I N T R O D U C T I O N

Purpose of the Magnet Program

The American Nurses Credentialing Center developed the Magnet
Recognition Program to address the following goals. (American
Nurses Credentialing Center, 2004)
> Promote quality in a milieu that supports professional practice;
> Identify excellence in the delivery of nursing services to
patients/residents; and
> Provide a mechanism for the dissemination of “best practices”
in nursing services.
History
During the 1980’s, a severe nursing shortage prompted nursing
leaders to study nurses’ impressions about their profession and
what satisfied or dissatisfied them in their jobs. To address these
perceptions, the American Academy of Nursing in 1981 appointed
the Task Force on Nursing Practice in Hospitals. This body was
charged with examining system characteristics that impeded or,
conversely, facilitated professional practice. While most hospitals
faced severe nursing vacancies, there were some facilities that
had succeeded in creating an environment that attracted and
retained nurses. The Task Force commissioned a study to identify
such hospitals and the factors that contributed to their success.
This study, Magnet Hospitals: Attraction and Retention of
Professional Nurses began in 1981 (McClure, Poulin, Sovie,
& Wandelt, 1983).
One hundred sixty-five (165) hospitals were nominated as potential
magnet institutions. Participation was voluntary and 155 hospitals
responded to the nomination. These were ranked and scored.
Forty-one were selected and designated as magnet hospitals.
(McClure, Poulin, Sovie, & Wandelt, 1983)
Findings indicated a strong congruence between strengths identified
by both the staff nurses and administrators. These similarities
were common among hospitals of differing size and location. The
ingredients of magnetism were: management style, quality of
nursing leadership, organizational structure, staffing, personnel
policies, professional practice models, quality of care, quality
improvement, consultation and resources, autonomy, nurses
as teachers, image of nursing, community and the hospital, interdisciplinary
relationships and professional development. These
characteristics are now commonly referred to as the “forces of
magnetism”. (McClure et al., 1983)
In 1990, the ANA Board of Directors approved a national recognition
program. Responsibility for development and maintenance of
this program was assigned to the American Nurses Credentialing
Center (ANCC). The ANCC is a separately incorporated, separately
governed, subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. Over the
intervening period the primary structure and processes of the
Magnet Recognition Program were formulated. The first Magnet
award was awarded to the University of Washington Medical
Center in 1994. (Urden & Monarch, 2002b)
Long-term care facilities were included in the program in 1998.
In 2000, the program expanded to include international healthcare
organizations.
Kramer & Schmalenberg’s (2002) study, almost twenty years later,
asked the question, ”What creates the magnetism that attracts
nurses to work in a particular hospital, provides them with job satisfaction,
encourages them to give high-quality care, and makes
them want to stay?” (Kramer & Schmalenberg, 2002, p. 26). Eight
responses were chosen by almost two-thirds of participating staff
nurses. They are:
> Working with other nurses who are clinically competent
> Good nurse-physician relationships and communication
> Nurse autonomy and accountability
> Supportive nurse manager-supervisor
> Control over nursing practice and practice environment
> Support for education (inservice, continuing education, etc.)
> Adequate nurse staffing
> Paramount concern for the patient