Health care organizations that adhere to or seek Magnet designation (Magnet hospitals) are exemplars in serving patients. They are recognized as organizations that have high nurse satisfaction and lower rates of nurse shortages. These organizations tend to have higher degrees of nurse involvement at all levels of decision making. Magnet hospitals also have improved patient outcomes.

For this Discussion, you explore how Magnet status contributes to health care change within an institution and the personal contribution nurses make to this process.

To prepare

• Review the Discussion Rubric for Week 3, provided in the Course Information area or accessible through the link below.
• Review the Academic Writing Expectations (AWE) Checklist, Weeks 1–3, listed in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Review the video Issues and Trends in Nursing: Professional Practice Models (Laureate Education, 2009b).
• Review the following articles from this week’s Resources:
  • ANCC Magnet Recognition Program (American Nurses Credentialing Center, n.d.)
  • The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (Institute of Medicine, 2010)
  • Pursuing Magnet Designation: The Role of Structural Empowerment (AORN Journal, 2013)

By Day 3

Post a 2-paragraph response (of at least 350 words) to either Option 1 or Option 2.

Use the writing resources, writing samples, and Discussion Rubric to develop your post. Reflect on your reading from this week, and then address one of the following:

Option 1

Provide an overview of a Magnet facility. Include an explanation of how Magnet status drives health care change in the institution. Develop and post cohesive paragraphs and use evidence to support your ideas. The practice of writing cohesive paragraphs is essential to good writing. Focus each paragraph on one main idea or goal.

OR

Option 2

Describe the personal contribution a nurse might make in the process of seeking or maintaining Magnet designation. Develop and post cohesive paragraphs and use evidence to support your ideas. The practice of writing cohesive paragraphs is essential to good writing. Focus each paragraph on one main idea or goal.

By Day 7

Read two or more of your colleagues’ postings from the Discussion question.

Respond with a comment that asks for clarification from, provides support for, or contributes additional information to two or more of your colleagues.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your classmates made.

Post a discussion entry on 3 different days of the week.