WMC nurses recognized for excellence

The Winchester Medical Center attained its fourth Magnet recognition for its commitment to nursing excellence.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet Recognition Program awards healthcare organizations that meet rigorous standards to determine high-quality nursing.

Only 10% of hospitals throughout the country, including 27 in Virginia, have earned the Magnet designation.

Some of the components used to gauge an organization include the quality of nursing leadership, coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.

To achieve initial recognition, healthcare organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

Organizations must reapply every 4 years.

Winchester Medical Center was first designated in 2008 and redesignated in 2013 and 2018.

Organizations with the recognition have shown to have higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure rescue rates, higher job satisfaction among nurses, and lower nurse reports of intentions to leave.