Magnet Hospitals-Worth it or NOT?

nursemike, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2006

My facility recently gained Magnet status. I don't see that it has made a lot of difference. I will say I think my employers have been very decent with me, both before and after Magnet. My entry job required only a high school education and paid significantly better than flipping burgers, and the flexible schedule was I big help when I was in nursing school. My orientation as a nurse was tough, but I had lots of support and encouragement, and while there are certainly limits to how far they will go, I believe our management genuinely wants us all to be happy and fulfilled.

To my thinking, Magnet status has been more of a feather in the cap of management than a benefit to us, but I do think it was a well-earned feather.

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 12, 2006

I don't work for a magnet hospital, but have kept my eyes on the situation because I am in a leadership position and have been involved in the discussions that have led to my hospital's decision to not pursue magnet status at this time.

When you are considering the "good, bad, and the ugly," ... don't forget to factor in the costs. Most hospitals spend several hundred thousand dollars to achieve their initial magnet certification ... with ongoing expenses to maintain and renew their certification also counted in terms of hundreds of thousands of dollars. (Most of that is spent on salary costs for people whose job it is to prepare the application ... go to conferences about preparing the application ... attend the many meetings addressing the application .... attending the many meetings about the projects/activities that are described within the application ... etc. etc. etc.)

It's a huge expense for the hospital ... and the people who are sponsoring conferences, serving as consultants to hospitals applying for magnet certification, writing books, etc. are all making money off it. Don't forget that.

llg

Trauma Columnist · Feb 12, 2006

I do work for a Magnet hospital but have felt all along that they have been wonderful to work for. I think the Magnet status (like llg stated) is definitely a bought and paid for puchase. However, it is becoming recognizable that Magnet hospitals have gone the extra distance to ensure they are doing the best they can do for the nursing staff.

UM Review RN, ASN, RN · Feb 12, 2006

This survey link is good. Just scroll to the bottom of the page to add your comments about your hospital.

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

llg, PhD, RN · Feb 12, 2006

I do work for a Magnet hospital but have felt all along that they have been wonderful to work for. I think the Magnet status (like llg stated) is definitely a bought and paid for puchase. However, it is becoming recognizable that Magnet hospitals have gone the extra distance to ensure they are doing the best they can do for the nursing staff.

I agree that the Magnet status shows that a hospital has made an extra effort. It's just that some nurses wrongly assume that hospitals without Magnet status must be worse. That's not the case. A hospital can make the extra effort and do all of the same things that Magnet hospitals do to be a good place to work -- but choose to not spend a lot of money on the certification program. Many hospitals have better things to do with the money.

I totally support the research that was done to identify "magnetic characteristics" and support hospitals' efforts to implement those programs that attract and retain good nurses. But I don't support the "business" that has grown up around the concept -- and the huge expenditures that hospitals are making for the certification process itself. That money could be spent on the nursing staff and/or other programs that improve working conditions and patient care.

The emphasis has gone from identifying and implementing magnetic qualities to gaining recognition and making money for the people directly involved. The staff nurses and the patients seem to be becoming less and less important to the program.

llg

dazedandconfused · Feb 12, 2006

They are attempting to gain magnet where I work also. I don't see how it having the "honor" will change anything. They ran a survey on nurse satisfaction that most did not bother to answer. They have to try again in a few months.

I would love someone from management to tell me what will change with the expense and time to gain this prize. So you get to put it on all your advertisements. yipee. But wait, management is not supposed to be calling the shots- it is supposed to be the staff nurse. I don't know if that is really going to work considering management still has a grip on the steering commitee.

jmgrn65, RN · Feb 12, 2006

we just recently gained Magnet status late fall this past year so we have only had it for a few months but I haven't seen any difference in how we do any thing. They do alot of survey's I think they have made some small changes from the results of the survey.

nursecave · Feb 13, 2006

We are Magnet Certified and I really can't see where it has done anything for us. It looks good to patients who have done some research, as they are under the impression that Magnet hospitals are so much better. We are still severely understaffed, and morale house wide is at an all-time low. Turnover is high, even management is leaving or stepping down to staff nurse positions. We do have scan rounds to make sure things are maintaining the levels we had at the time the Magnet surveyors came, but we know when they are coming, so we clean up and fly right when they are there. The management makes sure we are well staffed on those days. I don't think it is all it is cracked up to be.

steelcityrn, RN · Feb 13, 2006

Can't see how it improves anything for the average nurse. Its all about belonging to the good old boys club, fancy name and alot of money to acheive it. As for the nurse on the floor, still underpaid and overworked.

MedSurgeMess · Feb 13, 2006

thanks for the replies....it was just what I was afraid of . At my facility, we feel the money could be spent on better staffing and programs to retain staff. Any more comments out there?