Elaine Joyal, DNP, RN, NEA-BC is the Magnet Program Director for Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA. Her career spans 40 years and includes roles from clinical nurse to director of inpatient services, interim chief nursing officer, adjunct faculty in medical-surgical nursing, consultant, and Magnet Appraiser. In her current role, Elaine leads and assumes responsibility for the Magnet redesignation process. She also serves as the clinical site coordinator for the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI) and disseminates quality data with benchmarks throughout the organization, including interprofessional teams. Additionally, Elaine serves as a system-level resource for NDNQI and the Magnet recognition requirements.
Scholarly Work and Projects
Elaine Joyal’s DNP scholarly project focused on measuring nurses’ perceptions of empowerment by improving knowledge of nurse sensitive indicators and awareness of evidence-based practice. More recently, her projects include the design and implementation of a Magnet writers’ mentorship program for clinical nurses. Through this program, nurses were inspired and empowered to write the Magnet narratives and actively participated in a straight-to-site-visit redesignation. These clinical nurse writers also engaged as participants with the Magnet champions to prepare for the hospital’s January 2023 site visit. Furthermore, other projects include expanding the Brigham Mentors Program with new-to-practice nurses at one-two years and with other entities in the Mass General Brigham system.
Shared Governance and Professional Memberships
Elaine actively supports shared governance as a member of the Nursing Coordinating Committee and the Magnet, Recognition, and Well-being Committee. In addition, she has implemented and revised shared professional governance structures in other roles throughout her career. She is a member of the American Nurses Association, the American Organization of Nurse Leaders, and Sigma Theta Tau.
Recent Research
Nurses’ Knowledge of Nurse-Sensitive Indicators, Awareness of Evidence-Based Practice, and Nurses’ Perceptions of Empowerment. IRB Exempt. Completed 2022.
Recent Presentations
Magnet Journey – The Brigham’s Experience, Med-Star Health Magnet/Pathway to Excellence Meeting, August 2023
Preparing for Magnet Re-designation Site Visit, Dana Farber Cancer Institute Magnet Champion Retreat, April 2023