Moffitt Cancer Center Earns Prestigious Nursing Designation

Already a leader in cancer research and treatment, the Moffitt Cancer Center (photo) continues to build its reputation as one of the premier cancer research centers in the country, and it’s located only about two miles south of Tampa Palms on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., south of E. Fletcher Ave.

In a March 16 press release, it was announced that the Moffitt Cancer Center had earned the prestigious Magnet® designation in recognition of its nursing excellence. Magnet recognition is granted by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) — the credentialing body of the American Nurses Association — to honor outstanding health care organizations for nursing professionalism, teamwork, quality patient care and innovations in nursing practices. According to its website, today, only seven percent of national and international health care organizations are recognized by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®.

The Magnet program initially was formed in 1990 as the Magnet Hospital Recognition Program for Excellence in Nursing Services. Its criteria were based on findings from a 1983 study conducted by the American Academy of Nursing’s Task Force on Nursing Practice in Hospitals, which identified fourteen characteristics that created an environment conducive to attracting and retaining well-qualified nurses who promoted quality care — known as the “Forces of Magnetism.” So, in 2002, the program’s name officially was changed to the Magnet Recognition Program.

“Being a Magnet-recognized organization is a testament to the relentless pursuit of excellence in nursing within all areas of Moffitt,” said Jane Fusilero, RN, MSN, MBA, NEA-BC, Moffitt’s chief nursing officer and VP of Patient Care Services. “It also speaks to the power of collaborative teamwork. It truly takes the dedication of everyone within our organization to achieve this level of recognition.”

The Magnet designation is achieved after successfully completing a process in which a team of professionals with experience in quality indicators, nursing administration and nursing care appraises a hospital’s nursing services, clinical outcomes and patient care. Research data and extensive interviews help evaluate the nursing practice with respect to the patient, family, community and nursing services.

The Magnet Model is designed to provide a framework for nursing practice, research and measurement of outcomes. Through this framework, ANCC can assess applicants across a number of components and dimensions to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. The foundation of this model is composed of various elements deemed essential to delivering superior patient care, including the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.

Magnet recognition has been shown to provide specific benefits to hospitals and their communities, including higher patient satisfaction with nurse-to-patient communication, availability of help, and receipt of discharge information; lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue; higher job satisfaction among nurses; and a lower percentage of nurse reports of intentions to leave position.

Moffitt is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the U.S., a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is the top-ranked cancer hospital in the Southeast and has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of the “Best Hospitals For Cancer Care” since 1999. With more than 4,500 employees, Moffitt claims to have an economic impact in Florida of nearly $1.6 billion.

For more info, visit Moffitt.org.