The start of a Magnet® journey in the middle of the pandemic of a century

By David Sparv RN PhD (1,3)
Monica Bergenek RN (1)
Matilda Magnusson RN MSc (1,2,3)
and Ami Hommel RN Professor (1,2)

1. Skane University Hospital,
2. Malmö University, Faculty of Health and Society
​3. Lund University, Faculty of Medicine

Emergency and Infectious Diseases Unit, SUS, Malmö

​Would you like to be part of an amazing journey? This phrase from the opening ceremony of the 2018 ANCC National Magnet Conference in Denver, rang in our ears as we presented the scope of Magnet4Europe for the executive board of Skåne University Hospital (SUS) early 2019. In the capacity of being the third largest university hospital system in Sweden (>4000 registered nurses) it would obviously mean a lot if we would have the opportunity to embark on this study concept.  

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Central building Skåne University Hospital

​Alike many hospitals in the western world, SUS has struggled for many years with retaining our most experienced nurses and attracting new nurses to our hospital system. Many different strategies have been applied with limited or no success. Therefore, Magnet4Europe came to us as one of the potential biggest game changers for nurses and allied health professionals and thus, our patients. 

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As the board of SUS approved our participation in the Magnet4Europe trial in August 2019, the work begun. Meanwhile, a certain coronavirus was starting to take more and more of our attention, and when we approached the time of the first baseline measurement and gap analysis, we were in the middle of the massive second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Prior to the outbreak, we gathered a group of our most experienced and merited nurses and designated Magnet coordinator. As the formation started to fall in place, the group divided into subgroups according to the magnetic properties. Obviously, we were not able to work fulltime with Magnet during the most intense phase of the pandemic, but in a way, the work with Covid-19 helped us to utilize what would be the most important areas to address such as person-centered care and interprofessional collaboration.

The pandemic is not yet over, but of today, we are very proud of being able to continue the work with implementing the findings of the gap analysis. In our work, together with our twin hospital UC Irvine, Ca, USA, we have made considerable progress and will soon suggest three main areas of interventions for the hospital board.
 
These areas are:
1. Person-centered care
2. Continuity for patient and healthcare professionals
3. Quality of leadership in nursing
 
This last two years has certainly been hard for everyone. The Covid-19 pandemic is the largest crisis in modern healthcare which obviously have consequences for everything and everyone. But, in the words of Professor Linda Aiken:” We are still here, still taking care of our patients and still making the changes of the healthcare system that need to be done – where we are a crucial part” …” From the bottom of our heart, investing in this project in this challenging time”. The road to balance and prosperity is seldom straightforward, but the Magnet study, model and certification is a beacon of light – and it is time that we come together and use this opportunity.
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David Sparv RN PhD

Monica Bergenek RN

Matilda Magnusson RN MSc

Ami Hommel RN Professor Photo by: Særún Hrafnkelsdóttir Norén