Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Earns Nursing Excellence Designation

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — Inova Mount Vernon Hospital announced it has earned a nursing excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The Magnet hospital designation is considered the top honor for nursing excellence. An Inova spokesperson noted 8 percent of hospitals in the U.S. have the designation. The health system's largest hospital, Inova Fairfax Hospital, was one of the first in the U.S. to achieve magnet status in 1997. Inova Loudoun and Fair Oaks have kept the designation since 2006 and 2009, respectively. Inova Alexandria Hospital is also pursuing the designation.

"Achieving Magnet designation is truly a testament to the steadfast commitment of our nurses and team members to provide the best in class care for our patients, their families and our community," said Alquietta Brown, chief nursing officer for Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. "We are incredibly proud of and grateful for our talented team here at Inova. To achieve this distinction during some of the most complicated and difficult years of our nation’s history truly exemplifies an extraordinary level of dedication, resilience and support for one another."

The Magnet designation recognizes hospitals whose nursing goals help improve patient outcomes, according to the American Nurses Credentialing Center website. To earn the designation, hospitals must meet benchmarks in nursing leadership, excellence in patient care, quality clinical standards, and continued quality review and improvement. The review includes four years of performance data.

A key part in earning the designation is showing a commitment to nurses' education and development through a nurse residency, specialty practice fellowships, a research and evidence-based practice program, and tuition reimbursement for Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and higher education.

Joanne Gucciardo, the director of nursing outcomes and Magnet program for Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, said one example of professional development is the nursing residency program.

"Giving new grads the opportunity to learn from experienced nurses is invaluable hands-on education," said Gucciardo. "And, for our seasoned nurses to mentor the next generation of nurses ensures our legacy of skilled, compassionate, professional nurses continue."

In addition to the Magnet designation, Inova Mount Vernon Hospital earned six best practice models for top performance in the categories of nursing satisfaction, infection prevention for central line-associated bloodstream infection, infection prevention for catheter-associated urinary tract infection, care coordination, patient satisfaction for responsiveness, and patient satisfaction for careful listening.