Does you hospital have magnet status?

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 17, 2004

I work for a magnet facility, and things didn't get better. But why should it. It designates the type of hospital that you are, it's only a certification.

A lot of it was like a JAHCO visit, things were prettied up, charting shored up etc. But some things you can't fake like nurse and patient satisfaction.

Have fun!

zacarias, ASN, RN · May 17, 2004

The teaching hospital I work at is a Magnet hospital. I don't know how they were before that but the majority of patients love the hospital.

While nurses can find something wrong with every hospital they work at, I feel that this hospital really is a good place for nurses to work and is a breath of fresh air from some of the other hospitals.

nekhismom · May 18, 2004

They DO have to maintain it. The standards are a bit more than JCAHO I think, and they can be inspected more often.

The magnet I worked at was MUCH better than the non-magnet.

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 18, 2004

They DO have to maintain it. The standards are a bit more than JCAHO I think, and they can be inspected more often.
The magnet I worked at was MUCH better than the non-magnet.

Yes, the stardards are more strict than JCAHO. As I hinted at they also look at employee satisfaction surveys and customer satisfaction surveys and have to be a certain score to get Magnet, and you can't fake that.

Sometimes, there is coworker pressure to laugh in the face of a hospital's attempt to get magnet status. I saw it here. "Yeah right, like we're a magnet hospital, hahaha, we'll never get it."

Tephra · May 18, 2004

I was very impressed with the "Magnet Hospital" concept when the first few hospitals were announced. But......

..since then, the concept seems to have been "diluted". My hospital was named this year. Woo. Hoo. Although I will say my hospital is one of the better ones locally, their recruitment, retention, and recognition efforts are abysmal.

During the Magnet visit, multiple breakfasts/lunches/meetings were arranged... at every one, there were management folks and/or unit "cheerleaders" who always wear the rose-colored glasses (I saw the schedules and who was to attend). Although there were short times scheduled for individual talks with the Magnet reviewers, I can't say what the attendance was (I work weekend nights myself, not much scheduled for our availability -- although if I thought it mattered, I'd have come in).

And as for why I don't think my opinion matters... for one thing, Magnet status is simply a marketing tool nowadays. I see no need to block it with what the reviewers would likely see as "isolated griping," I'd rather patients come to our hospital. But despite yearly nursing interest surveys, despite management frequently asking what we want ("More money!" "Retention bonuses!" "Better benefits!"), we don't get them.

I see new grads complaining about their "low" $3000 one-year completion bonuses.. the nurses that continue to have low productivity and results even after a year on staff and with continued education and reinforcement. And yet my 8 years loyalty with this place merits nothing more than my piddling annual raise.

BittyBabyGrower, MSN, RN · May 18, 2004

Magnet status in our hospital doesn't do really anything to help keep people there! It draws them in, but doesn't do a whole lot for retention! Are my working conditions better...not really. Are the same slouchy workers still slouchy, absolutely. Rah, Rah, and all that, but personally, I don't think my hospital is much better than the one up the street that I PRN at!

PJMommy · May 18, 2004

No - mine is not. But I wouldn't work at any other hospital in the area -- and would absolutely NEVER work (or go to as a patient) the one magnet hospital in town.

Dixiecup · May 18, 2004

They DO have to maintain it. The standards are a bit more than JCAHO I think, and they can be inspected more often.
The magnet I worked at was MUCH better than the non-magnet.

I don't know what a magnet hospital is. I've never heard of it. Please explain!

dawngloves, BSN, RN · May 18, 2004

It looks like the views are 50/50 on working at a magnet.But I just don't see how a hospital that has no retention incentives, no recognitions and just piss poor morale can think they can turn it around overnight. Plus the fact that magnet status seems to be handed out left and right around here lately.

Oh this'll be interesting to watch. :chair:

dawngloves, BSN, RN · May 18, 2004

Dixiecup, look here:

http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/magnet/benes.html