Mount Pleasant Hospital achieves Magnet with Distinction® designation for nursing excellence

Mount Pleasant Hospital earned its first Magnet with Distinction designation, becoming the second hospital in the Roper St. Francis Healthcare system to achieve this prestigious recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).  

Dozens of grinning faces filled the room Thursday morning as the news was announced.  

Cheers swelled from those gathered in the boardroom. Hugs were exchanged, confetti popped and pom poms shook as colleagues congratulated one another on the milestone achievement.  

With a congratulatory bouquet of flowers in hand, Mount Pleasant Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Happy Everett said she wants teammates to know they have a voice and that this recognition proves it. 

“The entire document is about how they care for patients at the bedside and the strong interdisciplinary relationships we have,” Everett said. “I want our teams to be proud of where they work and to feel empowered, knowing they have a say in how we grow to provide the best possible care for our patients.”  

Mount Pleasant Hospital blessed and submitted the 304-page document in August 2025. Inside, over 100 sources of evidence point to improved patient outcomes and higher job satisfaction among nurses. The preparation process is rigorous and involves teammates across the organization, from bedside clinicians and department leaders to the executive team.  

Nursing Excellence Program Manager Shannon Thornton read and submitted every single one of those pages. What stood out most to her were the exemplars for patient experience.  

“Knowing that patients not only received safe and excellent care but that they also felt our teams were courteous and respectful speaks volumes to the compassionate care our teammates provide,” she said.  

With this achievement, Mount Pleasant Hospital joins an elite list of only 11 South Carolina hospitals to hold Magnet designation. Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital is also Magnet with Distinction-designated and holds the longest continuous streak of designations in the state.  

Mount Pleasant Hospital first earned a Pathway to Excellence® designation in 2014, followed by redesignations in 2017 and 2021. This year, the hospital not only met Magnet recognition standards, but exceeded the requirements, earning Magnet with Distinction and 15 exemplars related to its geriatric-friendly emergency department, nurse engagement scores, quality outcomes and patient experience. 

“This is a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing the highest standard of nursing care,” Everett said. “It also highlights our nurses’ dedication, expertise and compassionate care.”   

Roper St. Francis Healthcare is internationally recognized for its commitment to innovation and excellence in nursing, and that standard extends beyond Mount Pleasant Hospital:  

• In October 2024, Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital teammates became the first in the state to achieve Magnet designation four consecutive times — this time with the prestigious recognition of Magnet with Distinction. 

• Roper Hospital celebrated its first Pathway to Excellence designation in November 2024, marking a significant milestone for the system as all four of its hospitals now hold ANCC recognitions. 

• Berkeley Hospital earned its first Pathway to Excellence designation in April 2023 and is also on the road to Magnet designation.  

Roper St. Francis Healthcare remains deeply invested in maintaining this credential for nursing excellence, aiming to achieve Magnet designation at all four hospitals by 2030. Earning Magnet with Distinction is an honor that reaffirms the hard work and dedication of the entire team and reinforces its mission of healing all people with compassion, faith and excellence.