Magnet

ANCC Magnet Recognition® is the highest and most prestigious international distinction that a health care organization can receive for nursing. Only 8.9% of U.S. hospitals and 547 hospitals globally have achieved Magnet® recognition. Baxter Health is one of only five hospitals in Arkansas and the first in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri to achieve this designation.

The Magnet Model

To achieve Magnet status, hospitals must demonstrate a high standard of excellence in:

1. Transformational leadership: Supporting and advocating for patients and staff, and having strong nursing leaders at every level.
2. Structural empowerment: Recognizing the contributions of nursing staff, committing to professional development, and decentralizing decision-making.
3. Exemplary professional practice: Showing competence and accountability in professional procedures, systems, and practices. Systemically measuring care and outcomes is also essential.
4. New knowledge, innovations, and improvements: Requiring research and evidence-based practice to be incorporated into operational and clinical processes. Encouraging innovation throughout the organization is important as well.
5. Empirical outcomes: Emphasizing community, patient, workforce, and organizational outcomes.

We Did it Together!

On June 17, 2021, Baxter Health achieved Magnet recognition as a reflection of its nursing professionalism, teamwork and superiority in patient care. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence.

With this credential, Baxter Health joins the global community of Magnet-recognized organizations. Only 8.9% of all U.S. hospitals and 547 hospitals world-wide have received this designation. Baxter Health is one of only five in Arkansas and the only one in northern Arkansas and southern Missouri to achieve Magnet status.

“Magnet recognition provides our community with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of patient care. Achieving Magnet recognition reinforces the culture of excellence that is a cornerstone of how we serve our community. It’s also tangible evidence of our nurses’ commitment to providing excellent care to every patient, every time.”

- Ron Peterson, President/CEO of Baxter Health

Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges health care organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care. Throughout the 9 year process, Baxter Health was tasked to provide improved, sustained, and continued excellence in nursing and patient care.

“I’m so proud of the nurses, nursing leaders and all involved in making this Journey to Magnet Excellence® possible. Although Magnet status is a nursing designation, it’s also recognition of the outstanding efforts of our entire health system.”

- Shannon Nachtigal, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Former VP/Chief Nursing Office of Baxter Health

The Magnet Model provides a framework for nursing practice, research, and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC evaluates applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence.

The foundation of this model comprises various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.