REPORT: May 2005

Ask the Experts

Is Magnet status worth all of the hard work?

Q.: I am a staff nurse in a community hospital. My nurse manager and other nursing administrators keep talking about applying for Magnet Recognition for our hospital. It sounds like a lot of work for the staff nurses and we already feel overworked and understaffed. Why should I care about Magnet Recognition?

A.: Magnet recognition is awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to healthcare institutions that provide high-quality, expert nursing care to patients. Magnet criteria support an environment in which there are strong interdisciplinary relationships, evidence of nurse autonomy and empowerment, and a commitment to professional development. The program emphasizes the importance of quality nursing leadership that engages in participative management with flexible staffing and minimal rotation practices.

If your facility is considering applying for Magnet recognition, this could be the ideal opportunity to correct the “understaffed, overworked” condition you describe. Within two years of filing an application, the hospital must submit written documentation demonstrating how it satisfies the ANCC criteria. Staff nurses should be involved in creating this documentation, so they should be sure to speak up if conditions do not meet criteria standards. These include autonomy for RNs and control over their practice, adequate support services, and sufficient nursing staff to provide high-quality care. Your hospital administration needs to know that improvements must be made if the hospital’s application is to be successful.

You also will have an opportunity to speak to ANCC surveyors when they conduct a site visit as part of the application process. Nurses can meet with surveyors as a group or individually, or they can submit comments at the ANCC Web site. Comments may be submitted on an ongoing basis even after Magnet recognition has been given.

If your facility is successful in demonstrating “Magnet characteristics” with input from its nursing staff, there are big dividends for nurses and patient care. Studies show that nurses who practice in Magnet hospitals experience less burnout and are more satisfied with their practice. Seeking Magnet designation is hard work and requires a commitment on the part of the nursing staff, but the outcomes for patients, the community, and nurses can far outweigh the effort.