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Weekly Q&A: Should the project director be an RN?

HCPro's Weekly Update on the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®*, May 29, 2007

This week, a reader asks whether the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® (MRP) project director position needs to be an RN. Read the response below from our advisor Cindy Goodrich, RN, MSN, EdD, MRP coordinator at Centra Health, Lynchburg, VA. Q: When hiring for the Magnet [status] project director position, does he or she need to be an RN? 

A: To my knowledge, there is no prescription for the role of a MRP project director, and individual organizations have flexibility in developing the structure and processes that reflect the 14 Forces of Magnetism that are being practiced throughout the organization.

Having reviewed several position descriptions for a project director and having had many conversations with directors across the country, I have not discovered a position whose holder is not a registered nurse. Some job descriptions state that a Bachelor degree in nursing is a minimum requirement, and while some positions are full time, many are part-time positions that are integrated into other roles, such as the nurse retention coordinator role.

It is my opinion that a registered nurse is in the best position to assume such a project. A registered nurse is familiar with the scope of nursing practice, the professional standards of care, the research requirements, nurse sensitive indicators and benchmarks, and the mentoring and diversity plans that are essential in creating a practice environment of excellence. The project director needs to have the ability to lead nurses and members of an interdisciplinary team toward the attainment of designation. Excellent communication, team building, and organizational skills are key in leading the team to a successful designation, and the registered professional nurse is prepared educationally and experientially to meet these demands.

Editor's note: Do you have a question for one of our advisors? If you'd like us to consider your query for publication, please send it to Cameran Erny.

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