Geisinger Health System announced Mondaythe creation of the Geisinger Nursing Institute.

The health system employs nearly 6,000 nurses across its health system and is recruiting to hire several hundred more.For nearly 10 years, its flagship hospital, Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, has been designated a magnet hospital, which is an award given to less than 9 percent of U.S. hospitals based on strength and quality of the nursing programs.The Geisinger Nursing Institute will serve as a governing body with an advocacy component, overseeing the practice and education of nurses to ensure they are adequately represented across the organization and in leadership positions.The implementation of the institute will include input from nurses and nurse leaders across the health system.