Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston Hospital has achieved Magnet recognition again for its continued dedication to nursing excellence. Conferred by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the world’s largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization, Magnet Recognition Program® designation is the highest international distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing care.

The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes healthcare organizations worldwide that demonstrate superior nursing standards in the delivery of quality patient care, leading to the highest levels of safety, quality and patient satisfaction. Maintaining Magnet-recognized status signifies Egleston’s demonstration of excellence and outperformance in each of these areas. There are currently 599 Magnet hospitals in the United States, including Egleston and Scottish Rite among only 49 Magnet-recognized pediatric organizations.

“We are elated to receive Magnet recognition for the second time for our nurses here at Egleston,” said Linda Cole, Chief Nursing Officer at Children’s. “This repeated achievement is a testament to the ongoing quality care from our team of nurses, care delivery partners and interprofessional collaborators who go above and beyond every single day to provide exceptional care for our patients and their families. I am honored to be able to share such an outstanding accomplishment with our Children’s family.”

After receiving Egleston’s first designation in 2018, Children’s understood the importance of pursuing Magnet recognition again. To achieve its second Magnet recognition, Egleston was required to demonstrate an exceptional practice environment for nurses and meet high standards for patient experience. This lengthy process included an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit in May 2023 and an official review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

Egleston received the official designation results call from the ANCC Commission on Magnet Executive Committee Vice-Chair, on Monday, June 26. A number of Egleston nurses and members of the Executive Team were gathered in the room to hear the call and participate in the celebration.

The ANCC commended several key strengths of the Egleston nursing team:

• Commitment to professional development and lifelong learning. 92% of professional registered nurses have obtained a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing, exceeding the 80% requirement.

• Resiliency and resources for nurses. Programs are in place to promote staff wellness and wholeness, including the Strong4Life program with multiple wellness and resiliency resources.

• Patient satisfaction. 100% of ambulatory nursing units exhibited high-performance in patient engagement or patient-centered care, patient education, responsiveness and careful listening.

• Innovation. A new role titled, “Onboarding Specialist” has been widely adopted to support new staff beyond the role of the preceptor and serve as a career development path for nurses, exemplifying how the organization continues to use innovative approaches to support team members.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite will complete a three-day Magnet site visit this August for its second designation, with official review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition to follow.