Providence St. Patrick Hospital attains third Magnet nursing recognition

Providence St. Patrick Hospital was notified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center that it has attained Magnet recognition for the third time. Magnet recognition is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice. Providence St. Patrick Hospital first attained primary designation in 2013.

St. Pat’s repeated designation underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drive all of our caregivers to strive harder each day to meet the health care needs of Missoula and Western Montana communities. Achieving this status is not only a great accomplishment, but a source of pride for our nurses and every caregiver who works at Providence St. Patrick Hospital.

Krissy Petersen, Chief Nursing Officer, says, “We are fortunate to have an outstanding nursing team and culture. We recognize that much of this work was done during some of the pandemic's darkest days. This signifies the work our nurses have done as an interprofessional team. Magnet is not something that we do, it is who we are. It validates our commitment to our Mission, core values, our caregivers, and our communities.”

The ANCC highlighted seven exemplars of St. Pat’s nursing excellence, including:

• The percentage of nursing staff who have achieved professional nursing certification and who have earned a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing.
• Nurse communication scores about patients and discharge education
• Nurse communication scores about courtesy and respect for patients
• Providence St. Patrick Hospital’s nursing professional practice model to reduce environmental impacts from hospital operations by providing education, motivation, and actionable items for staff and the community. It is an international and national example as a role model for excellence.

Only 10% of hospitals in the United States have received Magnet status, and only 2% of hospitals in the U.S. have been designated three or more times. There are only three Magnet hospitals in the state of Montana. A Magnet-designated hospital is a medical facility considered to be the gold standard for nursing practice and innovation. Magnet hospitals are certified by ANCC as institutions where nurses are empowered to not only take the lead on patient care but to be the drivers of institutional health care change and innovation.

Magnet recognition is in effect for four years and can be renewed if an organization reapplies and continues to demonstrate performance according to quality benchmarks and reporting.

For more information, please contact joann.hoven@providence.org.