Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg
Im Neuenheimer Feld 672 I 69120 Heidelberg

WWW.UKHD.DE

What is a magnetic hospital?

We are "MAGNET" for you

Origin and concept: The magnet hospital model was developed in the 1980s in the USA by the American Nurses Credentialing Centre (ANCC). The aim was to identify hospitals that managed to attract and retain qualified staff despite a shortage of nursing staff. These facilities were characterised by excellent nursing quality, high employee satisfaction and outstanding patient outcomes.

The Magnet programme is a voluntary certification of hospitals to improve nursing care (conditions) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Evidence from four decades of research, primarily from the US, shows that Magnet-certified hospitals provide better working environments and conditions and higher staff satisfaction, resulting in lower rates of burnout among healthcare staff and higher patient safety. This suggests that the implementation of the Magnet concept can also lead to positive changes in Europe.

What characterises magnet hospitals

  • Excellent framework conditions for excellent care
  • There is a cross-disciplinary culture of collaboration with shared decision-making and mutual respect
  • The mental health of nursing staff is better, the burnout rate and sick days in general are lower
  • The improved mental health of employees results in fewer errors in patient care
  • The professional quality of care and employee satisfaction are higher
  • They have a better quality of care for patients, lower complication rates and fewer falls
  • Employee retention is high and staff turnover is therefore lower
  • Top nursing staff are attracted and retained

 

The magnet hospital model

  • Transformational leadership (red) = participative, appreciative, motivating leadership
  • Structural empowerment (green) = Involvement of employees in decision-making processes through appropriate organisational structures
  • Exemplary professional practice (purple) = Nursing excellence through training, quality standards, interprofessionalism
  • New knowledge, innovations and improvements (blue) = Integration of scientific findings, nursing research, culture of responsibility
  • Empirical outcomes (orange) = Key figure-based management and quality assurance

 

Magnet4Europe and Heidelberg University Hospital

We are there

Magnet4Europe (M4U) is an EU-funded intervention study with the aim of redesigning the working environment of nursing and medical staff in order to improve the mental health and well-being of staff (e.g. absenteeism, staff turnover, job satisfaction, reduction of burnout).

Heidelberg University Hospital is one of 20 clinics in Germany and one of 60 clinics in Europe taking part in the study. There is not yet a certified magnet clinic in Germany. The Magnet4Europe project aims to initiate this process. The UKHD also set out on the path to becoming a magnet hospital in December 2020 by participating in the Magnet4Europe study.

 

Magnet4Germany - The further development of Magnet4Europe in German clinics

With the Magnet4Germany (M4D) study, the successful work of the Magnet4Europe project is being continued specifically in Germany. The aim is to support, intensify and scientifically evaluate the implementation of the magnet hospital concept in German clinics over the long term. A profound cultural change is at the centre of this - a change that relies on the close involvement of all employees and a holistic approach at the level of the entire institution. Heidelberg University Hospital is delighted to be part of this.

Procedure
The Magnet4Germany project uses a quasi-experimental study design with before-and-after comparisons. Central elements of the implementation are

  • Carrying out a gap analysis to determine the current implementation status in the clinics
  • Organisation of regular exchange meetings between the participating facilities
  • Continuation of twinning partnerships with US Magnet® hospitals
  • Surveys of nursing and medical staff to evaluate the project

The Magnet4Germany project is managed by Prof Dr Claudia B. Maier (Bielefeld University), supported by Julia Köppen (Bielefeld University / TU Berlin), Daria Bula (Bielefeld University) and Charlotte Reidt (Bielefeld University).

Duration and funding
Project period: January 2025 to December 2026
Funded by Bosch Health Campus GmbH

 

In which areas at the UKHD is Magnet already being practised?

  • Transformational leadership as a central component of the management principles in nursing and functional services
  • Filling important positions in patient care with nursing staff, e.g. central patient management, surgical coordination, nursing consultation services (e.g. oncological nursing rounds), aftercare outpatient clinics (e.g. HTX, LTX), diagnosis/target group-related patient counselling (e.g. Breast Care/Pelvic Nurse, CED Nurse, Family Pilot (ZPM))
  • Implementation and evaluation of professional care models in practice, often interdisciplinary (e.g. ERAS, immediate and early mobilisation)
  • Promotion of employee participation at ward and department level and, in the long term, through the establishment of "care councils"
  • Autonomous processing of relevant topics by care-led working groups to ensure a higher quality of care
  • Promotion of innovations in practice, e.g. "innovation space" concept, Heidelberg Care Prize
  • Strategic expansion of digitalisation in nursing care
  • Development and testing of modern aids to support and relieve the burden of care (e.g. exoskeletons)
  • Conducting studies under the direction and organisation of nursing staff (e.g. RELIV, PATIN)
  • Internal training courses with interprofessional topics and lectures (HIFIT, PIAF, INPUD)
  • Establishment of a Nursing Journal Club to promote evidence-based nursing practice