Staff release party poppers with colorful confetti in Bornstein Amphitheater immediately after the news is announced.

Brigham and Women’s Hospital has, once again, achieved Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This national recognition is the gold standard of nursing excellence and patient care, and it honors the work and culture of an entire institution.

On March 16, hospital leaders and staff gathered in Bornstein Amphitheater and via webcast to hear the live announcement during a virtual call with the ANCC. Members of the ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program Commission’s Executive Committee delivered the commission’s unanimous vote to credential Brigham and Women’s as a Magnet organization. Attendees in Bornstein immediately erupted in cheers and applause, celebrating the happy news with party poppers filled with colorful confetti (view video and photo collage).

Maddy Pearson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, senior vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer, expressed her gratitude to the entire Brigham community for contributing to this achievement.

“Everyone here, and everyone at the Brigham, has been instrumental in this journey,” she said. “All of you are the heart and soul of the Brigham family, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you do.”

Brigham and Women’s first achieved Magnet designation in May 2018, and health care organizations must reapply for designation every four years, demonstrating adherence to Magnet concepts and improvements in patient care and quality. The evaluation process included submitting a 4,000-plus page electronic application, written patient care documentation and an on-site visit that encouraged participation and feedback from staff, patients and the public.

Maddy Pearson and Robert Higgins celebrate the news.

With this Magnet redesignation, the Brigham continues to be part of an esteemed community of less than 10 percent of hospitals nationwide, 14 of which are in Massachusetts.

“The Brigham is honored to receive Magnet designation for the second time in a row,” said Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, MSHA, president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and executive vice president at Mass General Brigham. “Our nurses, and the Brigham as a whole, are committed to providing the safest and highest-quality care possible to all of our patients. This recognition is a true testament to the terrific work that our nurses do each and every day.”

During the ceremony, Pearson acknowledged several individuals for their leadership throughout our Magnet journey: “I want to call out a few colleagues who are standing up here with me, and some who are not, because we know it takes a village, and we are stronger together: our Magnet program co-directors Elaine and Monica, who kept us on track with knowledge and grit; our Magnet Council co-chairs Cory and Sara, who worked tirelessly to get us ready; our Magnet Council and champions who shared our Magnet examples with enthusiasm and joy; our Magnet writers who told our wonderful story; Liz Machunski whose creativity is just remarkable; Karen and Danika who read every word of our Magnet application; Pam, Bee, Patti and Jen who masterfully coordinated Magnet logistics, including our site visit; our Magnet ambassadors who gave our appraisers a virtual tour throughout the Brigham during the site visit; our nursing leaders whose guidance and insights have been inspiring; our nursing executive board whose ongoing, deep support is ever-present; all of our nursing staff who come to work every day and give outstanding, compassionate care to our patients and their families; Bob, Shelly, Chuck, Giles, the entire EVP cabinet and our providers and interprofessional team members for all you do as leaders to show that you care.”

In addition to Magnet redesignation, the Brigham also was recognized for two exemplars that represent a best practice among Magnet hospitals. Both exemplars are part of the Exemplary Professional Practice component of the Magnet model.

The first exemplar honored the Brigham’s performance in improving a defined patient population outcome associated with nurse participation in an interprofessional collaborative plan of care (EP6EO). Specifically, the Brigham was praised for exemplary interprofessional collaboration throughout the organization and a variety of patient populations — including Neurosurgery, as evidenced by sustained decreased length of stay for craniotomy patients, and the Emergency Department, with anti-racism, trauma-informed care and de-escalation training to keep patients and staff safe.

The second exemplar applauded how Brigham’s clinical nurses have the authority and freedom to make nursing care decisions within the full scope of their nursing practice (EP12). In particular, during the evaluation process, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) spoke highly of opportunities to grow in their practice unlike other organizations or practices. Brigham and Women’s employs more than 130 APRNs in various specialties and roles, including nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, advanced practice nurse midwives and certified nurse anesthetists. Additionally, nurses receive support from both their physician colleagues and hospital leadership to expand their roles and be leaders in their multidisciplinary areas, empowering the culture and support for clinical nurses to make care decisions within the full scope of their practice.

Before ending the call, Adam Meier, MSN, RN, NE-BC, a member of the Magnet Executive Committee, extended his congratulations. “This accomplishment is a testament to your commitment to nursing excellence, and the commission recognizes your dedication to nurses, the health care team and, most importantly, the patients that you all serve every single day,” he said.

The exceptional interdisciplinary collaboration that Brigham care teams demonstrate every day is reflected in our shared commitment to patient- and family-centered care, Pearson said.

“It’s all about the patient. We know the patient is our true north,” she said. “We are — and I know we will always be — Magnet.”

The Brigham will host a celebration for all staff on Thursday, March 23, 12–2 p.m. and 11 p.m.–1 a.m., on the Braunwald Tower 2 mezzanine, with cookies and other Magnet-related festivities. Details for distributed campus celebrations will be shared soon with Magnet-certified locations. The nursing community will formally celebrate in June at the New England Aquarium.