FOCUS: MSN & MAGNET HOSPITALS OCTOBER 2023
MSN/MAGNET HOSPITALS
PRESENTED BY:
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Table of Contents
In This Issue 2
Editor’s Notebook
Articles 6 10
Magnet Hospitals Support Nurses By Julia Quinn-Szcesuil
How to Measure the Potential Value of Earning Your MSN By Keith Carlson
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2
Focus: MSN & Magnet Hospitals
What an MSN Can Do for You By Michele Wojciechowski
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Editor’s Notebook The Magnet Recognition Program® is a worldwide designation for organizations whose nursing leaders have successfully aligned their strategic goals toward improving patient outcomes. The program serves as a roadmap to nursing excellence, which benefits healthcare organizations. But this designation goes much deeper. For nurses, working at a Magnet-recognized facility means education and development opportunities at every stage of their career, leading to better work environments for nurses with greater autonomy at the bedside. For patients, it means receiving the best care from nurses who are empowered to be their best selves.
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FOCUS: MSN & MAGNET HOSPITALS Editor-in-Chief Reneé Hewitt
This month, Minority Nurse profiles the value of the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and Magnet hospitals.
Creative Director Kevin Kall Digital Media Manager Andrew Bennie
• Learn how Magnet designation makes a difference by attracting and keeping nurses.
National Sales Manager
• An MSN degree is achievable for many nurses, but measuring its potential value for your nursing career is essential.
Andrew Bennie Sr. Sales Manager, Recruitment & Education Phone: 212-845-9933 Email: abennie@springerpub.com
• Read how having an MSN is positively impacting these nursing careers. “Nursing is a progressive art such that to stand still is to go backward.” –Florence Nightingale
—Reneé
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WE AR E A PR O UD
L EADE R I N
NURS ING EDU CATION D ISCOV ER OU R AWARD-WINNING RESO URC ES
SHOP N OW
Magnet Hospitals Support Nurses Why Magnet designation makes a difference for nurses By Julia Quinn-Szcesuil
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ospitals designated through the Magnet Recognition Program® live up to their name—they attract and keep nurses, thanks to the nursing-focused strategies at the operations foundation of the organization. Since the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) launched its inaugural Magnet pilot program in Seattle in 1994, the designation has become the highest recognition for a hospital’s nursing department. The rigorous application process comes only after organizations commit to the highest quality of nursing and patient care with established initiatives and programs. Nurses who work in Magnet hospitals are supported throughout their careers and given the skills and opportunities needed to move up the career ladder, says Susan Fisher, DNP, APN-C, ACNS-BC, CNOR, NE-BC, and director of the Clinical Excellence & Magnet Program at Jefferson Health. “Magnet wants nurses at the table,” she says. “It is not a top-down approach. They have to include bedside nurses at the project-planning level.”
Susan Fisher, DNP, APN-C, ACNS-BC, CNOR, NE-BC, is the director of the Clinical Excellence & Magnet Program at Jefferson Health.
Fisher says Magnet hospitals differ from other hospitals for many reasons, including an approach to nursing practice and standards that expect nurses at every level to practice at the full span of their licensure. With a nursing model that is based on both collaboration and autonomy, nurses find they work within a structure that lets them use their experience and education to assess and treat patients based on standing orders and provides an environment where peers and leadership model career advancement and lifelong learning. And it’s not a one-and-done approach— Magnet hospitals only hold the designation for four years, after which they need to reapply. Once organizations are Magnet designated, keeping the status is important because healthcare consumers and professionals recognize it. “A Magnet-recognized organization is one in which the continued education and development of its nurses is highly valued, leading to improved patient outcomes and care,” says Rebecca Graystone,
Rebecca Graystone is the vice president of the Magnet Recognition Program and Pathway to Excellence Program at the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
vice president of the Magnet Recognition Program and Pathway to Excellence Program® at the ANCC. “Magnet recognition is not merely an award or a badge of honor. It is steadfast proof of a hard-earned commitment to excellence in healthcare, with contented, valued, and inspired nurses at its heart.” With all the programs and initiatives that are necessary elements of Magnet recognition, nursing in these organizations is much more than a job. “Magnet-designated organizations are recognized for the phenomenal work their nurses are doing for the profession, clinical outcomes, and for their nursing practice,” says Angelina Fakhoury-Siverts, chief nursing officer at City of Hope, a hospital that received its third Magnet redesignation in January with exemplar status in 12 categories. “It’s not just some recognition that doesn’t mean anything. We don’t want people to strive to be Magnet; we want people to strive to do the work Magnet recognizes.” Because Magnet encourages nurses in their immediate role and with an eye to their future potential, nurses are frequently expected to see how their work fits into the organization’s processes holistically. “Magnet lends itself to the ability to be innovative and not just
Angelina Fakhoury-Siverts is the chief nursing officer at City of Hope.
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task masters,” says FakhourySiverts. “You start to think of nursing in a different way.” Although Magnet organizations are known for having high hiring standards, including a standard practice of hiring nurses with a BSN, Fakhoury-Siverts says nurses without a BSN shouldn’t be discouraged from applying for positions in Magnet hospitals. Graystone agrees, saying, “The Magnet Recognition Program provides a framework and encourages organizations to have 80 percent of their nurses attain BSN registration, but a BSN is not a hiring requirement set by the Magnet Recognition Program; each organization decides that. Magnet’s 80 percent BSN goal aligns with the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing initiative.” Because Magnet hospitals are focused on lifelong learning and continuing to improve a nurse’s knowledge and practice, supporting continuing education is part of the core Magnet approach and something nurses are encouraged to pursue. “The Magnet Recognition Program provides a roadmap to nursing excellence, which benefits the whole of an organization,” says Graystone, noting that only 10% of hospitals in the United States are Magnet designated. “Every organization is unique and different, but what we can say about the culture of Magnet organizations is that there is a commitment to excellence and an accountability for improved patient outcomes that is embraced by the whole nursing body.” The pathways to career advancement may look slightly different for every nurse, but at Magnet organizations, there
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is a roadmap for making that advancement a reality. The novice nurse is supported in a Magnet organization on all fronts—with residencies to help them transition to practice, educational opportunities, peer support, and role modeling that encourages their success. A veteran nurse who wishes to earn an advanced degree, gain certification, or move into a leadership role is encouraged and planned pathways are mapped out to help that happen. The mix of nursing experience brings a valuable perspective and ensures a diverse hiring practice. Even if a nurse has never worked in a Magnet hospital, there are some ways to prepare and conduct a job interview that will show a personal investment in the
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nursing profession. Asking questions directly related to Magnet principles, including support for career-boosting continuing education or certification, will help the hiring managers see a candidate as someone already committed to the rigorous, evidence-based practices so important in their organization. “Ask what the nursing care model is, if they have shared governance, and if they have opportunities to be part of a unit-based council. You should also ask how the organization supports evidence-based practice and how nurses impact key decisions,” says FakhourySiverts. “Those kinds of questions will resonate highly at Magnet organizations.” The supportive and forward-thinking model is
Focus: MSN & Magnet Hospitals
critical to Magnet hospitals as it helps prevent burnout and increases job satisfaction, says Graystone. “Working in a Magnet organization is also different for nurses because these organizations are committed to a framework for excellence that sets goals and requires evidence-based measurements and outcomes,” she says. Fisher advises nurses to look at any potential employer carefully, even if they don’t have a Magnet designation. “Don’t just look at the money,” she says. “Look at what comes with the money. Will they support you?” Nurses can think about how a nursing practice can grow when they’re not just encouraged but expected to contribute experiences and opinions to the daily operation—no matter
what the experience level. “As CNO, I can’t make decisions on nursing practice if I don’t know what is happening at the bedside,” says FakhourySiverts. “That bedside nursing is front-line nursing.” Magnet designation is more than recognition of a job well done. Fisher puts it simply, saying, “I would want nurses to know that coming to a Magnet hospital means they will be practicing nursing the way nursing is meant to be practiced.” Julia Quinn-Szcesuil is a freelance writer based in Bolton, Massachusetts.
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How to Measure the Potential Value of Earning Your MSN By Keith Carlson
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urses have an embarrassment of riches to choose from when planning their nursing education journey and professional career in healthcare. From entry-level Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) to a terminal degree like a PhD or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), there are a myriad of pathways in the nursing profession. For many nurses, a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree is an achievable goal worth the effort in terms of the return on investment it can offer. But how can you measure the potential value of earning your MSN?
Why the MSN? With nursing becoming increasingly complex in this new millennium, nurses are expected to have a broader scope of knowledge, more skill and expertise, and the ability to be dynamic leaders within a multidisciplinary industry, whether that leadership comes from an official title or simply through a nurse’s words and deeds. An MSN is an advanced degree that can open many doors for an ambitious nurse seeking increased knowledge and expertise. Often, but not always, more nursing education brings a relative increase in career opportunities and earning power, and the MSN is no exception. Having a master’s degree creates a certain level of credibility in the eyes of patients, nursing, and non-nursing colleagues, and the value of professional credibility cannot be overstated. Damion K. Jenkins, MSN, RN, is a nurse educator, nurse
career coach, mentor, and author. He states, “My MSN in nursing education provided me with essential insight, knowledge, and skills that have been imperative throughout my career as a nurse educator.” In terms of any further return on investment for earning his MSN, Jenkins adds, “My education has offered me many opportunities to position myself into nursing leadership positions where I can make tremendous positive impact in all areas of nursing practice. From bedside nursing to academic nursing to clinical administration, I have fully leveraged everything my MSN education and training offered. I’m not so sure I’d be as successful as I am today without the privilege to receive this extremely valuable education.” The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) also says it well: “Beyond the professional opportunities nurses gain through graduate education, there are some tangible benefits to one’s quality of life. Nurses with advanced preparation typically enjoy more opportunities to impact the overall design and implementation of care. As education increases, salaries follow suit. Nurses with master’s degrees can command six-figure salaries and often rise to the top of healthcare’s leadership ranks. With new practice opportunities emerging and the demand for highly specialized nursing skills rising, the time is right for you to begin your graduatelevel nursing education. The earlier in your career you complete your formal education, the longer your professional life and the higher your lifetime earnings will be.”
The AACN is a cheerleader of the drive toward a growing body of master’s-prepared nursing professionals. They continue: “The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) encourages all nurses to strive for higher levels of education to advance their capacity to enhance the quality of care available to our nation’s diverse patient populations. Calls for more nurses with graduatelevel preparation are coming from inside and outside the profession from authorities as diverse as the Institute of Medicine, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Now is the time to invest in your future and begin your journey into graduate nursing education.” There is no question of the potential value of the MSN. But what about the value of the MSN for you?
The MSN: What’s in it for You? What can an MSN mean for you? There’s a lot to chew on since the number of choices is growing. Let’s examine a few. The rising importance of nurse practitioners (NPs), also known as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), cannot be denied. That said, there are multiple roads a nurse can choose as an APRN, including: • Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) • Certified Nurse-Midwife (CNM) • Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP) • Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP)
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• Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) • Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) • Acute Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-AC) • Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP-PC) • Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (NNP) • Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) • Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) For a non-APRN MSN, there is another dizzying array of choices, including, but not limited to: • MSN, Public Health Nursing • MSN, Nursing Education • MSN, Health Informatics, or Nursing Informatics • MSN, Health Care Quality & Patient Safety • MSN, Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems • MBA and MSN, Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems • MSN, Care Coordination • MSN, Nursing Leadership and Administration Informatics, leadership, systems, safety, and quality are areas where many nurses are making a difference, and an MSN is a pathway to these types of positions.
Show Me the Money In terms of earning power and job growth, we can attest from the data that a master’s degree in nursing can increase the amount of money a nurse can make, especially for APRNs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the breakdown shows us the reality: • Nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, and nurse midwives earn a median annual salary of $123,780, a mean hourly wage of $59.51, and
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have projected job growth of 40% (much faster than average) through 2031. • Registered nurses earn a median annual salary of $77,600, a mean hourly wage of $37.31, and have projected job growth of 6% (as fast as average) through 2031. For other MSN roles, Indeed reports that a nurse manager earns an average of $78,474 per year, and a research nurse earns an average of $79,610. From these numbers, we can see that the earning power of an APRN far outstrips that of the nurse
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manager or nurse researcher, who earns the same annual salary as a registered nurse despite a higher level of education and potentially a much higher level of debt in student loans. (We are, of course, assuming that the researcher and manager have an MSN.) Numbers are approximate for some regions of the country and every facet of healthcare and related industries, and there are always opportunities outside of the norm.
Consider This We can say with much clarity that, when considering
Focus: MSN & Magnet Hospitals
pursuing an MSN, you’ll want to do your homework in terms of what your earning potential will be, what opportunities exist for that nursing specialty, and how satisfied you might be in the particular role that your chosen MSN program will prepare you for. Networking, speaking with school representatives, working with a career coach or counselor, and doing your due diligence and research are all prudent uses of your time and energy before you sign on the dotted line and enter an MSN program. There’s a plethora of choices in the world of MSN education,
and you’ll want to make the best choice for the life and career you’re inspired to create. Keith Carlson, BSN, RN, NC-BC, has been a nurse since 1996. As a holistic career coach, nurse podcaster, writer, blogger, and well-known motivational speaker, Keith empowers nurses regarding personal branding; professional networking; entrepreneurship; resume, job search, and interview strategies; emotional and relational intelligence; personal wellness; and the building of a dynamic nursing career.
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What an MSN Can Do for You With the doctorate being so prevalent in nursing, nurses may wonder if the MSN is important on its own. Spoiler alert—it can be. By Michele Wojciechowski
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f you want to earn an advanced practice degree— such as a Nurse Practitioner (NP) or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), among others—you will need to get a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. But there are many other reasons to have one as well. Last year, Laura Browne, MSN, RN, CNL, a secondcareer nurse, graduated from Georgetown University with her MSN-CNL. This means she went through a master’s-entry to nursing program with a specialty in becoming a clinical nurse leader. Browne works as a preop and recovery nurse in the Austin, Texas, area and provides content for an informational dental care website called Smile Prep. “In general, MSN programs offer nurses the opportunity to grow their careers in various ways, whether applicants are new to the nursing field or established nurses looking for a change of pace,” says Browne. “A major benefit of master’s-level nursing education in specialties outside of the NP role, beyond coursework at an advanced level and deep exposure to evidencebased practice (EBP) projects, is the flexibility it affords you in your career. As a nurse with a master’s degree, you meet the education requirement to be a clinical preceptor for nursing students at many universities. This is a great opportunity if you are interested in nursing education.” Sometimes, nurses know exactly what they want to do when entering nursing school. Such is the case with Nick
Angelis, CRNA, MSN, owner of Ascend Health Center and author of How to Succeed in Anesthesia School. “I started nursing school with the goal of becoming a nurse anesthetist, which requires at least an MSN,” he says. The MSN degree is “a springboard to better opportunities. In some cases, it allows nurses to continue in the place where they currently work but receive better compensation. This is most worth it if an employer provides tuition reimbursement. Specializing as an NP or CRNA allows for better compensation and better work/life balance. Most outpatient clinics are open 9–5 and closed on weekends and holidays.” Kate Rowe, MSN, CNM, DNP, a certified nurse-midwife, says, “For those nurses who wish to work more in nursing education, nursing/healthcare research, academia or advanced practice, an MSN is for you. MSNs can specialize in several different fields depending on your field of interest. Women’s health, psychiatric care, adult/ gerontology, midwifery, public and community health, and emergency medicine are just some potential avenues for providers to take.” Angelis says that before earning his MSN, he worked the night shift, doubles, and traveled from hospital to hospital. “Now I take the time I need with each patient and make my schedule. I can immediately see the effects of my anesthesia as I take patient’s pain away and safely guide them through complex surgeries. I can also collaborate with therapists, physicians, and everyone else on the care team,” he says.
As for how long earning an MSN will take, that depends on whether you’re working parttime, full-time, or not. Rowe says that they typically take two years to earn, but there are accelerated programs that can take as little as five quarters. While working full-time, Angelis says he took his core MSN classes. When he began taking anesthesia clinicals, he would take occasional nursing shifts. “Most MSN specialties allow students to work through school. Anesthesia school is unique in the massive amount of time and effort required for several years, including up to 40 hours a week in hospitals providing anesthesia. Accelerated online programs are available for some MSN specialties and can be
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completed within 18 months,” he explains. The amount of work to earn an MSN is worth it, says Rowe. She adds, “The greatest rewards of earning an MSN involve the ability to give back to your community and positively impact the lives of your patients through all the hard work in graduate school and then again when you are in practice.” Michele Wojciechowski is a national award-winning freelance writer based in Baltimore, Maryland. She loves writing about nursing but comes close to fainting when she sees blood. She’s also the author of the humor book Next Time I Move, They’ll Carry Me Out in a Box.
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