Does Magnet Status make a difference?

After reading a few threads here about the reasons nurses are unhappy with the workplace, I'm wondering if conditions are better at facilites that have been awarded magnet status.

Magnet is nothing but a huge PR joke. It means absolutely NOTHING to staff nurses.

After reading a few threads here about the reasons nurses are unhappy with the workplace, I'm wondering if conditions are better at facilites that have been awarded magnet status.

In my experience, Magnet status means you pulled to manager twice as often for every "customer" complain you have nothing to do with (food not served in time by dietary etc.)

Right, and there is another thread on this issue if you do a search to find out more.

Hospitals PAY to apply to a company who makes an on site visit to determine if everyone is in Happytown. It seems the ones with the largest pockets win.

It DEFINITELY has nothing to do with nurse satisfaction.

We have a local hospital who "achieved" magnet status who uses TONS on agency staff. Their pay is second lowest in the region, they roate shifts on EVERYONE (except the most "senior nurses") and juggle your schedule around so much your head spins.

Every unit, every facility has their "thing" which makes someone either want to stay, or hate the place. Having "magnet hospital" printed on everything in sight does not mean a thing in the real world, it just looks good to the public. (happy nurses do a good job........mmm, well yes, if they were truly happy, this is true!)

after reading a few threads here about the reasons nurses are unhappy with the workplace, i'm wondering if conditions are better at facilites that have been awarded magnet status.

not that i've noticed, and i've worked for three magnet hospitals.

Magnet is a huge joke. The hospital I worked for was just concluding their "journeyto Magnet". It was rediculous. I have never seen such unhappy, backbiting nurses and crooked management in my life. They came around with these "Magnet Moment" carts and liteterally give candy out to people who correctly answered questions the magnet people might ask. The only time I ever saw my unit adequately staffed was our "mock magnet" day. I didn't know it was the "special day," and actually asked some co-workers, "Why's there so many people on today?" Yeah, the letters PR and BS definitely come to mind when I think of Magnet now.

Magnet status seems to be more consumer/patient oriented than nurse oriented. The theory is happy nurses make for a better hospital stay. People with a very graceful approach to life will be happy; on the other hand... those who are angry, agressive, depressed and otherwise not in the mental groove of 'happy to be alive' will be angry no matter what we put on their plate of life.

See no difference, and I am in one.......

After reading a few threads here about the reasons nurses are unhappy with the workplace, I'm wondering if conditions are better at facilites that have been awarded magnet status.

*** I work in a great hospital where nurses are treated with respect and as prefessionals. It is a Magnet hospital but I don't think that has anything to do with it.

Only problem is that the pay is very low.

Isn't that always the way it is? The best place to work has low pay, the high paying hospitals are bad places to work?

Ok here's my beef with Magnet today (and I've worked at 2 other hospitals doing their "journey")...

We had to "vote" for which coworkers we wanted on our UPC (unit practice council) and lucky me - I got chosen as an alternate.

So I get an email on the 10th saying the meeting is on the 15th, time to be determined. Mind you, I'm an ALTERNATE. Saw no word about this again until...

Phone message today (I was sleeping - night shift) asking if I can go to EIGHT hour kick-off meeting tomorrow starting at 8am, as the two designated people are working tonite and can't go in the morning. Mind you, *I* work tomorrow night!

Phoned back and said, sorry, I work that night so can't make it. Got asked, can I at least do half of it? why can't the two working tonite stay over and do half of it???

Needless to say - not going to a meeting tomorrow!

Now questions: Am I REQUIRED to be a magnet UPC alternate?? Is this mandatory?? I was also informed that me and one other are on a communications committee as well. No idea when that's supposed to be, though I heard that there was a meeting last week - no one told me of course. No email, no nothing. I'm night shift so a lot of these meetings are going to be a real pain in the butt for me, and I VALUE my sleep, thankyouverymuch!

Thoughts????

so i get an email on the 10th saying the meeting is on the 15th, time to be determined. mind you, i'm an alternate. saw no word about this again until...

phone message today (i was sleeping - night shift) asking if i can go to eight hour kick-off meeting tomorrow starting at 8am, as the two designated people are working tonite and can't go in the morning. mind you, *i* work tomorrow night!

phoned back and said, sorry, i work that night so can't make it. got asked, can i at least do half of it? why can't the two working tonite stay over and do half of it???

needless to say - not going to a meeting tomorrow!

thoughts????

obviously, your managment team lacks respect for the sleep schedules of their night shift. but you already knew this. can you sit down with them and suggest that the meetings be held in the afternoon? my old nursing unit used to hold meetings from 5-9 pm. everyone hated it equally -- days and nights -- but we all had to agree that it was fair to everyone. night shift had to wake up early to get there, and day shift had to stay up past their bedtimes. management ordered pizza, or sometimes the drug companies sent food. we did 3-7 pm, and 3-9 pm sometimes too. also, the meeting times were announced at the same time the schedule came out -- and people's hours were scheduled in.

No difference in fact if anything it is worse, they only pretend to listen to nurses. We are on all these committes but they don't listen or refuse to listen to us.

It is BS

Magnet Status is a feel good corporate ploy used to lull nursing staff into a false sense of confidence.

Ranks right up there with the "nursing should be like Disneyland" customer service swill.