The Magnet Application and Appraisal Process
Magnet Recognition Program® application and appraisal process is a recognition of a health care organization's attainment of excellence. It is also a rewarding and valuable educational experience for an organization seeking focus and direction for growth and development. The process is thorough and lengthy, demanding widespread participation within the applicant nursing service. Health care organizations find this to be a revealing self assessment, creating opportunities for organizational advancement, team building, and enhancement of individuals' professional self esteem.
Eligibility Criteria
Entity. The applicant organization must exist within a healthcare organization. Organizations interested in applying as a system should refer to Appendix E in the Magnet application manual; click here to view.
Nursing leadership. The applicant organization must include one or more nursing settings with a single governing authority and one individual serving as the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) who is ultimately responsible for sustaining the standards of nursing practice in all areas in which nurses practice. The CNO must participate on the applicant organization's highest governing decision-making and strategic planning body.
CNO education. The CNO must possess, at a minimum, a Master's Degree. Additionally, effective January 1, 2008, the CNO must possess a degree in nursing that is at the baccalaureate level or higher. For instance, if the CNO's baccalaureate degree is not in nursing, the masters or doctoral degree must be in nursing to meet the eligibility requirement. If the graduate level degrees are in other disciplines, then the CNO must have a baccalaureate degree in nursing to meet the eligibility requirement. 1
Standards for Nurse Administrators. Applicant organizations must have the American Nurses Association's Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators (ANA 2004) currently implemented throughout nursing.
Protected feedback procedures. Applicant organizations must have policies and procedures that permit and encourage nurses to confidentially express their concerns about their professional practice environment without retribution. Policies and procedures that discourage nurses to express their concerns about their professional practice environment are prohibited.
Unfair labor practices. In the three-year period preceding submission of the application, the applicant must not have committed an unfair labor practice involving a nurse; as determined in a fully and finally adjudicated proceeding or before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) or state or international regulatory agency with jurisdiction over labor relations and/or a reviewing federal, state, or international court;. Only the Commission on Magnet may approve any exception to this criterion.2
Regulatory compliance. Applicant organizations must be in compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, statutes, and accrediting body standards, including the practices recommended in the National Patient Safety Goals. The latter includes:
- Improve the accuracy of patient identification.
- Improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers.
- Improve the safety of using medications.
- Improve the safety of using infusion pumps.
- Reduce the risk of health acquired infections.
- Accurately and completely reconcile medications and other treatments across the continuum of care.
- Reduce the risk of patient harm resulting from falls.
- Reduce the risk of surgical fires.
Data collection. Applicants for Magnet designation must collect specific nurse-sensitive quality indicators (identified in the Magnet manual) at the unit level and benchmark that data against a database at the highest/broadest level possible (i.e., national, state, specialty organization, regional, or system) to support research and quality improvement initiatives.3
Notes:
1. Master's-level preparation for Chief Nursing Officers may be in progress at the time of initial application but must have been completed by the time the applicant submits its written documentation.
2. Contact the Magnet Recognition Program® office for instruction on requesting an exception to the criterion; click here for a list of responses you will be expected to provide.
3. Applicants must have been collecting such data at least one year prior to submitting written documentation.
The Magnet Application Process
Magnet Recognition Program® is based on the American Nurses Association's Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators (ANA Publishing; click here to order) and upon the Forces of Magnetism as described in the publication Magnet Hospitals Revisited: Attraction and Retention of Professional Nurses (click here to order). The applicant facility provides documentation and evidence that support and verify that they are implementing the standards throughout the nursing service.
An applicant must purchase the Magnet Recognition Program® Application Manual (ANCC, 2004, 2005 edition); click here to order). It outlines the entire application process and contains the application form and all necessary directions for preparing the written documentation. This manual costs $100 plus shipping and handling. Note that the manual is revised on a routine basis in order to ensure that the expectations of Magnet hospitals required by the Magnet Recognition Program® remain appropriate, accurate, and contemporary.
The application process consists of four phases:
Phase One—Application: Applicant completes online application. To access online application use: https://www.anccmagnet.org/magnet/System_Application_Page1.aspx .
Once your online application is complete submit your non-refundable application fee (payable to “ANCC”) and a copy of your application receipt to:
American Nurses Credential Center
PO Box 79120
Baltimore, MD 21279-0120
In addition submit the following items as attachments to an email to MAGNET@ANA.ORG
- A current Organizational Chart.
- Provide a copy of the unit based, nationally benchmarked survey tool (questions, not responses) used to assess nursing satisfaction.
For the most current fee schedule go to:
http://www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet/apply/fees.html
Phase Two—Submission of Written Documentation and Evaluation: The nursing service applicant completes appraisal documentation, the Demographic Information Form (click here to download in MS Excel format), and the Cover Sheet for Written Documentation (click here to download in MS Word format), as outlined in the program instruction and application manual. This written documentation must reflect the innovative, dynamic, excellence-focused features of the organization that are reflective of the forces of magnetism. It also must demonstrate how the health care organization implements the Scope and Standards for Nurse Administrators within the organizations' structure, leadership, and management philosophy, as well as how the standards are incorporated within the nursing service. The instruction manual provides guidance in selecting evidence that supports the requirements of the written documentation. Once completed, the written documentation is then submitted to the Magnet Recognition Program® Office with the required appraisal fee, which is based on the licensed bed size and/or patient encounters of the applicant health care organization.
Program appraisers are selected and the names are submitted to the applicant health care organization for review. If no conflict of interest with the selected appraisers is identified, the organization must so indicate in writing.
Phase Three—Site Visit: A site visit is scheduled if the documents of the Organizational Overview are present and adequate, and the scores for the measurement criteria fall within a range of excellence. The purpose of the site visit is to verify, clarify, and amplify the content of the written documentation and evaluate the organizational milieu in which nursing is practice. The site visit process also involves a process of community participation and public comment in which the written documentation is open for public review and comment. The site visit expenses are the responsibility of the applicant and include travel and lodging expenses for a minimum of two appraisers plus an honorarium of $1,500 per day per appraiser. Most site visits are at least two days in duration.
Both the review of the written documentation and the site appraisal are conducted by professional registered nurses with experience in quality indicators, nursing services administration, and nursing care.
Phase Four—Internal Operations at the Magnet Recognition Program® Office: After the appraisers submit a final report and recommendations, the Commission on Magnet Recognition reviews the findings to determine if Magnet Recognition status will be awarded.
Once Magnet Designation is Awarded
The health care organization is notified if the Commission on Magnet Recognition votes to extend Magnet designation. A nationwide press release is issued by ANCC. Organizations use this opportunity to advertise their designation and recognize their nursing staff in any variety of ways. Designation is an overall boost not only for the nursing staff but for the staff of the entire organization. As stated by Rob Muilenberg, Executive Director, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, "A real cause for celebration. Instilled a sense of pride and accomplishment in the nursing service and to the institution as a whole. ...Built a sense of team and commitment to mission, vision, and values– patient focused care."
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