Two Ways in Which Nursing Can Improve Its Professional Status
Content
Magnet Program of the ANCC
I believe that one very good way in which nursing can improve professional status
is to accept and fully embrace programs such as the American Nurses’
Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet program. According to nursing professional
and author, Summers (2012), “A Magnet hospital is stated to be one where nursing
delivers excellent patient outcomes, where nurses have a high level of job
satisfaction, and where there is a low staff nurse turnover rate and appropriate
grievance resolution.” This is a program that has evolved over the years into the
current model that includes the components of transformational leadership;
structural empowerment; exemplary professional practice; new knowledge,
innovation, and improvements; and empirical quality results
(nursecredentialing.org, 2012). Each of these model components are further
divided into measured components coined, “forces of magnetism” which provides
an outline for areas focus related to nursing performance. I believe this program
has merit in, not only improving nursing care, but also improving communications,
promotion, and client relations in the hospital setting. Not only will patients
recognize and reap the benefits of this type of high level program, the other clients
of nurses such as physicians, administrators, and support personnel will also be
provided increased benefits from the nursing profession. According to Drenkard
(2012), "Studies show Magnet hospitals have higher percentages of satisfied
registered nurses (RNs), lower RN turnover and vacancy, improved clinical
outcomes, greater nurse autonomy, and improved patient satisfaction.” These are
all components of professional nursing that should get and keep our attention.
Unfortunately, there are not yet any magnet facilities in the state of New Mexico
but there are 401 in the United States as of this writing and hopefully the facilities
of our state will eventually embrace this program
Nurse personal commitment
I believe another way in which nursing can improve its professional status is by
each nurse committing to a high level of personal work ethic. As students, we have
the opportunity to either make this commitment or to allow ourselves to transform
into a nurse that is just there to do the minimum and collect a paycheck. I choose
the former and I will commit to taking my duty to advocate for my client as a very
serious and required component of my profession. This commitment should also
include components such as continuing education and professional growth. There
are obviously some things that are not in the control of one nurse alone, such as
facility policy as one example. It is those things that are in the personal control of
each nurse that should be observed and practiced to the highest level to benefit the
clients of the nurse and, ultimately, the nursing profession. Regarding education, I
believe every ADN nursing professional should continue to at least the BSN level
to meet what is now becoming the standard for most facilities and states. The case
for continuing on to get the BSN degree was first indicated through a Carnegie
study which calls for community college nursing programs to seamlessly articulate
their programs at the two year mark with an affiliated baccalaureate nursing
program (Moltz, 2010). Of course, this is what is driving the new curriculum
changes in our state and other states and, for future students, will make the
continuation to the BSN more seamless and standard on a state-wide level. This
seems to be a difficult transition for many of the ADN programs but also appears
will be beneficial to the students of the future.
References
Drenkard, K. (2012). Going for the gold: The value of attaining Magnet recognition - American
Nurse Today. American Nurse Today. Retrieved 30 August 2014, from
http://www.americannursetoday.com/going-for-the-gold-the-value-of-attaining-magnetrecognition/
Moltz, D. (2010). Nursing Tug of War @insidehighered. Insidehighered.com. Retrieved 30
August 2014, from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/01/07/nursing
Nursecredentialing.org,. (2008). Announcing a New Model for ANCC's Magnet Recognition
Program©. Retrieved 30 August 2014, from
http://www.nursecredentialing.org/MagnetModel
Summers, S. (2012). Magnet status: What it is, what it is not, and what it could be.
Truthaboutnursing.org. Retrieved 30 August 2014, from
http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/faq/magnet.html
I believe that one very good way in which nursing can improve professional status
is to accept and fully embrace programs such as the American Nurses’
Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet program. According to nursing professional
and author, Summers (2012), “A Magnet hospital is stated to be one where nursing
delivers excellent patient outcomes, where nurses have a high level of job
satisfaction, and where there is a low staff nurse turnover rate and appropriate
grievance resolution.” This is a program that has evolved over the years into the
current model that includes the components of transformational leadership;
structural empowerment; exemplary professional practice; new knowledge,
innovation, and improvements; and empirical quality results
(nursecredentialing.org, 2012). Each of these model components are further
divided into measured components coined, “forces of magnetism” which provides
an outline for areas focus related to nursing performance. I believe this program
has merit in, not only improving nursing care, but also improving communications,
promotion, and client relations in the hospital setting. Not only will patients
recognize and reap the benefits of this type of high level program, the other clients
of nurses such as physicians, administrators, and support personnel will also be
provided increased benefits from the nursing profession. According to Drenkard
(2012), "Studies show Magnet hospitals have higher percentages of satisfied
registered nurses (RNs), lower RN turnover and vacancy, improved clinical
outcomes, greater nurse autonomy, and improved patient satisfaction.” These are
all components of professional nursing that should get and keep our attention.
Unfortunately, there are not yet any magnet facilities in the state of New Mexico
but there are 401 in the United States as of this writing and hopefully the facilities
of our state will eventually embrace this program
Nurse personal commitment
I believe another way in which nursing can improve its professional status is by
each nurse committing to a high level of personal work ethic. As students, we have
the opportunity to either make this commitment or to allow ourselves to transform
into a nurse that is just there to do the minimum and collect a paycheck. I choose
the former and I will commit to taking my duty to advocate for my client as a very
serious and required component of my profession. This commitment should also
include components such as continuing education and professional growth. There
are obviously some things that are not in the control of one nurse alone, such as
facility policy as one example. It is those things that are in the personal control of
each nurse that should be observed and practiced to the highest level to benefit the
clients of the nurse and, ultimately, the nursing profession. Regarding education, I
believe every ADN nursing professional should continue to at least the BSN level
to meet what is now becoming the standard for most facilities and states. The case
for continuing on to get the BSN degree was first indicated through a Carnegie
study which calls for community college nursing programs to seamlessly articulate
their programs at the two year mark with an affiliated baccalaureate nursing
program (Moltz, 2010). Of course, this is what is driving the new curriculum
changes in our state and other states and, for future students, will make the
continuation to the BSN more seamless and standard on a state-wide level. This
seems to be a difficult transition for many of the ADN programs but also appears
will be beneficial to the students of the future.
References
Drenkard, K. (2012). Going for the gold: The value of attaining Magnet recognition - American
Nurse Today. American Nurse Today. Retrieved 30 August 2014, from
http://www.americannursetoday.com/going-for-the-gold-the-value-of-attaining-magnetrecognition/
Moltz, D. (2010). Nursing Tug of War @insidehighered. Insidehighered.com. Retrieved 30
August 2014, from https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2010/01/07/nursing
Nursecredentialing.org,. (2008). Announcing a New Model for ANCC's Magnet Recognition
Program©. Retrieved 30 August 2014, from
http://www.nursecredentialing.org/MagnetModel
Summers, S. (2012). Magnet status: What it is, what it is not, and what it could be.
Truthaboutnursing.org. Retrieved 30 August 2014, from
http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/faq/magnet.html
