What is a Magnet hospital? Magnet hospitals earn this status because of their commitment to excellence in nursing and patient care. Because of their high standards of care and esteemed reputations, these facilities prefer hiring nurses with a BSN.
Not all hospitals are alike. While they all focus on providing excellent care, they each follow their own set of procedures and protocols. It can be helpful for both nurses and patients to easily identify which hospitals exceed expectations and have earned Magnet recognition.
What is a Magnet hospital, and why is this designation important? The staff must meet high standards at a Magnet hospital, meaning they must receive a quality and thorough education to prepare. This is why employers prefer to hire nurses with at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
If you have a non-nursing college education or at least 62 credits, you can earn this nursing degree in as few as 16 months with Northeastern University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program.
Understanding the Magnet Hospital Meaning
Magnet status is an award given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association (ANA). Magnet recognition acknowledges that a facility strives toward continuous improvements in patient care and outcomes, supports nurses throughout their careers with ongoing professional development and education opportunities and works toward organizational innovation.
Magnet designation is intended to stand for high-quality nursing, meaning nurses facilitate excellent patient outcomes in a respectful work environment that offers high job satisfaction with a low turnover rate. Hospitals with Magnet status value nurses and involve them in key patient care decisions.
How Did Magnet Recognition for Hospitals Develop?
The ANA approved the creation of the Magnet program in 1990 following a 1983 study by the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) that evaluated the characteristics of successful healthcare facilities. The Magnet program began as a small pilot program involving just five hospitals. By 1997, the first Magnet recognition was designated to the University of Washington Medical Center.
Over time, the Magnet program has grown. It now evaluates long-term care facilities as well as hospitals and international facilities. The Magnet Recognition Program assessment framework recognizes five main components of nursing and organizational excellence:
- Empirical quality
- Exemplary professional practice
- New knowledge, innovation and improvements
- Structural empowerment
- Transformational leadership
Benefits of Magnet Hospitals for Nurses
The benefits of working at an organization with Magnet status are numerous, including:
- The ability to attract and retain talent: Magnet hospitals often have an increased RN retention rate and lower turnover rate than non-Magnet hospitals.
- Improvements in patient care, safety and satisfaction: Hospitals with Magnet recognition focus on nursing excellence and provide a higher standard of care for their patients.
- A collaborative culture where nurses feel empowered: The Magnet model provides a structured approach to engaging nurses in decision-making, which helps them stay engaged.
- Advanced nursing standards and practice: Non-Magnet organizations may look to Magnet organizations as a role model for nursing operations.
- Financial and business success: Because of the positive environment for nurses, Magnet hospitals may experience better financial success. They may also cultivate a more positive reputation amongst the industry, the press and potential donors.
Magnet Hospitals vs. Non-Magnet Hospitals
Compared to non-Magnet hospitals, hospitals with the Magnet designation offer a better patient experience, higher patient satisfaction rates and, most importantly, better patient outcomes. Since these facilities promote nursing development and supportive workplace cultures, they are also better able to attract the top nursing talent.
What does Magnet recognition for hospitals mean for you as a future nurse? If you think you’d like to work at a Magnet facility, it’s advisable to earn a BSN instead of an associate degree.
While associate degree-prepared RNs can and do work at Magnet facilities, there is a definite preference for hiring baccalaureate-prepared nurses. In fact, all hospitals with Magnet status require BSNs or higher for all of their nurse managers and nurse leaders.
Why Does Magnet Status Matter for You?
What’s the bottom line for you, the future nurse? You may wish to make Magnet status a consideration factor in finding your first nursing job or even use it to develop a short list of desirable employers.
As a nursing student, you might also want to see if any of the organizations with whom you’ll be completing clinical rotations have Magnet status, as they can be a great place to develop a relationship with a nurse mentor. Probably the biggest consideration, though, is how a hospital’s Magnet status impacts its requirements for new hires.
In short, Magnet status means:
- Magnet recognition is a respected distinction within the nursing field, and many hospitals are willing to put in the time and effort to achieve it.
- In general, Magnet-designated healthcare organizations are thought to have a strong commitment to nursing excellence and to nurse empowerment.
- Those who enter the nursing field with a BSN, particularly from a prestigious university like Northeastern, may have better luck landing a job at a Magnet hospital than non-BSN nurses.
What are nursing clinicals like? Learn what to expect and discover why clinicals are important for your nursing education.
Magnet Hospitals Near Northeastern’s ABSN Locations
Northeastern University has three ABSN locations, each of which is near Magnet-designated hospitals.
Near Boston, Massachusetts
- Boston Children’s Hospital
- Boston Medical Center
- Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- New England Baptist Hospital
Near Providence, Rhode Island
- Newport Hospital
- The Miriam Hospital
Charlotte, North Carolina
- Carolinas Medical Center
- Catawba Valley Medical Center
- Novant Health – Presbyterian Healthcare
As an ABSN student at Northeastern University, you’ll have the opportunity to work clinical placements at some of the top healthcare facilities near your ABSN location. Making a good impression at these clinical placements might help you land a job at your ideal healthcare organization after you graduate and obtain your nursing license.
Earn a BSN at Northeastern University on an Accelerated Timeline
If you’re interested in pursuing a nursing career at a Magnet hospital, your first step is to earn a BSN. With our 16-month ABSN program, you can leverage your prior non-nursing bachelor’s degree or 62 non-nursing college credits to finish your degree faster than you could in a traditional nursing program.
The ABSN program allows students to earn a BSN fast without compromising quality. The curriculum combines online learning with essential hands-on experiences.
Using an interactive e-learning platform, students gain a solid foundation in nursing and science concepts. They then hone their nursing techniques during skills and simulation labs, before applying them to real-world practice in clinical placements.
Learn more about the fastest way to get a BSN through an accelerated nursing program.
The accelerated nursing program offers three start dates each year, so you don’t have to wait to begin. Our highly reputable program ensures our graduates are prepared to take the NCLEX-RN and embark on a successful nursing career.
To learn more about the ABSN program, reach out to our admissions counselors today. Now is the time to take the first step toward the nursing career of your dreams.
