The American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program® has been strongly linked to improvement of workforce and patient outcomes through the integration of the Magnet model as a vehicle for nursing excellence (Barnes et al., 2016; Friese et al., 2015; Lal, 2020; Stimpfel et al. 2016).

Magnet-designated organizations demonstrate strong nursing professional governance, collaboration, advocacy, research and innovations, and patient and staff outcomes. Combined, these factors provide evidence of Magnet principles across all settings where all levels of RNs practice.

AAACN has supported the maximization of the role of RNs through scope and standards, white papers on telehealth and nurse transition to practice as well as toolkits to support the growing role of nurse executives. Below is a crosswalk to the resources available from AAACN to support ANCC’s required elements in the path to becoming a Magnet designated organization.

The information in the table below is intended for educational use and is not to replace or construe interpretation of the ANCC Magnet Recognition program, guidance, or application manuals.
 

2023 Magnet Application Manual Topics

 Items Measured/Discussed/Required

Available AAACN Ambulatory Care Resources/Supports

Demographic Data Collection and Benchmarking

Education, certification, turnover, vacancy
  1. Ambulatory Care NSI Industry Report (guidance on collecting and reporting demographics)
  2. Nurse Executive Toolkit

Performance Evaluation and Peer Feedback Process (EP13)

Require a BSN minimum for nurse managers conducting performance evaluation and overseeing practice. Requirement for RN to RN peer feedback process and RN self-evaluation as part of the performance evaluation process.

  1. Nurse Executive Toolkit
  2. Scope and Standards of Practice for Ambulatory Care Nursing
  3. Scope and Standards of Practice for Care Coordination and Transition Management
  4. Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Telehealth Nursing
  5. Position Paper on the Role of the RN in Ambulatory Care Nursing

Shared Decision-Making and Organizational Initiatives

Though not specific, committees, work items, and inclusion of these nurses is expected in all nursing-driven work. Nurses have a seat at the highest decision-making bodies in the organization.
  1. Nurse Executive Toolkit
  2. Annual Conference and educational offerings
  3. Scope and Standards of Practice for Ambulatory Care Nursing
  4. Scope and Standards of Practice for Care Coordination and Transition Management
  5. Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Telehealth Nursing
  6. Position Paper on the Role of the RN in Ambulatory Care Nursing

Organizational Overview

All elements must apply wherever a nurse practices: policies, CNO oversight and visibility, professional development, credentialing/privileging, caregiver well-being, diversity, equity, and inclusion, cultural competence, workplace safety, process to address interprofessional conflict, nurse involvement in IRB panels reviewing nursing research studies
  1. Nurse Executive Toolkit
  2. Scope and Standards of Practice for Ambulatory Care Nursing
  3. Scope and Standards of Practice for Care Coordination and Transition Management
  4. Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Telehealth Nursing

Transformational Leadership

TL9: One ambulatory care example required for mentoring

TL10: One ambulatory care example required for succession planning

TL13: One ambulatory example required for improvement in patient care or the nursing practice environment associated with communication between the clinical nurse(s) and the CNO, AVP/ Nurse Director, or Nurse Manager.
  1. Nurse Executive Toolkit

Structural Empowerment

SE1EOb: Ambulatory care example required for improved patient outcomes associated with participation of clinical nurses in organization-level interprofessional decision-making group

SE3, SE4EO, SE5, SE6EO, SE7, SE8EO: All nurses required in education and certification count and performance.

SE10EOb: Ambulatory care example required for improved patient outcome associated with nursing needs assessment and related implementation plan
  1. Scope and Standards of Practice for Ambulatory Care Nursing
  2. Scope and Standards of Practice for Care Coordination and Transition Management
  3. Scope and Standards of Practice for Professional Telehealth Nursing
  4. Position Paper on the Role of the RN in Ambulatory Care Nursing
  5. Ambulatory Care NSI Industry Report (performance improvement strategies for demographic improvements)
  6. Certifications and review courses: Ambulatory care nursing, CCTM
  7. Core Curriculum for Ambulatory Care Nursing
  8. Care Coordination and Transition Management Core Curriculum

   

Note: Ambulatory care data and examples are expected in Magnet appraisal documents; certain standards require ambulatory care examples, where noted in the Magnet Application Manual. Copyright Rachel Start, 2021 with Revisions Elizabeth Carreira, 2023, in the citation for Nursing Economics.