Each year the planning committees for the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC(R)) National Magnet Conference(TM) have increasing numbers of submissions of high quality abstracts to review as they perform the difficult task of constructing the agenda for the multiday Magnet(R) conference. The Commission on Magnet and the ANCC staff are proud of the scholarship and excellence that is evident through the presentations, posters, and award winners.
In the 2019 Magnet(R) Application Manual standards,1 the bar is raising on dissemination of outcomes and new knowledge. Building on the early research, the Magnet Recognition Program(R) has elevated practice standards striving for nursing excellence, ensured the provision of professional development for nurses, and hardwired the expectation for nursing research and scholarly practice supporting improved outcomes. In the new standards, interprofessional collaboration remains an expectation as well as extending the support and professionalism of nursing excellence to ambulatory settings where nurses practice.
Writing for Publication
Writing for publication is one example of a professional development activity. The seemingly simple task of constructing a manuscript for publication can be daunting. I can attest that even writing a monthly column for The Journal of Nursing Administration is stressful. The leaders of ANCC strive to use this column each month to communicate important information related to Magnet to readers across the globe. Dissemination of knowledge through publication is a professional development opportunity for nurses as well as the fulfillment of our obligation to support patient and nurse outcomes. Environmental factors and resources including writing mentors, provision of time, adequate library resources, and exposure to experienced authors have been cited as influential to the development of manuscripts in Magnet environments and should be noted by chief nurse executives (CNEs) as essential.2
One best practice in the development and proliferation of publications has been to provide organizational support for employees who are returning to school for advanced degrees in nursing.2 Increasing numbers of practicing nurses and nurse leaders are enrolled in doctoral programs. Maximizing opportunities such as conducting academic projects at their place of employment and then supporting them along with their faculty and coinvestigators, in the publication of this work, is good for the organization, the nurse, and the patient. Nurse executives desiring to promote publication may want to identify and develop stronger relationships with nurse employees in academic programs and build on their work.
In many organizations including most Magnet organizations, Nursing Research Councils (NRCs) are used to support dissemination of data and information. In addition to providing research support and publication assistance, NRCs are instrumental in providing support for the funding of research, ensuring interprofessional collaboration when needed, and integrating findings into practice. Presenting outcomes, either in symposia, at Magnet Nurse Champion meetings or in the form of publication should be the end product for the conclusion of any well-developed project. Nurses can learn from projects that meet or exceed expectations, as well as those projects that do not meet expectations or anticipated outcomes but have lessons learned from the process or findings.
Role Modeling of the CNE
One additional challenge is the role modeling of the CNE to disseminate information for change. As the highest organizational nurse leader, I challenge each of you to contribute to the literature in the coming years. From looking at the research and projects presented at the 2017 ANCC National Magnet Conference, transformational work is occurring. Nurse executives can experience professional development and refinement of skills by honing their own writing and publication portfolio. The literature is clear that Magnet environments both in the United States and abroad are positively influenced by nurse leader role modeling including supporting the dissemination of evidence.3
Magnet CNEs have complex roles. The expectation for leadership beyond the day-to-day is the new and evolving paradigm. The need for support, resources, and leadership for nurses to lead change is essential. One successful approach to lead change in practice and work environment is the dissemination of scholarly work through presentations and publications and, most importantly, translation into daily practice. Magnet nurse leaders and those on the journey to excellence are up to the challenge.
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