Magnet® Matters: What is the Magnet® Model?
This is the second in a series of articles to educate faculty and staff about what it means to be a Magnet® hospital. WVU Medicine-WVU Hospitals has been named a Magnet® hospital three times. It became the first and only West Virginia hospital to achieve such recognition in 2005, and was re-designated in 2009 and 2015. The hospital, which remains the state's only Magnet® hospital, is up for re-designation this year. Contact Magnet® Program Director Lya M. Stroupe with questions.
To be selected for Magnet® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), hospitals must have a proven track record of excellence in nursing services. In short, they are the country’s elite hospitals. The Magnet® Model is a schematic of the vision of the ANCC. The model includes these components:
Transformational Leadership
Today’s healthcare environment is experiencing unprecedented, intense reformation. Today’s leaders are required to transform their organization’s values, beliefs, and behaviors. This component of the model demonstrates how leaders actually transform the organization to meet the needs of the future.
Structural Empowerment
Magnet®-recognized organizations have solid structures and processes in place to provide an innovative environment within the organization and within the communities served. This component of the model highlights our strategic plan, policies, and programs to empower, develop, and direct staff.
Exemplary Professional Practice
This Magnet® component involves the professional practice of nursing. This highlights the application of nursing practice with our interprofessional partners, patients, families, and communities.
New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvements
Magnet® organizations have an ethical and professional responsibility to contribute to patient care, the organization, and the profession in terms of new knowledge. This component demonstrates new models of care, application of new and existing evidence, and visible contributions to the science of nursing.
Empirical Outcomes
This component allows Magnet®-designated organizations the chance to demonstrate what difference the organization is making for patients. These outcomes represent a way to demonstrate our excellence in patient care.
Learn more about the Magnet® Model.
Other articles in the Magnet® Matters series: