The Relationship between Magnet Status, a BSN,

and the Nursing Shortage

Doing research into a nursing career can get dizzying very quickly. With so many different forums, articles, and blogs about all of the different aspects of nursing and nursing school, getting the facts can be an exhausting process. You’ve probably heard plenty of different opinions on Magnet status for hospitals, earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing vs. an Associate’s Degree in Nursing, and the nursing shortage.

These three factors are all related and can play an important role in your decision about which degree you wish to pursue, where you want to pursue your nursing education, and where you will end up working as a registered nurse.

Magnet Status

What isMagnet status?

The Magnet Recognition Program was created by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in 1990 to recognize hospitals and other healthcare organizations with outstanding nurse workforces. Magnet status is based solely on nursing practices and standards maintained by the hospital.

Since 1994, when the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle became the first organization to earn Magnet status, the ANCC has been working towards improving nursing quality throughout the world.

Magnet status is more than just another award for a hospital to collect. Hospitals seek to earn Magnet status in order to:

• acquire and retain high-quality

nurses

• foster financial growth

• attract patients

• improve patient care and

outcomes

Why do hospitals seek Magnet status?

What are the requirements for organizations to achieve Magnet

status?

For a hospital to achieve Magnet status, the institution must meet an extensive list of guidelines, all of which fall under the five basic model components. These components are:

• Transformational Leadership

• Structural Empowerment

• Exemplary Professional Practice

• New Knowledge, Innovations,

and Improvements

• Empirical Outcomes

How are my degree and Magnet status connected?

When determining an organization’s eligibility for Magnet status, the ANCC is looking for excellent nursing practice, nurse development, and positive patient outcomes. So what does this mean for you?

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities may still seek ADN-educated nurses, but more and more are requiring nurses to either already have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or be willing to enroll in an RN-to-BSN program within a certain timeframe after being hired.

The ANCC requires organizations to achieve quality results in order to earn Magnet status. Since a report was released in 2010 stating that a higher ratio of BSN-educated nurses leads to improved patient care and lower

patient mortality, hospitals are hiring more nurses with BSNs to improve their patient outcomes. This helps their standing for Magnet status.

However, Magnet status does require nurse managers and nurse leaders to hold at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and the chief nursing officer (CNO) must hold a master’s degree. Many leadership positions at non-Magnet hospitals also require any nurse leaders to hold a BSN. Some states are also trying to pass laws that require nurses to earn a BSN, such as New York’s proposed “BSN in 10” law, which would require nurses to earn a BSN within 10 years of initial licensure.

How does my degree tie into the nursing shortage?

It’s no secret that we are facing a nursing shortage, and it is only expected to grow. So why do hospitals persist in seeking more BSN nurses rather than just hiring as many ADN nurses as they can?

The answer has to do with the type of nurses needed. Health care has advanced radically in the past 50 years, and with time and money being poured into medical research, it will only continue to improve. As it advances, nurses are expected to meet new education standards in order to hold positions in certain specialties. Many of these specialties are facing a more dramatic shortage than the average nursing position, and most require at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

• Certified Nurse Midwife• Clinical Nurse Specialist• Family Nurse Practitioner

• Nurse Anesthetist• Trauma Nurse• Critical Care Nurse• Diabetes Nurse• Health Policy Nurse• Informatics Nurse• Medical-Surgical Nurse• Nurse Educator• Nurse Manager• Nurse Researcher

Nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse practitioners are also known as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the expected growth in APRN positions alone is expected to increase 31 percent by 2022, whereas RN positions are likely to grow by 19 percent.

Once you earn your BSN, you will be set to start a nursing career without interruption. Whereas a nurse who earns an Associate’s Degree in Nursing may be required by either her employer or by law to return to school to earn a BSN, those who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the outset will be able to continue working unless they choose to pursue even higher education options, such as a master’s or a doctorate degree.

How else does a BSN help me?

How does working at a Magnet hospital help my nursing career?

Working at a Magnet hospital ensures you will be working in a facility that cares about your career growth. The Forces of Magnetism, all of which an organization must meet in order to be recognized, help ensure that a nurse employed by that organization will work in a professional environment that fosters nursing excellence.

Among many others, these forces include:

• Quality of Nursing Leadershipo Nursing leaders advocate for both the staff and the patients

• Personnel Policies and Programso Staffing models ensure a safe and healthy work environment, as well as competitive compensation and benefits

• Professional Developmento The organization promotes education, certification, and career development for its nurses

By working at a Magnet-recognized healthcare facility, you will be able to develop your nursing career in an environment created especially to encourage your professional growth.

Now that you have a better understanding of the relationship between earning your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the nursing shortage, and Magnet status, you can confidently move forward in your journey to a successful nursing career.

Speak to an admissions counselor today to learn how you can earn your Bachelor of Science in Nursing in just 16 months from Northeastern University.

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