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Nurses seek gold standard in patient care When choosing a hospital for your family’s care or a place to work, Magnet Designated Hospitals are the gold standard in patient care.    MUSC Medical Center is pursuing Magnet Designation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).   What is a “Magnet Hospital”? “Magnet Hospital” is a prestigious designation for hospitals that provide the best in nursing care and exemplify the highest standards in professional nursing practice.      Magnet designated hospitals attract and retain quality employees from nursing and all professions who choose to partner with nurses in implementing the best practices in patient care and nursing system operations. Magnet hospital clinicians exceed the standards of improving the quality and outcomes for the patient by operationalizing the “Forces of Magnetism.” Those forces are quality of nursing leadership; organizational structure; management style; personnel policies and programs; professional models of care; quality of care; quality improvement; consultation and resources; autonomy; community and hospital; nurses as teachers; image of nursing; interdisciplinary relationships; and professional development.    Magnet hospital patient outcomes demonstrate decreased mortality, failure to rescue rates, shock and cardiac arrest, pulmonary compromise after major surgery, urinary tract infections, nosocomial infections, central line infections, patient falls, medication administration errors, unplanned hospital readmissions, length of stay, and pressure ulcers.    For more information, contact the MUSC Clinical Services Support office (792-7839), e-mail zonel@musc.edu., or go to http://nursingworld.org/ancc/magnet.html. Timeline Spring and Summer 05': Writing Magnet application to tell the unique story of how MUSC Medical Center sculpts a culture of excellence in every day practice, clinical directors from across the hospital lead efforts to collect MUSC’s Examples of Excellence. Nov. 1. Submission of Application. The application is reviewed by the Magnet Commission surveyors and after successful review a site visit (similar to JCAHO site visit) is scheduled. Spring 06' Magnet Commission Survey site visit.  Surveyors visit with staff nurses, professional partners, community, visitors and even their taxi driver to assess the living presence of Magnet nurses working in a Magnet Hospital environment.   January Nurse Alliance Meetings Shared Leadership Decision-Making Structure All MUSC RNs are invited to attend Jan. 6, Nurse Alliance Leadership & Organizational Climate Council: (Meet every 1st Thursday from 3 -5 p.m. in room 204 Children’s Hospital). To support shared leadership, lead a transforming culture, and to promote recruitment, retention and recognition of excellence in nursing. Jan. 13, Nurse Alliance Research & Performance Improvement Council: ( Meet every 2nd Thursday 3 - 4 p.m. in room 223 Children’s Hospital). To educate nurses about the research processes to encourage nursing inquiry leading to the use of evidence based practice.  Jan. 20, Nurse Alliance Education Council: (Meet every 3rd Thursday of the month, 1 - 3 p.m. in 2 West Classroom.). To ensure the educational needs of nurses are met.  Jan. 21, Nurse Alliance: (Meet every 3rd Friday of the month), 9:30 -11 a.m. in room 204 Children’s Hospital. Jan. 27, Nurse Alliance Practice Council: (Meet every 4th Thursday of the month, 2 - 4 p.m., room 211 Hollings Cancer Center). For making recommendations on clinical practice issues.  The next Staff Nurse Magnet Champion Quarterly Assembly will be held Jan. 31 in room 204 Wellness Center Auditorium from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Continental breakfast will be provided.  Designated Magnet Champions R.S.V.P. to Karen Thal 792-7839 or e-mail thalkt@musc.edu as soon as possible.    Resource site: MUSC Magnet and Nurse Alliance Web page: http://www.musc.edu/medcenter/nursing/pronursing.htm. Friday, Jan. 14, 2005 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.