Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital earns recognition for its nursing program

Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital has earned the highest honor for nursing practices issued by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, according to a news release.

Going through the Magnet Recognition Program is a voluntary process that about 8% of hospitals in the U.S. have successfully completed, according to the release.

Undertaking the effort is worth it, the hospital said in the release, because nurses seek employment at hospitals that make their professional growth and satisfaction a priority. Patients also benefit from the high-quality care provided by Magnet-recognized organizations.

“This honor celebrates the exceptional way our nurses care for our patients and community,” Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital President Nick Rave said in the release. “They collaborate closely with other professionals to bring the most advanced nursing care to our patients.”

The interdisciplinary teamwork at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital was a key element of the Magnet review process. Surveyors closely examined the way nurses and other departments work together to provide safe, effective care for patients.

“This achievement goes beyond nursing to touch every member of our organization,” the hospital’s chief nursing executive, Catie Schmit, said in the release.

Schmit noted that now – in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, which reemphasized how “nursing is a profession that compels us to bring our best selves to work each day” – is the perfect time for the hospital to receive this recognition.