Magnet hospitals are recognized for their dedication to nursing quality and education. These facilities commit to better serving their patients through top-tier effective nursing care. Magnet hospitals are excellent places for nurses to work because of their nursing quality, leadership and growth opportunities, high standard of care and job satisfaction.
Planning where you want to work as a nurse can get complicated. Not only must you decide what specialty to pursue and whether you want to work in bedside or nontraditional nursing, but you also need to decide what type of facility at which to work.
With a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) — which you can obtain by successfully completing the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at Averett University in Norfolk, Virginia — you’ll be eligible to join one of our nation’s desirable Magnet hospitals.
You’ve probably heard of Magnet hospitals before, but what is a Magnet hospital? And why should you consider working at one? In this post, we’ll lay out all the details for you.
What Is a Magnet Hospital?
Magnet organizations are hospitals and health care facilities that have made a commitment to nursing excellence and satisfaction, and have high standards for nursing leadership and patient care.
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) sets rigorous guidelines organizations must meet to earn the coveted Magnet designation. And after designation, the facility needs to maintain their eligibility by continuing to hold fast to their commitment to nurse education and positive patient outcomes in the long term.
Benefits of Working at a Magnet Hospital
Choosing a Magnet hospital as your employer comes with several career advantages. Nurses tend to gravitate to these facilities because of their commitment to nursing excellence and nurse satisfaction. Here are a few of the ways Magnet hospitals benefit nurses.
1. Nursing Excellence
Magnet hospitals focus on equipping nurses with education and career development opportunities, believing that more empowered and equipped nurses improve patient outcomes.
As a nurse, working at a Magnet hospital means you’re aligned with a top-tier health care center, and you can rest assured that nursing excellence will be at the forefront of the facility’s mission. You’ll have opportunities to learn and develop your skills as a nurse. The nurses working alongside you will also be dedicated to professional growth, and you can count on the nursing teams to work smoothly with the patient’s best interests in mind.
Learn about the importance of teamwork for your nursing career.
2. Leadership Opportunities
Magnet hospitals have a focus on education and career development, and as a nurse with a BSN education, you’ll be valued and in the ideal position to take on leadership roles and grow your career as opportunities arise.
A few of the ways to take on leadership roles at Magnet hospitals include:
- Becoming a nurse leader or nurse manager, overseeing a team of nurses in a unit.
- Earning specialty certifications.
- Entering a health care administration role, using your nursing knowledge to make wise organizational decisions.
- Attending graduate school to become an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), such as a nurse practitioner.
Wondering what nursing specialty you want to pursue? Here are 10 alternative nursing careers to consider.
3. Standard of Care
A Magnet hospital designation means that the facility has a high standard of care. Among other factors, more competent and educated nursing staff have been shown to produce better outcomes for patients.
If you’re interested in nursing, you’re likely someone with a passion for helping other people. As such, you’ll appreciate working with an organization that’s dedicated to improving patient outcomes.
4. Job Satisfaction
Another key reason to work at a Magnet hospital is job satisfaction. The Magnet Recognition Program® understands the value of happy, contented nurses, and Magnet hospitals work hard to provide a positive work environment for nurses so they can thrive. When nurses love what they’re doing, they have a greater ability to positively influence patients. Therefore, to become recognized as a Magnet hospital, organizations need to take specific steps to invest in their nurses, such as:
- Offering nurse mentorship opportunities.
- Supporting nurse specialty certification.
- Providing opportunities for clinical decision-making.
How Do I Find Magnet Hospitals?
You can find Magnet hospitals on the ANCC website, by searching for the Magnet recognized facilities by location. How many Magnet hospitals are there? According to the ANCC, there are 608 Magnet organizations across the nation as of May 2023.
How Do I Qualify To Work at a Magnet Hospital?
Now that you are aware of the benefits of working at a Magnet hospital, you may be wondering how to qualify for a job at one.
You’ll need to pass the NCLEX and receive your registered nurse (RN) license. But because Magnet hospitals place such high value on nursing education, it is preferable to have a BSN. Also, Magnet hospitals promote and offer nursing leadership roles to nurses with a BSN or higher, so if you want to grow your career, having your bachelor’s degree is important.
Earn Your BSN at Averett University
Ready to begin your journey to become a nurse and start a career at a Magnet hospital? You can earn your BSN in as few as 16 months at Averett. Our ABSN program in Norfolk, Virginia, helps students with prior college experience (either a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 non-nursing college credits) become a nurse quickly. With three start dates per year, you can start when it works for you.
Wondering how to enter the nursing field? Follow these seven steps to become a nurse quickly.
The hybrid ABSN curriculum consists of online courses along with in-person nursing labs and clinical rotations. Through the program, you’ll gain a strong foundation in nursing that you can take into your career. Nursing leadership opportunities will be available to you thanks to your investment in a BSN.
Contact our admissions counselors to learn more about earning your BSN and setting yourself up to flourish in your career as a nurse.