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 she served in roles from clinical nurse to director of inpatient services and interim chief nursing officer as well as adjunct faculty in medical-surgical nursing, consultant, and Magnet Appraiser. Elaine leads and assumes responsibility for the Magnet redesignation process, is 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. Elaine also serves as a system-level resource for NDNQI and the Magnet recognition requirements.
Elaine’s DNP scholarly project focused on measuring nurses’ perceptions of empowerment by improving knowledge of nurse sensitive indicators and awareness of evidence-based practice. Recent projects include the design and implementation of a Magnet writers’ mentorship program for clinical nurses, who were inspired and empowered to write the Magnet narratives and actively involved with a straight-to-site-visit redesignation. These clinical nurse writers were also engaged participants with the Magnet champions to prepare for the hospital’s January 2023 site visit. Other projects include expanding the Brigham Mentors Program with our new-to-practice nurses at one-two years and with other entities in the Mass General Brigham system.
Elaine is active in supporting 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. Elaine is a member of the American Nurses Association, the American Organization of Nurse Leaders, and Sigma Theta Tau.
Recent completed DNP scholarly project:
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