title: Magnetic direction.
abstract: In April 2005, the American Nurses Association (ANA) awarded St. Joseph Hospital, Nashua, NH, its highest honor for excellence in nursing: "Magnet Recognition." The Magnet Recognition Program was developed by the ANA's American Nurses Credentialing Center in the early 1980s to recognize health care organizations that provide the best in nursing care and uphold the tradition of excellence in professional nursing practice. St. Joseph began pursuing Magnet status more than three years ago, starting with a number of enhancements to nursing practices. The hospital worked hard to improve nurse-to-patient staffing and included many of its nurses on the nursing quality council, division advisory, and cultural diversity committees. Magnet program appraisers visited the hospital this January to conduct an intensive, on-site three-day examination. They interviewed patients, staff nurses, physicians, hospital employees, administrators, board members, and nursing leadership to evaluate St. Joseph's nursing care, services, and delivery of care to patients and their families. Soon after, Magnet status was bestowed.
authors.affiliation: St. Joseph Hospital and Trauma Center, Nashua, NH, USA.
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Duchene
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Muhm
mesh_terms: D001363:Awards and Prizes; D019985:Benchmarking; D002410:Catholicism; D016519:Hospitals, Religious / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009513:New Hampshire; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010560:Personnel Selection; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D000078329:Workforce