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UF Health Jacksonville nursing earns third-consecutive Magnet designation

UF Health Jacksonville has earned its third consecutive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, an honor that signifies the organization’s continuing commitment to exceptional nursing practice and offering patients the highest quality care possible.

Magnet designation is the nursing profession’s most prestigious recognition for nursing excellence, quality patient outcomes and innovations in professional nursing practice.

“This is such a special place and so deserving of this special recognition,” said Patrice Jones, DNP, RN, NE-BC, vice president and chief nursing officer for UF Health Jacksonville. “Every day, I see how dedicated our nurses are to their patients and the compassion they show in sometimes very difficult situations. I could not be more proud to lead such a special group of people.”

UF Health Jacksonville received its first Magnet designation in 2011, followed by a redesignation in 2016. The Magnet Recognition Program uses a rigorous process to designate the best health care organizations throughout the world. Only 9% of hospitals in the U.S. are designated as Magnet organizations.

“The ongoing pandemic has highlighted just how valuable nursing is as a profession, and how fortunate we are to have some of the best people in that profession,” said Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, MHSA, CEO of UF Health Jacksonville and dean of the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville. “Patrice, her team, and everyone who works here should be incredible proud.”

To receive this designation, UF Health Jacksonville once again met stringent quantitative and qualitative standards that define the quality of nursing practice and patient care. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, and when met with unparalleled challenges, the nursing teams strived to meet the Magnet standards and remained resilient.

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