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.
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Source: Nursing2009
Career Directory. January 2009.
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