(Salem, Ore. – August 15, 2025) – Salem Hospital has attained its fourth Magnet recognition, a testament to Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics continued dedication to high-quality nursing practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program® distinguishes health care organizations that meet rigorous standards for nursing excellence.

This credential is the highest national honor for professional nursing practice, making Salem Hospital among a small, select group of domestic health care organizations in the U.S.

“Magnet recognition is a tremendous honor and reflects our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to this community,” said Sarah Horn, Chief Nursing Officer, Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics. “To earn Magnet recognition the first time was a great accomplishment and an incredible source of pride for our nurses. Our repeated achievement of this credential underscores the foundation of excellence and values that drive our entire staff to strive harder each day to meet the health care needs of the people we serve. It is this commitment to providing our community with high-quality care that helped us become a Magnet-recognized organization, and it’s why we continue to pursue and maintain Magnet recognition.”

Only 10% of hospitals worldwide — just 624 in total — have achieved Magnet designation. Of those, only 2% have reached this milestone four times. With this accomplishment, Salem Hospital stands proudly among the best of the best, which mirrors our commitment to be the best of the best for our patients.

“A fourth designation is rare,” said Cheryl Nester Wolfe, president and chief executive officer, Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics. “It’s a testament not just to one moment in time, but to years of sustained excellence, continuous improvement and a deep commitment to our mission. It is evidence of the strong culture of collaboration and innovation that lives throughout our organization where nurses and interprofessional teams are empowered, supported and truly valued.”

Salem Hospital achieved its latest designation receiving eight exemplars, which highlight areas where we exceeded expectations and set the standard for excellence. Magnet exemplars are a concept, practice or program worthy of imitation. The average number of exemplars organizations receive is typically two to four. Salem Hospital received four exemplars in its previous designation. The eight exemplars achieved for this fourth Magnet designation include:

• Hypervelocity RN hiring
• Professional certification rate
• BSN rate
• RN turnover rate
• Central line-associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) rate
• Multi-drug resistant organism (MDRO) rate
• Depression screening and follow-up
• Diabetes care and control

Why Magnet?

Research demonstrates that Magnet recognition provides specific benefits to health care organizations and their communities, such as:

• Higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help and receipt of discharge information
• Lower risk of 30-day mortality and lower failure to rescue rates
• Higher job satisfaction among nurses
• Lower nurse reports of intentions to leave their positions

Magnet recognition is the gold standard for nursing excellence and is a factor when the public judges health care organizations. U.S. News & World Report’s annual showcase of “America’s Best Hospitals” includes Magnet recognition in its ranking criteria for quality of inpatient care.

Using the Magnet Model, a framework for nursing practice, research and measurement outcomes, ANCC evaluates applicants across a number of components to gauge an organization’s nursing excellence. To achieve initial Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that demands widespread participation from leadership and staff. This process includes an electronic application, written patient care documentation, an on-site visit, and a review by the Commission on Magnet Recognition.

Health care organizations must reapply for Magnet recognition every four years based on adherence to Magnet concepts and demonstrated improvements in patient care and quality. An organization reapplying for Magnet recognition must provide documented evidence to demonstrate how staff members sustained and improved Magnet concepts, performance and quality over the four-year period since the organization received its most recent recognition.

About ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program

The Magnet Recognition Program — administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world — identifies health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice.

The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit https://www.nursingworld.org/magnet.