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Weekly Q&A: Project director: Full-time or part-time?

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, July 11, 2006

This week, a reader wants to know if the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® (MRP) project director should be a full-time or part-time position, and seeks advice for organizations that don't have access to a full-time project director. Read the response below from our advisor, Barbara (BJ) Hannon, RN, MSN, MRP coordinator at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.

Q: Should the project director be a full-time or part-time position? What advice do you have for organizations that don't have access to a full-time project director?

A: The MRP project director might be the most important individual in your journey because he or she drives the entire venture and is accountable for most, if not all, aspects of the project. With numerous tasks to juggle, ideally the project director will be a dedicated, full-time position. However, many institutions beginning the journey may not be able to set aside funds for a full-time project director. Don't be discouraged-creativity in using available resources for a project director is a mark of a "MRP" institution.

One alternative to a full-time project director is to reduce the workload of two employees and create one, full-time equivalent (FTE) between the two. You might consider dividing project director duties among members of the education, quality, or research departments because their backgrounds will align with the writing of the documents. For example, many of the documents involve quality-data gathering, data management/interpretation, and research activities. Sharing the project director duties is a sound option, as two people with different areas of expertise will bring strength to this one position.

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