Morristown Medical Center achieves sixth consecutive Magnet designation

January 25, 2024, Morristown, NJ – Atlantic Health System’s Morristown Medical Center today announced it has been redesignated as a Magnet® hospital for the sixth consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program® honors healthcare organizations for quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. Only two percent of the 591 Magnet-designated hospitals throughout the United States, have been accredited six times.

“To achieve our sixth consecutive Magnet designation illustrates for our patients and communities that the nurses at Morristown Medical Center are committed to the latest advancements in clinical excellence while providing exceptional patient care,” said Brandee Fetherman, RN, Chief Nursing Officer, Morristown Medical Center. “This esteemed designation helps attract and retain the absolute best nurses who seek to work at a high-quality, nationally acclaimed hospital where nurses are deeply respected and appreciated for their efforts. Our physicians value collaborating with our well-trained team of specialized nurses and together, with our multidisciplinary teams, bring about positive patient outcomes.”

To achieve Magnet recognition, organizations must pass a rigorous and lengthy process that requires widespread participation from hospital leadership and team members every four years. Magnet redesignation is based on several factors including staff empowerment, shared decision making, professional development, nurse recruitment/retention, and a higher standard of practice.

“Because I started my career as a bedside nurse, I understand what it takes to earn this designation, and I am extremely proud of this phenomenal Magnet accomplishment. It shows our patients and our communities what so many already know, that our nurses are beyond comparison when it comes to providing quality care. Our unwavering commitment to extraordinary patient care, quality advancements in innovative nurse practices, continuing education and research, as well as exemplary partnerships with our medical staff makes this feat possible,” said Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, president of Morristown Medical Center, and Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, Atlantic Health System.

Morristown Medical Center was also recognized by the ANCC for five exemplars of excellence for:

• Nursing innovation
• Delivering culturally and socially sensitive care
• Cardiac rehabilitation
• Nurse education
• Nurse certification

Examples of the high-quality nurse practices and systems in place at Morristown Medical Center include:

• A robust Shared Governance model for nurse empowerment that gives decision-making responsibility to the bedside nurse, which fosters accountability, promotes collaborative care, and results in more effective and efficient patient care.
• A nursing empowerment model that fosters a culture of nursing excellence that encourages and rewards nurses who go beyond existing performance standards.
• A professional practice model with patients and families at the center, driving all aspects of nursing care. 
• Five years ago, Morristown Medical Center established a Center for Nursing Innovation and Research—a designated space for nurses to design and conduct nursing research to improve patient outcomes, explore evidence-based practice, and create innovations for nurses within Atlantic Health System and across the nation.
• Continued and higher education opportunities are plentiful and encouraged. 

“When patients are cared for by Magnet nurses at Morristown Medical Center – known for its exacting standards and quality across disciplines, they feel the difference, as do their family members and loved ones,” said Fetherman. “Every day with every person they encounter, our Magnet nurses play a critical role in providing a positive impact that leads to the best-possible patient
outcomes and experiences. Our nurses are admired and respected by the team members and physicians around them and are cherished throughout our communities.”

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®

The Magnet Recognition Program® administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world, recognizes healthcare 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.
The Magnet Recognition Program designates organizations worldwide where nursing leaders successfully align their nursing strategic goals to improve the organization’s patient outcomes. The Magnet Recognition Program provides a roadmap to nursing excellence, which benefits the whole of an organization.

About Atlantic Health

Atlantic Health is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 19,000 team members and 5,440 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 12 counties and 6.2 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 400 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.

The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,600 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.

Atlantic Health provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 24 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.

Atlantic Health leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.

Atlantic Health has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.