Dropping Magnet

Nurses General Nursing

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  • Specializes in burn ICU, SICU, ER, Trauma Rapid Response.

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blondy2061h, MSN, RN

1 Article; 4,094 Posts

Specializes in Oncology.
I have worked at two hospitals that went through their "Journy to Magnet". During the run up to certification ratios were lowered and the units staffed better. That, and many other things, went away as soon as Magnet was achieved.

This was my exact experience when my hospital went through Magnet. I'm personally on a handful of our committees that make us look so good when Magnet comes, but most meetings I miss because our staffing isn't sufficient for me to leave for 2 hours for a meeting in the middle of the day.

Specializes in Critical Care.
OK, so one take-away is work harder, study more, obtain additional certifications, spend more of your time and money away from family / friends / hobbies... and then be the first to get fired.

Oh, okay... I think I get it now. :sarcastic:

It's sad but true. In good times hospitals may expand their nurse educator and CNS positions, but in down times and to save money they lay them off. You need bedside nurses and even bedside nurses are sometimes laid off, but they can get by with less admin both management and education if they have to. They can stretch them to do more jobs and save money. I read back in the day it was such nurses with MSN in education that then transitioned and went back to school for FNP to find a job.

Baubo516, RN

405 Posts

Specializes in Skilled Nursing/Rehab.

PMFB-RN -

And then we have the "Guest Services" department.

I know all about this. Patients get to be downright abusive and we're supposed to smile and say thanks. Oh yeah and apologize if anything is inconvenient for patients, even if it's their faults. I never worked at a magnet status hospital, but know several nurses who did. They also said staffing was great leading up to the certification. Once achieved they dropped back down.

Tait, MSN, RN

2,140 Posts

Specializes in Acute Care Cardiac, Education, Prof Practice.

I worked in a wonderful Magnet hospital. While there were problems, as with all systems, I don't believe anyone considered Magnet to be something worth "dropping". Moving into 5th designation this year I fear mergers and changes may make this path difficult for them.

In regards to someone who mentioned that their facility wasn't any different with or without Magnet, that there is the exact issue and most likely the reason the designation was lost. Magnet is a recognition for a culture of EBP, teamwork, and nursing led leadership. If it isn't there, then slapping Magnet on the door isn't going to bring it in.

Tait

PS. I was an ADN when I worked for this Magnet facility. It isn't all BSN, it is a goal of 80% BSN by 2020.

Specializes in Hospice.

well we just were told today we are restructuring and getting higher patient ratios and less training. awesome.

Specializes in MICU, SICU, CVICU, CCU, and Neuro ICU.

I always saw magnet as a marketing tool than anything else. If Magnet was really about better patient care and better nursing, the requirements would be completely different.

I've worked at both magnet and non magnet hospitals and never saw the difference in my day to day work or the patient care.

BonnieBorcyk

7 Posts

Care is deteriorating, because many of the people in charge of MAGNET status are MSN nurses or higher who came from another program like Business or something, and they got an accelerated degree in nursing. These people don't have the nursing experiences of someone who started at the bottom, like a CNA, LPN or low-level RN. They get the higher education, and hospitals hire them for management positions, or even higher than that. If you are being directed by someone who doesn't know your job, too many changes are made, and care drops. Nurses are unhappy with their work, so they go into other areas like community health, and you get a lot of just out-of-school nurses training other newer nurses. Some people think just because you have a higher degree, you're smarter and are easier to train.

justavolunteer

193 Posts

I am 'justavolunteer'. The hospital I volunteer at was magnet for 3 years & recently dropped it. They have recently announced layoffs, reduced, more pts. per nurse & CNA etc. A big part of magnet is asking nurses how they feel about their jobs. With all that's happend recently, the magnet attempt would have been dead out of the starting gate.

netglow, ASN, RN

4,412 Posts

Re: the poster who commented that ...The Institute of X recommended Magnet...

Dontcha know, that EVERYBODY does understand, that anything healthcare and esp. Hospital network-related that has the name of: The Institute of (____________) is totally made up marketing too?! I mean, seriously?!

Flyboy17

112 Posts

Specializes in EP/Cath Lab, E.R. I.C.U, and IVR.
Care is deteriorating, because many of the people in charge of MAGNET status are MSN nurses or higher who came from another program like Business or something, and they got an accelerated degree in nursing. These people don't have the nursing experiences of someone who started at the bottom, like a CNA, LPN or low-level RN. They get the higher education, and hospitals hire them for management positions, or even higher than that. If you are being directed by someone who doesn't know your job, too many changes are made, and care drops. Nurses are unhappy with their work, so they go into other areas like community health, and you get a lot of just out-of-school nurses training other newer nurses. Some people think just because you have a higher degree, you're smarter and are easier to train.

You took the words out of my mouth. Anymore when I hear MSN, I usually shudder at all the stupid, pointless, and meaningless things that will change in a hospital then watch it crumble because those masters prepared nurses that couldn't run a code if they had to dont do pt care therefore cannot manage it.

Kencanwin

60 Posts

perhaps they realized they could discriminate against ASN/ADNs without the designation. :sarcastic:

Speaking as a nursing student on the outside looking in, it appears Magnet status is exactly what is states a STATUS nothing changes on the inside of these hospitals aside from the fortunate nurses who get there BSNs paid for or reimbursed.

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