Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) has always been proud of the exceptional care our nurses provide to patients and their families. This year marks the third time that our nursing staff have achieved designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®, the nation’s highest honor for excellence in nursing. The Magnet Recognition Program recognizes healthcare organizations that set the gold standard for nursing excellence in every category, from patient care to leadership and scientific discovery to implementation of new knowledge.

Since the institution’s first Magnet Recognition in 2016, the Department of Nursing has continued to grow and evolve and is honored to be recognized by the ANCC with 17 exemplars—specific examples that highlight excellence in nursing. The 2025 recognition praised MSK nurses for the exemplary care they provide to their patients, support for their colleagues, how they embody the relationship-based care model by putting patients at the center of everything they do.

Magnet recognition gives patients a greater assurance that MSK delivers high-quality care and that the nurses and other members of their care teams are experts in their fields and patients’ care needs. It is a results-driven recognition that fosters nurse engagement and the role nurses play as interprofessional team members to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

The Magnet Application Process: The Road to Recognition

Appraisers review and score documentation demonstrating transformational leadership, shared governance, innovation in practice and the learning environment, patient outcomes, and nurses’ job satisfaction. If an institution’s performance falls within a range of excellence, the appraiser team conducts an on-site visit, which lasted 3 days during the 2025 appraisal.