The magnet process and the perceived work environment of nurses.
BACKGROUND
Several studies have described the work environment of nurses from magnet and nonmagnet hospitals, but there have been no studies of nurses from hospitals in the magnet application process.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the differences between characteristics of hospitals and nurses from three hospital types: magnet hospitals, hospitals in the process of applying for magnet certification, and nonmagnet hospitals, and how nurses from these hospitals perceive their work environment.


METHODS
In a national, cross-sectional survey of critical care nurses, the Perceived Nursing Work Environment (PNWE) instrument was administered to measure nurses' perceptions of their work environment.


RESULTS
Data were available from 2,092 nurse surveys. Over a third of the respondents were from in-process hospitals and almost half were from nonmagnet hospitals. The majority of nurses were female and from large hospitals in the Atlantic region. The mean age of nurses was 39.5 years and the mean years of work experience in the intensive care unit (ICU) was 10.2 years. Higher nurse scores were significantly associated with magnet certification on one subscale of the PNWE, nursing competence.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses from magnet hospitals had a positive perception of nursing competence in their work environment. Further research is necessary to examine the nurse work environment and to determine if the characteristics of magnet hospitals have changed.
Cimiotti
Jeannie P
JP
Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.
Quinlan
Patricia M
PM
Larson
Elaine L
EL
Pastor
Diane K
DK
Lin
Susan X
SX
Stone
Patricia W
PW
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations