Magnet Hospital Status

we have had it for a couple of years, I can't see that I see anything different except more committees and meetings. No more money, still work short. It cost alot of money to obtain magnet status. I think you would be hard pressed to find a nurse that says it made a difference. well a nurse that isn't in management or admin. But the higher ups want the prestige.

I am not a manager, but, judging from the antics I have seen with my hospital (they are trying to obtain Magnet now), I would say it is not worth the hassle. I have seen them fudge policies, making silly poster boards, magnet marathons and many things that are simply not true. We are a city hospital that will not offer raises in pay or improved conditions. We have nurses who actually break HIPPA regularly, have fist fights and terrorize each other. However, because we have unions, it is harder to get rid of bad apples. If you want to check out some of my stories, go to the General Nursing Discussion Board, and you will see some of my rants. It reminds me of a circus. Magnet was supposed to arrive yesterday, but, one of the surveyors took ill, so, they ALL flew back home. All of the money, food, live floral arrangements and mandatory overtime was wasted. We are not sure when they will return, but it will be back to the insanity again within a few short weeks.

How long does it usually take for a hospital to get magnet status?

The entire process seems to take awhile. It begins with Magnet rallies, training people to understand what magnet is, developing policies and procedures that are supposed to be 'nurse driven', all in preparation for the BIG VISIT when the Magnet surveyors come to see if the nurses know their stuff. The hospital has to produce evidence of how these things are done. Even after they leave, it takes about 3-4 months to get the results. To me, it is a big joke, but some say that Magnet has improved things for nursing. I don't see how, but that is just a pet peeve of mine.

I totally agree with that.

Our hospital is in the process of trying to reach magnet status. I have been a LPN for years at this hospital and was very happy to put my 2 cent in. We also have a school of nursing and they push for education. Well I took a LPN to RN exam and was told I could start 2nd level to pursue my ADN and continue with BSN. I pass that test with fly colors and still didn't get into the program, and I have taken the biology classes over. I was then told 10 months later I needed to take the test over it has been a year since it took it. Isn't their 12 months in a year. Magnet status really pushes for nurses to get a BSN, but how can you do that if you can't get your foot in the door. I refused to take the test over and started at a community college and yes, 2nd level. I will not work there and then turn around and give my money to this Corporation. The only people I see around here that is happy with Maget status is management, and they are the first to go when there is cut backs. I plan to get a BSN, but rest assure I don't plan on being like my former boss who lost her position and is now working by my side with me showing her how to bar chart, calculate FIMs ect.. She was a cut back after they mailed everything in so she took a job on our unit. At first nursing satisfaction was thru the roof. Not so much anymore.

I saw improvement while they were going thru the process. Now that the "package" is mailed off those improvements are gone.

Magnet status means having to put up with a lot of B.S. like making nurses get certified ( as if being a registered nurse isn't good enough), having to crawl a clinical ladder if you want the huge 2% raise,holding job fairs,making action plans, lots of posters and other such B.S.... I personally went into nursing to take care of patients. Just give us better nurse patient ratios so we are able to give good patient care; give us a reasonable wage without having to join a union; and give us some benefits. Get your community status by some other method!

i have worked in 2 magnet hospitals in 2 different states and they were the worst hospitals i ever worked for. i am sorry to say i secretly giggled with glee when i found out my current place lost its status. the concept of magnet status is great. on paper. however, when it comes down to it, it is VERY VERY expensive for the hospital to go through the process, so they get all crazy like when JCACHO is expected. i felt like a little kid forced to wear the ugly dress my dreaded relative gave me with a very stern "now don't you embarrass me! you will wear that dress ad you WILL smile and tell aunt magnet you LOVE the dress!" a lot of time and money is spent conforming to the standards on paper. they have to show how they exhibit this and that trait, but in practice, they don't seem to buy their own act.
the first magnet hospital i worked in was a very large prestigious hospital in a large city. they might have been cranky and snobby anyway. the second one is the big-fish in a small pond. they are the largest and essentially the only hospital in the county. they are horrible to their nurses. they know we have little choice if we don't like what they do, so they take full advantage. i have worked for some fabulous non-magnet hospitals.
the magnet thing is a status symbol that stresses out the higher ups, costs a lot of money and i hope my experience is not the norm, but doesn't do a darn thing for the nurse in real life. i hope to hear opposite stories. one might work for a great hospital, but they would probably be good without the magnet. magnet status should be bestowed upon a hospital for excellent nursing retention. not something applied for a paid for. dontcha think?