Magnet Designation at the Rafic Hariri University Hospital (RHUH)

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this project is to assist RHUH to begin the long journey to Magnet designation. Aim:Overall aim of the project is to provide a resource for RHUH managers to assist them to consider the near term actions that need to be taken to prepare the public hospital for its Magnet journey. The beginning steps described indicate the effort required for RHUH to achieve Magnet designation. Literature Review: The project includes a selected literature review on the requirements for Magnet designation. The purpose of the literature review is not to provide a comprehensive description of everything that has been written about Magnet designation, but to identify as clearly as possible Magnet designation requirements. This is because the managers at RHUH need a succinct account of what Magnet designation involves, rather than an exhaustive summary and critique of the available literature. The mentioned literature includes a summary of the advantages of Magnet designation viewed from the known priorities of managers at RHUH. The top priorities for managers at the hospital are to recruit and retain more nurses. However, to achieve a stable nurse workforce of sufficient size to meet its longer term needs, RHUH will need to do more to attract nurses, recognize and reward nurses for their performance, enthuse nurses about the importance of caring for patients to the highest possible international standards, empower nurses by introducing shared governance, and transition to a transformational style of leadership. All these requirements are consistent with Magnet designation requirements and are imperative for the further development of the RHUH nursing workforce. Planning framework: A general planning framework was adopted to guide the study. Care was taken to limit the work undertaken to identifying possible steps in a strategic planning approach to achieve Magnet designation at RHUH. The managers of the hospital are those deciding whether to pursue Magnet designation and if so how to proceed on the