A MAGNET FOR NURSING EXCELLENCE
Like a true nurse, Marian Turkel, Ph.D. '97, manages to
be in many places at once. She wouldn't have it any
other way.As an independent consultant, it's her job
to help hospitals earn Magnet status, an honor given to
hospitals that exemplify excellence in nursing. Her work
involves creating a practice environment where registered
nurses can grow professionally
and become recognized
as excellent practitioners.
In her consulting practice,
Turkel also works with
nursing leaders and members
of their nursing staff to
develop professional models
of care, evidence-based
practice, and nursing
research initiatives within
their organizations. In a way,
Turkel's patients are the
hospitals themselves, each
one receiving her undivided attention in their journey to
foster nursing excellence. It was this desire to specialize in
nursing administration that led Turkel to pursue her doctorate
at the University of Miami School of Nursing and
Health Studies.
"I was impressed with the research, the small number
of students in each doctoral class, and the one-on-one
mentoring," says Turkel about the University's program.
She notes that the faculty guidance and support she
received enabled her to achieve great success in writing
grants. She's particularly proud of having secured almost
$1 million in federal funding since graduation for research
studies on nursing economics, nursing practice models,
and work force redevelopment.
"I really wanted to work with a lot of hospitals, to
have the opportunity to assist them in achieving excellence
in patient care through nursing best practices," says
Turkel, who now lives in Chicago. In addition to consulting
nationwide,Turkel is the author of numerous publications,
including peer-reviewed nursing journals and book chapters.
She recently published the book Magnet Status:
Assessing, Pursuing and Achieving Nursing Excellence as well
as an article in Nursing Administration Quarterly on how to
create an environment for evidence-based practice, a key
element of Magnet status.
She and her husband, Brooks, M.B.A. '99, continue
to support the school and the University of Miami Hurricanes.
They even keep their football season tickets, despite
living in Chicago, and travel to Florida for some of the
home games.
