What's the Attraction of Magnet?
With Magnet Award, North Mountain Hospital in Top 3% for Nursing Care
John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital was awarded Magnet designation in December 2004. Magnet, a program of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (an affiliate of the American Nurses Association), is a designation that sets the hospital apart—as one that is focused on excellence in nursing process, patient care, quality of leadership and professional development.
Nurses from John C. Lincoln hospitals travel to conferences all over the world, and they frequently return to work with a renewed appreciation for their colleagues and work environment. A group of North Mountain Hospital ICU nurses attended a conference in Cancun, and one of the topics was "what nurses want and what nurses need."
 |
| Sue Hanauer, RN, MS, CNAA, vice president of John C. Lincoln North Mountain Hospital, leads a celebration of her hospital's Magnet award, which places the hospital among the nation's top 3 percent for nursing care. |
| |
 |
The John C. RNs reported in the Magnetism newsletter that, "While listening to many of the nurses, it became apparent that we work at one of the best facilities in the country. We heard other nurses' concerns about topics such as mandatory overtime, understaffing, disrespectful physicians, uncaring administration and inflexible working hours and conditions. The nurses were frustrated with their inability to provide the best patient care possible. It was obvious to us that the standard of care that we provide at Lincoln far exceeds that of most of the hospitals in the nation. We were in agreement that one of the driving forces behind our 'elite' nursing care is our 'Magnetism.' It is no wonder that there is a staffing crunch throughout the nation when so few hospitals promote the professionalism of nursing as a career. By following the forces of Magnetism, recruitment and retention will follow."
The nurses continue: "We believe that the management style and organizational support we have here are the keys to quality patient care and that is 'what nurses want and need.'"
|
Programs begun during the Magnet journey at John C. Lincoln include:
- The Center for Advanced Nursing (CAN): Designed to support nurses in their professional development and research as they continue their education. CAN gives nurses the opportunity to apply for funding that enables them to attend professional conferences and seminars of clinical relevance, organizational benefit and professional development.
- RN Refresher Course Program: Created to offer nurses who have been out of the profession for awhile the opportunity to retrain and get reactivated with pay based on years of experience.
- Mentoring Program: A way for RNs who are new to the profession or John C. Lincoln to get adapted to the hospital culture and procedures, under the guidance of an experienced RN.
|
Click on chart for larger version: