Newswise — SOMERVILLE, NJ, March 23, 2026 – Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, an RWJBarnabas Health hospital, has achieved Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) – the nation’s most prestigious nursing honor – for the fourth consecutive time. Fewer than 10 percent of hospitals nationwide have achieved this recognition.
“To achieve Magnet recognition is indeed a high honor, but to earn it four consecutive times is truly exceptional and reflective of the outstanding care we provide to our community,” said Deirdre Blaus, chief administrative officer, RWJUH Somerset. “We are incredibly proud of our nursing team and their continued commitment to the highest standards of excellence.”
“The pillars of a Magnet hospital are simply part of our DNA and what we live every day,” said Michael Valendo, DNP, RN, NE-BC, CEN, chief nursing officer and vice president of nursing, RWJUH Somerset. “Our nurses demonstrate the best of their profession, putting our patients and their families at the center of all that they do. But this recognition is not just for nursing, it reflects a hospital-wide focus on delivering quality care with compassion, empathy and kindness.”
RWJUH Somerset’s 650 nurses serve in various roles throughout the hospital, including inpatient, surgical and emergency care, behavioral health, outpatient services, care management, education, clinical research, infection prevention, quality improvement, patient experience, patient navigation services, information technology services, community outreach and administration.
RWJUH Somerset first received Magnet® designation in 2011 and was redesignated in 2016 and 2021.
To begin the redesignation process, RWJUH Somerset submitted an electronic application to ANCC last August, followed by written documentation demonstrating both qualitative and quantitative evidence regarding patient care and outcomes. ANCC appraisers conducted a three-day site visit in January to thoroughly validate the hospital’s document. The Commission on Magnet® then reviewed the completed appraisal report to determine if Magnet® recognition would be granted.
The hospital was notified of their redesignation on Friday via a video call from the ANCC. In announcing the redesignation, David R. Marshall, JD, DNP, RN, CENP, NEA-BC, Chair of the Commission for the Magnet Recognition Program, particularly noted seven areas of excellence, including the hospital’s percentage of board-certified nurses (57.88%); the percentage of nurses with a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing (85.94%); and its outperformance of the industry benchmarks for rates of Catheter Assisted Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTI); Central Line-Associated Blood Stream Infections (CLABSI); falls with injury; burns and surgical errors.
According to the ANCC, Magnet-recognized organizations report better patient care outcomes, including decreased mortality rates, shorter hospital stays and lower infection rates. Magnet® status also helps hospitals recruit and retain talented nurses.
Magnet® reaccreditation is just the latest national recognition for RWJUH Somerset. The hospital has been recognized by Healthgrades as one of America’s 250 Best Hospitals, ranking among the top 5% in the nation for its clinical care. It has also earned three consecutive “A” Patient Safety Grades from the Leapfrog Group and was honored by U.S. News & World Report as “high performing” in orthopedic, congestive heart failure, diabetes and maternity care.
In addition to RWJUH Somerset, Magnet®-recognized hospitals at RWJBarnabas Health include Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Jersey City Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton. Together, these recognitions reflect RWJBarnabas Health’s continued investment in nursing education and its commitment to educating and empowering the next generation of compassionate, highly skilled nurses.
For more information about Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset, including job opportunities for nurses, visit www.rwjbh.org/somerset.
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