Growing the Next Generation of Nurses and Nurse Leaders.

It is imperative to support the next generation of nurses and nurse leaders facing the challenges of our complex health systems. A formal mentoring program provides a structure that allows nurses to have a relationship that promotes ongoing counsel, career development, and a myriad of other benefits with another nurse or other healthcare professionals. The 2023 Magnet® Application Manual requires organizations to implement and use mentoring and succession planning programs under the transformational leadership standard. Adopting and sustaining effective and meaningful mentoring and succession planning activities and programs promote an environment of inclusion and professional development. In addition to formal mentoring programs, the importance of informal mentoring relationships can have a lasting impact on nurses along their nursing journey.

Magnet Recognition® and Pathway to Excellence®, Complementary Programs.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center® (ANCC) provides healthcare organizations with 2 complementary programs: Magnet Recognition Program® and Pathway to Excellence®. Both programs support nurses in providing the best care. Understanding each program's framework and focus allows organizations to choose which program is the best fit. Nursing is searching for solutions, the ANCC's Magnet Recognition®, and the Pathway to Excellence® programs offer evidence-based frameworks to support professional nursing practice. The frameworks result in improved nurse engagement, retention, interprofessional collaboration, nurse and patient safety, and patient outcomes.

Updated Magnet® Certification Requirements.

In 1983, the original study "Magnet Hospitals: Attraction and Retention of Professional Nurses" identified professional development, continuing education, formal education, and career development as critical success factors in creating an environment that fosters nurse engagement. In alignment with the findings, the Magnet Recognition Program® requires organizations to have structures and processes to support nurse certification. In June of 2021, the Magnet Recognition Program announced only nursing and healthcare-related professional board certifications would be accepted as of January 1, 2024. The 2.5-year timeline allowed organizations the opportunity to prepare for the change.

Learning From Our Global Community of Nurses.

Nursing is a global profession, with nearly 27 million nurses working around the world. This month's Magnet Perspectives examines the mutual benefit of this diverse and growing global community, puts the spotlight on some of the innovative initiatives taking place overseas, and considers how we can learn from each other to achieve our ultimate goals of an engaged nursing workforce, evidence-based patient care, and superior outcomes.

The Future of Magnet®.

The Magnet Recognition Program® is built on the results of a study. Magnet® has continued to be evidence-based and forward reaching with each new manual requirement. The foundation of the Forces of Magnetism combined with current future-facing evidence continues to promote a culture of excellence. While it is nursing recognition, Magnet is an organizational credential from which an entire organization benefits.

The Enduring Power of Magnet®.

More than 3 decades have passed since an enterprising team of nurse researchers unearthed groundbreaking findings that led to the creation of the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program®. Over time, the program has grown bigger and broader than anyone could predict, making a significant impact on nurses, the nursing profession, and healthcare delivery around the world. After the recent upheavals caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is Magnet® still relevant today? This month's Magnet Perspectives column examines the program's enduring significance and proven value in supporting nurses and helping healthcare organizations navigate the financial, labor, and regulatory challenges of the post-COVID era.

Why Shared Decision Making Matters.

Shared decision making is a hallmark of Magnet® organizations. Although the terminology can vary, the essence is the same: nurses at all levels, and in all settings, need to be a part of the decision making structure and process. Their voices, along with those of their interprofessional colleagues, ensure a culture of accountability. During times of financial challenges, trimming shared decision making councils may seem an easy place to save money. However, eliminating the councils may lead to increased unintentional costs. This month's Magnet Perspectives takes a closer look at the benefits of shared decision making and its enduring value.

An Interview With Jeanette Ives Erickson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN.

At the end of 2022, American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program® bid farewell to Jeanette Ives Erickson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, as she stepped down as Chair of the Commission on Magnet® (COM). Dr Ives Erickson, the Chief Nurse Emerita and the Distinguished Paul M. Erickson Chair in Nursing at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), joined the COM in 2015 as the chief nurse representative. She served a 2nd term as the American Academy of Nursing representative and Commission Chair. As her tenure closed, Dr Ives Erickson shared her thoughts on the nursing profession, changes and challenges in the healthcare environment, and the enduring value of American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program.

Introducing Magnet® With Distinction.

At the 2022 National Magnet Conference®, leaders of the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program® introduced Magnet Recognition with Distinction (Magnet With Distinction), a new designation recognizing the highest performing Magnet® organizations around the world. Magnet With Distinction is based on validated empirical data, and only a select few hospitals will achieve this elite level of performance. They will serve as exemplary role models for nursing excellence and for creating an environment of care that improves patient outcomes. This month's Magnet Perspectives explores Magnet With Distinction, why it was created, how organizations can achieve it, and who is eligible. The column also discusses the value of implementing a tiered approach to the Magnet program.

Rekindling a Passion for Nursing.

Daily, I see another story about a nurse who has decided to leave the profession. The constant stress of caring for desperately ill COVID-19 patients, staffing issues, and other challenges have combined to push nurses out of our profession at an alarming rate. What we don't hear about are stories of nurses who leave the profession temporarily and then opt to return. I recently read an editorial written by a nurse who resigned at the height of the COVID pandemic. After a year off, she realized how much being a nurse was a part of her identity and she returned to bedside care. Her story is my story, too. Reading it inspired me to depart from the usual format of the Magnet® Perspectives column to share my nursing story in hopes it will inspire others.

The Enduring Relevance of Magnet®.

As nurse leaders across the country contend with critical challenges, including the ongoing impact of COVID-19, tightening budgets, staff resignations, nurse burnout, and declining nurse engagement, some wonder whether the Magnet® framework is still relevant today. It has been nearly 40 years since the original Magnet research was published. How does it stand up in the wake of modern-day realities? Do the findings continue to hold true? This Magnet Perspectives column takes a closer look at the research that led to the program's creation, development of the Magnet Model, and the program's relevance in meeting the challenges of today's demanding healthcare environment. In addition, this month's JONA includes "The Business Case for Magnet® Designation: Using Data to Support Strategy" demonstrating the framework Magnet continues to provide cost savings and cost avoidance.

Dispelling Magnet® Myths.

ABSTRACT: Organizations on the journey to Magnet® excellence have questions. In many cases, those questions are based on myth, not fact. In this month's Magnet Perspectives, we break down the most commonly asked questions, dispel the myths, and explore the resources available to help organizations get the answers they need to achieve Magnet® recognition.

The Professional Nurse: Four Decades of Immense Change.

As one of the world's oldest occupations, nursing has seen, inspired, and innovated a host of changes. The evolution has been especially evident for the last 39 years. Since the 1980s, a growing focus on autonomy, research, and evidence-based practice has transformed nursing from a job to a profession. Concepts such as shared governance, interprofessional collaboration, and frontline engagement have transformed nurses from doctors' assistants to empowered and independent clinicians directly impacting patient outcomes and the healthcare environment. As the 30th anniversary of the American Nurses Credentialing Center comes to an end and the original Magnet® research celebrates a 39th birthday, we take a closer look at how the Magnet framework reflects these changes and how Magnet-designated organizations continue to advance nursing practice with innovation, knowledge, and leadership.

Introducing the 2023 Magnet Application Manual®.

In November, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) released its revised 2023 Magnet Application Manual®, the 13th manual in the program's 31-year history. This month's "Magnet Perspectives" takes a deep dive into the new edition of the manual, examining the rigorous, multistep review process, the modernized standards, and the coalition of experts that contributed insights to inform the latest edition. Each edition raises the bar to promote the highest levels of nursing excellence, and the 2023 manual is no exception. Learn how this forward-looking edition addresses emerging challenges and changes to reflect what is happening in healthcare today.

Why Nursing Research Matters.

Increasingly, nursing research is considered essential to the achievement of high-quality patient care and outcomes. In this month's Magnet® Perspectives column, we examine the origins of nursing research, its role in creating the Magnet Recognition Program®, and why a culture of clinical inquiry matters for nurses. This column explores how Magnet hospitals have built upon the foundation of seminal research to advance contemporary standards that address some of the challenges faced by healthcare organizations around the world. We offer strategies for nursing leaders to develop robust research-oriented programs in their organizations.

Magnet® and Pathway: Partners for Nursing Excellence.

This month's Magnet® Perspectives column examines American Nurses Credentialing Center's Magnet Recognition Program® and Pathway to Excellence® Program as partners for nursing excellence. We explore the differences between the programs, how they complement one another, and how they can be combined to impact a host of key measures, including nurse engagement, interprofessional collaboration, and patient safety. Nursing leaders at 2 dual-designated hospitals share their decision to pursue both credentials and ways in which the combined designation adds value for nurses and the patient care environment. They discuss how the essential elements of a Magnet and Pathway culture contributed to a nimble, innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic and strategies nursing leaders can employ to create and sustain an environment where change flourishes and nurses thrive.

Shared Governance in Times of Change.

A strong shared governance framework gives nurses control over their practice. Whether unit based or system wide, shared governance provides the infrastructure to deliver high-quality patient care, especially in a crisis. This month's Magnet® Perspectives column takes a closer look at the concept of shared governance, how it has evolved, why it is important, and how it helped nurses in Magnet hospitals navigate the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. We explore the critical nature of ensuring that everyone's voice is heard to not only survive but also ultimately thrive during times of change.

A Framework for Nursing Excellence.

As the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) marks its 30th anniversary in 2021, the world's largest and most prestigious nurse credentialing organization has unveiled a new Credentialing Framework for Nursing Excellence. In this month's "Magnet Perspectives," the directors of the ANCC's 6 credentialing programs introduce a new conceptual framework, outline the key concepts for exceptional nursing practice, and describe how ANCC's programs interconnect to invoke a powerful model that healthcare organizations can use to develop and sustain nursing excellence.

Pivoting During a Pandemic.

When the coronavirus hit the United States earlier this year, hospitals across the country were forced to quickly convert to crisis mode. Overnight, health systems transformed clinical and administrative operations to care for rising numbers of COVID-19 patients. Now, as the country slowly reopens and we move back to "normal," hospitals again face a major reboot to regroup and recover. Those that meet this challenge successfully will survive. Many others will not. This month's Magnet Perspectives column examines how Magnet hospitals are uniquely positioned to ride the waves and manage the chaos. What are the components that helped them adapt and adjust when COVID-19 struck, and how are those elements facilitating response and recovery? The column also looks at how the Magnet Recognition Program itself responded to challenges posed by the coronavirus and altered some of its long-standing processes to meet customer needs.