Abstract:
Hospitals with Magnet designation have historically succeeded in retaining professional nurses and claimed nurse satisfaction (Upenieks, 2003). Magnet hospitals use criteria set forth by the ANCC (2006). The Magnet Recognition program criteria (ANCC, 2006) provide the organizing framework for this study. The purpose of this study is to compare nurse satisfaction and intent to leave in six randomly selected hospitals in the Midwestern United States, three with Magnet designation and three with non-Magnet designation. This is a modified replication study of Brady-Schwartz's (2005) study. The sample will include professional nurses (1,000) who provide direct care to patients in one of the six hospitals. The McCloskey Mueller Satisfaction Scale (MMSS) will measure job satisfaction and the Anticipated Turnover Scale (ATS) will measure the intent to leave. The findings will identify if the tenants of Magnet status have a significant impact on nurse satisfaction and retention in selected hospitals in the Midwestern part of the United States, and ultimately may charter the way to eliminating the nursing shortage, while promoting the professional of nursing.