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Nurses group honors St. Joseph/Candler
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The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program for excellence in nursing services again designated St. Joseph’s/Candler as a Magnet hospital. It is one of only five in Georgia and 378 in the world.   
“Our nurses use the best practices that give our patients the best outcomes, and that is why St. Joseph’s/Candler earned a third Magnet designation,” said Paul P. Hinchey, president and CEO of SJ/C. “Each of our 1,170 nurses should have an enormous sense of pride and accomplishment for reaching this goal.”
Only 31 sites have earned three designations.
Established in 1994, the Magnet designation is the highest level of recognition that can be accomplished by organized nursing services in the national and international healthcare communities.
Independent research has shown Magnet designated hospitals have nurses with more education, more years of experience, better job satisfaction and better patient care. Magnet designated hospitals also demonstrate a more positive and supportive environment for nurse empowerment, professional development and satisfaction.
It is important to differentiate the Magnet designation from other awards some hospitals promote that rely primarily on opinions rather than scientific and quantitative data. The ANCC actually researches how nurses administer care to patients.
St. Joseph’s/Candler submitted two year’s worth of data from our 52 patient units. Each of those units had to reach 100 percent o f their benchmarks to earn Magnet status.
ANCC uses a comprehensive process of documentation and site evaluation in deciding which health systems will receive designation. The application process begins with the submission of written documentation that the organization provides as evidence of their support for the Magnet Sources of Evidence.  
After review by a team of nursing peers the organization may move to a site visit where the written documentation is verified, amplified and clarified.  During the site visit the appraisers visit all nursing care areas to engage in a discussion with the nurses who share best practices and data related to indicators that measure qualitative and quantitative factors in the delivery of patient care.
“Being a Magnet hospital has helped us attract the best nursing talent in the region and country,” said Sherry Danello, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. “We couldn’t have achieved this without our patient care team and medical staff coming together to work through this rigorous evaluation.”
In 2002, St. Joseph’s/Candler was first designated a Magnet facility, becoming the only local health institution to achieve such status and the 44th in the world. This recognition, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, is a benchmark for excellence reflecting a health-care organization’s delivery of patient care and the contribution of nurses.
In 2006, St. Joseph’s/Candler received re-designation as a Magnet facility.

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