Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Receives Magnet® Designation for Nursing Excellence

Also Recognized for Six “Exemplars” for Top Performance

Alexandria, VA –– Inova Mount Vernon Hospital is proud to announce it has been designated as a Magnet® hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet status is considered the highest organizational honor awarded for nursing excellence. Currently only about 8 percent of the approximately 6,100 hospitals in the United States have achieved Magnet status.

“Achieving Magnet designation is truly a testament to the steadfast commitment of our nurses and team members to provide the best in class care for our patients, their families and our community,” said Alquietta Brown, PhD, MSHA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer for Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. “We are incredibly proud of and grateful for our talented team here at Inova.  To achieve this distinction during some of the most complicated and difficult years of our nation’s history truly exemplifies an extraordinary level of dedication, resilience and support for one another.”

“Magnet is recognition for all our team members,” said Maureen Sintich, DNP, MBA, RN, WHNP-BC, NEA-BC, Chief Nurse Executive (CNE) and Executive Vice President for Inova Health System. “It spans every part of the organization, from nurses to physicians to therapists, non-clinical team members and administration. Our ability to collaborate and work together ensures each of our patients receive high-quality, personalized care every time, every touch.”

In addition to receiving its Magnet designation, Inova Mount Vernon Hospital also achieved six “exemplars” for top performance in the following categories:

• Nursing satisfaction
• Infection prevention for central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI)
• Infection prevention for catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)
• Care coordination
• Patient satisfaction for responsiveness
• Patient satisfaction for careful listening

 Exemplars are nationally recognized best practice models.

Hospitals applying for Magnet status must meet demanding criteria, including benchmarks in nursing leadership, excellence in patient care, quality clinical standards, and a commitment to continued quality review and improvement. The process for earning the status is lengthy and measures four years’ worth of performance data.

The work environment created by those designated as Magnet hospitals has proven to result in higher job satisfaction for nurses. A growing body of research shows this has a direct effect on the quality of patient care, evident not only in decreased mortality rates and shorter hospital stays, but also in higher patient satisfaction ratings.

To achieve Magnet status, organizations must demonstrate support for education and development through every career stage for its nursing staff including a nurse residency, specialty practice fellowships, a research and evidence-based practice program, and tuition reimbursement for Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and higher education.

“Inova makes a substantial commitment to the professional growth and development of our team members,” said Joanne Gucciardo, MS, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, NE-BC, Director of Nursing Outcomes and Magnet Program for Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. “One example is our nurse residency program. Giving new grads the opportunity to learn from experienced nurses is invaluable hands-on education. And, for our seasoned nurses to mentor the next generation of nurses ensures our legacy of skilled, compassionate, professional nurses continue.”

Inova Loudoun and Inova Fair Oaks hospitals have maintained Magnet status since 2006 and 2009, respectively. Inova Fairfax Hospital was among the first in the country to be recognized as a Magnet hospital in 1997 and maintained the designation through 2015 and was designated again in 2020. Inova Alexandria Hospital is actively pursuing the designation.

Watch Inova Mount Vernon team members celebrate Magnet designation here.

Media Contact: Tracy Connell, tracy.connell@inova.org, 703-289-2087

About Inova

Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova’s 20,000 team members provide more than two million patient visits each year through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services and destination institutes. 

Inova’s five hospitals are consistently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades for excellence in healthcare.

Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,936 licensed beds. More information about Inova can be found at www.inova.org.