Magnet hospitals: Part I. Institutions of excellence.

The oft repeated charge today is "focus on those who are succeeding!" That's what this report does. Using the eight characteristics identified by Peters and Waterman in their book In Search of Excellence (New York: Harper & Row, 1982), the study analyzes 16 magnet hospitals to ascertain to what extent they possessed characteristics similar to the best run companies in the corporate community. Analysis indicates many areas of strong correspondence. The authors suggest that these magnet hospitals may be dealing effectively with the nursing shortage by creating organizational conditions conducive to eliminating internal nurse shortage.