Why Should Nurses Work for Magnet Hospitals?

In 1993, the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) began awarding Magnet status to hospitals that satisfied a set of criteria that measured the strength and quality of their nursing. A Magnet hospital delivers excellent patient outcomes, with a high level of job satisfaction for nurses, a low nursing staff turnover rate and appropriate grievance resolution. One of the criteria of the Magnet status is that nurse leaders must have at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing – and many of these hospitals specifically seek BSN-prepared nurses to staff a majority of their nursing positions in an effort to deliver better patient outcomes.

Why do Nurses Want to Work at Magnet Hospitals?

Obtaining Magnet status shows that a hospital strives to achieve a high standard of patient care. According to a Gallup survey, Magnet hospitals are safer, experiencing 7.1% fewer safety-related workplace incidents. A hospital with Magnet status is also appealing for nurses, as it shows that the hospital has taken steps to exhibit their commitment to employee satisfaction. The Gallup survey shows that not only are nurses at hospitals with Magnet designation happier, but the hospitals themselves also have a lower turnover rate than the industry average.

Why Is Magnet Status Important to Nursing?

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Published on Dec 4, 2024

In 1990, the American Nurses’ Credentialing Center (ANCC) officially launched the Magnet Recognition Program for the purpose of identifying high-performing hospitals committed to improving patient outcomes.¹Let’s take a closer look at how it can elevate the level of care, workplace safety and job satisfaction.

Understanding the Magnet Hospital Meaning

Magnet status is a way to distinguish high-performing hospitals. Educational preparation of nursing is one of the criteria.

To attain Magnet status, hospitals must demonstrate that their nursing staff is highly skilled, with strong leadership and a continuous improvement-minded work culture. Magnet hospitals must also cultivate a positive and supportive work environment for nurses. All of these factors can contribute to better patient care.¹

Why Do Hospitals Want More BSN-Prepared Nurses?

One of the criteria for attaining Magnet status is that nurse managers and other nurse leaders must have at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Why? BSN-prepared nurses are widely recognized as being well-prepared to contribute to better patient outcomes.²

The Institute of Medicine made a strong recommendation that 80% of the nursing workforce have a BSN degree by 2020.³ Many hospitals, regardless of Magnet status, are looking to increase their number of BSN-prepared nurses due to their experience and better patient outcomes. In fact, as of 2022, over 71% of nurses held a BSN.²

It’s clear that many hospitals, including Magnet hospitals, are interested in hiring more BSN-prepared nurses.² Because of this, you may want to consider going back to school to further your nursing education.

Benefits of a Magnet Status Hospital

What are the pros and cons of Magnet hospitals? First, let’s consider the many benefits of Magnet status.

A hospital with Magnet status may be appealing to nurses, as it shows that the hospital has taken steps to exhibit its commitment to employee satisfaction. Not only are nurses at hospitals with Magnet designation more satisfied, but the hospitals themselves also have a lower turnover rate than the industry average.⁴

Standard of Care

Obtaining Magnet status shows that a hospital strives to achieve a high standard of patient care. Magnet hospitals have a culture that continually strives for improvements, with a focus on professional development. In fact, patient mortality rates at Magnet hospitals are substantially lower than at hospitals that have not attained Magnet status.⁵

Workplace Safety

Another reason why nurses may prefer to work at Magnet hospitals is the priority on safety. Thanks at least in part to the reporting requirements for the Magnet Recognition Program, unsafe work conditions may be more readily reported and rectified at Magnet hospitals.⁶ Research has determined that both nurses and patients find Magnet hospitals to provide safer environments.⁷

Job Satisfaction

A focus on patient care and workplace safety both help create higher levels of job satisfaction among the nursing staff at Magnet hospitals.⁵ In fact, nurses at Magnet hospitals are 18% less likely to report job dissatisfaction.⁵

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If you strive to work at a Magnet hospital, consider advancing your nursing education. Apply today for enrollment in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) degree at Grand Canyon University.

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¹Jividen, S. (2023, April 22). What Are Magnet Hospitals & What Do Nurses Need To Know About Them? Nurse.org. Retrieved Sept. 16, 2024.

²American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n.d.). The Impact of Education on Nursing Practice. Retrieved Sept. 16, 2024.

³Porat-Dahlerbruch, J, et al. (2021, Nov. 8). Variations in Nursing Baccalaureate Education and 30-Day Inpatient Surgical Mortality. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved Oct. 11, 2024.

⁴American Nurses Credentialing Center. (n.d.). Benefits of the AANC Magnet Recognition Program. American Nurses Enterprise. Retrieved Nov. 14, 2024.

⁵Morris, G. (2024, June 10). What Are Magnet Hospitals? (And Why It Matters for Nurses). NurseJournal. Retrieved Sept.16, 2024.

⁶ Abuzied, Y, et al. (2022, Nov. 22). The Magnet Recognition Program and Quality Improvement in Nursing. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved Oct. 11, 2024.

⁷Bachert, A. (2017, Oct. 14). Magnet Status: Superior Care or Marketing Gimmick? MedPage Today. Retrieved Sept. 16, 2024.

Approved and verified accurate by the associate dean of the College of Nursing and Health Care Professions on Nov. 18, 2024.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.