Need info from Magnet Hospital nurses

[Rae]

My facility is working towards Magnet Hospital status. I know that one of the magnet application criteria is that the facility must demonstrate that there is autonomy. Administration is looking at having different departments wear different colored uniforms. Does anyone who works at a facility with magnet status have administration mandating what the staff wears?

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

I work for a magnet hospital and that really doesn't sound like autonomy to me. What's the reasoning behind that may I ask?

We do have a lot of autonomy, plus we have a say so in a lot of things if we are willing to join committees and participate in changing things.

Good luck!

[leslie :-D]

i agree with tweety.

the mandated uniforms would not be reflective of any autonomy.

magnet aspiring hospitals recognize/value nursing as key players in the functioning of the hospital.

morale is typically high, and turnover low.

but of course, uniforms are insignificant in the big scheme of things.

now if this type of dictatorial attitude was pervasive in all decisions and depts., then those values do not reflect those with magnet status.

leslie

[altomga, ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN]

the hospital I work at recently obtained magnet status (not to sound like a party pooper, but I'm still wondering how??? )...anyhow...wearing look alike scrubs just sounds like they are trying to "pretty the place up" for when the inspectors come around. Some units in the hospital do have certain requirements, but all in all it is pretty much up to the individual.

[katjac2]

Just a FYI

If your facility has been charged with an unfair labor practice as determined by a full and final adjudicated arbitration proceeding the facility will be barred from recieving magnet designation for 5 years. Reports can be made to the American Nurses Credentialing Center, ANCC, Magnet Recognition Program at http://www.ANCC.org

Staff is invited/encouraged to write a 'Public Comment' regarding the application. I did, and I also requested to speak with the appraiser should the evaluation of documentation progress to an onsite review.

There is a lot of information re application, fees, etc.

"Knowledge is POWER"

[LuLuinNC]

I work for a magnet hospital and that really doesn't sound like autonomy to me. What's the reasoning behind that may I ask?

We do have a lot of autonomy, plus we have a say so in a lot of things if we are willing to join committees and participate in changing things.

Good luck!

Twetty, I was wondering if I could ask which state you work in? it seems like you work for a good hospital, one that respects nurses and sees you all as important part of healthcare team.

[Elenaster]

I work for a Magnet hospital, actually the first to achieve magnet status in NC. We do wear color-coded scrubs, but I believe it was a policy that was in place long before the achievement of magnet status.

The hospital where I used to work in another state applied for and was granted magnet status and the employees could wear whatever color scrubs they wanted.

I don't think that uniforms demonstrate autonomy in practice, and a new uniform policy will most likely be rejected by current staff if a policy wasn't in place previously.

Things like self-scheduling, monthly shared governance meetings, and anything that is indicative of collaboration with other disciplines is more what the ANCC folks are looking for to demonstrate autonomy.

[pjdouble]

Hi ya'll,

I work in a hospital that is trying to achieve Magnet status at this time. We also have scrub colors designated, but this was done not to take power and autonomy away from nurses but to benefit patients. Our patients know which of us are nurses by the color of our scrubs. I like the cute colored and/or flowered scrubs too, but at the risk of sounding like a total idealist, isn't our main priority to do what's best for the patient?

[nursemaa]

I don't think the kind of autonomy that Magnet status requires has anything to do with wardrobe. They're looking for evidence that nurses are involved in making decisions that affect their practice, such as policies and procedures related to patient care, shared governance, involvement in research studies, collaborative practice, etc. Most workplaces have dress codes, and employees are expected to adhere to them, so I don't really understand why this is always such a big issue with us nurses. Just my opinion.

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Most workplaces have dress codes, and employees are expected to adhere to them, so I don't really understand why this is always such a big issue with us nurses. Just my opinion.

I see your point. It's only when they have a dress code in place that people have adhered to for years, then it's changed and choice is taken away that people seem to get bent out of shape. Color seems to be the biggie. Take away choice and mandate a color, especially white and people make a big issue of it.

[harley_fan]

I work for a Magnet hospital and we do have color coded scrubs. Units took a vote to decide what color they wanted from a choice of about 7. Like others have said, I think it is more to pretty the place up. That can be nice too... takes the guess work of deciding what to wear!

[meownsmile, BSN, RN]

My hospital spent the last 10 years trying the universal uniform scrubs for each department. It was a no win. People soon were wearing their whites with the color assigned. Then were wearing white tops with the color bottoms. Then it was ok to wear all white instead of the colors, but if you wore a color it had to be the assigned color. Then when we all complained that it made no difference because when we floated we stuck out like a sore thumb anyway it all kind of floated away. Noone said a thing about the colors/pattern assignments again and we are all back to wearing the color/pattern scrubs/uniforms of our own choosing again.

Originally i think it was directed so patients could more easily asertain who was who, but after the point was brought up that unless they are told they dont know anyway it became a moot point.