Why Is Magnet Status Important to Nursing?

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.¹ Let’s take a closer look at how it can elevate the level of care, workplace safety and job satisfaction.

In This Article:

• Understanding the Magnet Hospital Meaning
• Why Do Hospitals Want More BSN-Prepared Nurses?
• Benefits of a Magnet Status Hospital
• Earn Your Nursing Degree

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

Earn Your Nursing Degree

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.