Want to Work in a Magnet Hospital? Agency work Can Open the Door
The impact of experience within a Magnet hospital can be invaluable for the career-minded nurse! For travel nurses, working in a Magnet hospital is more accessible than you might think—temporary assignments offer an incredible opportunity to gain valuable experience in these top-tier facilities.
What is a Magnet hospital?
A Magnet hospital is a facility that has achieved magnet status, a special hospital designation through the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC). To earn Magnet status, medical centers must demonstrate a commitment to nursing excellence and the facilitation of positive patient outcomes. These hospitals have been determined to “embody a collaborative culture where nurses are valued as integral partners in the patient’s safe passage through their healthcare experiences.”
What criteria are used to evaluate hospitals for Magnet status?
Hospitals are judged on five criteria after they apply for Magnet status:
- Transformational Leadership
- Structural Empowerment
- Exemplary Professional Practice
- New Knowledge, Innovations, and Improvements
- Empirical Outcomes
What does working at a Magnet facility mean for nurses?
Magnet facilities earn their designation by demonstrating a commitment to nursing excellence. Research indicates that nurses working in Magnet facilities have greater job satisfaction, lower nurse burnout, and lower RN turnover than other hospitals. Nurses within Magnet hospitals often find themselves in a culture that values continuing education, clinical expertise, and professional development, providing RNs with ample opportunities to advance their skills.
From a career advancement perspective, nursing experience within a Magnet facility looks great on a resume, and can open doors for you when you look for your next staff position or travel nurse job!
Do I need to have a BSN to work in a Magnet facility?
In general, you do not have to have a BSN to work in a Magnet facility. That being said, Magnet facilities strive to have a nursing workforce where over 80% of nurses have BSNs and often do expect travel nurses to help them meet this threshold.
Magnet Hospital Fast Facts
Current Number of Magnet Facilities 621
- The first hospital to achieve Magnet status was the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, in 1994.
- About 9.8% of all registered hospitals achieve Magnet status.
- 601 United States hospitals have achieved Magnet status.
- 16 international hospitals have achieved Magnet status (10 different countries). These hospitals are located in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Finland, Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
- According to NurseJournal.org in 2024, Texas is the state with the most Magnet facilities at 67. Other states with many Magnet hospitals include Illinois (51), California (56), Ohio (37), Pennsylvania (30), New Jersey (32), New York (48), Virginia (29), Florida (25), and Indiana (16).
Specialty may be able to match you up to a Magnet hospital somewhere across the country