Nursing Quality Initiatives
What Is Distinctive about Magnet® with Distinction Recognition?
In 2025, WakeMed was the first health system in North Carolina to receive Magnet® with Distinction honors and is among just four in the state. At this writing, only 87 hospitals worldwide have achieved Magnet with Distinction recognition.
Magnet with Distinction is an elite recognition awarded to hospitals and health systems that exceed the highest standards of nursing excellence and patient care within the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program.
Listen as Jill Whade, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPN shares information on the importance of Magnet recognition to hospitals, staff and, most importantly, patients.
Overview
The ANCC introduced Magnet with Distinction recognition in 2022 to honor hospitals that surpass the rigorous requirements of standard Magnet recognition. Fewer than 10% of U.S. hospitals are recognized as Magnet, making the “with Distinction” designation an elite level of health care quality and service performance. It signifies that these outstanding hospitals demonstrate exceptional nursing practices, patient outcomes and engagement.
Significance
For patients, Magnet with Distinction signals superior care, improved safety, and better outcomes. For nurses, it represents a workplace that fosters professional growth, autonomy, and engagement. For the healthcare industry, it sets a benchmark for nursing leadership and organizational excellence.
Magnet with Distinction is the highest nursing recognition. It celebrates hospitals that exceed rigorous Magnet standards, reflecting commitment to continuous improvement, evidence-based practice and exceptional patient care and service. Magnet with Distinction hospitals — like WakeMed Raleigh Campus, WakeMed Cary Hospital and WakeMed North Hospital – serve as global models of excellence for health care organizations.
PETALS Award Nomination
Every DAISY has petals extending from its core that make it a perfect flower.
At WakeMed, our PETALS are our colleagues in departments such as Environmental Services, Rehabilitation, Case Management, Food & Nutrition and Transport, as well as secretaries, nurse aides, physicians and other employees throughout the health system. Please help WakeMed’s Division of Nursing recognize these individuals for the outstanding and
compassionate care they deliver every day.
DAISY Award Nomination
This award recognizes the super-human work that nurses do every day. DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. The DAISY Foundation was formed in January 2000 by the family of J. Patrick Barnes who died at age 33 of complications related to Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), an auto-immune disease. Patrick Barnes’ family vividly recalled the skillful and compassionate care from his nurses and wanted to say "thank you" to nurses everywhere by establishing The DAISY Award.
The DAISY Award is given monthly to an outstanding nurse at WakeMed.