Nursing at a Magnet Hospital 

Magnet nursing status is important because it shows that a hospital puts patients first by providing the highest quality care. It means the nurses are well-trained, supported, and work together as a strong team. Hospitals with Magnet status are known for better patient outcomes, safer care, and a morepositive experience for both patients and families. It’s a sign that the hospital is always working to be the best it can be.

Excellence in Nursing: A Magnet® Designated Organization

Billings Clinic is proud to be a four-time Magnet® Designated organization, a prestigious recognition of nursing excellence awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This distinction, held by less than 1% of hospitals globally, underscores our unwavering commitment to exceptional patient care, professional development, and continuous improvement.

Our Magnet journey began in 2001, driven by nursing leaders inspired by the ANCC’s emphasis on transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, and innovation. In 2006, we became the first hospital in Montana to earn Magnet designation—and have maintained it through rigorous evaluations every four years since.

For patients, Magnet designation means being cared for by nurses who are not only clinically skilled, but also deeply compassionate, engaged, and supported by a professional environment that prioritizes quality and safety at every step.

Magnet in Action: Empowering Nursing Practice

Our nursing staff plays a vital role in Billings Clinic’s mission to lead nationally in quality, safety, service, and value. By embracing evidence-based practice and shared governance, nurses at Billings Clinic are empowered to make informed decisions that directly benefit patients and families.

Professional Practice Model & Shared Governance

Our patient- and family-centered Professional Practice Model ensures that care revolves around individual needs. Through a strong shared governance structure—including the Education, Clinical Practice, Quality, Research, Advanced Practice, and Patient Service Leadership Councils—staff nurses collaborate with leadership to shape policy, uphold standards, and innovate in clinical practice.

• Billings Clinic nurses put the patient at the center of our care and coordination. Nursing care is driven by strong values that surround the patient in their care needs and is supported by the spokes of best practice.
• Billings Clinic has established a shared governance approach to decision making regarding nursing practice. The Professional Practice Model utilized at Billings Clinic is a patient/family centered model.
• The nursing strategic plan goals are attained through the Education Council, Nursing Quality Council, Advanced Practice Nursing Council, Nursing Research Council, Clinical Practice Council, and Patient Service Leadership Council. Each council is guided by an established charter that defines their scope of responsibility.
• Council membership is comprised of staff nurses and leaders from nursing care areas within Billings Clinic.
• Guided by Magnet-driven framework for excellence and evidence-based practice, each council furthers nursing practice with the goal of providing patient/family-centered care assuring safety in all encounters.

Education: From Novice to Expert

Billings Clinic adopts Dr. Patricia Benner’s “Novice to Expert” model, recognizing that expertise in nursing is cultivated through education and experience. Our competency-based orientation process helps nurses develop essential skills, knowledge, and behaviors—supporting each nurse’s journey to excellence in practice.

Orientation at Billings Clinic includes the Novice to Expert approach to build a strong practice foundation and continues that process in developing each nurse into an expert nursing care provider. The orientation journeys are based on competencies and validated through knowledge, skills, and behaviors to help each nurse develop and reach their fullest potential.

Trauma Leadership: Level I Designation

Billings Clinic is the first Level I Trauma Center in Montana and Wyoming—verified by the American College of Surgeons. Our trauma team works seamlessly with specialty services to deliver advanced, coordinated care to critically ill and injured patients. 

The Billings Clinic Trauma Department is relentlessly committed to providing the best treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation for all injured patients. The trauma team works seamlessly with multiple specialty services to provide innovative and standard-setting care to the trauma patient.