Magnet status and the public

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In my area, which is MD/DC/VA area, there are many hospitals that are Magnet. Of the few hospitals that are not Magnet, they are pushing for it by the end of this decade. As a nursing student, I have been asked very confusing questions from patients, friends, family, and acquaintences about nursing. Many do not have a clue about the various degrees, education preparation, salaries, and job descriptions of this broad nursing field.

I am currently in a ADN program. While in conversations with these people I had to explain to them that I will be an RN when I finish school and pass boards. However, I need to get my Bachelor's degree in nursing if I am to remain marketable and employable because of all hospitals pursuing Magnet status. I always get a dumb-founded look or a confused response. The most common response is, "So, will you be a RN, LPN, or a CNA?" My response is an ADN nurse and BSN nurse are both RNs. The difference is the BSN nurse took additional classes. Regardless, I can get the same above question or worse, like, "why not go for your CNA? My sister/neice/daughter is a nurse (after inquiring found out they were actually a CNA) and make good money. Hey, they only went to school for x months!" Urrrrgghhh!!! :what:

Many hospitals are forcing nurses to at least have a BSN just to get an interview. Yet, the general public doesn't know what it is all about. The one hospital I currently work for is pushing for Magnet. The patients I care for who enjoy the hospital come for the care and hospitality, not because of Magnet status. Most patients do not know anything about it unless they are nurses or work in health care. I want to know if anyone else shares the same experience that I had with non healthcare persons/ or general public.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Magnet recognition is not meant to be for the public; it's meant to be for the nurses. It was originally created to attract high quality nurses to those facilities. Being a Magnet facility was meant to be a statement of "Hey, we have high satisfaction among our nurses/staff and are a great place to work!" Now, on whether they have stayed in line with their original vision for Magnet recognition, I have no comment.

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Thanks for your response, Klone. From what I know having Magnet status means a certain percentage of nurses have a BSN. In my opinion BSN do not improve quality of the nurses, just limit most ADN from obtaining employment in acute care facilities. I know that is another issue. You made a statement about Magnet recognition is a statement of high satisfaction among staff and being in a great place to work. Is satisfaction with the staff only contigent upon a nurse having at least a BSN?

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

Having a BSN is only one small part of Magnet recognition.

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Specializes in Pediatric/Adolescent, Med-Surg.
Thanks for your response, Klone. From what I know having Magnet status means a certain percentage of nurses have a BSN. In my opinion BSN do not improve quality of the nurses, just limit most ADN from obtaining employment in acute care facilities. I know that is another issue. You made a statement about Magnet recognition is a statement of high satisfaction among staff and being in a great place to work. Is satisfaction with the staff only contigent upon a nurse having at least a BSN?

I agree there is so much more to Magnet than just hiring BSN nurses, and there is an unnecessary emphasis placed on BSN nurses. I work at one of those magnet BSN only hospitals in the area you describe, and it provides us with support and encouragement for continuing our education, encouraging staff nurse involvement in research, low nurse-to-pt ratios, and high levels of staff involvement in decision making.

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I agree there is so much more to Magnet than just hiring BSN nurses, and there is an unnecessary emphasis placed on BSN nurses. I work at one of those magnet BSN only hospitals in the area you describe, and it provides us with support and encouragement for continuing our education, encouraging staff nurse involvement in research, low nurse-to-pt ratios, and high levels of staff involvement in decision making.

That is great that a hospital having Magnet encompasses those attributes. I'm hoping those attributes are at my facility when they acquire Magnet recognition. Currently, they have the opposite of what you describe.

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Specializes in CCU, SICU, CVSICU, Precepting & Teaching.
Magnet recognition is not meant to be for the public; it's meant to be for the nurses. It was originally created to attract high quality nurses to those facilities. Being a Magnet facility was meant to be a statement of "Hey, we have high satisfaction among our nurses/staff and are a great place to work!" Now, on whether they have stayed in line with their original vision for Magnet recognition, I have no comment.

Being a Magnet facility does not mean they're a great place to work or that they have high satisfaction among nurses. It may have meant that at one time, what it means now is that the hospital is willing to throw money at achieving Magnet Status and they've found a few "Magnet Champions" who pretend to be happy and satisfied.

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Specializes in Pedi.
Being a Magnet facility does not mean they're a great place to work or that they have high satisfaction among nurses. It may have meant that at one time, what it means now is that the hospital is willing to throw money at achieving Magnet Status and they've found a few "Magnet Champions" who pretend to be happy and satisfied.

TRUTH. When I worked at a "Magnet" Hospital, they cherry picked the nurses who would be allowed to meet with the Magnet representatives and coached them on how to answer the questions they were asked.

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

When we first obtained Magnet it was a huge change for the better for our nursing staff, but we also had a superb VP of Nursing who went above and beyond to make things better for us. Fast forward a few year and we have a new VP who is a yes woman and under her things are unraveling. It depends on the leadership you have as to whether or not it is a worthwhile thing.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.
Being a Magnet facility does not mean they're a great place to work or that they have high satisfaction among nurses. It may have meant that at one time, what it means now is that the hospital is willing to throw money at achieving Magnet Status and they've found a few "Magnet Champions" who pretend to be happy and satisfied.

Magnet= Marketing ploy.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.
Magnet= Marketing ploy.

Just like most of the PR stuff that is thrown at us.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Just like most of the PR stuff that is thrown at us.
AMEN!!!!
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