Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital has earned top honors from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and is now recognized as a select hospital with the distinction of meeting the highest standards of nursing excellence in the health care industry.
Only about 10 percent of hospitals nationwide have earned Magnet designation, a nationally-recognized status known as the pinnacle for nursing excellence in a hospital. Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital is the third hospital in the Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin health care network to receive this distinction, joining Froedtert West Bend Hospital and Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa.
“This is a significant milestone for our health care network and a tremendous benefit for people within the diverse communities we serve. Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital has an established and proven culture of nursing excellence, ensuring patients will continue experiencing the best possible care and increased satisfaction,” said Shelly Waala, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. “It’s another example of how the values of our network (Value People, Work Together, Act Now, Own It, Break Through and Deliver Excellence) align with the highest quality standards in the health care industry and this Magnet designation will help empower our mission to advance the health of our communities.”
ANCC is the largest and most prominent nursing credentialing organization in the U.S. Its Magnet Recognition Program designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes. It also provides a roadmap to nursing excellence.
To nurses, Magnet designation means education and development through every career stage, which leads to greater autonomy at the bedside. To patients, it means the very best care, delivered by nurses who are supported to be the very best that they can be.
Preparation for the designation required cooperation, effort and rigorous evaluation that included extensive interviews and reviews of nursing services. The process began in 2019.
“Our Magnet journey was a long, ongoing process as new infrastructures were developed which included a robust shared governance structure and nursing research council. Yet, the rewarding aspect was submitting the extensive documentation which showcased the Magnet culture that was already present in Menomonee Falls,” said Valda Upenieks, director of nursing practice, Magnet and innovation. “Our exemplar nursing outcomes and patient satisfaction scores demonstrated to the ANCC Magnet Office, and mostly to our community, that the care provided by our nurses and inter-professional team is exceptional.”
After submitting documents and sources of evidence in 84 key areas, the hospital welcomed Magnet appraisers in August. This was an important step which allowed staff and leaders to demonstrate the required components of Magnet enculturation. Nursing leaders worked closely with departments and the hospital’s 700 nurses to prepare for this visit.
Adds Shelly, “Magnet is an impressive and important distinction for our health care network and the communities we serve. It reinforces our commitment to the top standards of care and is a powerful reminder of how nursing excellence lives and is supported here.