Taiwanese nurses' cognition and attitudes towards the Magnet Hospitals Recognition Programme.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relevance and feasibility of using the Magnet Recognition Programme (MRP) at a Taiwanese hospital.


BACKGROUND
Since no hospitals in Taiwan have applied for American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition, and the American medical system and customs are different from those in Taiwan, this study explores whether or not the MRP is appropriate for Taiwanese hospitals.


METHODS
This study used a cross-sectional design with data collected from 905 nurses at a 1200-bed Taiwanese military hospital. The authors created the structured questionnaire from a framework based on the 14 Forces of Magnetism. The study used descriptive and inferential statistical analyses to explain the nurses' cognitions and attitudes towards the MRP and to discover if variations in these concepts occurred across nurses' demographics and their job classification.


RESULTS
The mean nurses' cognitive score on each item varies from 3.3 to 4.1, and the mean nurses' attitude score on each item varies from 3.0 to 4.0 (both with the highest possible score related to the 14 Forces of Magnetism being 5.0). Using regression analysis, overall cognitive score, working in the operating room, or the sub-critical Neonatal Care Unit, and part-time hours of work explained 42% of the variance in the total attitude score towards the MRP.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that when nurses have a higher cognition towards MRP, the more positive are their attitudes towards seeking the MRP. Using these findings and information about the nurses, the authors suggest strategies that hospital executives and nursing supervisors can use to improve nurses' cognition and attitudes when preparing to seek recognition through the MRP.
Ma
C-C
CC
Department of Healthcare Administration, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. up000238@isu.edu.tw
Hwang
P-W
PW
Alexander
J W
JW
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003406:Credentialing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006772:Hospitals, Military; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D018024:Peer Review, Health Care; D013624:Taiwan