Facilitating The Journey To Excellence: Program Director Core Competencies™

Magnet® Program Director Core Competencies Course

September 4, 2026

Date: Virtual Course Starts September 4, 2026

Summary:

Develop the knowledge, leadership skills, and practical strategies needed to successfully guide your organization through Magnet® designation, redesignation, and/ or sustained nursing excellence. 

Using a multimodal cohort approach, participants progress through a series of 10 self-paced modules that consist of a combination of assigned readings, videos, and reflection questions. Each module includes a scheduled virtual live session devoted to further discussion and exploration of the topic(s) covered in the module.

Competencies Covered:

• Core Knowledge
• Leading Teams
• Communication and Collaboration
• Program Management
• Professional Practice
• Coordinating the Journey to Excellence: Application, Document, Site Visit and Decision
• Ongoing Practices and Redesignation Timelines

Schedule:

• Live Discussion Sessions, Fridays 12 pm CDT/1 pm EST
  • September 11, 18, 25, 2026
  • October 2, 9, 16, 23, 2026 (no session Oct 30 due to Magnet®/Pathway to Excellence® Conference) 
  • November 6, 13, 20, 2026
• Post- Course Check Ins, Mondays 12pm CDT/ 1pm EST
  • Check In 1: January 25, 2027
  • Check In 2: April 26, 2027
  • Check In 3: July 26, 2027

Continued Education:

• 26 contact hours will be awarded to individuals who complete all of the modules, attend at least 70% of the live sessions, and complete an evaluation.

• Creative Health Care Management is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Registration Cost:

• Early-Bird Registration (through July 31st, 2026): $1600
• Regular Registration: $2000

****Register NOW using the form below!****

Why Magnet® Program Directors Need More Than Project Management Skills

Serving as a Magnet® Program Director requires far more than coordinating timelines and collecting documents.

Today’s Magnet® Program Directors must be able to:

• Lead organizational change
• Build relationships across departments
• Communicate a compelling vision
• Coach and mentor leaders
• Manage complex projects
• Interpret and leverage data
• Sustain engagement long after designation is achieved

Whether you are new to the role or preparing for redesignation, success requires a unique blend of leadership, communication, professional practice expertise, and operational excellence.

This course was specifically designed to help Magnet® Program Directors build those competencies.

What Makes This Program Different

Learn from Experienced Magnet® Program Directors

Unlike many educational programs, this course is taught by consultants who have personally served as Magnet® Program Directors.

Participants gain access to:

• Real-world lessons learned
• Practical implementation strategies
• Proven approaches to common challenges
• Examples from actual Magnet journeys
• Guidance that extends beyond theory

This is not simply education.

It is mentorship from professionals who have successfully navigated the journey themselves.

“This was a really informative class. I feel that I went from knowing absolutely nothing about Magnet to having some great resources and much more insight. Just need to invite more CNO’s as this truly opens ones mind!”

-Chief Nursing Officer at a large healthcare organization

What Participants Will Gain

1. Core Knowledge

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the Magnet® Program Director role, including:

• Key responsibilities
• Expectations throughout the journey
• Using data to guide decision-making
• Understanding the phases of the Journey to Excellence

2. Leading Teams

Learn how to:

• Lead teams effectively
• Coach and mentor others
• Foster accountability
• Develop leadership capacity throughout the organization

3. Communication and Collaboration

Discover strategies for:

• Building organizational buy-in
• Communicating the value of the Magnet® journey
• Strengthening relationships across departments
• Engaging stakeholders at all levels

4. Program Management

Master the operational side of the role, including:

• Staying organized
• Managing evidence sources
• Budgeting and resource planning
• Building business cases
• Supporting redesignation efforts

5. Professional Practice

Explore the foundational elements that support nursing excellence:

• Shared Governance and Professional Governance
• Leadership Development
• Recognition Programs
• Professional Development Structures

6. Coordinating the Journey

Gain practical guidance for every phase of the Journey to Excellence.

Participants work through:

• Phase-specific priorities
• Common challenges
• Expectations
• Real-world examples
• Hands-on exercises

7. Sustaining Excellence

Learn how to:

• Maintain momentum after designation
• Prepare for redesignation
• Keep teams engaged
• Build a culture of continuous excellence

One of the Most Valuable Benefits: Your Professional Network

You’re Not Doing This Alone

Many Magnet® Program Directors describe the role as exciting, rewarding- and sometimes isolating.

One of the most powerful outcomes of this course is the professional network that develops among participants.

Attendees consistently report gaining:

• Trusted colleagues
• Peer support
• Professional connections
• Ongoing collaboration opportunities
• A network of individuals facing similar challenges

These relationships often continue long after the course ends.

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

• Current Magnet® Program Directors
  • Whether newly appointed or highly experienced.

• Magnet® Program Directors Preparing for Redesignation
  • Gain fresh strategies and practical insights for sustaining excellence.

• Aspiring Magnet® Leaders
  • Develop the foundational knowledge needed to support future Magnet® initiatives.

• Chief Nursing Officers and Senior Nursing Leaders
  • Understand the journey more deeply and strengthen organizational readiness.

• Nursing Excellence Leaders
  • Support professional practice and organizational culture initiatives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Magnet® Program Director Training

What is a Magnet® Program Director?

A Magnet® Program Director leads and coordinates an organization’s Magnet® journey, helping align nursing excellence initiatives, evidence collection, leadership engagement, and designation activities.

Who should attend a Magnet® Program Director course?

This course is valuable for new and experienced Magnet® Program Directors, nursing excellence leaders, CNOs, and leaders responsible for supporting Magnet® initiatives.

Is this course helpful for organizations pursuing redesignation?

Yes. Participants learn strategies for sustaining excellence, maintaining engagement, preparing documentation, and supporting long-term success beyond initial designation.

What competencies are important for Magnet® Program Directors?

Successful Magnet® Program Directors need expertise in leadership, communication, project management, professional practice, data analysis, relationship-building, and organizational change.

How does this course support nursing excellence?

Participants gain practical tools and strategies that help strengthen professional practice, leadership development, shared governance, and organizational culture.

What makes this course different from other Magnet® education programs?

This course is taught by experienced Magnet® Program Directors who provide practical guidance, real-world examples, lessons learned, and ongoing mentorship opportunities.

Will I have opportunities to network with other Magnet® Program Directors?

Yes. Many participants identify peer networking and relationship-building as one of the most valuable aspects of the program.