Embedding a Professional Practice Model Across a System.

Professional practice models (PPMs) are an integral part of any organization on the Magnet® journey, whether initial designation or redesignation. Through the journey, the PPM should become embedded within the nursing culture. Leadership at multiple levels is crucial to ensure successful adoption and implementation.

Nursing's role and staffing in accountable care.

Nurse staffing in a world of health care reform and accountable care is uncertain and creates fear not only for the nurse leaders, but all RNs. As health care reform transforms the environment, so must the role and staffing of nurses. There is still not one right answer or agreed upon manner to nurse staffing of inpatient units. This leaves nurses free to imagine roles and staffing possibilities for the future across the continuum. Including all RNs in conversations, visioning, and problem solving for the future will best prepare the profession for our role in caring for our patients.

Development of a professional nursing framework: the journey toward nursing excellence.

To achieve Magnet recognition designation, an organization must demonstrate a framework for nursing practice. However, successfully incorporating and sustaining frameworks and theories into practice are not easy undertakings. The authors describe how leaders and staff in a healthcare system created and implemented a conceptual framework for nursing practice to guide nursing practice for the system.

Strategies for Pursuing a Master's Degree.

Health care has become very complex and is in a constant state of change. As a result of the evolving change and increasing complexity, a more educated nursing workforce is needed (Dracup K. Master's nursing programs. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. 2015; Institute of Medicine. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. 2010). It is now becoming necessary for registered nurses to earn an advanced degree to work at the highest level of their practice authority (Dracup K. Master's nursing programs. American Association of Colleges of Nursing. 2015; Institute of Medicine. The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. 2010.). Preparing to reenter college may be an overwhelming prospect for some registered nurses seeking an advanced degree. However, there are some simple strategies that may help sort out the many degree options, financial obligations, decisions about brick and mortar versus online learning, commitment to degree completion, and changing career paths. This article will provide the registered nurse valuable information that will assist in the exciting process of returning to college.

Understanding research and evidence-based practice: from knowledge generation to translation.

Health care today requires an evidence-based environment where nurses deliver increasingly safer, higher-quality care. To obtain this environment, nurses must use the best evidence in their practice. As the largest deliverer of health care in the United States, nurses are vital in the participation of improving safety and quality care. Through research and evidence-based practice, all nurses can be leaders in promoting quality and safe care.

The Essentials of Magnetism for home health.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine what home health nurses perceived to be the Essentials of Magnetism in the home healthcare setting. BACKGROUND: Research in the acute care setting has established relationships between organizational attributes, nurse satisfaction, and quality outcomes. However, little is known in the home health setting on the importance and the impact of these relationships. More research is needed to further understand the implications to home healthcare. METHODS: Registered nurses (N = 260) were asked to identify the top 10 attributes from the 37-item Dimensions of Magnetism instrument developed by Kramer and Schmalenberg. The top 10 Essentials of Magnetism attributes were obtained by tabulation of the number of respondents to each question. RESULTS: The results showed that 7 of the top 8 Essentials of Magnetism items chosen by the home health nurses (n = 106) were the same Essentials of Magnetism items chosen by acute care nurses in previous studies. A test-retest of the top 10 items revealed a high level of reliability (.77). CONCLUSION: Although the results demonstrate similar attributes as those identified in the acute care setting, noted differences need further review to understand their role in registered nurse satisfaction and quality.