Magnet - Turnoff For Anyone Else?

[PMFB-RN]

So this weekend several of us ICU nurses where talking about our hospital's recent Magnet re-certification. All of us found it to be distasteful. We where told exactly what to say if questioned by the surveyors. In addition several things that where put into place for the Magnet re-certification where immediately dropped as soon as certification was achieved. These included the RN practice and leadership committees and the hospital's program to fund RN to BSN degrees for it's nurses. In addition this particular health system is not known to be a nice place to work with low pay, terrible benefits and total disrespect of nurses by management (I only work there casual and I do it for the great trauma experience).

I have also worked for one other hospital who when through their "Journey to Magnet" and it was a similar experience.

I happen to have a great (full time) job at a hospital where I am paid well, have good benefits and a great schedule and feel like I am treated with respect by management. Of course it is not a Magnet certified hospital. It has gotten to the point where when I hear "Magnet" it is a turn off. Several of the SICU nurses in the discussion expressed the same feeling.

Has anyone else come to feel this way?

[General E. Speaking, RN, RN]

I agree with everyone. We lovingly call it "Achieving Maggot Status".

hahaha,

[amarilla, RN]

My experience with a magnet workplace was not good. It seemed to be more about looking good on paper. We looked great on paper yet more than 40 employees left my unit in 5 years, and the hospital did nothing to change that. I left as well.

I have nothing against magnet. I just want for it to really mean something special, and to be worth the effort for staff to want to be a part of that.

Cosign this - same here. I am disappointed to see that my hospital system widely publicized programs and incentives for education, support for system-wide initiatives, improvements in patient safety and the like, yet didn't actually deliver. We are force-fed scripted answers to the surveyor questions and our shifts are constantly interrupted (with no notice) for mandatory meetings to (again) discuss same. Our yearly evaluations included endless modules on areas noted for a need for improvement, yet none of the required equipment, experiences, forms or data seem to be available to actually begin to work on the improvement. *sigh

[MunoRN, RN]

The largest Nursing Union in the U.S. agrees with you (NNU) which is why they are publicly opposed to the Magnet status system. (And the ANA is their main competitor).

[ChristineN, BSN, RN]

The largest Nursing Union in the U.S. agrees with you (NNU) which is why they are publicly opposed to the Magnet status system. (And the ANA is their main competitor).

Interesting, what is their reasoning?

I work at 2 magnet facilities. The one is amazing. Great staffing, excellent educational opportunities and tuition assistance, etc. The other facility, isn't so great. I constantly work short staffed, very poor tuition assistance, etc. So I see the "night and day" difference in Magnet facilities.

[MunoRN, RN]

Interesting, what is their reasoning?

I work at 2 magnet facilities. The one is amazing. Great staffing, excellent educational opportunities and tuition assistance, etc. The other facility, isn't so great. I constantly work short staffed, very poor tuition assistance, etc. So I see the "night and day" difference in Magnet facilities.

http://www.calnurses.org/publications/national-nurse-mag/nn_mag_apr2010.pdf

You'll have to scroll down to page 22.

[PMFB-RN, RN]

I have worked for Magnet and non-magnet hospitals. I can honestly say I am sure it has to do with the people that are there. For instance, My last job(non-magnet) would never even promote let alone PAY for certifications, However, I have never had so many opportunities in education and certification then I do now in a magnet hospital. My NEW managers listen and work with ideas and suggestions. They seem to really care about the opinion of the nurse and I believe that says a lot. However, when I asked nurses if there was a BIG difference since they became magnet they said "No"...So in all reality, it is the hospital of choice that you work for and not necessarily the "Status", "Certifications" and such that make the hospital what it is......My opinion anyway!!!!

*** But isn't the whole point of Magnet that you can make assumtions about the certified hospital?

[elkpark]

*** But isn't the whole point of Magnet that you can make assumtions about the certified hospital?

Like so many things, the Magnet designation started out with the best of intentions -- to officially recognize the few hospitals that were already providing a great working environment for nurses (in order to encourage other facilities to aspire to the same high level conditions). Once hospitals figured out, though, that "Magnet" status could be used as a marketing tool (look at how many hospitals advertise their "Magnet" designation as if it is an indication of great client care, rather than an indication (allegedly!) of great working conditions for nurses). many, many hospitals started doing the bare minimum necessary and putting on a show to meet the requirements to get the designation, then reverting back to doing what they had been doing before, basically "gaming the system." My own opinion at this point is that "Magnet" status, by itself, doesn't tell you anything -- there are Magnet hospitals that are great employers and cruddy employers, and there are plenty of good employers that aren't Magnet facilities.

(I currently work prn at a psych facility that has Magnet status, but is a lousy employer -- I can't imagine how they even faked it well enough to con the ANCC into giving them the designation ... )

[PMFB-RN, RN]

Once hospitals figured out, though, that "Magnet" status could be used as a marketing tool (look at how many hospitals advertise their "Magnet" designation as if it is an indication of great client care, rather than an indication (allegedly!) of great working conditions for nurses). many, many hospitals started doing the bare minimum necessary and putting on a show to meet the requirements to get the designation, then reverting back to doing what they had been doing before, basically "gaming the system."

*** Well at least locally it is starting to backfire on them. I hope that backlash becomes more widespread. My hope is that if most nurses, like you, recognize that Magnet actually tells you nothing about working conditions in a hospital there will be pressure to make Magnet actually mean something.

[indigo girl]

Like so many things, the Magnet designation started out with the best of intentions -- to officially recognize the few hospitals that were already providing a great working environment for nurses (in order to encourage other facilities to aspire to the same high level conditions). Once hospitals figured out, though, that "Magnet" status could be used as a marketing tool (look at how many hospitals advertise their "Magnet" designation as if it is an indication of great client care, rather than an indication (allegedly!) of great working conditions for nurses). many, many hospitals started doing the bare minimum necessary and putting on a show to meet the requirements to get the designation, then reverting back to doing what they had been doing before, basically "gaming the system." My own opinion at this point is that "Magnet" status, by itself, doesn't tell you anything -- there are Magnet hospitals that are great employers and cruddy employers, and there are plenty of good employers that aren't Magnet facilities.

(I currently work prn at a psych facility that has Magnet status, but is a lousy employer -- I can't imagine how they even faked it well enough to con the ANCC into giving them the designation ... )

That sounds exactly like the facility I left a few months ago. It sounded so great on paper, but I felt like a prisoner there. It was a marketing tool, for sure, and the nurses on my psych unit found that we were disposable like tissues. After all, they could always replace us with other nurses drawn to working at a magnet facility who didn't know any better. I sure didn't. The facilty never seemed to be concerned about the high turn over rate, and that the unit could not retain staff. It was useless to go to HR with complaints about the manager. She was married to one of the vice presidents of the hospital.

My current facility is far easier on their staff. It is not a magnet workplace, and I am relieved that it is not though I still have no issues with the goals of magnet. I just wish that it really meant something.