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ORANGE – UC Irvine Medical Center has been selected as a top hospital by registered nurses who participated in a survey in ADVANCE for Nurses magazine. In its first “Readers’ Choice Survey for Southern California,” ADVANCE asked readers to rank 75 Southern California hospitals in five categories that matter most to the nursing profession: quality of care, organizational culture, professional development, communications and retention efforts. UC Irvine Medical Center and four other hospitals received the highest scores across all five categories and are highlighted in the magazine’s Oct. 29 issue.

“We are proud to be recognized by local nurses as one of the leading hospitals in the region,” said Lisa Reiser, chief patient care officer and chief nursing officer for UC Irvine Medical Center. “A key to our ongoing success is our focus on professional development and mentorship. Many RNs who started their careers at UC Irvine have gone on to receive advanced degrees that have led to positions in management, research and teaching. Our focus in this area helps our nurses make wise and informed decisions at the bedside which ultimately leads to high quality care for our patients.”

UC Irvine Medical Center was the first hospital in Orange County to receive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The Magnet Nursing Services Recognition Program for Excellence in Nursing Services is the highest honor an organization can receive for nursing care. It demonstrates a hospital’s ability to attract and retain highly trained nurses by sustaining excellence in management, philosophy and healthcare practices.

ADVANCE for Nurses invited its readers to participate in an online poll which was available on its Web site from March through July. Hundreds of nurses visited the site and ranked hospitals on a 1-5 scale in the five categories. UC Irvine Medical Center received high scores in each category and one of the highest scores overall. Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center also made the Readers’ Choice list.

Another strong aspect of nursing at UC Irvine is the College of Health Sciences’ program in nursing science. Established in 2005, the program offers undergraduate programs that train students for educational, administrative and research positions in the healthcare industry and academic institutions. For more information about the program, visit http://www.cohs.uci.edu/nursing.

About University of California, Irvine Healthcare: UC Irvine Healthcare is a clinical entity comprising UC Irvine Medical Center and University Physicians & Surgeons, a faculty practice organization of more than 400 specialty and primary care physicians. UC Irvine Healthcare is committed to providing the highest quality care to Orange County and surrounding communities through UC Irvine Medical Center, a leading university medical center and Level I trauma center. UC Irvine Medical Center is ranked among the nation’s best hospitals by U.S. News & World Report’s annual listing of “America’s Best Hospitals.” For more about UC Irvine Healthcare, visit www.ucihealth.com

About ADVANCE for Nurses: ADVANCE for Nurses reaches RNs in 10 regional areas across the United States including Southern California, Northern California and Northern Nevada. ADVANCE for Nurses, a biweekly magazine, presents articles and features for registered nurses of all specialties. The magazine also provides clinical information, local nursing coverage, a job opportunities listing and product news. For more about ADVANCE for Nurses, visit http://nursing.advanceweb.com.


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