Magnet recognition for nursing excellence
Edward-Elmhurst Health is proud to offer nationally-recognized nursing programs. Both Edward and Elmhurst Hospitals have earned Magnet® recognition, the ultimate credential for excellence in nursing.
Edward earns Magnet status
Edward became the first hospital serving DuPage and Will counties to earn Magnet recognition in 2005. The hospital, which employs 1,200 nurses, was first re-designated in 2010, and again in 2014 and 2019. The 2019 designation means Edward is one of only eight hospitals in Illinois and 100 in the U.S. to have achieved Magnet status four times or more.
“We are totally honored, proud and thrilled to receive this re-designation. As an organization, we work very hard every single day to fulfill the tenets of Magnet,” says Lynn Cochran, MS, RN, System VP, Operations/Chief Nursing Officer, Edward Hospital.
“To earn Magnet recognition once was a great accomplishment and an incredible source of pride for our nurses. Our repeated achievement of this credential underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drive our entire staff to strive harder each day to meet the healthcare needs of the people we serve.”
Elmhurst earns Magnet status
Elmhurst Hospital joined Edward in becoming one of five hospitals in DuPage County to earn the prestigious recognition in 2015. For Elmhurst, which employs 700 nurses, the journey to Magnet recognition began in 2008 with the design of a new replacement hospital, which opened in 2011. Elmhurst Hospital achieved Magnet re-designation in 2020.
“It’s one thing to raise everybody up to get excited about Magnet the first time, it’s another thing to sustain,” says Pamela Dunley, MBA, MS, RN, CENP, President & CEO, Elmhurst Hospital. “We have the best nursing staff, I believe, in the country.”
“I would like to thank the entire nursing staff, nursing leaders, educators and senior leaders for their commitment,” says Jean Lydon, MS, MBA, RN, System Vice President, Operations and Chief Nursing Officer. “It is a commitment to patients and families, it’s a commitment to each other and it’s a commitment to the nursing profession.”
Preceding its Magnet status, the hospital became one of few hospitals in the world to receive Planetree Distinction in 2013, which recognizes the hospital’s achievement and innovation in the delivery of patient-centered care.
About Magnet
Granted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Magnet recognition is considered the highest honor a hospital can achieve for its nursing care, and illustrates our commitment to safe, high-quality patient care.
Edward and Elmhurst hospitals are two of only 40 Magnet organizations in Illinois. Of the nation’s 6,100 hospitals, only nine percent (about 542) are recognized as Magnet facilities by the ANCC.
Research demonstrates that Magnet hospitals provide specific benefits, such as:
- Higher patient satisfaction
- Lower risk of 30-day mortality, reduced readmission rates and fewer complications
- Higher job satisfaction among nurses
- Nurses stay at the organization because they feel supported in their role
To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.