Press Release

UC Davis Nursing Program

Loses Magnet Designation

Nurses at UC Davis Medical Center, long recognized as being among the best in the nation, received notice this week that they will no longer be designated as a Magnet nursing program. The designation, awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, is designed to recognize nursing excellence and “an organizational milieu that supports professional nursing practice.”

“This comes as a tremendous disappointment to the hundreds of UC Davis nurses who have worked hard to achieve and maintain this national recognition,” said Carol Robinson, R.N., chief nursing officer at UC Davis. “We have a terrific nursing staff and that won’t change. Although we no longer have Magnet designation, our philosophy of care and our support for the professional practice of nursing will not change either.”

ANCC appraisers lauded UC Davis’s excellence in many areas, including its “primary nurse” practice model, use of advanced-practice nurses, strong physician/nurse collaboration, high level of autonomy in nursing practice, development of a lift team and an active nursing research program.

But in withholding re-designation, the appraisers noted “inconsistencies in dissemination of the Forces of Magnetism,” saying “enculturation did not appear to be present throughout the entire organization.” Appraisers reported “unrest” with regard to collective bargaining and noted that in a few specific nursing units there was a need for improved communication. During the ANCC’s site visit last fall, several nurses met with the site review team to assert that UC Davis does not deserve Magnet status.

UC Davis earned Magnet designation in 1997, the sixth hospital in the United States and the first in California to achieve the award. Today, some 178 hospitals nationwide are designated by the ANCC as Magnet nursing programs.

“Vice Chancellor Pomeroy and I have the highest regard for our nursing staff and our nurse leadership,” said Bob Chason, chief executive officer at UC Davis Medical Center. “They’ve demonstrated time and again a level of skill and professionalism that makes us all proud. While we deeply regret their loss of this national honor, our respect for our nurses remains strong.”

Recognized for its high R.N.-to-patient ratio, pioneering “primary nurse” practice model and high quality of care, UC Davis has long been identified as a center of nursing excellence in the United States. With a staff of more than 2,000 nurses, many of whom hold advanced degrees and certifications, UC Davis consistently ranks among the best hospitals in the United States.

ANCC allows hospitals to re-apply for designation or to appeal adverse decisions. But Robinson says UC Davis likely will not seek re-designation.

“Unfortunately, the circumstances are still present that resulted in the loss of our magnet status,” she said. “Our focus right now will be to support our patients and our staff with a high level of care and professionalism.”

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