The ANCC Magnet Prize recognizes extraordinary innovations that transform work environments. This award serves as a means for acknowledging peak performance within credentialed Magnet organizations. The Magnet Prize recognizes cutting-edge research, practices, services, technologies, programs, or other exemplary innovations with demonstrable positive outcomes.

General Information

To further encourage the pursuit of excellence, ANCC's Board of Directors established the Magnet Prize, awarded only to Magnet-designated organizations. The award serves as a means for acknowledging peak performance.

In many ways the word "magnet" has become a philosophy and a symbol within the nursing profession for transforming work environments, for continuous pursuit of the best that we can be. Magnet designation, therefore, is not the apex, it is not static, and it is not unit-based. It is an institution-wide commitment to a culture within which excellence flourishes.

This award recognizes cutting-edge research, practices, services, technologies, programs, or other exemplary innovations with demonstrable positive outcomes. To preserve the nature of ANCC's Magnet Prize, it will be awarded only in response to unsolicited nominations. The prize may be awarded to more than one recipient each year.

Magnet Prize Criteria

• The Magnet Prize is awarded only to Magnet organizations.
• The Magnet Prize will be awarded for exemplary, extraordinary innovative nursing activities that have transformed the work environment for an extended period of time.
• Innovations awarded must be beyond the scope of the innovations that are characteristic of Magnet organizations.
• Positive outcomes have been demonstrated and empirically linked to the innovation.

 

Application Process

• Applications for the Magnet Prize must be submitted to the ANCC's Magnet Prize Committee by April 1.
• Written applications are limited to 10 typed, double-spaced, single-sided pages, using a font size of 12 or greater; however, appendices may be used to provide specific examples.
• Video and other electronic submissions must be no longer than 10 minutes in length. Nine copies are needed for distribution to committee members.
• Applications for the Magnet Prize may be submitted by representatives of Magnet organizations, as well as entities or individuals who are aware of the exemplary, extraordinary innovative nursing activity in a Magnet-recognized organization.
• Applications not resulting in the receipt of ANCC's Magnet Prize may be re-submitted; however, applications resulting in an award of the Magnet Prize may not be re-submitted.
• Applicants will be notified of a decision by August 1.

 

There are no entry fees. Regardless of size, setting or location, all Magnet-designated organizations may submit an application for the Magnet Prize.

Closing Date for Submissions

Nomination submissions and supporting documents must be received by 4 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) on April 1 (or if a non-working day, the next business day). Faxed and/or e-mailed submissions will not be accepted.

The Award

The Magnet Prize will be presented at the Annual National Magnet Nursing Conference. Award winners will be requested to attend. Results will be mailed to each nominee following the Magnet Nursing Conference. Award recipients will be asked to speak at the chief nursing officer meeting during the Magnet Nursing Conference and deliver a formal paper on the innovation at the following year's conference. Additionally, the winners will be recognized at other major nursing venues, such as the American Organization of Nurse Executives annual conference, the American Nurses Association convention, and the ANA constituent member convention.

Rules of the Award

1. The ANCC decision-making body of the Magnet Prize shall consider all submitted applications properly made and material submitted with or in support thereof.
2. Material submitted with or in support of any application shall be received on the conditions that: a. The Magnet Prize decision-making body shall not return such material or any portion thereof to the nominee or the nominators.
   b. The Magnet Prize decision-making body may make such disclosure of the names of the nominees and the nominators and of the innovation disclosed in such material as the Magnet Prize decision-making body considers appropriate.
   c. No claim shall be made and no action shall be brought against the American Nurses Credentialing Center, its Board of Directors, employees or members of the Magnet Prize decision-making body arising out of the use made of such application material or of any such disclosure.
3. The applicant warrants that disclosure of material submitted with or in support does not breach the terms of any other contract or agreements, that the applicant is entitled to use the material, and that if any permissions are needed to use the material, the applicant has obtained those permissions.
4. At the discretion of the Magnet Prize decision-making body, applications made in any year may be carried forward to following years. Applicants may be requested to provide updated information.
5. The decision of the Magnet Prize decision-making body is final. If in the opinion of the Magnet Prize decision-making body there are no applications considered suitable during a given year, no Magnet Prizes shall be awarded.
6. Each representative submitting an application must sign the prescribed Magnet Prize Application Form which will constitute his/her agreement to be bound by the Rules of the Magnet Prize, and which must be attached to the material submitted with or in support of any application.

Should Your Magnet Organization Apply?

If you answer "yes" to most of the following questions, you are strongly encouraged to apply for ANCC's Magnet Prize:

• Does the innovation benefit nursing?
• Does the innovation show a fair degree of intellectual achievement or quality of thinking?
• Has the innovation been fully thought through, developed and tested?
• Is the innovation unique and/or original?

Please direct any questions to the American Nurses Credentialing Center at 301-628-5254.

This page last revised 4/7/2006.