June 15, 2005
Dana-Farber attains nation's highest honor for nursing excellence; first cancer center in New England to earn Magnet recognition
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has earned the prestigious Magnet status from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the highest institutional honor awarded for nursing excellence. Dana-Farber is the only cancer center in New England – and one of fewer than 150 hospitals worldwide – to earn the distinction.
"Our nursing staff has continuously shown a commitment to excellence through their compassionate care for our patients, and their expertise in teaching and evidence-based practice are second to none," says Patricia Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN, Dana-Farber's senior vice president for patient care services and chief of nursing. "It is truly a magnificent, well-deserved honor to be recognized by the ANCC and a milestone for Dana-Farber."
Magnet recognition, an award considered by many to be the gold standard in nursing practice, was established in the early 1980s by the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) to identify characteristics in hospitals that serve to attract and retain nurses. Since 1993 it has been a formal recognition program of the ANCC, the nation's leading nursing accreditation organization and a subsidiary of the American Nursing Association (ANA).
"This wonderful honor underscores what we as an institution and our patients have long known to be true, that Dana-Farber's nurses are exceptional and that their commitment to excellence and compassionate care makes them among the country's best," says Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, Dana-Farber's president.
A National Cancer Institute designated comprehensive cancer center, Dana-Farber provides adult cancer care in conjunction with Brigham and Women's Hospital (Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center) and pediatric cancer services in conjunction with Children's Hospital Boston (Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Care).
According to the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, Magnet recognition provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of care they can expect to receive.
Institutions that have earned Magnet status typically have highly collaborative professional environments where nurses work in partnership with physicians, have strong executive support, and provide patient-centered care. Studies have shown that organizations that posses these characteristics have lower mortality rates, fewer injuries, and greater satisfaction among patients and staff.
Scott Viera, a Dana-Farber patient and co-chair of the Adult Patient/Family Advisory Council, applauded the honor, "Because Dana-Farber always strives for excellence, having Magnet status seems natural."
Dana-Farber's journey towards attaining Magnet status, which began in October of 2003, culminated with a two-day site visit this April, when Magnet appraisers examined all aspects of Dana-Farber's patient care. Prior to the site visit, Dana-Farber submitted a five volume, 2,500-page document that outlined how the Institute meets rigorous standards of nursing practice defined in the ANA's Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators.
All standards that can affect patient outcomes were appraised and commended, such as nurse practice environments, quality improvement initiatives, and nursing research. Additionally, nursing educational preparation and specialty certification statistics were assessed. In 2000, The National Advisory Council on Nurse Education estimated that an average of 40 percent of all RNs are prepared at the baccalaureate level. At Dana-Farber, 86.3 percent of the nursing staff hold a bachelor's degree or higher, including eight nurses who have doctoral degrees. In addition, 38.2 percent also hold at least one specialty certification.
Dana-Farber will be recognized as a Magnet institution until June 2009, when the hospital will then have to reapply in order to keep its status.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.