Magnet hospital

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Emergency room, med/surg, UR/CSR.

I don't think it means anything. I know a nurse that was fired from a "Magnet" hospital because they thought she opened her mouth too much. She had many years in this "Magnet" hospital. I think if a hospital is truly wanting to be a "Magnet" hospital, that the last thing they should do is fire anyone, let alone someone who was the best nurse our department had, was always fair, and didn't let anyone slack off when she worked. (which I think is one of the things that probably got her in trouble, people complained about her making them work instead of sit). I think that the sign of a good place of employment is giving everyone a fair chance to correct their behavior before you end of having to fire them. I know with some people this wouldn't work, but if you truly want to attract people, you would want to be known as a place that treats employees fairly, and the employees are satisfied that even if they aren't perfect they still have job security. Just my opinion, and probably not stated very well.

BETSRN

1,378 Posts

Magnet status is a farce.

I don't think it is always a farce". I think it at least says something about the hospital's intention and that's important.

We have two magnet facilities here and I kow people who work for both. They are BOTH very pleased about the nurse's ability to be involved and love their facilities.

I know that if and when I ever decide to move and have to hospital shop, being a magnet facility will definitely be a criteria for me, if at all possible. I think it gives you something to go on as a basis to begin your judgements.

BETSRN

1,378 Posts

I work at a magnet hospital and don't have much to compare it to. Several travelers though have said they can see a difference between magnet hospitals and our hospital.

I can't say there's a lot of pride. Because in our society and it isn't culturally acceptable to take in a place of employment. It's far more common to complain about work.

I LOVE your posts, third shift guy! they are always so positive and upbeat. What a pleasure!

Trauma Columnist

traumaRUs, MSN, APRN

88 Articles; 21,249 Posts

Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

I work at a Magnet hospital and I wouldn't consider working anywhere else.

allnurses Guide

NurseCard, ADN

2,847 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

The hospital that I work at is currently trying to obtain magnet status. I've only worked at this one hospital and I honestly and truly cannot say that I am any happier now than I was before we started our magnet program. Our nurse to patient ratios certainly are not any better; in fact they are often worse. Before the personnel who wanted to begin the magnet program at our hospital were hired, we actually utilized agency personnel . Now, when we do not have enough nurses to cover shifts, nurses are called on their days/nights off and asked to come in. Yes, we get "premium pay", but y'know, after a long hard, exausting week, you can't pay me ANYTHING to come in on my night off.

Our staffing problem is NOT being addressed; not in any of our "committees", nowhere. Heck, we even had a staffing department at one time, and that dept. was completely eliminated, which I think is terrible. I do NOT feel like it is acceptable to for nurses to have 10 patients apiece and aides to have 14 apiece on night shift, but that's the way it is many nights, here lately. The administration wonders why we are having so many falls.

I have to admit, there are a few good things that have happened at my hospital lately. We have all-computer charting on most of our units, which is GREAT. We have electronic mars. We have an Omnicell for our narcs and stocked meds now. And I do kind of like the clinical ladder, if for no other reason, because it gives me some incentive to achieve different things as a nurse.

anc33

327 Posts

Specializes in Oncology, Research.
I don't think it is always a farce". I think it at least says something about the hospital's intention and that's important.

We have two magnet facilities here and I kow people who work for both. They are BOTH very pleased about the nurse's ability to be involved and love their facilities.

I know that if and when I ever decide to move and have to hospital shop, being a magnet facility will definitely be a criteria for me, if at all possible. I think it gives you something to go on as a basis to begin your judgements.

I worked at a Magnet hospital previously and it was a wonderful experience. Nurses were well respected, given autonomy, provided educational opportunities, etc. Now I work at a different Magnet facility and I cannot for the life of me understand why they acheived the status. Staffing is horrible and nurses are leaving in droves. New nurse orientation consists of six weeks of following a preceptor, no classroom work. There is absolutely no emphasis on nursing development or research. And this is supposed to be the premiere hospital in the state! The huge discrepancy between the quality of these two hospitals and their nursing departments shows me that Magnet status is indeed a "farce".

Some magnets stick and are doing a good job. Other magnets seem to be a little off kilter, like the magnet was stuck on wrong in the first place and no one ever figured out how to move it to the center a little. IMHO, a good hospital does not have to be a magnet.

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

BTW, "Magnet" is a nursing designation. So when you "Magnet Hospital", it's not the hospital. It's a reflection of the nursing department and staff. :)

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
All I can say is that not all magnet hospitals are created equal.
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ok I am stupid. Then, why bother attaching such status if it's not a standard to aspire to, one by which we measure all??? This makes no sense to me. am i alone here in wondering why ALL MAGNET HOSPITALS ARE NOT EQUAL???????????

sounds like a farce to me, too.

Tweety, BSN, RN

34,248 Posts

Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ok I am stupid. Then, why bother attaching such status if it's not a standard to aspire to, one by which we measure all??? This makes no sense to me. am i alone here in wondering why ALL MAGNET HOSPITALS ARE NOT EQUAL???????????

sounds like a farce to me, too.

Deb, why are not all RNs equal? They all hold the same license and pass the same RN?

Look at it this way. An "A" in many programs is from 93 to a 100. The person making the 93 is not equal to the person making the 100. But they both get A's.

That's how I look at it. Magnet hospitals have the same standards to get the designation, but it is manisfested differently depending on where you go.

Some hospitals treat it like a JACHO visit and put on a fake face and muddle through and get the designation. Others truly make the grade. But, having been through the process, for the most part it's not something hospitals can fake their way through.

Also many staff nurses buy into the idea, and others don't.

BTW to the poster above. Magnet isn't really interested in patient to RN ratios.

SmilingBluEyes

20,964 Posts

Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.
Deb, why are not all RNs equal? They all hold the same license and pass the same RN?

Look at it this way. An "A" in many programs is from 93 to a 100. The person making the 93 is not equal to the person making the 100. But they both get A's.

That's how I look at it. Magnet hospitals have the same standards to get the designation, but it is manisfested differently depending on where you go.

Some hospitals treat it like a JACHO visit and put on a fake face and muddle through and get the designation. Others truly make the grade. But, having been through the process, for the most part it's not something hospitals can fake their way through.

Also many staff nurses buy into the idea, and others don't.

BTW to the poster above. Magnet isn't really interested in patient to RN ratios.

I mean, if a place achieves "magnet status" and there is NO standard by which they go to ASSIGN it, why BOTHER Tweety??? It sounds like a sneaky trap to attract the best and brightest nurses, only. Not anything at all meaningful. Does that make more sense?

allnurses Guide

NurseCard, ADN

2,847 Posts

Specializes in Med/Surge, Psych, LTC, Home Health.

I guess what I'm sensing is this: Magnet is about nurses who want to go somewhere where they will feel like they have a voice in what happens at their hospital. Where they will feel like they can be leaders. Where they will feel like they can be motivated to make acheivements as nurses.

Magnet isn't interested in whether your place is actually a nice place to work or not.

That's why Magnet doesn't interest me very much. Because you know, I enjoy taking care of people and all that, but at the same time, I would actually like to work in a pleasant, safe, SOMEWHAT less stressful environment. I'm not interested in being a leader. I'm interested in not dreading going to work every night.

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