Magnet vs. Closer to home

DeeAngel · Mar 31, 2017

I would recommending actually making that drive to the magnet hospital for a week, just as though you were going into work. I think doing that will solidify the right choice for you.

foggnm · Mar 31, 2017

A 12.5 hour shift plus 2 hours of commuting means you will be gone 14.5 hours on your work days. You willing to do that? If the more desirable job is in the far away hospital, consider moving closer. But 'magnet' doesn't mean great place to work. So just don't confuse that status with 'great place to work' or 'employer of choice.' In the long run, most people do not want to commute to work for an hour, but many people do it for years.

BSNbeauty, BSN, RN · Mar 31, 2017

magnet, smagnet. choose the job closest to you.

Everline · Mar 31, 2017

If I were considering the same options, whether a hospital was "magnet" or not would have absolutely no bearing on my decision, as I couldn't give a rat's bottom about it and have no reason to care, as I found that the standards and work experience in a magnet hospital were either worse or no better than one that had no such designation. Commute time, on the other hand, is something to consider. All things being about equal, I'd chose the one closer to home. I used to drive about 12 hours a week in commute time but I was compensated for it very well in both pay and mileage reimbursement. Moving on, I knew I had no intention of putting extended wear and tear on my car, time out of my life, or money for gas out of my pocket without similar compensation. It's not worth it. YMMV. Some people don't mind at all. 50 minutes might be perfectly fine for you. But make sure you understand what it will mean in your day to day work and personal life.

Ruby Vee, BSN · Mar 31, 2017

If I were considering the same options, whether a hospital was "magnet" or not would have absolutely no bearing on my decision, as I couldn't give a rat's bottom about it and have no reason to care, as I found that the standards and work experience in a magnet hospital were either worse or no better than one that had no such designation. Commute time, on the other hand, is something to consider. All things being about equal, I'd chose the one closer to home. I used to drive about 12 hours a week in commute time but I was compensated for it very well in both pay and mileage reimbursement. Moving on, I knew I had no intention of putting extended wear and tear on my car, time out of my life, or money for gas out of my pocket without similar compensation. It's not worth it. YMMV. Some people don't mind at all. 50 minutes might be perfectly fine for you. But make sure you understand what it will mean in your day to day work and personal life.

The "Magnet" designation wouldn't mean anything to me in choosing a place to work. But I'm an ICU nurse -- I like sicker patients. I commuted farther for a job in a tertiary institution where the sickest patients were transferred -- and I drove past three community hospitals that were doing the transferring of the sickest patients on my way to work.

Everline · Mar 31, 2017

The "Magnet" designation wouldn't mean anything to me in choosing a place to work. But I'm an ICU nurse -- I like sicker patients. I commuted farther for a job in a tertiary institution where the sickest patients were transferred -- and I drove past three community hospitals that were doing the transferring of the sickest patients on my way to work.

That makes sense. But then, that's not all things being equal, as something in the more distant hospital suits you better. The commute was worth it to you. I'd do the same if there was a compelling reason to make it worth the drive.

TriciaJ, RN · Mar 31, 2017

Man oh man, I was with a hospital while the magnet process was being undertaken. The crap we were spoon-fed to regurgitate back to the Magnet people? I'd rather hand-irrigate an SBO - at least that crap is finite. I wasn't "randomly selected" *wink* to speak to any Magnet people. Wonder why...

The "random" selection process seems to scoop up new grads (the more dewy-eyed the better) and career brown-nosers.

chacha82, ADN, BSN · Mar 31, 2017

Remember that if you get off at 7, you will not be out of report at 7. I was usually done at 7:45 or 8:00 in the morning. Add in a 50 minute commute and that puts you home at almost 9. If you work back to back, you're losing family/sleep time. I wouldn't mind doing that commute if I didn't have to do it 3 days a week, but then it almost makes less sense to spend more money on gas if you're not working full-time. That said, I know many people who commute 50 minutes or longer. Also, will you be expected to go in for meetings or additional classes during the week?

mcleanstrong · Apr 1, 2017

I had a similar decision as a new grad (in 2005): a choice between a smaller, community hospital close to home or a major medical center with a level one trauma center, research, unionized....the works. Ultimately I chose the smaller, community hospital and here are a few reasons why I'm glad I did:

1) There's something to be said for taking care of the people in your community. I work down the street from where I live, and I frequently have patients who are former teachers of mine, family members of my friends, neighbors, etc. This is a good thing, imho.

2) The commute is short. There's nothing like finishing a shift and being home and feet up on the couch within 10 minutes.

3) Since the hospital was smaller, it was easier for me, especially as a new grad, to figure out how everything worked. Who to call for what, how the place operated. More manageable, if you will.

4) Again, since working in my community, some of my co-workers have become my best friends and they live close as well.

5) Parking! Big hospital = parking garage or take a shuttle, would have to get there half an hour early to facilitate this. Small hospital = find a spot quickly and rush in to swipe your badge. :)

The "bells and whistles" of Magnet, size, trauma center, etc. really had MUCH LESS to do with how happy I was in my position. What made the most difference were the people l interacted with on a daily basis, the environment/morale/mood of the unit, the support of the manager and administration, the nurse to pt ratio, and the patient population. Invest in these things and you won't go wrong.

*Incidentally, the small community hospital I chose decided to go Magnet a few years in. It was a grueling process and guess what? It was the exact same place post Magnet as it was pre. They let the Magnet lapse after a few years, and we went back to non-Magnet status. Like I (and everyone else have) said before, it will impact your actual job wayyyyyyy less than you think it will.

Take stock of what area you want to BE in. If your dream is to be an ED nurse, then it might be worth it to make the drive for a level 1 trauma center. But don't choose it just because it looks good on paper. Level 1 trauma won't mean much to you unless you're working in it.

Hope that helps! As much as you can get onto the unit you are interviewing for, DO THAT. Watch the staff interacting. Ask different people questions (not just the manager). What's their turnover rate? Do they have tuition reimbursement? Put stock into the issues that will directly affect your life. Magnet won't.

bgxyrnf, MSN, RN · Apr 1, 2017

I worked FT at an academic medical center - trauma 1 and the whole she-bang - which also happened to be Magnet. I left for a community hospital close to home - trauma 2 and no Magnet. While it was the right choice for me, I routinely say that the latter is a good job but the former is a much better place to work.

I don't know how much of that is due to academic vs. non-academic, Magnet vs. non-magnet, big vs. small, or just a simple matter of culture.

PMFB-RN, RN · Apr 1, 2017

In my experience, and that of my ER and ICU friends, Magnet is mostly likely to indicate a crappy place to work. I avoid working in Magnet hospitals.

Workitinurfava, BSN, RN · Apr 1, 2017

No guarantee on anything because of the title. Close doesn't mean better and neither does the title of Magnet status. Do you know of anyone that works at any of these hospitals who could give you the scoop on them? Shadow for a day if you can. Magnet usually means more work and little support. I favor teaching hospitals.