MAGNET Designation

[kgg6]

Something interesting I learned in class today -- RNs at Magnet designated hospitals have lower job satisfaction rates than hospitals without that designation. We discussed possible reasons for this, and it seems like RNs at these hospitals are expected to 'jump thru hoops' so to speak. They have to do more education, modules, spend more time outside of their shift work doing extra activities. Which type of hospital do you work at? Would you still prefer to work somewhere with magnet designation or not?

[klone, MSN, RN]

I've worked inpatient at 2 Magnet facilities, and inpatient at one non-Magnet facility. My observations, FWIW, is that at the Magnet facilities, the nurses themselves placed great importance and value at continuing education, evidence-based practice, and just advancement of nursing practice. At these facilities, the vast majority of the nurses were BSN prepared, a good 30-50% were continuing education with MSNs, a large percentage had specialty certifications. Continuing education, in all its facets, was encouraged and expected. At the non-Magnet facility, only one or two nurses in our unit had a BSN, and only one had a specialty certification (out of maybe 50 nurses?).

[AJJKRN]

I've worked inpatient at 2 Magnet facilities, and inpatient at one non-Magnet facility. My observations, FWIW, is that at the Magnet facilities, the nurses themselves placed great importance and value at continuing education, evidence-based practice, and just advancement of nursing practice. At these facilities, the vast majority of the nurses were BSN prepared, a good 30-50% were continuing education with MSNs, a large percentage had specialty certifications. Continuing education, in all its facets, was encouraged and expected. At the non-Magnet facility, only one or two nurses in our unit had a BSN, and only one had a specialty certification (out of maybe 50 nurses?).

My hospital probably had about 600+ nurses when first trying for Magnet status belonging to just the hospital alone. We have 1,000+ this time around because the clinics are now included with our re-designation. Out of those 600, about 50 percent were ADN, about 40 percent BSN, 7 percent MSN, and 3 percent Diploma. I would say at least 30 to 40 percent with certifications. This is a level 1 trauma, teaching, non-profit. When we re-designated, we were 60 percent BSN, 28 percent ADN, 10 percent MSN, and 2 percent Diploma. Now we are also about 60 percent certified nurses. During this time our tuition reimbursement has been cut in half. Thankfully I was grandfathered in when they decided to cut it though. My point, which is off the beaten path, has to do with my disdain for the Aiken studies that don't take into account the continuing education and advancement that many facilities promote and provide nor the staff's journey that has been taken to get to the actual statistics being used to promote these papers...or designations. It's the staff (that can come from all walks of life and if given the chance will amaze you) and availability of funding (the facility's sustainability) to provide good care and availability for nursing advancement that let's facilities provide good care. Ahhh, I think I've spent WAY too much time on AN today!!!

[sistrmoon, BSN, RN]

I've worked at both a Magnet and non Magnet hospital. I was much unhappier at the Magnet hospital but that's because it had horrible ratios and very little support staff/services. Having to regurgitate the Magnet phrases just made it that much more ironic. That was absolutely a dismal place for both patient safety and nurses alike.

[dishes, BSN, RN]

I am not sure that it matters whether a nurse works at a magnet hospital or not, nor does it matter what the nurse's designation is or even what level their formal education is, I think a nurse's personality traits matters more. There are nurses with all levels of education who participate in continuing education and evidence based practice because of the intrinsic value they place on providing conscientious, professional, patient care. I would like to see a study that recognizes these personality traits and the value they add to the work place.

[Gooselady, BSN, RN]

My last job was in a Magnet hospital, and they were shooting for Magnet status when I signed on, and it's been my only acute med/surg hospital job. I don't have a reference. But I did notice a LOT of 'committees' and 'focus groups' and outside work 'activities' which I'm sort of ashamed to say I ignored. I couldn't get into it and yes, it did seem like 'piling on more work' for a special status that didn't make that much difference in my life. Then again, I haven't worked in a NON magnet hospital, I've managed to avoid hospital nursing for years, and mainly did what I did to prove that I could (and stayed for six and a half years cuz I kinda liked it!).

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Among my circle of ER, ICU and transport nurse friends Magnet is short hand for a crappy place to work.

[guest769224]

What does magnet status do for a nurse? A resume booster? I doubt it. I thought magnet just reflects certain qualifications the hospital meets. If anything, it sounds like a disadvantage to a staff RN

[ArtClassRN, ADN, RN]

I work in a Magnet hospital. Nurses who participate in committees generally feel empowered. Nurses who don't participate and complain about every. single. thing. every. day are generally not impressed with Magnet status and could not tell you anything about Magnet designation or what it is if you spoon fed it to them.

Which has been tried.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I work in a Magnet hospital. Nurses who participate in committees generally feel empowered.

That was me. At least initially. I was on a Magnet committee during our "Journey to Magnet". I spent a lot of my own time and effort into it. I was a believer. I wanted it. Slowly, after participating in one hospital's "Journey to Magnet", and working in a couple others and also participating on several committees I slowly became disillusioned. I started to see it for what it was, at least at those facilities.

Nurses who don't participate and complain about every. single. thing. every. day are generally not impressed with Magnet status and could not tell you anything about Magnet designation or what it is if you spoon fed it to them.

Now I know what REALLY makes a nurse empowered. A good union. After several Magnet hospitals left a bad taste in my mouth, and after many discussions with my circle of ER, ICU and transport RN friends I went looking for a non Magnet, publicly owned, hospital with a good union. I found one and things have never been better for me job wise. I have never made as much money, had better benefits, felt safer (about my job), and most importantly, allowed to provide the kind of high quality care my patients deserve.

[Baubo516, RN]

I work at a Magnet hospital - just got re-designated. I currently work as a CNA but just finished my Associates Degree and assuming I passed my RN boards yesterday, I will start orientation as an RN next Wednesday. What I know about Magnet has been learned through the many presentations I attended at staff meetings during our last re-designation push. The designation is called "Magnet" because these hospitals are supposed to provide a quality professional environment that attracts talent, as in, good nurses. Get it? Magnets attract metal...Magnet hospitals are supposed to attract quality professionals. Having said that, my manager had to work hard to get me hired with an Associates Degree and I had to sign a paper saying I would get my BSN within a certain # of years of my hire date. This is the only hospital at which I have worked, so I can't really say what Magnet designation does for the nurses. But I did do clinical rotations at both big hospitals in town, and found that there were happy nurses and miserable nurses at both. There were happy patients and unhappy patients at both, as well. I DID notice that the Magnet hospital's policies and procedures are more up to date with the latest standards of evidence based practice. For example, the non-Magnet hospital has a policy to change a peripheral IV site every 72 hours (or was it 96? Some set number.) The Magnet hospital's policy is to change peripheral IV sites only when necessary. I did not look up the research, but supposedly this policy is based on evidence that unnecessarily changing IV sites actually introduces more bacteria and increases risk for infection for the patient.

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

This is interesting, Baubo516. The policy has been 72 hours (and some can be 96 hours) however, I would be interested in actually seeing how a nurse decides "when necessary". When there's redness to the site? If there's an infiltrate? Then I would think that counterproductive to infection control.

Additionally, if you are getting patients from the ED, most have large bore IV's in the AC--quick and easy IV access for critical emergency issues. If the patient then is coming to the floor--large bore IV's hurt and ache, and in the AC are uncomfortable to boot. Is that a "necessary" reason?

Here's my thought process. With policies that have vague statements for the care of patients like "when necessary" these are subjective terms. That are use to cover the butts of the facility if a nurse deems something "not necessary" and the patient ends up with a non-reimbursable hospital acquired infection.

Magnet may introduce a nurse to many opportunities. However, the same opportunities exist for certifications for all nurses to pursue. If a nurse chooses to get involved in committees, that too exists, Magnet or not. Interestingly, in my experience with the "Journey" it was a good way to start clearing out the less than BSN's, creating committees for self governing that pushed out the unions only to then find that if the committee governs one way, the upper management can squelch that in a hot minute (and will if it affects their bottom line) and do whatever it is they would like to. And any number of facilities could (and some do) hire and retain nurse educators, that could bring many points of interest in education to nurses, Magnet or not.

It is a huge marketing scheme to create the illusion that nurses gain control of their environment. Which never seems to be the case once one is enmeshed in it. Because the bottom line is that a facility is a business interested in the bottom line. Nurses are tuned to their practice and patient care and function. In order to meet the bottom line, nurses need to feel as if they are valued. This is a good way for a facility to make nurses produce, but give them the illusion of value.

Be mindful and careful of any policies that are open ended and vague. Anything that is subjective. 3 nurses can see "when necessary" 12 different ways--akin to sitting in a circle playing "hot potato" Yes, sir-ee, you are out...

[jadelpn, LPN, EMT-B]

Partially quoting PMFB here, but bears repeating...

"That was me. At least initially. I was on a Magnet committee during our "Journey to Magnet". I spent a lot of my own time and effort into it. I was a believer. I wanted it. Slowly, after participating in one hospital's "Journey to Magnet", and working in a couple others and also participating on several committees I slowly became disillusioned. I started to see it for what it was, at least at those facilities"

This is so true. As an acute care LPN for multiple years, myself and another 2 LPN's were asked to come to a "governance" meeting only to discover that part of the discussion was "eliminating the LPN role".......And in governing ourselves there was no need for a union......and to sign contracts to get to a BSN in whatever number of years and in fact, they would "see if a position was available" at that time....(which anything can happen in a set number of years)

It was a huge amount of nonsense.....