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Magnet Designation for UNC Hospitals

UNC Hospitals has achieved Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services by the American Nurses Credential Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program. It is one of only 378 facilities in the world, and among only 6 percent of all U.S. hospitals, that have earned Magnet designation.

“This is public recognition and validation of how great this hospital is – our nursing staff as well as our physicians, magnet logosupport staff and all of our interdisciplinary partners across the health care system,” said Dr. Mary Tonges UNC Hospitals senior vice president and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO). “Earning Magnet status is good for us in many ways, but most importantly this validates how good UNC Hospitals is, how proud we deserve to be of the staff who work here, and the care we provide for the people of North Carolina every day.”

Several School of Nursing faculty were involved in the magnet review. Dean and Alumni Distinguished Professor Kristen Swanson partners with Dr. Tonges to build bridges that  support nursing research, education, and practice at UNC and nationally. Associate Professor Dr. Cheryl B. Jones was on the Magnet Steering Committe, and Dr. Gwen Sherwood, SON associate dean for academic affairs, was part of a SON group who met with the Magnet appraisers to discuss ways in which SON and UNC Hospitals work together. She works closely with UNC Hospitals in the clinical placement of students there. “I learned new ways we work together, which in turn inspired other ideas, so we came away quite refreshed from our conversation,” she said. 

Dr. Rumay Alexander, director of the SON office of multicultural affairs and clinical professor, is also special assistant to the UNC Hospitals chief nursing officer on multicultural affairs. In this role she helped UNC Health Care form a diversity council and to advance diversity and inclusion. The ANCC recognizes that all encounters are cultural encounters, and the magnet review process seeks institutional evidence of taking this seriously, Dr. Alexander explained. 

“My role was to coach and teach a cadre of diverse health care providers how to be institutionally and individually introspective about what is going on at the micro-level in regards to  being culturally appropriate and relevant,” Dr. Alexander said.

Video: UNC Hospitals achieves Magnet designation

Rex Healthcare in Raleigh, a member of the UNC Health Care system, again received Magnet Recognition for its excellence in nursing care from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). In 2006, Rex was the first hospital in the Triangle to receive Magnet Recognition. This re-designation affirms Rex’s quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovation in nursing practice, and provides patients with an objective evaluation of the quality of care that they can expect to receive.

The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and adherence to national standards for the organization and delivery of nursing services. Applicants undergo a rigorous evaluation that includes extensive interviews and review of nursing services. Magnet status is valid for four years.