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Hospitals known for nursing excellence associated with better hospital experiences for patients

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between Magnet recognition, an indicator of nursing excellence, and patients' experience with their hospitalization reported in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey.

DATA SOURCES: This secondary analysis includes cross-sectional data from the 2010 HCAHPS survey, the American Hospital Association, and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective observational study.

DATA COLLECTION: Using common hospital identifiers, we created a matched set of 212 Magnet hospitals and 212 non-Magnet hospitals.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Patients in Magnet hospitals gave their hospitals higher overall ratings, were more likely to recommend their hospital, and reported more positive care experiences with nurse communication.

CONCLUSIONS: Magnet recognition is associated with better patient care experiences, which may positively enhance reimbursement for hospitals.