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Weekly Q&A: When is the site visit?

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, September 27, 2005

This week, a reader asks about the amount of time ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® applicants have to prepare for their site visits. Read the response below from our advisor, Anne Jadwin, RN, MSN, AOCN, CNA, director of nursing at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia.

Q: After an organization receives notice from the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program Office that they passed their document review, how long do they have to prepare for their site visit?

A: Once an organization receives notice that they've passed the document evaluation with a score in the excellence range, the Magnet  Recognition Program Office usually schedules the site visit within two-four weeks. Typically, applicants step up the intensity of site visit preparation during this period with activities such as mock surveys, celebrations, and training sessions, but organizations should consider some degree of organizationwide preparation as part of their culture-building efforts well before their application is approved.

The purpose of the site visit is for the appraisers to ensure that the 14 Forces of Magnetism are operationalized throughout the organization. To achieve designation, the Forces must be evident throughout all units and among all levels of nursing personnel. The ANCC's 2005 Magnet Recognition Program® Application Manual provides some guidance for the site visit and suggests documents that should be available for appraiser review. Preparing staff in advance helps ensure that they are comfortable describing the Forces and citing examples of compliance. It also alleviates the normal anxiety that comes with any survey process.

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