South Nassau Communities Hospital Earns Nurse Magnet Re-Deisgnation

Oceanside, NY, October 20, 2018 --(PR.com)-- For the second time, South Nassau Communities Hospital has won national recognition for nursing excellence, earning re-designation as an American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet® organization.

The Magnet designation is the highest and most prestigious international distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing care. South Nassau is one of only 26 hospitals in New York State (and one of 477 healthcare organizations nationally) to be so honored.

South Nassau first earned Magnet status in 2014. The re-designation is valid for four years. The award underscores South Nassau's commitment to patient care and patient safety.

"Re-designation validates that nursing at South Nassau Communities Hospital is consistently excellent in practice care, collaboration and patient experience,"
said Sue Penque, PhD, NE-BC, NC-BC, RN, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services at South Nassau. "Our nurses are among the very best in the profession and their high standards and commitment to provide our patients with intuitive, expert bedside care and in a healing and nurturing environment will continue on."

"A little over four years ago, I stated that our organization is fully invested in maintaining this prestigious credential," said Richard J. Murphy, president and CEO of South Nassau. "I commend our nursing leadership, nurses and our entire patient care staff for its hard work and dedication to the core values of how we meet the needs of our patients so that today we are able to celebrate Magnet re-designation."

Research comparing Magnet organizations with non-Magnet organizations has found Magnet recognition to be associated with higher job satisfaction among nurses; higher nurse-perceived quality of care; lower rates of nurse occupational safety incidents; lower rates of patient falls, and improved skin integrity. Data also show that Magnet hospitals are better able to attract and retain high-quality, professional nurses. This helps ensure a positive work environment as well as makes certain that the continuum of care remains coordinated, eliminating unnecessary and duplicative care, reducing costs and improving patients' performance and outcomes.

Magnet recognition has been shown to provide specific benefits to hospitals and their communities, including:

• Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help, and receipt of discharge information;
• Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue;
• Higher job satisfaction among nurses; and
• Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave position.

To achieve Magnet re-designation, South Nassau completed a rigorous process that demanded widespread participation from leadership and staff. The process began with the submission of an electronic application for re-designation, followed by written documentation demonstrating qualitative and quantitative evidence that South Nassau patient and nursing outcomes in several quality and patient safety areas (including patient falls, hospital-acquired pressure ulcers, healthcare-acquired infections, pediatric pain management, and peripheral IV complications) exceed comparison national benchmarks.

Additionally, South Nassau had to show proof that it exceeds national benchmarks for patient and family satisfaction, as well as nurse satisfaction.

The application and documentation submitted by South Nassau was scored by the ANCC to determine whether or not South Nassau was deserving of an on-site evaluation to thoroughly assess its worthiness of Magnet re-designation. After the multi-day, comprehensive on-site review process, a detailed appraisal report was completed and a vote was held by the ANCC to determine whether re-designation would be granted.