Abstract
Nurses employed in home care have participated in a rapid and comprehensive shift in emphasis of assessing, evaluating, and measuring home care during the last few years. The impact of these sustained and intense changes is just beginning to be evaluated. In this national study, nurses who worked in various roles in home care agencies were asked about the degree to which 10 "magnet" characteristics existed in their agencies.
Study results indicate that home care nurses, especially those working in leadership roles, have significant longevity, are dedicated to quality care, and expect it in others. However, study participants rated quality of work-life issues (such as interpersonal communication, honesty, directness, timeliness, consistency, and listening to staff concerns) lower than other job aspects. Areas of improvement for enhancing critical agency characteristics are suggested by the results of this study. These suggestions should be used by agencies in their efforts to recruit and retain professional staff.