Our Magnet Journey

Inova Loudoun Hospital (ILH) is recognized as a Magnet® designated organization by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, reflecting our nurses’ commitment to excellence in patient care and mutual support.

Our focus on fostering a healthy work environment, prioritizing team member wellbeing, and promoting professional development has significantly reduced turnover rates to historically low levels.

I am proud to serve as the interim nursing leader at Inova Loudoun Hospital and support such an exceptional team. The dedication, resilience, and pursuit of excellence shown by our nurses continue to strengthen our mission to serve the community with compassion and quality care.

Joy Lucas, MSN, RN, CCRN
Interim Chief Nursing Officer, Inova Loudoun Hospital

Magnet Recognized sealInova Loudoun Hospital is proud to have once again been designated as a Magnet® hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

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What is Magnet Recognition?

Magnet Recognition® from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is the most prestigious distinction a healthcare organization can receive for nursing excellence and high-quality patient care. With only 9% of U.S. hospitals earning the Magnet designation, that is approximately 505 hospitals, it’s clearly a distinction to be proud of. Our Nursing Team is gratified to work at Inova Loudoun Hospital, appreciating the quality of care required to be called a Magnet Hospital.

What does Magnet Recognition mean to a hospitals' patients?

Today, patients are much more educated, informed and are seeking objective benchmarks that will aide them in choosing a health care provider. Studies have shown that Magnet Hospitals provide:

  • A higher standard and level of patient care
  • Better patient outcomes
  • A safer environment
  • Higher nurse to patient ratios
  • Lower mortality rates
  • Shorter stays

What does Magnet Recognition® mean to nurses and the hospital?

Magnet designation means that a “Magnet culture” has been created within the organization. This provides the professional nurse a working environment that actively promotes:

  • Higher RN satisfaction
  • Higher RN retention rates and decreased turnover
  • Greater autonomy and responsibility
  • Participation in decision making
  • Clinical collaboration
  • Increased opportunities for professional development and education

We asked our ILH Nursing Team: What does working at a Magnet® hospital mean to you?

When I first joined Inova, I didn't fully understand the importance of working at a Magnet facility. Now, I deeply value it, as it focuses on exceptional patient care through team development. The constant growth opportunities enhance our impact on patients, teams and the work environment, fostering professional growth and a culture that supports our passion every day.

Elizabeth C. (BSN, RN)
Float Pool Nurse Manager
Inova Loudoun Hospital

Working at a Magnet facility is both an honor and a privilege. The dedication of our nursing leadership and staff makes Inova Loudoun Hospital's Magnet designation possible. I take great pride in working here, knowing that my colleagues share the same commitment to excellence. This pride and dedication sets Inova Loudoun Hospital apart from any other facility.

Mark L. (MSN, RN, CMSRN)
RN Unit Supervisor
Inova Loudoun Hospital 

Working at a Magnet-designated hospital has been incredibly rewarding. I’m impressed by the dedication of the nursing staff, their focus on evidence-based practices and the supportive work environment. Nurses here are actively involved in decision making, research and continuous education. Although our hospital is rapidly growing, I truly appreciate the sense of family it fosters among its staff.

Elizabeth "Amy" P. (BSN, RN, CPEN)
Pediatric Emergency Room Nurse
Inova Loudoun Hospital

Our Magnet designation reflects our ongoing commitment to excellence in patient care and nursing professionalism. It ensures nurses are actively involved in decision making at all levels. Magnet designation also assures me that I can trust my colleagues to deliver high-quality care, leading to better patient outcomes.

Adriene S. (MSN, RN, CCRN)
Clinical nurse educator and mentor
Inova Loudoun Hospital

Magnet Components

Inova Loudoun Hospital’s Chief Nursing Officer Ashley Virts, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, successfully advocated for resources to increase employee wellbeing, adding an onsite employee assistance program counselor in 2023 and championing a four-day work week for all leaders in 2024. Other nursing leaders advocated for personnel who would assist in educating our nursing staff and for supplies to enhance patient safety. 

Nursing leaders continue to drive our cultural transformation and foster an environment of inclusion and belonging. Leaders strive to connect with team members, provide a safe place to speak up and encourage voices to be heard. We continue to support our new graduates with our Vizient nurse residency program, our new nursing leaders with our nursing leader Transition to practice program, and our clinical mentors and educators with our nursing professional development academy. In addition, our medical intensive care unit received the prestigious Gold Beacon Award in January 2025.

Inova Loudoun Hospital fosters a culture of shared governance. Nurses at all levels are included in shared governance and unit-based councils. The councils foster the professional practice of nursing and strive to improve nursing care and patient outcomes. Inova’s clinical ladder, ADVANCE, which stands for Achievements Demonstrating Versatile Accomplishments in Nursing Clinical Excellence, was revised in 2022 – 2023 with clinical nurse input, and two new levels were added to include more nurses. Level 2 was added specifically for the newer nurse and does not require a BSN or a certification. Level 5 was added for staff who are more heavily involved in unit/hospital activities. In 2024, 201 nurses advanced on the clinical ladder. This is a 145% increase over 2023. 

The professional development council hosted its annual innovation conference on Dec. 6, 2024, with the theme “Legal considerations and ethics in nursing” and featuring keynote speaker, Judy Kerby, RN, CPHRM, risk management. Research, quality improvement and evidence-based practice topics included a new child abuse tool, a weighted blanket used for managing delirium, a new handoff tool and many other topics. 

Our nurses’ commitment to professional advancement is evident in our BSN rate of 86% and our certification rate of 54%. 28 RNs from Inova Loudoun Hospital attended conferences in 2024 including the Vizient nurse residency conference; the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses conference; the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses conference; the Synova Perinatal Leadership Forum; the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses National Teaching Institute; the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses conference; the Emergency Nurses Association conference and the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Magnet conference. Inova Loudoun Hospital is currently writing our fifth Magnet document, to be submitted in April 2025.

Inova Loudoun Hospital’s nurse residency program celebrated 101 graduates in 2024. Together with the other four Inova hospitals, our residency program achieved the Practice Transition Accreditation Program designation in August 2024. First-year RN turnover dropped significantly, from 10.99% to 7.21% by the end of 2024 through the collaborative efforts of our professional practice team, nurse residency program facilitators, preceptors and leaders. Overall nursing turnover dropped to its lowest level since before the COVID-19 pandemic, now standing at 13.26%. 

Our 2023 Press Ganey National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) Nursing Satisfaction Survey had an overall response rate of 90%, and the majority of our units exceeded the national Magnet benchmark in the four major domains: autonomy, fundamentals of quality nursing care, hospital affairs and professional development opportunity. 

Inova Loudoun Hospital provided care that has exceeded NDNQI national benchmarks for catheter-associated urinary tract infections, central line-associated bloodstream infections, hospital-acquired pressure injuries, patient burns, surgical errors and falls with injury in the most recent eight quarters.

2024 was a banner year for Inova Loudoun Hospital’s research, evidence-based practice, quality improvement and implementation science projects, with 23 podium presentations and 22 poster presentations at local, regional and national conferences. In addition, six articles and one book contribution authored by our nurses were published. 

In 2023, Inova was awarded a seven-year contract to work with the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute Health System Implementation Initiative to build an interprofessional commitment to learning and growing in implementation science. This project enables us to participate in implementation projects valued up to $5 million each. Inova accelerator events led to the implementation of virtual nursing, leveraging technology to reduce the documentation burden and increase patient safety. Our inpatient wound care nurses participated in an implementation science project by initiating virtual wound care consults. This new workflow has increased the speed at which patients receive care.