“Nursing is the backbone of health care,” says Marla Pellegrini, MSN, RN, CEN, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Penn Medicine Doylestown Health. “Our celebration of Nurses Week, May 5-10, allows us to recognize nurses’ contributions, honor their dedication, and let them know they are valued.”
This year’s theme, One Penn Medicine: Growing Together, highlights the collective strength and shared values that embrace our tradition of compassion, our commitment to quality care, and our ongoing emphasis on education and professional development for members of our clinical staff, according to Marla.
Investing in Nursing Education
Investing in our nurses is crucial for the continuous improvement of our health care system. Keeping education at the forefront of efforts to grow and advance helps ensure that clinical staff are equipped with the necessary tools, knowledge, and resources.
Now, as part of Penn Medicine, we are taking the next step—advancing nursing excellence through the pursuit of a Magnet® designation, the highest honor for nursing facilities in the U.S. and worldwide.
What is Magnet Designation?
Awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the prestigious Magnet designation signifies that an institution fosters an environment where nurses are empowered to lead patient care and advance institutional change and health care innovation.
“Magnet designation is an award recognizing nursing excellence and the impact on nurse satisfaction with the environment they work in. Only 621 hospitals, worldwide, have achieved this very prestigious recognition,” says James Ballinghoff, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nurse Executive, University of Pennsylvania Health System. “I look forward to working with the nurses at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health as they implement the structures and processes that will help them in their journey to Magnet designation.”
The Rewards of Magnet Status
By creating that culture of nursing excellence, not only will the nursing staff benefit, but also the hospital and entire Doylestown community. Magnet designation has a lasting impact, investing in our nurses, empowering nurses to become health care leaders, and enhancing the care they provide.
“Hospitals that can create a culture of nursing excellence ensure a commitment and investment in their nurses, from education and career development to improving the work environment and creating the frameworks and procedures to improve patient outcomes,” says Marla.
Hospitals that achieve Magnet recognition experience:
- Improved patient outcomes
- High rates of nursing satisfaction
- Enhancing nursing practice based on the best evidence
As of 2025, all other hospitals within the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPHS) have achieved Magnet Recognition. So, our Penn Medicine Doylestown Health team will have the benefit of working with Penn Medicine nursing staff who have been through the process.
First Steps
Penn Medicine Doylestown Health nursing leadership has hired a Director of Professional Practice who has guided one Penn Medicine hospital through the Magnet application process twice. The rigorous evaluation process for Magnet designation can take several years, submitting detailed documentation demonstrating excellence in nursing practice and an on-site visit to verify, clarify, and amplify what is written in the documentation.
About National Nurses Week
National Nurses Week is celebrated in the United States each year beginning on May 6 and ending on May 12, which is Florence Nightingale’s birthday. Learn more at the American Nurses Association.
Penn Medicine Doylestown Health will mark the occasion with workshops, scholarships, award presentations, and fun activities such as a scavenger hunt and ice cream social.
Support Nursing Education
As healthcare continues to change, an investment in professional development has become increasingly critical in allowing our nurses to continue growing and learning in the field. If you would like to support the dedicated nurses at Penn Medicine Doylestown Health, please consider donating to the Doylestown Health Foundation Nursing Education Scholarship Fund.
About Penn Medicine Doylestown Health
Penn Medicine Doylestown Health is a comprehensive healthcare system of inpatient, outpatient, and wellness education services connected to meet the health needs of the local and regional community. The flagship of Penn Medicine Doylestown Health is Doylestown Hospital, a 245-bed not-for-profit, community teaching hospital with a medical staff of more than 600 providers who deliver the highest quality care in over 50 specialties. Renowned locally, regionally, and nationally, Doylestown Hospital provides superior healthcare and offers advanced surgical procedures, innovative medical treatments, and comprehensive specialty services. Serving Bucks County for over 100 years, Doylestown Hospital is proud to educate and train the next generation of physicians through its family medicine residency program. Doylestown Hospital is the only hospital in Pennsylvania to achieve 18 consecutive ‘A’ grades for patient safety from Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade.
