Proof that Magnet Status is a farce (read this article!!)

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in NICU.
Yeah, Magnet status is so great that I have resigned from a magnet hospital to go to a non-magnet status one. Our staffing ratios are a joke. I have yet to see an improvement.

What kind of staffing ratios do you have? I thought the ratios in my area were mandated nation wide, but maybe its just a California thing.

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Magnet is a marketing ploy. When the facility I used to work at got that "recognition", everything went downhill. It's a load of poop. All these hospitals and organizations care about it is what makes them look good. I thought the ANA was suppose to be an organization for nurses but it seems like it is working against all nurses.

Anyhow I have to say that I was glad to leave that "magnet" facility because it got so bad I thought I was gonna need to start taking anti-depressants.

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Specializes in OR Hearts 10.
Magnet is a marketing ploy. When the facility I used to work at got that "recognition", everything went downhill.

I worked at a Magnet (was already one before I started) and it was an alright place to work. Most of the nurses said once the Magnet status was achieved everything went pretty much back to normal, LOL.

Where I work now it's all about the "Health Grades" Pay enough money and you can get on that list. We have been in the top 5% for years. I'd hate to think what the working conditions are like for those in the bottom 5. Just goes to show how well we take care of our patients regardless of how we get dumped on.

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:yeah:

Excellent. Thank you for posting this.

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It's a load of poop.

As if I don't wade in enough crap for 12 hours.

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What kind of staffing ratios do you have? I thought the ratios in my area were mandated nation wide, but maybe its just a California thing.

It is indeed a "California thing". CA is the only state in the US with mandated ratios.

In other states, hospitals can pretty much assign nurses to as many pts as they will put up with, which is the main reason for the nursing "shortage."

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Did some travel nursing and went to a magnet hospital in Tenn. One of the worse hospitals I ever worked for - absolutely no ancillary support - the RN's did everything from PCA duties to draw your own labs. Plus they used alot of LPN's which meant there were nights I had to push meds on the whole floor because I was the only RN. My assignment load was only 5 patients but I never worked so hard in my life.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Administration (briefly).

It's about time we started collecting data on these magnet facilities.

Anybody else have any studies, position statements?

Maybe we could start a thread to see if any "magnet" nurses would like to share?

A few years ago I heard the head of the Magnet program speak at a nursing meeting.

I went up to her afterwards and asked how it could be possible that a TENET facility (TENET has the worst record I believe in trying to undermine nurses) could be a magnet facility?

She told me that the process had largely degenerated into a paper game, and that the site inspections were difficult due to the large number of facilities who were applying.

That facility has since had its magnet status revoked, and I hope I had something to do with it as I followed up with emails and letters to the magnet group.

Another issue is the inspectors they use. I would be willing to bet that most are members of AONE, an organization that cannot be trusted to support the interests of working nurses.:nono:

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Administration (briefly).

I recently took 2 classes to complete my PhD coursework in the business college at my university.

1 was a health policy class and the other was a health systems class.

I was struck by 1 research article and 1 textbook.

The article dealt with the implementation of TQM in 26 hospital facilities in Canada. The authors concluded that TQM only worked in 1 of the facilities, and went on to posit that the political environment in healthcare facilities was so dysfunctional that only tearing it all down and recreating it would allow TQM to proceed.

The text had a lengthy chapter on (US) hospital administrations and power at the administrative level. It talked at great length about the relationship between physicians and administrators.

Nursing was not mentioned at all in the entire chapter.

Sort of tells you how nursing is perceived by those in power.

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

Lawsy ever since I got my pacemaker the word MAGNET has a whole new meaning. Like I almost went into heart failure. Y'all be particular now about scaring old broads like me.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Lawsy ever since I got my pacemaker the word MAGNET has a whole new meaning. Like I almost went into heart failure. Y'all be particular now about scaring old broads like me.

Magnet almost made me code...I feel what you mean:banghead:

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