- The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program is the highest honor of excellence in nursing
- MD Anderson achieved its first Magnet with Distinction designation, an elite rating earned only by the world's top-tier organizations
- MD Anderson is one of 26 organizations worldwide to have earned six or more Magnet designations
- MD Anderson is highlighted for its highly credentialed nursing staff, strong professional engagement and notably low turnover rate
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center has earned its sixth Magnet designation and first Magnet with Distinction rating from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program, the highest international distinction for excellence in nursing practice. The institution joins an exclusive group of 26 organizations worldwide to have earned six or more Magnet designations.
Earning Magnet status through ANCC's Magnet Recognition Program is considered the gold standard for nursing excellence. Magnet with Distinction is based on validated empirical data, celebrating organizations that exceed scoring thresholds required to attain Magnet designation. This exemplary achievement further sets MD Anderson apart, as only a select few hospitals realize this elite level of performance.
MD Anderson previously earned Magnet designation in 2001, 2006, 2010, 2015, and 2020. This continued recognition reflects the outstanding patient care, leadership, innovation and expertise exhibited by MD Anderson's 5,300 nurses. Only 10% of U.S. hospitals and health care institutions have achieved Magnet status.
"We're incredibly proud of our extraordinary nursing community for achieving this sixth Magnet designation, an accomplishment which validates the vital role of our nurses across the cancer care continuum and within our interprofessional teams," said Kim Slusser, chief nursing officer ad interim at MD Anderson. "It is a direct result of our collective dedication to advancing nursing practice, supporting professional growth and promoting exceptional patient-centered outcomes."
Earning and maintaining Magnet designation is a rigorous process that includes detailed documentation, onsite evaluation and proof of ongoing improvements every four years to ensure an institution's nursing community exceeds ANCC standards. Magnet appraisers conduct a multiple-day assessment to learn about clinical research, education, structure, and patient outcomes. Research demonstrates that Magnet institutions like MD Anderson have higher nurse satisfaction and retention as well as improved patient outcomes, including increased adoption of safety practices, shorter hospital stays and lower mortality rates.
Since its previous Magnet designation in 2020, MD Anderson established the Meyers Institute for Oncology Nursing, a pioneering institute designed to shape the future of nursing by empowering oncology nurses and nurse scientists through specialized education, professional development and work-life well-being programs throughout their careers.
The institute's focus areas, including the Wheeler Nurse Leadership Academy, are further enhancing the positive environment MD Anderson has cultivated for nurses, who play a leading role in research administration, professional development and technology integration. These transformational efforts helped contribute to the sixth Magnet designation and will continue to establish MD Anderson as a leader in oncology nursing.
"Magnet designation exemplifies sustained excellence in nursing practice and a culture of professional governance where nurses feel empowered to drive innovation, quality and safety efforts, and strategic growth. As a nurse by training, I am continually amazed by our nurses' commitment to our overall mission and by the institutional impact of a distinction of this caliber," said Rosanna Morris, chief operating officer at MD Anderson. "I am so incredibly grateful and proud of every one of our nurses and the teams that surround them. By enabling an environment where our nurses can thrive, we help to ensure our patients receive the best we have to offer."
Magnet status is an important factor used as a benchmark for accreditation by The Joint Commission and contributes to MD Anderson's consistent ranking as the nation's top hospital for cancer care.
The Magnet appraisal team cited MD Anderson's innovative collaborative efforts, robust professional development opportunities and unrivaled culture of nursing leadership and research as key contributors to this repeat achievement.
The following initiatives were highlighted by appraisers as exemplars of excellence in nursing practice at MD Anderson, deserving of special recognition:
- Highly credentialed nursing staff, including a large proportion of board-certified nurses and those with bachelor's degrees or higher
- Outstanding levels of nurse satisfaction and engagement
- Notably low nurse turnover rate of 8%
"This tremendous honor reflects what we know to be true - MD Anderson nurses are among the best in the world," said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. "Maintaining the highest standards of care and practice affirms our abiding commitment to a culture where nursing excellence is a defining factor of our organization and of the comprehensive patient care we provide."
