Challenge Accepted

NKCH achieves Magnet status, the gold standard of nursing excellence.

High-quality patient care; outstanding outcomes; and committed, compassionate employees helped catapult North Kansas City Hospital to Magnet® designation. The American Nurses Credentialing Center recognition is the highest achievement a hospital can receive for nursing excellence. Only 8.6% (474) of U.S. hospitals have earned Magnet designation.

“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.”

Years in the Making

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.

What Magnet Means

Magnet status confirms NKCH has the processes in place to consistently


deliver outstanding patient care and outcomes. When you come to the hospital, you 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 you can be confident your 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,” said 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.”

The Magnet Lifestyle

Magnet isn’t a one-time award. NKCH must reapply every four years, which makes Magnet a long-term lifestyle that requires ongoing exploration into ways to advance patient care.

“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."