Magnet Accreditation

ANCC's 14 Forces of Magnetism

From that study, the factors which contributed to the retention of nurses in those hospitals were called the 14 forces of “Magnetism.”

The Magnet Review Process:

The forces of Magnetism are the foundation of the current Magnet Model, which is used today to review and accredit hospitals for excellence in nursing. The review is conducted by a division of the American Nurses Association (ANA) called the American Nurses Credentialling Center (ANCC). While the 14 forces remain foundational to the Magnet process, to organize and focus the hospitals/organization’s effort to achieve Magnet status, five overarching areas for review were developed. They are:

1. Transformational Leadership
2. Structural Empowerment
3. Exemplary Professional Practice
4. New Knowledge, Innovation, and Improvement
5. Empirical Quality Results/Outcomes

Within these five areas, the 14 forces are assessed at each organization that is seeking Magnet status. For example, under the area of transformational leadership are the forces of quality of nursing leadership and management style. Under structural empowerment are the forces of organizational structure, personnel policies and programs, community, professional development, and image of nursing.

Exemplary professional practice includes the following forces: models of care, autonomy, nurses as teachers, interdisciplinary relations and resources, and consultation. New knowledge, innovation, and improvements address the area of quality improvement. Empirical outcomes include quality of care.

The five categories of excellence of the Magnet Program, along with the 14 forces of Magnetism, help promote and advance three goals within a health care organization. They are:

1. Promoting quality in a setting that supports professional practice.
2. Identifying excellence in the delivery of nursing services to patients.
3. Disseminating “best practices” in nursing services.

Currently across the United States, 7% of hospitals have achieved Magnet accreditation status, a high distinction of excellence in nursing services and quality of patient care. Data from these hospitals indicates higher rates of RN retention and job satisfaction, higher patient satisfaction scores, better quality scores in clinical outcomes, and lower rates of staff turnover and attrition than in non-Magnet accredited hospitals.