St. Luke’s retains Magnet status for nursing

CEDAR RAPIDS - UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's on Wednesday was redesignated with standards from Magnet Program Recognition, an international honor for excellence in its nursing practice.

This is the Cedar Rapids hospitals' third time receiving the recognition from the American Nursing Credentialing Center. It was first Magnet-designated in 2009, and redesignated in 2014.

'This honor is a validation of our efforts in creating a culture of safety for our patients and for our team members and that we are committed to supporting them in doing their best work,” Carmen Kleinsmith, UnityPoint Health-St. Luke's vice president and chief nurse executive, said in a news release.

The Magnet program was developed in 1990 to recognize health care organizations for nursing excellence and to highlight 'the gold standard in patient care.” According to a news release on the announcement, Magnet hospitals consistently achieve 'better patient outcomes and higher patient satisfaction rates.”

St. Luke's is one of 482 organizations worldwide and one of six hospitals statewide to receive this status, including the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, which received its third designation from the program earlier this year.

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