The Excellence in Nursing Blog
Katie Stephens Consulting’s thoughts on the latest best practices and trends related to Magnet® and creating a culture of Nursing Excellence.
FEATURED POST
How a decade of leadership coaching transformed and shaped my career
A little over 10 years ago, I began working with a professional leadership coach. Little did I know then that it would be the beginning of a remarkable journey of growth and development in both my professional and personal life.
ALL POSTS
How to Prioritize and Triage as a Magnet Program Director: 10 Practical Tips
Feeling overwhelmed by Magnet work? Whether you're in your first year as a Magnet Program Director or knee-deep in document prep, prioritizing can feel impossible. This post offers 10 practical triage tips to help you focus on what really matters—without getting lost in the chaos. Learn how to align your time with Magnet strategy, set weekly anchor tasks, color-code your calendar, and make confident, strategic decisions even when everything feels urgent.
So You Just Became a Magnet Program Director… Now What?
New to the Magnet Program Director (MPD) role? This practical guide walks you through the first six steps you need to take to gain clarity, build momentum, and avoid overwhelm. Learn how to prioritize, build relationships, and lead with confidence—plus grab free tools like the MPD Handbook and Magnet Project Guide.
Nurse Burnout, Stress, and Languishing: How to Tell the Difference
Nurses often experience stress, burnout, or languishing—but each state affects your well-being differently. Learn how to recognize the signs of nurse burnout, stress, and languishing, and get evidence-based strategies for recovery and support.
Magnet Project Management Series (Part 3): Managing Teams, Timelines, and Avoiding Bottlenecks
Discover how to build cross-functional teams, set clear milestones, avoid roadblocks, and stay flexible during your Magnet journey. Ensure success with proven strategies and expert guidance.
Magnet Project Management Series (Part 2): Structuring and Prioritizing Your Work
Katie covers the seven-stage Magnet designation framework, shares practical strategies for prioritizing efforts, and offers tips for focusing on high-impact, high-value work.
Magnet Project Management Series (Part 1): Setting the Foundation and Getting Organized
Learn how to approach the process with the right mindset, the critical role of program and project management skills, and practical tools to keep your projects on track.
Outcome vs. Process: Get it Right Before You Write
Mastering outcome vs. process measures is essential for Magnet success. Outcomes are the ultimate proof of nursing excellence, demonstrating real impact and tangible results. Learn how to distinguish them and ensure your documentation is on point!
Polishing your Magnet Exemplars to Perfection
Today, I’ll walk you through a step-by-step, multi-round editing process for your ANCC Magnet exemplars, approaching each review with a slightly different focus. I hope this process helps you as you set out to edit your own Magnet documents.
Turn your personal and professional goals into reality
We develop lifelong relationships that exist long after projects are complete. See how.