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Lifting off with Magnetism: Advancing Air Force nursing excellence
(2015-03-24)
The aims of this evidence based project were to transform a global organization’s practice culture and advance nursing excellence by infusing Magnet characteristics into healthcare settings. A call to action by the Air Force Medical Service senior nursing officer signaled a new strategic focus and triggered a review of evidence specific to Magnet culture, nursing excellence, and patient outcomes. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet credential is synonymous with nursing excellence and quality patient care. Magnet-designated facilities embody a culture that supports nurses. A robust body of literature links Magnet hospitals to increased patient and staff satisfaction, positive clinical outcomes for patients, and higher ratings on nurse-sensitive indicators than non-Magnet hospitals. An appreciative inquiry-infused organizational change strategy was selected for this project. At the heart of transformational change is an individual’s reaction to change; thus, stakeholder engagement and consensus building factored into the selection of interventions. The merits of Magnetism and a proposed practice model for Air Force nurses were presented to stakeholder focus groups during interactive sessions. Targeted stakeholder groups were defined as direct care nurses (n = 11), service-line consultants (n = 11), and senior nurse executives (n = 21). Data were collected using a scholar-developed questionnaire that included scaled response and free-text fields. This project was deemed research exempt and non human research by an academic IRB. The intervention was designed to elicit consensus for change rather than to perform statistical analysis. Direct care and service-line consultant stakeholders supported Magnetism as the desired paradigm for nursing excellence. However, the proposed practice model did not garner consensus. Service-line consultants rejected the model prototype, but endorsed the project for executive level consideration and continued study. Consistent with elements of Magnetism and appreciation, a collaborative effort involving Air Force nurses at all levels of the organization produced benchmarks for transformation. Most significant was the insertion of Magnet principles into the Air Force Total Nursing Force strategic plan. ...