YNHH earns Magnet^® – again! Nurses, hospital and health system leaders and physicians in the 55 Park St. auditorium and Saint Raphael Campus Cronin Auditorium cheered upon hearing the American Nurses Credentialing Center's announcement on the hospital's Magnet recognition.

Before the American Nurses Credentialing Center announced its decision on YNHH's application for Magnet^® re-designation, Sue Fitzsimons, RN, PhD, had a pretty good idea she would receive good news.

An ANCC representative had contacted her the week before to schedule a date and time for the announcement phone call. Fitzsimons, senior vice president of Patient Services, asked if it would be OK to gather a roomful of people to listen in. She was told it would.

Still, Fitzsimons was a little nervous as she dialed the ANCC in Maryland the afternoon of Oct. 18 to hear the official word. No doubt many of the hundreds of people who joined her in person at the 55 Park St. auditorium, by video conference in the Saint Raphael Campus Cronin Auditorium and via Livestream at off-site locations, were also a little anxious.

Nervousness quickly turned to elation as the ANCC announced that YNHH is again among seven percent of U.S. hospitals – and one of only six Connecticut hospitals – to achieve Magnet recognition.

"Magnet is the most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing," Fitzsimons said. "This re-designation celebrates the collaboration between nurses and members of the healthcare team to achieve excellent outcomes in patient care."

The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional practice. Magnet appraisers look closely at many areas of nursing excellence, including nursing leaders and how they empower staff, the hospital's culture of safety, quality of nursing practice and the best practices nurses discover and share.

YNHH first received Magnet recognition in 2011; the re-designation includes the York Street, Saint Raphael, Bridgeport Hospital and Milford Hospital campuses, along with numerous ambulatory sites.

"Consumers of healthcare services today are increasingly sophisticated, and they are choosing hospitals that have achieved Magnet recognition," said Richard D'Aquila, president, YNHH and YNHHS. "To achieve this honor for the first time as a combined hospital – Yale New Haven and the former Saint Raphael's – speaks volumes not only about our nursing excellence, but about the wonderful way we have all come together to create an outstanding patient experience."

During the call, Donna Havens, RN, PhD, chair of the ANCC's Commission on Magnet Recognition, cited several examples that distinguished YNHH. These included nursing's involvement in inter-professional practice, which ensures care coordination and continuity of care, and nursing's leadership and co-leadership of inter-professional quality improvement activities.

After the ANCC call, Fitzsimons noted that it was fitting to be joined by clinical nurses, nursing leaders, physicians and hospital and Yale New Haven Health System leaders, since the entire Magnet process is "truly a team effort."