice — for continued dedication to excellence and innovation, high-quality patient care and experience, nurse engagement and work culture.

ChristianaCare nurses basked in confetti-strewn jubilation following the announcement of the organization’s fourth Magnet designation. 

The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. Administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) —the largest and most prominent nurse credentialing organization in the world— the program identifies health care organizations that deliver outstanding nursing care, exceptional nurse engagement and professionalism in nursing practice.

For nurses, Magnet status means education and career development at every stage, promoting greater autonomy at the bedside. For patients, it guarantees the highest quality care delivered by nurses who are empowered to be the very best that they can be. ChristianaCare is the only four-time Magnet-designated health care organization in Delaware. This latest designation, valid through early 2029, includes Christiana Hospital, Wilmington Hospital, ChristianaCare HomeHealth and Community Care Services. “Magnet designation recognizes ChristianaCare nurses are simply the best!” said ChristianaCare President and CEO Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH. “A fourth Magnet designation is an incredible achievement and reflects the vital importance and commitment of our nurses as we serve together with love and excellence.”

ChristianaCare employs more than 3,000 nurses, who make up the largest segment of its workforce. ChristianaCare's total workforce is the largest in Delaware, aside from the state government. The ANCC has conferred Magnet status to less than 10% of hospitals and health systems in the United States. There are 621 Magnet-designated health organizations internationally.

 

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ChristianaCare became Delaware’s first Magnet-designated health system in 2010 and has upheld the ANCC’s “very high standards” ever since, said ChristianaCare Chief Nurse Executive Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC. “That is a long time to bring your ‘A’ game every day — through 15 years of change, including a pandemic — and to sustain growth in professional practice, innovation and culture,” Weber said. “Magnet recognition raises the bar for patient care and inspires every member of our team to achieve excellence every day.” Magnet redesignation itself is rigorous, requiring health care organizations to reapply every four years and demonstrate adherence to Magnet principles of nursing excellence, nurse engagement, and measurable improvements in patient care quality. While Magnet is nursing-led, the designation reflects the collaborative work of caregivers throughout ChristianaCare, said Michelle Collins, DNP, APRN, CNS, ACNS-BC, NPD-BC, NEA-BC, LSSBB, vice president for Nursing Professional Excellence at ChristianaCare. Many standards Christiana achieved or exceeded are thanks to interprofessional efforts driving excellence beyond nursing.

"Each Magnet designation builds upon past successes. It’s not about perfection; it’s about continuous improvement. It’s about meeting the moment,” Collins said. “And that’s what we do, 365 days a year: We deliver care with love and excellence. I’m filled with joy and gratitude.”

In its latest evaluation, the ANCC commended ChristianaCare for several exemplars:

• Advocacy for and acquisition of organizational resources specific to nurses’ well-being. particularly through the Nursing Integrative Care Program.
• An innovative strategy to address the shortage of certified registered nurse anesthetists in Delaware through a partnership program between ChristianaCare and Wilmington University to launch the state’s first Nurse Anesthesiology program.
• Outstanding nursing research engagement and growth of the nursing research enterprise especially through the Nursing Research Fellowship in Robotics and Innovation.
• Clinical quality and safety measures that outperformed benchmarks for both hospital and ambulatory care settings.
• A highly educated and trained nursing workforce, with 83% of registered nurses holding a bachelor's degree or higher — exceeding the Magnet standard of 80% — and about one-third maintaining a professional nursing certification.

Appraisers also recognized ChristianaCare’s proactive measures addressing workplace violence — an increasingly urgent issue at hospitals nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, they highlighted innovative initiatives serving specialized populations, including the Hospital at Home program, Wilmington Hospital’s Holloway Center for HIV care, the First State School for children with chronic illnesses, and the Center for Nursing Innovation.

During their January site visit, Magnet appraisers met nearly 500 nurses, other caregivers and community members and characterized ChristianaCare as a “mature organization with a culture of nursing excellence.” They praised ChristianaCare’s strong commitment to workforce development through comprehensive programs and academic partnerships. “I have just been wowed everywhere I went this week,” one appraiser said at the time.“You’re not just doing Magnet, you ARE MAGNET!” another said. 

To prepare for Magnet redesignation, a core team of Nursing Excellence Experts worked alongside Collins and partnered with nearly 100 Nursing Excellence Experts and Ambassadors from acute care, ambulatory care and HomeHealth. “Our Nursing Excellence Experts and Ambassadors are remarkable stewards of what it means to be a Magnet organization,” Collins said. “They have my heartfelt thanks for their exceptional preparation, extraordinary engagement and endless enthusiasm."

ChristianaCare nurses view Magnet as an expression of their daily commitment to excellence and professional growth. Ingrid Hausner, BSN, RN, a nurse in the Cardiovascular Critical Care Complex, said joining ChristianaCare in 2019 transformed her understanding of nursing from bedside care to actively shaping the profession. Inspired by early experiences with professional governance, Hausner expanded her leadership into education, evidence-based practice and mentoring colleagues. Magnet captures a culture at ChristianaCare where nurses support one another and continually improve patient care, Hausner said. “When I first entered nursing, I envisioned a career centered around caring for my patients during my shifts and then going home,” she said. “ChristianaCare has completely transformed that perspective. The opportunities here are limitless. “That’s what makes us Magnet. When you step onto our campus, you can see and feel the difference. Excellence is our standard, our culture and our commitment to the future of nursing.”