Two Sentara hospitals receive high marks for their nursing staffs

Published December 19, 2014 by Robert Powell, III

The American Nurses Credentialing Center has designated two Sentara Healthcare hospitals in Virginia as meeting the high standards of its Magnet Recognition Program.

Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and Sentara RMH Medical Center in Harrisonburg received the official announcement of their designations this week. Designations are granted to only about 7 percent of U.S. hospitals.

“Magnet is the most rigorous designation there is for a hospital nursing program,” Donna Wilmoth, nurse executive at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center, said in a statement.

Hospitals applying for Magnet recognition must filed more than 3,000 pages of reports documenting that they meet 88 quality measures.

Hospitals meeting the criteria, receive three-day site visit to validates the documentation. Nurses are interviewed to test their clinical knowledge and knowledge of the process. 

A commission reviews the findings and decides whether to admit the applicant as a Magnet hospital.

Sentara Williamsburg and Sentara RMH are the third and fourth Sentara hospitals to receive Magnet recognition.

Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville and Sentara Norfolk General Hospital received their designations in 2006 and 2008, respectively.