Named 32nd Magnet Facility in the U.S. The Commission on Magnet Programs recognizes health care organizations for their excellence in nursing service, including such institutions as Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing the Mayo Foundation/Mayo Continuing Education and St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Department of Nursing. "Locate the nearest Magnet. If you can easily check into a Magnet hospital, you'd be foolish not to."   --Readers Digest, September 2003 On May 14, 2001, Catawba Valley Medical Center joined that prestigious company as Linda Urden, DNSC, RN, chairperson for the Commission on Magnet Programs presented the coveted Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program for Excellence in Nursing Service to the nursing staff of Catawba Valley Medical Center. And CVMC continues to meet and exceed the Magnet standards by achieving reaccreditation again in August 2005. To date, less than 2% of the nation's 6,000 hospitals have been designated Magnet facilities including leaders in healthcare like Johns Hopkins and the Mayo Clinic. "There is no greater recognition than magnet accreditation," explained Eddie Beard, CVMC's vice-president of nursing services. "Magnet designation is the stamp of approval — it's an outside validation that assures the highest level of nursing practice that is available and a work environment that's going to promote that." Established in 1993, the Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program for Excellence in Nursing Service is the highest level of recognition that can be awarded to a health-care organization's nursing services. The recognition is bestowed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), a program affiliated with the American Nurses Association (ANA) dedicated to improving nursing practice and promoting high-quality health care services. The benchmark for The Magnet Services Recognition Program is a 1983 magnet hospital study conducted by the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) which established standards for health-care organizations with environments that attracted and retained well-qualified nurses who promoted quality patient care through providing excellence in nursing services. The Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program for Excellence in Nursing Service recognizes excellence in these areas: Management philosophy and practices of nursing services Adherence to standards for improving the quality of patient care Leadership of the chief nurse executive in supporting professional practice and continued competence of nursing personnel Attention to the cultural and ethnic diversity of patients and their significant others, as well as the care providers in the system This recognition indicates excellence in three specific areas: Nursing services Development of a professional work environment Growth and development of nursing staff "I'm very humbled by this achievement," Eddie stated. "But I really don't take the credit for it. This recognition honors the comprehensive efforts of our entire staff." Click the link below to see our Health First Magazine featuring information about our Magnet Status. Health First Magazine If you have Adobe Acrobat, you can view the Health First Magazine. If not, you can download it by clicking on the icon below.