ADVANCING
YOUR PRACTICE
What’s
the attraction of Magnet hospitals?
The idea of a Magnet hospital
first arose in 1983 with a study of 163 hospitals. Forty-one
of those hospitals seemed to attract and retain nurses
better than the others. Researchers began to investigate
what gave certain facilities their magnetic qualities.
An attractive idea
The idea grew. In 1990, the American Nurses Credentialing
Center (ANCC) was formed to provide credentialing services
through the American Nurses Association. In 1994, the
ANCC awarded the nation’s first Magnet recognition
to the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle
(still a Magnet hospital today).
As of October 2008, just
under 5% of all U.S. healthcare organizations hold Magnet
status. The 293 facilities with Magnet status excel
at the 14 Forces of Magnetism (see Fourteen
powerful forces).
What the official
surveys say
Of the top 10 U.S. News & World Report hospitals
for 2007, 70% had Magnet status. When Nursing2007 published
results of a job satisfaction survey in December, nurses
working at Magnet facilities consistently rated their
employer higher than those working at non-Magnet facilities,
especially in the areas of nurse satisfaction, nurse
presence on committees, a culture supportive of nursing,
evidence-based changes in practice, and access to clinical
reference tools. Although nurses gave Magnet facilities
a higher rating by about 20% on these items, overall
job satisfaction for Magnet employees was only 6 percentage
points higher (41%) than for non-Magnet employees (35%).
Nursing2007’s survey results indicated that working
at a Magnet facility might not get you a higher wage—but
the great benefits make up for that.
Now let’s consider
how two veteran nurses view "life after Magnet."
The view from the
trenches
Nancy Dobbs, RN, CWOCN, MEd, has worked for 23 years
at Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. Natasha
Delehanty, RN, has worked for 13 years at St. Peter’s
Hospital in Albany, N.Y. Both hospitals achieved Magnet
status in 2005. Both nurses agree that the nursing culture
where they work has improved since 2005. At Mercy, “we
now have a care model, councils, research, and improved
interdisciplinary relationships with physicians and
other departments in the facility,” says Dobbs.
“Not only has this changed nursing, but it has
changed the entire hospital environment to ensure the
delivery of quality care to each and every patient.”
At St. Peter’s, Delehanty
feels “now more than ever that nursing has strong
and effective representation on planning and policymaking
bodies within the organization.” She notes that
nurses are “more involved in data collection and
decision making in patient care delivery,” and
are noticed and rewarded for advancing their careers.
What change came
hardest?
Dobbs says that Mercy struggled to involve bedside nurses
in research, but thanks to an active research committee,
nurses are “no longer afraid of the word ‘research.’”
Delehanty notes that adequate staffing is always a challenge,
but Magnet status has definitely helped in recruitment
and retention.
A flowering of
committees
Both nurses confirm rumors that Magnet status means
many new committees—but they cite benefits of
this extra work: Greater autonomy and empowerment through
greater involvement; broader perspectives; and new ideas
stimulated by improved interdisciplinary relations.
No regrets
Both nurses feel Magnet status has brought significant,
positive changes. As Dobbs put it, “It’s
wonderful to be excited about going to work and making
a difference.”
Fourteen
powerful forces
These 14 dimensions must be present for a facility
to receive the prestigious Magnet rating:
• nursing leadership
• organizational culture
• management style
• personnel policies and programs
• professional models of care
• quality of nursing care
• continuous quality improvement
• consultation and resources
• nurse autonomy
• community presence
• nurses as teachers
• the image of nursing
• interdisciplinary collaboration
• professional development.
Source: Magnet Recognition
Program: Application Manual, American Nurses Credentialing
Center, 2008. |
Source:
Nursing2009 Career Directory. January 2009.
|