East Bay

01:00 AM EST on Sunday, November 21, 2004

Newport Hospital has been designated a "Magnet" hospital by the American Nurses Association, a rare credential that honors the quality of nursing care.

Only about 130 health-care organizations in the United States have been designated Magnet hospitals, and it is especially unusual for a community hospital such as Newport, without ties to a medical school, to make the grade, according to hospital spokeswoman Margaret O'Keefe.

The Magnet designation sprang from nursing research that identified the "forces of magnetism" that draw and retain the most skilled nurses.

To win Magnet designation, a hospital goes through a one- or two-year review process. It must demonstrate superior nursing care as evidenced by management philosophy, use of "best practices" in nursing, meeting national standard for quality improvement, leadership by the chief nursing officer, respecting the cultural diversity of patients, education level of the nurses and professional models of care.

One other hospital in Rhode Island -- Miriam Hospital, in Providence -- has received the designation. Both Miriam and Newport are part of the Lifespan hospital group; Miriam is affiliated with Brown Medical School. Two Massachusetts hospitals have Magnet designation -- Massachusetts General Hospital and Winchester Hospital.

Earlier this year, Newport Hospital also won "Baby Friendly" designation from the World Health Organization, because it takes steps to encourage and support breast-feeding. O'Keefe said that only 42 hospitals in the United States have been named "Baby Friendly," and very few have both Magnet and Baby Friendly designations.