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Research Column

n pursuit of magnet status: The impact ofursing research

athleen Rich, DNSc, RN, CCNS

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Magnet recognition by the American Nurses Credentialingenter (ANCC) is considered a pinnacle of achievement byursing services within a health care organization. Based on 14haracteristics that are referred to as forces, these distinctivelements highlight an organizational culture that promotes andnhances excellent nursing practice.1 Table I lists these 14agnet forces. Scott and colleagues2 reported that nursing lead-

rship within Magnet institutions was often described as vision-ry, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. Nursing staff within aagnet facility had more autonomy and control of nursing

ractice when compared with non-Magnet institutions.2 Externalenefits of achieving Magnet status include promotional activi-ies that may assist with recruitment of qualified nursing staffnd other health care professionals. In addition, it may increaseanaged care contracts and improve the institution’s case-mix

y medical staff and public recognition of the nursing excel-ence. Internal benefits include visible external validation of thelinical nursing practice. This improves morale, increases groupohesiveness, and enhances retention.3 The term “Magnet Hos-ital” was created by the American Academy of Nursing in their982 survey, which identified characteristics of those hospitalshat were able to recruit and retain nurses during the nationalursing shortage in the 1980s.3 The Magnet appraisal takeseveral years and consists of 4 phases: the application, submis-ion of written documentation and evaluation, site visit (whicherifies the written document), and Magnet decision.1 There are4 standards in the Magnet application process. Research istandard XIII. This standard states that the Chief Nursing Officerupports research and integrates it into the delivery of nursingare and nursing administration.1 There are 7 core measurementsnder the research standard. According to the 2003 ANCCcoring grid, nursing research contributes 10% to the total

Kathleen Rich, DNSc, RN, CCNS, is a Cardiovascular ClinicalNurse Specialist at LaPorte Hospital, LaPorte, Ind.

Address reprint requests to: Kathleen Rich, DNSc, RN, CCNS,1307 Park Drive, Chesterton, IN 46304.

J Vasc Nurs 2005;23:30-31.

1062-0303/2005/$30.00

Copyright © 2005 by the Society for Vascular Nursing, Inc.

tdoi:10.1016/j.jvn.2004.11.003

agnet score.1 This article focuses on the impact of nursingesearch in the Magnet recognition process through an overviewf these 7 ANCC criteria under the research standard.

The first criterion is that nurse researchers collaborate withhe researchers from other disciplines in the identification ofotential practice studies.1 When this standard is reviewed, themphasis is on detailing research activities that nursing staff arectively participating in. Physician-driven or pharmaceuticaltudies are discouraged unless nursing is an integral part of theroposed research.

The second criterion is that the institution use establishedechanisms in reviewing proposed research studies that include

rotection of human rights.1 The formation of a hospital-basedursing research committee to oversee, review, and guide pro-osed nursing studies is essential. In addition, the institutionust have a multidisciplinary institutional review board that

rovides final approval for all biomedical research studies inccordance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guide-ines.4 A description of all nursing research studies that haveeceived institutional review board approval is part of thisriterion.

Integrating findings into clinical practice and identifyingesources that support research studies are the next 2 evaluationoints.1 The nursing research studies discussed in this criterioneasure are to have a patient outcome. The outcome itself is

urther acknowledged in terms of change in specific policiesnd/or procedures. Messmer and colleagues5 reported the use ofaster’s theses by nursing staff to assist in fulfilling this crite-

ion. Resource identification consists of describing both person-el and services that assist nursing research. This is both withinhe organization and outside it, such as nursing faculty at nearbyniversities and other health care facilities that may be affiliatedith the institution.

Using continuous quality improvement activities as the basisf ongoing research is another component.1 Providing documen-ation of this criterion is through evidence of quality improve-ent monitoring of the nursing research studies. Minutes fromursing Research Committee meetings will assist in fulfilling

his core measurement.Emphasis of evidence-based nursing practice through pro-

otion of research is reviewed.1 Identifying sources of nursingractice (including policies and procedures) with specification of

he guideline origin is appropriate. In addition, detailing any

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Vol. XXIII No. 1 PAGE 31JOURNAL OF VASCULAR NURSINGwww.jvascnurs.net

ursing studies that are based on external data supports thisriterion.

Promoting understanding and effective use of organizational,anagement, and nursing theories and research is the last crite-

ion.1 Listing all nursing research activities and providing orga-izational statements that reflect the importance of nursing andursing practice are 2 examples of this measure. A narrative thatescribes how nursing theory has been used along with itsnfluence on patient care is another method.

Additional information that may be requested by the Magnetppraisers includes evidence of presenting the institution’s nurs-ng research findings in local, regional, or national conferences.ublication of research studies performed by nurses in regional

TABLE I

FOURTEEN FORCES OF MAGNETISM1

Quality of nursing leadership

Organizational structure

Management style

Personnel policies and programs

Professional models of care

Quality of care

Quality improvement

Consultation and resources

Autonomy

Community and the hospital

Nurses as teachers

Image of nursing

Interdisciplinary relationships

Professional development

ased activities within the organization may be scrutinized.embership in national nursing organizations that support re-

earch, such as Sigma Theta Tau, may be reviewed.LaPorte Hospital located in LaPorte, Indiana, submitted the

ritten documentation for the Magnet appraisal process in No-ember 2003. Document approval was obtained in May 2004ith a site visit conducted in August 2004. A core team of nurses

hat included both nursing staff and managers oversaw the entirerocess. Before the site visit, the co-chairs of the Nursingesearch Committee collected and organized the nursing re-

earch activities within a single binder for the Magnet appraisers.everal meetings discussing the hospital’s nursing research ac-

ivities were conducted. During the site visit, one of the inter-iews by the Magnet appraisers was with members of theospital Nursing Research Committee. Notification of Magnetecognition by the ANCC was received on October 11, 2004.aPorte Hospital is the first hospital in Northern Indiana that haschieved Magnet recognition. Was this all worth it? Absolutely!

EFERENCES

. Magnet recognition program: health care organization applica-tion manual. Washington (DC): American Nurses CredentialingCenter; 2003.

. Scott J, Sochalski J, Aiken L. Review of magnet hospitalresearch: findings and implications for professional nursingpractice. J Nurs Adm 1999;29:9-19.

. Schlag M, Sengin K, Shendell-Falik N. Achieving magnetstatus. Nurs Adm Q 1998;22:1-10.

. Guidelines for institutional review boards and clinical inves-tigators. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available at:http://www.fda.gov/oc/ohrt/irbs/default.htm. Accessed: No-vember 6, 2004.

. Messmer P, Jones S, Rosillo C. Using nursing researchprojects to meet magnet recognition program standards. J

r national nursing journals in addition to promotion of research- Nurs Adm 2002;32:538-43.

WRITING AWARD

The Journal of Vascular Nursing Article Award honors nurse authors for their efforts to createa publishable manuscript. Manuscripts will be judged for accuracy of content, relevance to vascularnursing practice, and excellence of writing style. All feature articles published in the Journal ofVascular Nursing during the calendar year will be considered for the JVN Article Award. The awardrecipient will be given a plaque commemorating the award and a cash prize donated by Elsevier Inc.The award and cash prize will be presented at the annual symposium. Announcement of the awardrecipient will appear in the Journal of Vascular Nursing and in SVN. . .prn.