ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL SOMERSET ACHIEVES MAGNET® DESIGNATION FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE TIME
SOMERVILLE, NJ, Aug. 19, 2021 - Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset has earned Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) – the nation’s most prestigious nursing honor - for the third consecutive time. Only 9 percent of hospitals nationwide have achieved this recognition.
“It is a remarkable accomplishment for our nurses to be recognized as the best in their profession -- not just once, but three times in a row – while also in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic,” said Tony Cava, president and chief executive officer, RWJUH Somerset. “We are so proud of our entire nursing team for their dedication to our patients and their commitment to providing the highest quality care.”
“The Magnet tenets are embedded in our culture and are something our nurses truly embody every day,” said Michael Valendo, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CEN, chief nursing officer and vice president of nursing, RWJUH Somerset. “As evidenced by the events of the past year, the health care environment is ever-changing and our nurses are continually adapting, building their knowledge and seeking new and innovative ways to improve their professional practice to enhance patient safety.”
RWJUH Somerset’s 650 nurses serve in various roles throughout the hospital, including inpatient, surgical and emergency care, behavioral health, outpatient services, care management, education, clinical research, infection prevention, quality improvement, patient experience, patient navigation services, information technology services, community outreach and administration.
RWJUH Somerset first received Magnet® designation in 2011 and was redesignated in 2016.
To begin the redesignation process, RWJUH Somerset submitted an electronic application to ANCC last fall, followed by written documentation demonstrating both qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding patient care and outcomes. ANCC appraisers conducted a virtual site visit in June to thoroughly assess and validate the hospital’s application. Following the site visit, the Commission on Magnet® reviewed the completed appraisal report to determine if Magnet® recognition would be granted. The hospital was notified of their redesignation today via a video call from the ANCC.
According to the ANCC, Magnet-recognized organizations report better patient care outcomes, including decreased mortality rates, shorter hospital stays and lower infection rates. Magnet status also helps hospitals recruit and retain talented nurses.
In 2020, RWJUH Somerset’s Nursing Residency Program was accredited by the ANCC Commission on Accreditation in Practice Transition Programs. The residency program helps new nurses develop clinical and leadership skills and includes three graduate level credits from the Rutgers University School of Nursing.
For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, including job opportunities for nurses, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset.