Magnet hospitals

JaxJax5423 · Nov 2, 2015

most major, reputable ones are Magnet.

Oh'Ello, BSN, RN · Nov 2, 2015

You can't skip the bsn. Adn-msn programs have to award a bachelors degree at some point in the programming. It's how education works.

As for Magnet popularity. Our hospital system has several magnet designated hospitals within it. The "Mothership" as we call it, that of highest repute, acuity, funding, and research output is NOT magnet designated, and is not pursuing it. They don't care because they don't have to. Their quality indicators speak for themselves.

VANurse2010 · Nov 2, 2015

You can't skip the bsn. Adn-msn programs have to award a bachelors degree at some point in the programming. It's how education works.
As for Magnet popularity. Our hospital system has several magnet designated hospitals within it. The "Mothership" as we call it, that of highest repute, acuity, funding, and research output is NOT magnet designated, and is not pursuing it. They don't care because they don't have to. Their quality indicators speak for themselves.

That's not entirely accurate. If the OP has a BA/BS in something, she may be able to get an MSN without a BSN. There are programs out there like that, although I do not believe they are common.

Lev, MSN, RN, NP · Nov 3, 2015

My hospital is Magnet. Of the three hospitals I have worked at, it is the best place I've ever worked.

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 3, 2015

You can't skip the bsn. Adn-msn programs have to award a bachelors degree at some point in the programming. It's how education works

First, yes, you can skip the BSN. There are lots of RN-MSN programs out there, and many of them do not award a BSN partway through.

In my area, our local hospital is in the process of switching to magnet status, which from what I understand, requires RNs to have a BSN.
I was just given some information that I am not sure is correct: "Magnet hospitals will not hire an advance practice nurse holding a MSN or higher if they did not receive a BSN first." Is this correct? Will they really care if I just go straight from ADN-MSN and skip the BSN?

Secondly, it's a well-cited fallacy that Magnet cares about bedside nurses' degrees. They do not. The only thing that Magnet specifies is that unit nurse managers should have at least a BSN, and that nursing directors and/or the CNO should have at least a Master's degree. And yes, an MSN DOES count when a BSN minimum is required.

What so many hospitals seem to be conflating is Magnet requirements, which DO NOT specify the minimum degree requirements of the bedside RN, and the IOM (Institute of Medicine), which published a position paper in 2010 entitled "The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health" in which they stated the goal that 80% of RNs in the US should have at least a BSN by 2020.

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 3, 2015

As you can see from the chart in the link, at the "average" Magnet facility, anywhere from 37-53% of the nursing staff DOES NOT hold at least a BSN.

http://www.nursecredentialing.org/CharacteristicsMagnetOrganizations.aspx

klone, MSN, RN · Nov 3, 2015

And finally, from the horse's mouth, here are the educational requirements of nursing staff applying for initial Magnet designation:

Organization Eligibility Requirements

Chief Nursing Officer
Effective 2003, the CNO must hold at a minimum, a master's degree at the time of application. If the master's degree is not in nursing then either a baccalaureate degree or doctoral degree must be in nursing. The requirement must be maintained throughout the application phase, review phase, and designation as a Magnet organization. Appointees as interim CNOs must also comply with this requirement.

Nurse Leaders
Nurse leaders must have a degree in nursing (bachelor's or higher).

Other registered nurses who may broadly influence or impact the clinical practice of nurses in the organization may be considered a nurse leader. If these nurses are referenced as nurse leaders in the organization's Magnet^Â® application, they must meet the educational criteria (bachelor's in nursing or higher) and report directly or indirectly to the CNO. Examples may include, but are not limited to, RN director of risk management or quality, RN director of nursing informatics, infection preventionists, and wound ostomy nurses.

Effective 1/1/2013 (at time of application) â€“ 100% Nurse Managers and Nurse Leaders must have a degree in nursing (baccalaureate or graduate degree)

SmilingBluEyes · Nov 3, 2015

most major, reputable ones are Magnet.

Not true.

HouTx, BSN, MSN, EdD · Nov 3, 2015

Magnet criteria is only focused on criteria that relate to NURSING professional practice. This does not mean that a non-magnet hospital cannot be top-notch in terms of quality and patient care. In many metro areas, hospitals are seeking Magnet designation in order to stay competitive... because everybody else has it. It also has to do with the growing public awareness that connects Magnet 'branding' with quality nursing care.

I'm glad that a PP already refuted the claim that Magnet designation is the driving force behind the 'BSN only' movement for hospitals. There is pressure from liability insurers and 3rd party payers to comply with the IOM recommendations because of the evidence on patient outcomes & this is actually a much stronger BSN driver than anything else. Kudos to the PP who posted the actual Magnet criteria... Thanks!.

AuDDoc · Nov 3, 2015

That's not entirely accurate. If the OP has a BA/BS in something, she may be able to get an MSN without a BSN. There are programs out there like that, although I do not believe they are common.

Correct. I was in the process of getting my AD RN and then would have had to take 3 of the BSN courses then would have jumped right into the MSN FNP courses and not been awarded a bachelors. Usually it occurs in the folks going into nursing with other medical field degrees.

ne0ven0m · Nov 8, 2015

Maybe slightly off topic, but I was wondering what the "real" reason hospitals pursue Magnet status is? (I'm only about 2.5 years in as an RN) I'm not buying the better patient outcome and more accountable nurses line they've been spewing. Because the chronic understaffing, lack of raises, cutting benefits and morale-boosting programs would indicate otherwise. Do Magnet hospitals get paid more in some way? Is it simply for bragging rights?