Nursing programs from three Utah hospitals have earned a prestigious medical first for the state — certification from the American Nurses Association as Utah's only "Magnet" hospitals.

Of the nation's 6,000 hospitals, only 3 percent have earned Magnet status, according to LDS Hospital spokesman Jess Gomez. LDS, Cottonwood and Alta View hospitals have been awarded the designation.

The certification recognizes hospitals that provide the very best in nursing care, that demonstrate leadership in advancing and improving patient-safety measures, and that promote professional growth and opportunities for research and academic nursing settings, Gomez said.

For example, he said, LDS, Cottonwood and Alta View hospitals have developed an educational partnership with Salt Lake Community College, "which is helping to alleviate the state's nursing shortage," he said.

The Magnet designation is expected to help attract and retain top nursing professionals, he said, adding that more than 126,000 nursing positions nationwide are currently vacant.

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The three hospitals, which employ more than 2,100 nurses, earned Magnet status after an American Nurses Association credentialing center review of all nursing services, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction and overall patient care.

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