ABSTRACT
Objective: As the number of Magnet hospitals continues to rise in the United States and abroad, the body of literature regarding various outcomes at Magnet hospitals is increasing also. A systematic review examining and compiling the most recent evidence would be invaluable to those seeking to pursue Magnet recognition for their facility. We conducted this systematic review to investigate how Magnet hospital status affects outcomes for nursing professionals, patients, and health care organizations.
Methods: In January 2018, the databases CINAHL, ProQuest, PubMed, and La Biblioteca Cochrane Plus were searched for relevant studies. The reference lists of selected articles were also examined to identify additional studies. The PRISMA statement was followed, and established methods for systematic review were used to produce a narrative summary. The quality of the reviewed studies was assessed according to the 22-item Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist for observational studies.
Results: Of the 163 studies identified, 21 met the eligibility criteria and are included in this review. On the whole, lower rates of nursing shortages, burnout, job dissatisfaction, and turnover were observed at Magnet hospitals compared with non-Magnet hospitals. The rates of patient mortality, falls, hospital-acquired infections, and pressure ulcers were also lower. Nursing work environments were found to be safer and were associated with a higher quality of care in Magnet hospitals than in non-Magnet hospitals, and Magnet hospitals were found to provide more cost-effective care.
Conclusion: This review provides nursing managers and administrators with the most recent evidence demonstrating that Magnet hospitals have better nursing work environments and are associated with better outcomes for nurses, patients, and organizations than non-Magnet hospitals. This evidence should inform future decision-making with regard to pursuing Magnet designation.