Understand the connection between a hospital's magnet status, a baccalaureate education and the nursing shortage as it relates to the future of nursing.

1. The Relationship between
Magnet Status, a BSN,
and the Nursing Shortage

2. Doing research into a nursing career can get dizzying very quickly. With so many
different forums, articles, and blogs about all of the different aspects of nursing
and nursing school, getting the facts can be an exhausting process. You’ve
probably heard plenty of different opinions on Magnet status for hospitals,
earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing vs. an Associate’s Degree in Nursing,
and the nursing shortage.
These three factors are all related and can play an important role in your
decision about which degree you wish to pursue, where you want to pursue your
nursing education, and where you will end up working as a registered nurse.

3. Magnet Status

4. What is
Magnet status?
The Magnet Recognition Program
was created by the American Nurses
Credentialing Center (ANCC) in
1990 to recognize hospitals and
other healthcare organizations
with outstanding nurse workforces.
Magnet status is based solely on
nursing practices and standards
maintained by the hospital.
Since 1994, when the University
of Washington Medical Center in
Seattle became the first organization
to earn Magnet status, the ANCC
has been working towards improving
nursing quality throughout the
world.

5. Magnet status is more than just
another award for a hospital to
collect. Hospitals seek to earn
Magnet status in order to:
• acquire and retain high-quality
nurses
• foster financial growth
• attract patients
• improve patient care and
outcomes
Why do
hospitals seek
Magnet status?

6. What are the
requirements for
organizations to
achieve Magnet
status?
For a hospital to achieve Magnet
status, the institution must meet an
extensive list of guidelines, all of
which fall under the five basic model
components. These components
are:
• Transformational Leadership
• Structural Empowerment
• Exemplary Professional Practice
• New Knowledge, Innovations,
and Improvements
• Empirical Outcomes

7. How are my degree and
Magnet status connected?

8. When determining an organization’s
eligibility for Magnet status, the
ANCC is looking for excellent nursing
practice, nurse development, and
positive patient outcomes. So what
does this mean for you?
Hospitals and other healthcare
facilities may still seek ADN-educated
nurses, but more and more are
requiring nurses to either already have
a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or
be willing to enroll in an RN-to-BSN
program within a certain timeframe
after being hired.
The ANCC requires organizations
to achieve quality results in order to
earn Magnet status. Since a report was
released in 2010 stating that a higher
ratio of BSN-educated nurses leads
to improved patient care and lower
patient mortality, hospitals are hiring
more nurses with BSNs to improve
their patient outcomes. This helps
their standing for Magnet status.
However, Magnet status does require
nurse managers and nurse leaders to
hold at least a Bachelor of Science in
Nursing, and the chief nursing officer
(CNO) must hold a master’s degree.
Many leadership positions at non-
Magnet hospitals also require any
nurse leaders to hold a BSN. Some
states are also trying to pass laws that
require nurses to earn a BSN, such
as New York’s proposed “BSN in 10”
law, which would require nurses to
earn a BSN within 10 years of initial
licensure.

9. How does my degree tie
into the nursing shortage?

10. It’s no secret that we are facing a nursing
shortage, and it is only expected to grow.
So why do hospitals persist in seeking
more BSN nurses rather than just hiring
as many ADN nurses as they can?
The answer has to do with the type of
nurses needed. Health care has advanced
radically in the past 50 years, and with
time and money being poured into
medical research, it will only continue
to improve. As it advances, nurses
are expected to meet new education
standards in order to hold positions
in certain specialties. Many of these
specialties are facing a more dramatic
shortage than the average nursing
position, and most require at least a
Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
• Certified Nurse Midwife
• Clinical Nurse Specialist
• Family Nurse Practitioner
• Nurse Anesthetist
• Trauma Nurse
• Critical Care Nurse
• Diabetes Nurse
• Health Policy Nurse
• Informatics Nurse
• Medical-Surgical Nurse
• Nurse Educator
• Nurse Manager
• Nurse Researcher
Nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse
specialists, nurse midwives, and nurse
practitioners are also known as advanced
practice registered nurses (APRNs).
According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics, the expected growth in APRN
positions alone is expected to increase 31
percent by 2022, whereas RN positions
are likely to grow by 19 percent.

11. Once you earn your BSN, you will be
set to start a nursing career without
interruption. Whereas a nurse who
earns an Associate’s Degree in
Nursing may be required by either her
employer or by law to return to school
to earn a BSN, those who earned a
Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the
outset will be able to continue working
unless they choose to pursue even
higher education options, such as a
master’s or a doctorate degree.
How else
does a BSN
help me?

12. How does working at a Magnet
hospital help my nursing career?

13. Working at a Magnet hospital ensures
you will be working in a facility that cares
about your career growth. The Forces of
Magnetism, all of which an organization
must meet in order to be recognized,
help ensure that a nurse employed
by that organization will work in a
professional environment that fosters
nursing excellence.
Among many others, these forces
include:
• Quality of Nursing Leadership
o Nursing leaders advocate for
both the staff and the patients
• Personnel Policies and Programs
o Staffing models ensure a safe and
healthy work environment, as well
as competitive compensation
and benefits
• Professional Development
o The organization promotes
education, certification, and career
development for its nurses
By working at a Magnet-recognized
healthcare facility, you will be able
to develop your nursing career in an
environment created especially to
encourage your professional growth.

14. Now that you have a better understanding of the relationship between earning
your Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the nursing shortage, and Magnet status,
you can confidently move forward in your journey to a successful nursing career.
Speak to an admissions counselor today to learn how you can earn your Bachelor
of Science in Nursing in just 16 months from Northeastern University.
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