Are Magnet Recognition Program And Hospitals?

Magnet asks healthcare organizations to define their philosophy because it is the leading resource for establishing effective and efficient nursing practices. (Magnet Monday, n.d.). This magnet is a landmark behind the success of certain hospitals with low turnover rates, better quality of care, decreased length of stay, and improved outcomes. (Magnet Monday, n.d.). American Nurses Credentialing Center for Magnet status is a prestigious award that not all hospitals attain. Those who are Magnet status have higher nurse retention and satisfaction, improved quality of care, less nurse burnout, and lower mortality rates

195). As stated by Birk (2007) American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) standards for magnet classification speaks of applied theoretical framework and articulated philosophy in day to day operations. Landmark and Hickey (2007) states that the components of a magnet environment that will likely contribute to high consensus within the organization are the magnet programs attention on sequences between nursing mission, vision, values, philosophy and strategic priorities and those organizations.

Forces of magnetism, nurse-sensitive quality indicators, which reflect elements of patient care that, are directly affected by nursing practice (Schmidt and McFarlane 2015). These indicators are said to reflect three aspects of nursing care: structure, process, and outcomes. The establishment of Forces of Magnetism (14) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 2013 was created to provide the conceptual framework for the Magnet appraisal process. Must of the original design was to differentiated organizations best able to recruit and retain nurses during the nursing shortages of the 1970s and 1980s (Schmidt and McFarlane 2016 and Forces of Magnetism 2018).

Over the past number of years there has been a nursing shortage which has led to the need of more registered nurses in the hospital setting. This is due to the uprising acuity of patient care and a decrease in there overall hospital stay. In order for the patients to get safe and quality care, the staffing, education and experience of the nursing staff needs to be made a priority. Not only has the safety and quality of patient care suffered, the working conditions in hospitals

According to literature Magnet Recognition can function as a type of organizational intervention to produce improved patient outcomes. In addition, achieving Magnet recognition acts as an indicator of the hospitals investment in nursing. This information is an accessible indicator that is often taken into account by the likes of U.S News and World Report Best Hospitals when creating high profile quality ratings (Tubbs-Cooley et al., 2017). Due to this information being published in major media reports and readily accessible to the public it can potentate an increase in clients seeking treatment at Magnet hospitals. Moreover, this makes the hospital a desirable place of employment for highly skilled competent nurses which can improve the delivery of care and patient outcomes. Specific patient outcomes that are addressed in the next sections confirm these claims and make achieving Magnet status that much more

The American Nurses Credentialing Center has one of its initiatives as recognizing health care organization for good and quality patient care through the use of evidence base practice (EBP). The magnet recognition is the of the world’s most ultimate credential that a health care organization can uphold. Consumers and their families always seek magnet recognized hospitals for their health care needs. This program was created in 1990 by the American Nurses Association board of directors with its emphasis on nursing excellence through the use of evidence base practices to provide care for patients. A pilot program which involved five hospitals for the magnet recognition program was initiated to observe and measure any outcome. The University

Nurses working for Magnet hospitals are encouraged to increase their professional knowledge. Nurses are encouraged to grow as a clinician by participating in clinical ladder programs, obtaining certifications, and pursuing advanced degrees. Magnet status is a designation for hospitals that wish to provide excellent patient care and promote nursing leadership. Many hospitals offer tuition reimbursement to encourage nurses to continue their education to pursue an advanced degree. Clinical ladders offer professional and monetary gains. A local Magnet hospital in Richmond, Virginia offers reimbursement for the cost of certification exams to help their nurses have an opportunity for certification in their specialty. McClure explains that magnet hospitals develop a culture of excellence by demonstrating best practices and involving nurses in decision making and policy development. There is a correlation between the nurse with a higher level of education and certifications in their area of expertise and positive patient outcomes. (McClure, 2005).

In 2008, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) launched an initiative to assess and reform the nursing profession to address the complex unique nursing needs for the current world. The IOM report published in 2010 calls on nurses to take greater role in the healthcare system by taking leadership roles and obtaining high level education. The report envisions nurses to use their full potential and attain academic progression to redesign the healthcare profession in United States.

Many healthcare organizations worldwide are striving to achieve magnet designation. Having the magnet title is essential because it recognizes healthcare organizations that act as a “magnet” for excellence by establishing a work environment that identifies, rewards, and promotes professional nursing (ANCC Magnet Designation, 2012). A magnet hospital is considered to be one where nursing provides excellent patient care, where nurses have a high level of job satisfaction, and where there is a low staff

The magnet hospital model is an international design to provide optimal framework for nursing care and future research. The model is composed of transformational leadership, empirical outcomes, exemplary professional practice, structural empowerment, and new knowledge combined with innovations and improvements. Hospitals that participate in the model and were awarded the title are constantly looking to improve and expand. They strive to provide expert care globally. Scheduling and staffing are done in a way to keep nurses from burning out. The lower the burnout rate the higher the rate of satisfaction and overall health of patients. When nurses are not burnt out they work optimally and want to work with their patients and that creates

In the early 1980s it came to light that while the supply of nurses had reached a record high, only 80% of hospitals nationwide had adequate nurse staffing levels (American Nurse Credentialing Center, 2011, p. 8). To address this issue a taskforce was formed within the American Academy of Nursing (AAN). Through an initial study of 165 hospitals, the AAN determined the characteristics of healthcare organizations that were magnetically attracting and retaining nurses as employees (American Nurse Credentialing Center, p. 9). In this study the AAN found “Forces of Magnetism” that contributed to the high level of job satisfaction amongst nurses, superior quality of care, low job turnover, and high level of nurse involvement in leadership, decision-making, and research. In the early 1990s, catapulted by the findings of this initial study, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) developed the Magnet Recognition Program. The intention of the ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program was threefold: To reward hospitals that demonstrated “excellence in the delivery of nursing services to patients;” to encourage quality in the nursing work environment to support practicing professional nurses; and to guide navigation for the dissemination of evidenced-based clinical nursing practice (American Nurse Credentialing Center, 2011, p. 14).

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ACNN) sponsors the Magnet Recognition Program, which focuses on the development of nursing practices and evaluates the environment where nursing is practiced. This program is well recognized by organizations throughout the country, as the Magnet Journey and is considered to be one of the highest achievements that organizations can obtain (Broom, & Tilbury, 2007). Organizations that strive to achieve the Magnet designation, acknowledge the link between a healthy work environment and the development of an organization of nursing excellence. Hospitals utilizing the Magnet concept demonstrate the following characteristics; (a) authentic leadership, (b) skilled communication, (c) effective decision making, (d) quality patient care processes, (e) collaboration and teamwork among all healthcare workers, (f) professional growth and accountability, (g) clinically competent staff and (h) adequate staffing levels (Shirey, 2006). All the above components

Magnet hospitals are named for their potential to attract and retain qualified nurses. Magnet hospitals are facilities that have been certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for promoting positive patient outcomes through best practices in nursing (Upenieks, 2003). The Magnet environment fosters autonomy and professional nursing practice. Research shows that Magnet hospitals have better work environments, a more highly educated nursing workforce, superior nurse-to-patient staffing ratios, and higher nurse satisfaction than non-Magnet hospitals (Aiken, Kelly, & McHugh, 2011). Implementation of that environment requires the ability to create trust, accountability, and open communication in changing times.

It takes a combination of theories to make healthcare organizations function at a quality standard. Providing the patients with the best care possible is always the goal for any healthcare organization. It takes, not only the nurses, but all the staff of the organization to achieve this goal. Non-nursing theories exist to help guide all staff and provide an optimal work environment to allow quality care to be given to the patient. In this paper, some non-nursing theories will be examined and the importance of each one will be ranked according to this nurse.

Nursing profession plays an important role in the overall hospital experience for patients and their families. The Magnet status has a positive impact on nursing through the encouragement and recognition of nurses who provide superior decision making at the bedside using evidence based practice. Nurses are also awarded for advancing their education.