NKCH Receives Magnet Status

North Kansas City Hospital earned Magnet, opens new tab^® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. This recognition is the highest achievement a hospital can receive for nursing excellence.

Only 8.6% (474) of U.S. hospitals have Magnet status. Of about 140 hospitals in Missouri, seven are Magnet hospitals, and NKCH is among only three in Kansas City.

“We are so proud to receive the honor of Magnet designation,” said Peggy Schmitt, president and CEO of NKCH and Meritas Health. “Although we’ve been operating consistent with Magnet principles for quite some time, we’re excited the ANCC made it official. Magnet is about creating a hospital-wide culture of respect and collaboration, which results in the best patient outcomes and the highest level of patient care. Every single employee helped us achieve this honor by putting our patients first every day.”

Rigorous Review

The Magnet application and review process is rigorous and lengthy. It requires years of preparation and a high level of teamwork between hospital departments. To start the process, NKCH’s Magnet team collected and submitted volumes of information about the hospital’s patient care practices and outcomes.

After reviewing the written data, an ANCC Magnet appraisal team spent three days on the hospital’s campus, talking with employees, physicians, patients and community members, and observing the hospital’s processes. After the visit, the ANCC unanimously voted to approve NKCH’s request for Magnet status.

Gold Standard

Magnet status confirms NKCH has the processes in place to consistently deliver outstanding patient care and outcomes. When patients come to the hospital, they can expect to receive care that meets the highest standards. Magnet hospitals offer higher nurse-to-patient ratios, which result in better communication, fewer complications and shorter hospital stays.

Magnet designation also means patients can be confident their care is delivered by the best of the best. Magnet hospital employees tend to be happier and engaged in their jobs. This stems from working in an environment that values employee input, encourages units to work together to make decisions that benefit patients, and provides professional development opportunities. As a result, they are more passionate about their work and more likely to continue working in this type of environment.

“In addition to retaining valued employees, Magnet hospitals also attract extremely qualified nurses, doctors and other staff because those professionals understand what the designation symbolizes,” added Sarah Oakley, NKCH’s chief nursing officer. “They want to work in a hospital that meets the gold standard for patient care, outcomes and employee satisfaction.”

Ongoing Dedication

NKCH must reapply for designation every four years and undergo the evaluation process again. In the meantime, close monitoring ensures the hospital continues to adhere to Magnet’s high standards.

“Achieving Magnet is the highest honor in nursing,” Schmitt said. “It’s a tremendous accomplishment that confirms the high-quality care our employees provide to our patients and their families. We look forward to continuing to provide excellent care to the community and to offering hope and healing to every life we touch.”