The value of practicing at a Magnet(R)-recognized facility is well established.1-4 The criterion standards exemplified by Magnet designation reflect an investment in the education and professional development of nurses. The data produced from Magnet facilities showcase higher retention rates, increased job satisfaction, and decreased rates of nurse burnout.1-4 These elements contribute to quality and safety practices, which also significantly benefit an increasingly complex patient population. Reported overall outcomes reflect decreased mortality rates as well as decreased hospital-acquired injuries such as falls, pressure ulcers, and infections.
From the staff perspective, Magnet facilities foster a collaborative culture by providing a framework for quality improvement and multidisciplinary engagement in shared decision making. Although some have questioned whether these cited outcomes are truly attributable to the adoption of Magnet standards of care, the evidence in support of these well-documented results is unequivocal.
Relationship of a Doctorate of Nursing Practice Education and Magnet Recognition
Unlike other research-oriented terminal degrees in nursing, DNP is focused on nursing practice and the ability to apply scientific inquiry to benefit patients and the larger nursing field. The Essentials of Doctoral Education for Advanced Nursing Practice identifies 8 foundational competencies that are expected of the DNP educated nurse.5 Essentials include organizational leadership for quality improvement, clinical scholarship, information systems and technology for the transformation of healthcare, interprofessional collaboration to improve patient and global population outcomes, and participation in healthcare advocacy.5 These DNP competencies align with the components of the Magnet model.6
Transformational Leadership
Healthcare organizations continue to face unprecedented challenges. Transformational leaders must be able to guide, support, and inspire their teams through these unchartered waters while keeping everyone focused on the mission and vision of the organization. The DNP-prepared nurse should be able to identify and adopt a leadership style to support organizational transformation. Demonstrated through strategic planning based on data, as an example, is one way to be transformational. Change without strategy can lead to chaos. Transformational leadership skills ensure engagement and collaboration along the journey.
Structural Empowerment
Structures, policies, and processes are impacted by an organization's values and serve to guide an institution's mission and strategic vision. The DNP-prepared nurse can partner with the executive leadership teams and community stakeholders to influence and shape policy at the organizational, local, state, and federal levels to protect nurses and the patient populations for whom they care. The DNP-educated nurse should assist in the education and translation of data to both policy makers and providers in developing position statements and recommendations for resource application.
Exemplary Professional Practice
Magnet-recognized organizations are renowned for excellence in nursing care and professional practice. DNP-educated nurses can ensure metrics demonstrating nursing excellence are identified and transparently reported. Nursing is a science-based profession. DNP-educated nurses support the exploration and application of data-based outcomes.
New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvements
Magnet-recognized organizations have a responsibility to improve patient care and leadership through the acquisition of new knowledge, innovations, and improvements. Ensuring the education of peers and colleagues to design and support the exploration of new knowledge and the integration of data-based protocols into practice is a key role of a DNP-prepared nurse.
Empirical Outcomes
Magnet-recognized organizations demonstrate excellence in both the quality of care provided to their patient populations and the quality of working environment afforded to their nurses. When organizations provide safe, stable working environments and collaborative opportunities for engagement including research initiatives, nurses understand that their voices and input will be valued. Nurses offer unique insight into patient care and the areas of a healthy work environment to support optimal practice. The identification of optimal outcomes, the design of systems to support monitoring of approved protocols, and the establishment of a culture to ensure nurses are engaged in all phases are opportunities for the DNP-prepared nurse.
Conclusion
Magnet designation means more than an accolade or an award. Magnet designation is a way to raise the bar of healthcare for nurses worldwide. Optimizing the role, input, and education of DNP-prepared nurses is one way Magnet-designated organizations can realize the maximum benefit of this global recognition.
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