Apr 15, 2021 Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton Nurses Receive Nursing’s Highest Honor

RWJ University Hospital Hamilton Magnet DesignationHAMILTON, NJ, April 15, 2021 – The nurses of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Hamilton, 1 Hamilton Health Place, Hamilton, have received nursing’s most prestigious honor – Magnet® recognition by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Only 8 percent of hospitals nationwide have achieved this distinction, and only 32 hospitals in New Jersey have received this recognition. RWJUH Hamilton makes number 33.

“We can officially say what we have always known: RWJUH Hamilton nurses are among the nation’s best,” said Richard Freeman, President and Chief Executive Officer at RWJUH Hamilton. “Our community can be assured that they are getting the highest quality care from skilled, compassionate nurses.”

The American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association, is the world’s largest nursing credentialing organization. Its internationally renowned Magnet Recognition Program® was developed to recognize health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and uphold innovative professional nursing practice.

“Magnet® recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence,” said Lisa Breza, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at RWJUH Hamilton. “We are extremely proud of our nurses for achieving this honor. They truly represent the best in their profession.”

RWJUH Hamilton applied for Magnet® recognition last year, submitting an application demonstrating how it meets the many nursing standards. Representatives from the American Nurses Credentialing Center conducted a three-day virtual survey in early March 2021, interviewing staff, physicians, Board and community members and observing patient care.

“We congratulate all of our nurses on successfully completing the Magnet® journey,” said Jacqueline Ciccarelli, MSN, RN, CCRN-K, MPD, Manager, Magnet Program and Nursing Performance Improvement, at RWJUH Hamilton. “Their pride in their profession and their commitment to our patients are extraordinary. We are honored that they choose to work at RWJUH Hamilton and are committed to supporting their professional growth.”

Magnet looks for collaboration amongst all hospital staff as part of its evaluation. “We thank everyone who worked so hard over the past year to coordinate our Magnet® application and survey. But really, it is a reflection of the exceptional teamwork here at RWJUH Hamilton every day,” Freeman added.

RWJUH Hamilton’s nurses are involved in virtually every area of the hospital, from providing bedside care to serving as educators, researchers, advanced practice specialists and administrators and spearheading information technology and quality improvement initiatives. Many have achieved advanced certifications in nursing specialties such as cardiology, critical care, bariatrics, oncology, orthopedics, surgery and others.

About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton

Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, an RWJBarnabas Health facility, serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, cancer center, affiliated medical group, Lakeview Child Centers and the RWJ Fitness & Wellness Center. RWJBarnabas Health and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, in partnership with Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – brings a world class team of researchers and specialists to fight alongside you, providing close-to-home access to the latest treatment and clinical trials. For more information, visit us at www.RWJBH.org/Hamilton.

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®

The Magnet Recognition Program® administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world, recognizes health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program® serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program® and current statistics, visit www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet.