Rush University Medical Center has earned its sixth Magnet designation recognizing nursing excellence and superior patient care. It’s the only hospital in Chicago serving both adults and children to achieve Magnet status six times.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center shared the news on Thursday in an event that drew dozens of nurses and Rush leaders.
“You are the best nurses in the country,” Rush president and CEO Dr. Omar Lateef told the cheering crowd. “Go anywhere in the country — everybody knows the excellence of Rush nurses. You are amazing.”
'Unwavering commitment to excellence'
Achieving Magnet designation for a sixth time is a testament to Rush nurses’ “unparalleled dedication, expertise and compassion,” said Shonda W. Morrow, PhD, RN, CENP, interim chief operating officer and chief nursing officer for Rush University Medical Center.
“This prestigious recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to excellence in patient care and our continued leadership in advancing the nursing profession,” she said.
Rush University Medical Center previously earned Magnet recognition in 2002, 2006, 2010, 2016 and 2020.
Other Rush hospitals also have achieved Magnet status, including Rush Copley Medical Center in 2024 and Rush Oak Park Hospital in 2021.
Magnet elite
Before today, only about 10% of the nation's more than 6,100 hospitals had earned Magnet status, according to the ANCC and the American Hospital Association. And Rush University Medical Center is one of less than half a percent of hospitals nationwide with six Magnet designations.
“Getting Magnet number six reinforces to me why I stayed at Rush for 38 years and never thought about going anywhere else,” said endoscopy nurse Brenda Williams, RN.
Magnet designation is more than a symbol, said Jeff Everett, MSN, RN, Magnet program director.
“It’s a validation of the unwavering excellence our nurses demonstrate every day. It inspires us to continually raise the standard of care and reaffirms our collective commitment to our patients and our profession,” he said.
