Abstract
Achieving Magnet designation is a journey to excellence. Although excellence is never quite attained, Magnet organizations have nursing leaders who are able to implement innovative nursing programs that attract and retain nursing's best and brightest. These leaders have raised the bar on excellence and are able to demonstrate performance that is in the upper quartile among benchmarks. Even though financial pressures require astute budgetary skill, these leaders do fund research and education programs, are involved in shared leadership/governance activities, and are thus able to demonstrate fiscal accountability in the process. Nurse leaders in Magnet organizations have a highly engaged professional staff as evidenced by active participation in shared governance activities. These leaders have not only created interdisciplinary approaches to patient care and clinical documentation, acuity, and research but also they have hardwired these activities into the fabric of the organization.