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Weekly Q&A: Budget breaks for small applicants

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, January 31, 2006

This week,a reader asks for cost-saving methods for small organizations on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® journey. Read the response below from our advisor, Barbara L. O'Brien, RN, MSN, Cert., president, Magnetic HealthCare Strategies, LLC, in Manchester, NJ.

Q: We are a small institution with sparse personnel and financial resources. What are some cost-saving ideas we can use in our pursuit of designation?

A: For small institutions with sparse personnel and financial resources, consider these ideas:

• Hire a consultant on an as-needed basis. The average cost for a consultant is $1,500-$2,000 per day or $200 per hour depending on expertise and the nature of the project. Consultants can complete gap analyses, deliver motivational presentations, lead projects, read applications, and in some cases, write narratives.
• Form a partnership with a university. Utilize the nursing professors and offer to do a lecture as payment (i.e., the old barter system).
• Offer your institution as a research site for a professor who wants to research and publish various topics. The projects could be completed to meet the ANCC expectations.

The designation quest is worth the effort and costs, though they vary depending on the resources available (e.g., budget and staff). What is critical is your desire to take the journey and tenacity to complete it.

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