What is a Magnet hospital? Magnet hospitals have earned this designation from the Magnet Recognition Program, which recognizes nursing excellence. Magnet facilities are known to empower nurses through shared governance and greater autonomy, while also supporting professional development. Working as a nurse at a Magnet facility typically requires a BSN.
It’s possible to become a nurse with a nursing diploma, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN); however, many healthcare employers, including Magnet hospitals, prefer to hire nurses with a BSN. In fact, Magnet healthcare facilities require their nurse managers and leaders to hold a BSN or a graduate degree in nursing. In other words, a BSN is preferred for professional practice in nursing.
If you have a completed non-nursing bachelor’s degree, you can earn a BSN in as few as 16 months with Marian University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. Designed for career switchers, our ABSN confers the same quality BSN degree as traditional BSN programs, meaning that Magnet employers and other healthcare facilities respect this degree. With a BSN, you can pursue a nursing career in any number of clinical settings.
Before diving into the ABSN curriculum, you may wish to take a closer look at questions such as, “What is a Magnet hospital?” and “Why do Magnet facilities prefer BSN-prepared nurses?” Consider the benefits of working at a Magnet-designated hospital and then look into how to start earning your BSN.
What Is a Magnet Hospital and Why Do Nurses Want to Work There?
A Magnet-designated hospital is a healthcare facility that has earned a recognition conferred by the Magnet Recognition Program of the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Magnet status indicates that the healthcare facility has empowered nurses to elevate the standards of patient care, work toward organizational change, and support improvements to processes and care plans.
Essentially, Magnet designation provides a blueprint for hospitals to work toward nursing excellence. Magnet hospitals strive to create a positive work culture that supports nurses and values their contributions to good patient outcomes.
Magnet facilities are often desirable destinations for nurses because of this commitment to excellence.
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Magnet Hospital Requirements for Nurses
If you decide you’d like to become a registered nurse with the goal of eventually working at a Magnet hospital, you can start by enrolling in a BSN degree program, such as Marian University’s ABSN program. While it’s possible to work at some Magnet facilities with an ADN and a nursing license, these healthcare employers have a strong preference for BSN-prepared nurses.
Magnet hospital requirements for nurses are even more rigorous for those who interview for nurse manager or nurse leader positions. A BSN is the minimum, and some positions may require a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). A BSN lays a foundation for pursuing an MSN later.
Magnet employers also prefer to hire nurses with a strong inclination toward ongoing professional development and leadership. Consider earning certifications in your nursing specialty and participating in professional development initiatives as often as possible. Ensure your resume reflects your efforts.
Why Magnet Hospitals Prefer to Hire BSN-Prepared Nurses
The more highly educated the nurse, the better able they are to care for patients competently, which is why Magnet facilities prefer baccalaureate-prepared nurses.
Compared to a nursing diploma and an ADN, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing provides a more comprehensive and rigorous nursing education. BSN-prepared nurses are better able to provide quality patient care, contribute to positive patient outcomes, and safeguard patient safety.
This is why the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a groundbreaking report titled “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health.” This report calls for increasing the percentage of nurses in the workforce with a BSN to 80%. It further encourages baccalaureate-prepared nurses to continue their education by earning a doctorate.
This 80% benchmark has since guided the hiring policies of Magnet hospitals. If a Magnet facility does hire an ADN-prepared nurse, the nurse may be required to complete an RN to BSN program within a certain period as a condition of continued employment.
Magnet healthcare facilities strive to create a culture of continual improvement. They value professional development. A nursing job applicant who holds a BSN may be more likely to embrace ongoing professional development, as earning a BSN instead of an ADN can indicate the person values academic study.
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Top Benefits of Working at a Magnet Facility
Magnet-designated facilities belong to an exclusive class of hospitals. It can take years to achieve the Magnet designation. Many excellent organizations are not part of the Magnet program, and nursing leaders flourish across the industry regardless of Magnet status. Achieving Magnet recognition necessitates meeting certain benchmarks while fostering a culture of nursing excellence, empowerment, and continual improvement.
Magnet organizations near our program site in Nashville, Tennessee, include Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Maury Regional Medical Center. Indiana University Health and Riley Children’s Health are Magnet organizations close to our program site in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Some of the most compelling benefits of working at a Magnet hospital include:
Supportive Work Culture
Magnet hospitals prioritize their work culture. They focus on cultivating a positive work culture in which nurses collaborate with each other, are empowered to take the lead on patient care, and make decisions as part of a team. Nurses are trusted to grow in their roles and contribute to the facility’s mission.
High Job Satisfaction Rates
Because of the focus on supporting nurses and on shared governance, Magnet facilities tend to have higher job satisfaction rates. This can lead to reduced turnover, which supports better cohesion within nursing teams. Nurses at Magnet facilities may also be less likely to experience nurse burnout.
Safety and Nursing Excellence
Magnet facilities encourage nurses to pursue innovation and nursing excellence, which promotes better safety for both patients and nurses. Thanks to the focus on clinical care, patients may be less likely to experience incidents like falls or complications like pressure ulcers.
Focus on Professional Development
Magnet hospitals have a reputation for fostering professional development at every stage of a nurse’s career. They support continuing education for nurses, along with other professional development initiatives that build both clinical skills and transformational leadership skills. Magnet facilities can be an ideal place to work for nurses who are interested in advancing in their career.
Work Toward Nursing Excellence at Marian University
If you have a non-nursing background and you’re interested in switching careers to nursing, you can earn a quality BSN in less time at Marian University. Our ABSN program, with sites in Indianapolis and Nashville, delivers a nursing curriculum that can be completed in as few as 16 months, blending online coursework with hands-on skills and simulation labs and in-hospital clinical rotations.
Completing Marian’s ABSN program enables you to get started with your new career sooner. We support our nursing students, providing flexible online learning experiences and access to Academic Success Coaches. You’ll also benefit from our comprehensive curriculum and ethos rooted in our Franciscan values.
Contact us today to start a conversation with a Marian ABSN admissions advisor today. They will work with you to discover if you’re eligible to apply.