Magnet champions prepare to visit units to speak with staff about Magnet and go over questions appraisers may ask.

In May 2018, Brigham and Women’s Hospital received Magnet designation for the first time in recognition of nursing excellence and outstanding care provided by interprofessional teams. Now, the hospital is preparing for redesignation in advance of a virtual site visit Jan. 30–Feb. 2.

“Achieving Magnet reflects the work of an entire organization in support of the highest-quality patient care,” said Pamela Linzer, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, associate chief nursing officer for Medicine and the Center for Nursing Excellence. “Our site visit is an opportunity to show appraisers our processes and practices that support care teams in delivering patient care.”

During the site visit, appraisers will be validating the examples that were shared in the Department of Nursing’s 4,000-plus page application, which was submitted in July. Upon reviewing the application, the Magnet Program Office determined that the Brigham was ready to proceed with a site visit.

“This is a testament to the exceptional care we provide and the outstanding group of writers and leaders who left no stone unturned in demonstrating how we meet each Magnet standard in our application,” said Maddy Pearson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer and senior vice president of Patient Care Services.

More About Magnet

Magnet is a four-year designation awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center — a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association — in recognition of excellent care delivered by nurses and interprofessional teams.

To achieve Magnet, organizations must provide examples and evidence of how they meet Magnet standards of Transformational Leadership, Exemplary Professional Practice, Structural Empowerment and New Knowledge, Innovations and Improvements.

“Our documentation comprises a wide range of examples of nursing excellence in collaboration with other departments and roles for each source of evidence,” said Elaine Joyal, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Magnet Program director.

Examples include nurses participating in voluntary community and global outreach efforts with organizational support; reducing hospital-acquired infections with nurse-led interventions; developing new innovations to support the patient experience; disseminating research findings; and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to provide compassionate, culturally sensitive care, among many others.

Jennifer Riley, MSN, RN, IBCLC, of Lactation Services, said developing the application as part of the Magnet Writers group was an inspiring experience.

The Department of Nursing’s Professional Practice Model

“Through our writing, I either met or learned about the work of so many Brigham nurses,” she said. “I have tremendous gratitude for what everyone gives of themselves each day to improve patient care in their specialties.”

Pearson noted that the application illustrates the work that Brigham nurses and their colleagues do each day.

“Our commitment to excellence, knowledge, collaboration and compassion in support of relationship-based care is the foundation of nursing practice at the Brigham, and this is what makes us a Magnet organization,” she said.

Preparing for a Site Visit

During the four-day site visit, a team of Magnet appraisers will visit the Brigham virtually. A Brigham team will support the visit by placing computers with video technology on rolling carts that enable appraisers to see numerous areas and speak with staff about their practice and processes.

Sessions will also be held in conference rooms for both nursing staff and interprofessional colleagues, with appraisers participating via video. In preparation, Magnet champions — a group of staff nurses and nursing leaders — are holding Magnet rounds on units to review the types of questions that appraisers will ask.

“Our staff and leaders will know the answers to these questions because it really is about what they do each day, but it’s helpful to have a sense of what to expect as we approach the visit,” said Monica Tucker-Schwartz, DNP, RN, NE-BC, senior nurse director for Procedural Services and Magnet co-program director. “We want everyone to feel comfortable.”

Pearson says the site visit and the months leading up to it are a time to celebrate the contributions every role makes to the experience of patients and loved ones at the Brigham.

“Magnet is truly a celebration of what we do each day, and I hope that everyone feels a sense of pride in the outcomes that we continue to deliver, even amid so many challenges with the pandemic and capacity constraints,” she said.

Magnet Resources:

  • Review examples of how we meet Magnet standards in Heart & Science.
  • Test your knowledge of Magnet with trivia.
  • Visit PikeNotes to watch a video and brush up on the basics of Magnet designation.