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In the 1980s the American Academy of Nursing (AAN) conducted a study of United States
hospitals to identify the organisational attributes that were successful in
recruiting and retaining nurses during a national nursing shortage.
The top hospitals shared certain measurable characteristics, each of which
was predicated on recognition of nurses’ contribution to patient care
and the environment of the facility. These characteristics were:
- Effective and supportive leadership;
- Nursing staff involvement in hospital decision making;
- Commitment to professional clinical nurse qualities;
- Participatory management;
- Autonomy and accountability; and
- A supportive environment. ( Buchan, 1999)
The hospitals, which consistently sustained these characteristics, not only
had significantly higher retention rates than other similar hospitals, they
also demonstrated significantly lower medical mortality rates (Aiken et al,
1994) and significantly improved patient outcomes (Aiken et al, 1997, Aiken.
2002).
Magnet in South Australia
The Nursing and Midwifery Office and SA Health is committed to promoting
the Magnet Principles throughout all South Australian Public Sector Health
Units. The first step in this process was to undertake a Nurse Workforce Index
Survey (as developed by Aitkin al).
South Australia was one of the first Australian
States or Territories to undertake this work.
The South Australian Directors of Nursing and Midwifery identified key Nursing/Midwifery Sensitive Indicators (N/MSI) that allow for national and international benchmarking as well as the development of best practice initiatives across nursing and midwifery services.
The Nurse Workforce Index Survey was undertaken in May 2005.
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