Published: January 15, 2016 | Updated: October 7, 2022
LOUISVILLE, Ky. , (Jan. 15, 2013): Norton Children’s Hospital has once again been granted Magnet? status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. The hospital becomes one of only five in the state that have been granted Magnet status and one of only 20 children’s hospitals in the country that have been honored with Magnet status.
Norton Children’s Hospital first achieved Magnet status in 2007.
Magnet designation recognizes hospitals throughout the world for excellence in professional nursing practice, provides an evidence-based framework for improving the work environment and validates a hospital’s investment in nursing service.
“Magnet recognition validates what we’ve always believed to be true,” said Tom Kmetz, division president, women’s and children’s services, and president, Norton Children’s Hospital. “Our nurses are truly national leaders in caring for our patients. The Magnet designation is a result of our nurses’ passion, hard work and caring attitude toward our patients and their families. We are fortunate to be able to offer the level of excellence our nurses provide.”
Norton Children’s Hospital has been involved in the Magnet Recognition Program for the past several years. The hospital is required to reapply for Magnet status every four years. The process includes documentation of Norton Children’s Hospital high standards of excellence to the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program appraisers, who then conduct a site visit for evaluation.
Being granted Magnet status has an impact on the community and Norton Children’s Hospital staff. “It tells patients that Norton Children’s Hospital is the best place to receive care,” said Cis Gruebbel, R.N., M.S.N. vice president, pediatric operations and chief nursing officer. “It’s also a recruitment tool for nurses, physicians and other health care workers, because everyone wants to work for an organization that is constantly growing and moving forward.”
Magnet recognition also means Norton Children’s Hospital is dedicated to continually improving its quality of care. “The re-accreditation shows a consistent commitment to the Magnet standards,” Gruebbel said.
About Norton Children’s Hospital For more than a century, Norton Children’s Hospital and its predecessor hospitals have cared for the children of Kentucky and Southern Indiana without regard to their families’ ability to pay. Norton Children’s Hospital is Kentucky’s only full-service, free-standing pediatric care facility dedicated exclusively to caring for children and is an advocate for the health and well-being of all children. The 263-bed hospital, supported by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, serves as the primary pediatric teaching facility for the University of Louisville School of Medicine. In 2007, Norton Children’s received the prestigious Magnet designation recognizing excellence in nursing from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The hospital also received national attention in 2009 and 2010 when it was recognized by U.S. News & World Report for excellence in pulmonary care. In May 2010 the outpatient Norton Children’s Medical Center – Brownsboro became part of the Norton Children’s family. More information is available at NortonChildrens.com.
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 healthcare 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.nursecredentialing.org/magnet.