UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center (SMUCLA) has achieved its third consecutive Magnet® designation from the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®, conferred by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, becoming the first in the UC system to earn Magnet recognition with Distinction and marking an important milestone for the hospital.
The Magnet with Distinction designation, established by the ANCC in 2023, places SMUCLA among the first 50 hospitals worldwide and the first seven hospitals in California to earn this recognition out of 642 global Magnet organizations.
Chief Nursing Officer David Bailey, PhD, MBA, RN, CCRN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAONL, FAAN, called the hospital’s third Magnet designation – and its first “with Distinction” – a significant milestone.
“Magnet has always set the gold standard, but 'with Distinction’ is truly a differentiator for health care systems performing at their highest levels of clinical excellence and patient-centered care,” Dr. Bailey said.
UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center is joined in Magnet designation by Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, with five designations, and the Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, with two designations.
The multiple Magnet designations are a testament to UCLA Health continuing to push the boundaries of nursing excellence, said Chief Nursing Executive Karen Grimley, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN.
“It’s that urge to always look for a better way to do things in the best interest of our patients, the people we work with, and our community,” said Dr. Grimley, who is also assistant dean of the UCLA School of Nursing.
"This third Magnet journey represents nursing excellence in action — from leadership to the bedside,” Dr. Grimley said. “It’s a testament to the collaboration, innovation and professionalism that define our nurses and their commitment to advancing patient-centered care at the highest level.”
Setting a high bar
Organizations seeking Magnet redesignation must provide interim reports proving they continue to meet or exceed Magnet standards, with a majority of units outperforming national benchmarks for eight consecutive quarters. They must reapply for Magnet designation every four years, culminating in a rigorous three-day on-site visit by ANCC Magnet appraisers.
To earn Magnet with Distinction, organizations must demonstrate exceptional performance across every Magnet standard of nursing excellence, including exemplary outcomes in nurse engagement, patient experience and quality of care.
During the recent site visit to SMUCLA, the Magnet appraisers interacted with more than 500 nurses and other team members, learning about valuable programs that support clinical nurse practice. The team was particularly impressed with the professional ownership and ability of nurses in all areas to articulate their Professional Practice Model and live their philosophy of investing in and helping each other grow.
The appraisal team highlighted several areas of exemplary practice, including the hospital’s nurse turnover rate of 7.9%, well below the national average of 16.4%. This strong retention reflects a culture where nurses feel valued, supported and empowered to grow in their practice.
Education results in excellence
The Magnet appraisal team also recognized SMUCLA for its outstanding commitment to professional growth — with 94.7% of registered nurses holding a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 60% achieving specialty board certification, both surpassing Magnet standards.
Jessica Phillips, PhD, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, NPD-BC, executive director of nursing practice, education and research for the Center for Nursing Excellence and the Magnet program director for UCLA Health, said she is particularly proud of those last two exemplars. Dr. Phillips noted that UCLA Health’s Center for Nursing Excellence provides extensive support to help nurses be successful, whether it be obtaining professional certifications or advanced degrees.
“This is something we have consistently worked on since I’ve been in the organization,” Dr. Phillips said. “We primarily hire BSN-prepared nurses, and not just by design, but because those nurses are drawn to UCLA Health’s reputation for nursing excellence. This is all part of building a culture of excellence and reputation for nursing at UCLA Health, where nurses want to work and continue to advance their education.”
A team effort
Dr. Bailey attributes SMUCLA’s nursing excellence to a work environment that values and supports nurses at all levels.
“It’s about continuously supporting our nurses in their growth and professional development,” Dr. Bailey said. “We’re intentional about creating an environment where people feel valued, trusted, and empowered to reach their full potential.”
Dahlia Maldonado, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, SMUCLA’s Magnet coordinator, agrees, adding that strong collaboration between nursing leadership and clinical staff was essential to earning this latest Magnet designation. She points to initiatives such as “Dinner with David,” in which Dr. Bailey meets nurses across all units to foster open dialogue and bridge gaps between staff and nurse leaders.
As Magnet coordinator, Maldonado supports clinical nurses by mentoring them on certification, career goals and unit practice council projects. When she stepped into the role in 2022, she identified opportunities for growth in tracking patient experience and data in the ambulatory and procedural areas, which now play a large part in the evolving Magnet requirements.
Maldonado partnered with unit directors and the director of Patient Experience to form an ambulatory patient experience group that tracks Nursing-Sensitive Indicators tailored to those areas. Importantly, she helped organize annual nursing strategic planning retreats that involved clinical nurses, directors, data analysts, and physicians to align goals and identify areas for improvement.
That community feel
Of the feedback from Magnet appraisers during the site visit, Maldonado said she is most proud of the strong ties they saw between team members at all levels.
“We are part of a larger health system, but they loved the fact that we can mesh together the skill of an academic medical center with the feel of a community hospital,” she said, adding that they praised the nurses for their ability to speak about their goals for the units.
“They understand how things flow and align from the top tier to the bottom and everything in between,” she said of the nursing staff. “They strive for excellence, and they create initiatives that are meaningful and impactful and actually push the nursing profession forward.”
Dr. Bailey believes the third Magnet designation and this one, with Distinction, will further energize his nurses to continue moving forward.
“When I think of the team 12 years ago when I first met them compared to where they are today, it’s a world of difference,” he said. “They’ve continued to grow and elevate their professionalism, always focused on how their actions improve patient care. That’s what it’s all about.”
