Magnet curse!

Nurses Professionalism

Published

Anyone else work at a Magnet hospital where shortly after you got magnet accreditation the work environment/morale went downhill? We got magnet in 2011 and currently it is not a good place to work! Lots of turnover, travel nurses, etc. on my unit we are required to get our CCRN within two years (which will be over by the end of this year!!) or they say they will post our jobs (if we haven't gotten it yet). These are just a few examples. I was wondering if this has happened elsewhere.

Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

Hilarious

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PACU, OR.

Don't get me wrong tuition reimbursement is a good thing, especially if the hospital has a goal of increasing the amount of BSN's. Our tuition reimbursement is $1500.oo per year-with a two year commitment for the hospital. Kind of ridiculous when you realize that this money will pay for just one class (maybe 2) in an RN-BSN program and less than that for a MSN program. So my question to HR was, if I use the tuition reimbursement, twice that means I have to stay at this hospital for 4 years? I chose not to take it. I don't want to be beholden to any institution, I want to have the freedom to move about when I want to without the guilt of deciding to leave before my commitment is up. I also think that this is not enforceable.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi realist here and let me tell a quick story about McDonalds in Boston. Back in the 80's before there was a recession McDonalds would hire folks without a highschool diploma or GED. The recession hit in the early 80's and what used to be a few applications turned into 100's of applications. So this restaurant had to adapt to the change and placed the requirement of having a GED. Applications decreased for a time as everyone figured out "I need some skewl".

Fast forward to 90's when recession hit as it does every ten or so years. Same thing happened GED applications went from 50 to 100 for a single position, so in turn they changed the requirement to a high school diploma to meet the over whelming amount of applications.

So, lets take the same situation and throw nursing in it. The reality the difference between Associates and a Bachelors in Nursing is basically some really really really stupid classes. Classes such as research, community, and a few others basically make those with a bachelors more marketable? Yes, and the reason is based on the McDonalds economic situation above. You can think your getting "bullied" into getting an education, or you can take your experience and hope its enough. Yet, before you make that rash decision to say "I am done with continuing my education" let me go ahead and ask....do you know what supply and demand is. High supply of people out of work equates to a employers market not employees. You probably could ride out this wave, but next one what do you think might not be around? LPN? CNA? I know a lot of smart people that did accelerated BSN classes and burned passed any associate graduate for positions locally.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Rehab/Brain/Stroke/Spine.

1) I believe as a nurse, one should ALWAYS continue with their education.

2) Purvavida, I agree with your post, supply and demand etc. is a factor with employment opportunities.

3) Magnet is a JOKE! It is a scam. I have some research I have done on Magnet, I will draw it up, and post it.

4) I was on the Magnet committee, and "drank the kool-aide", was even excited thru the process. Until, within 6 months of getting our Magnet status our staffing went to ****. Our 4 patient : 1 RN ratio, went back up to 5-6 patients.

NO MORE free food, meals ... Ha!

Our unit went from 5 CNRN's to Zero, b/c we resigned.

There was a huge turn-over, from our CNO, management, educator, to new grads, etc.

No raises, period.

Etc., etc., etc

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I never knew it was like that at other places. My hospital has been Magnet for 8 years. I have no complaints. Not only do we get raises and bonuses every year, but we get gifts, tuition reimbursement, contributions to IRA, crazy shift diffs and incentives, good benefits, 8-9 hours of paid time off every 2 weeks,discounts in cafe and gift shop and pharm...the list could go on and on. I love where I work Personally, its not the Magnet status that makes an organization thay way, its other issues. Magnet status does not cause lack of raises, high turn overs etc. Magnet is like an award. It differentiates nursing excellence and is meant to empower nursing and decrease turn over. some hospitals can do well with it under proper guidNce and leadership

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU.

I think what happens is some hospitals strive for magnet for status reasons, then once they get it they go back to their old ways. My hospital is basically forcing us to get certifications, etc. so their numbers look good for renewal. The morale is awful and turnover is high. There is no incentive to get certifications or BSN degrees. Tuition reimbursement is there but it is not 100% and there is no pay increase for either one. From an employee perspective everyone thinks they are pushing for these things for the numbers to look good. If they would point out the upside to these things and give us an incentive to do so I think everyone would look at it differently. Out only incentive for getting our CCRN right now is that our job will be posted if we don't get it by november. How's that for morale??

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You could always ask your RM dept to do a study on variable that would look at the difference in outcomes-- financial, chiefly-- before and after, or c different %ages of certified or degreed staffers.

Or you could get your degrees and certs and then quit to go work somewhere they'll pay you better for them. :) That might garner some attention.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment