Proof that Magnet Status is a farce (read this article!!)

jmgrn65, RN · Apr 9, 2008

Wow that is so dead on! I love it. We have been a Magnet Hospital for a 2 or 3 years and nothing has changed, it actually got worse we have to float to all nursing units except ob and ed. Ortho nurses float to cardiac step down units, or to neuro units.

barbyann · Apr 9, 2008

printed out ten copies to "share", TY

MikeyJ, RN · Apr 9, 2008

I wouldn't go as far as saying this article is "proof", but it brings up some great points... all of which I agree with.

oramar · Apr 10, 2008

"Money Spent on Consultants is Better spent on Direct Patient Care", now there is a radical concept. The reason the desk jocky types don't get it is that if conditions were carefully considered their positions would be eliminated and the money used on direct patient care also. Who would ever catch on to that.

nickola · Apr 10, 2008

Well it certainly explains why nurses are already leaving the brand-new magnet hospital in my area!!

RN1982 · Apr 10, 2008

Magnet= loads of crap. I worked at a "magnet" hospital. Whats so magnetizing about it now? Everyone is leaving. I left. Its just a label that hospitals pay millions of dollars for instead of paying their staff the wages they should be paid.

Wendy_RN · Apr 10, 2008

Yeah, Magnet status is so great that I have resigned from a magnet hospital to go to a non-magnet status one. Our staffing ratios are a joke. I have yet to see an improvement.

allnurses Guide · Apr 10, 2008

Sooooo, I take it that the Massachussettes Nursing Association is NOT part of the ANA?

Because I am a member of the KY Nurses Association, and it IS part of the ANA.

Kinda makes me want to revoke my membership after reading this.

RN1989 · Apr 10, 2008

Sooooo, I take it that the Massachussettes Nursing Association is NOT part of the ANA?
Because I am a member of the KY Nurses Association, and it IS part of the ANA.
Kinda makes me want to revoke my membership after reading this.

The MNA left the ANA home quite a few years ago after the CNA called it quits. I believe there is one or two other SNA's that have left the ANA fold also. Early in my career I joined an SNA. I quit after I found that their goals and that of nurses in the trenches were not the same. In fact, the ANA and their SNAs routinely join forces with hospital associations and other groups that have a history of putting money and reputation above the welfare of patients and nurses.

HangTen! · Apr 10, 2008

I plead ignorance to the details of Magnet Status (a local hospital I worked in has this status, so I know all I need to re that:)) and I did not bother reading this articl - with due respect to the OP.

My husband has had his own business for years, he is a designer and engineer. My observations b/t his business and my decades of listening to the "newest fandangled technological cutting edge staffing and improved patient safety/efficiency measures", equals but one thing. More cuts and increased demands in work load to myself and the rest of the nursing staff (those that remain after the hiring freezes that invaribly followed even if not spoken outloud-newly vacated positions were simply not filled). It is another political ploy to increase the money coffers for the CEO's and shareholders of the nonprofits (That is the biggest joke) all on the backs of nurses who are supposed to be brainwashed into buying this current bucket load of soap suds.

I seriously recall my first impressions of hearing "Magnet", and what it was to imply. That was, "MARKETING!".

My lovely opinon, for what it is worth!

(Wasn't there a thread somewhere else here for nurses who have become "hardened" or some such thing? Maybe I should go there! LOL)

Seriously, my heart goes out to those of you who have been negatively impacted by this. I remember "believing" the powers that be once upon a time!

pagandeva2000, LPN · Apr 10, 2008

Actually, I think that Magnet has caused a further division in the disciplines of nurses. I have nothing but respect for MSNs, BSNs, and Associate Degree Nurses. The strength it took to complete such feats are admirable. However, when Magnet came to our hospital, they had a clear interest in BSNs, only. And, just FORGET about LPNs. I sincerely that they just had us in the mix to make the room appear more crowded. While I knew in my heart that my hospital wasn't going to earn the Magnet accreditation, I took the time to read, memorize and find out as much information that I could in order to be able to answer their stupid questions. In fact, the RN that was supposed to great them was so nervous that she asked me to go along with her to break the ice. I went up to them first, gave them the speel, and the moment I said " I am an LPN"...they turned their noses at me. And, at the end, one of them turned to me and said "You DO intend to become an RN, DON"T you?" in such a RUDE manner, that for the first time, I felt slighted, and said "Of course"...not because I intend to (those who know me here know my stance on that), but because I did not wish to be the one to make a negative impact on the administration and become a target for harassment (being a cause of them not getting the accreditation).

In preparation for this farce, enlarged flags were placed around the hospital with pictures of BSN nurses (without their permission, mind you. Many of them did not want a large picture of their likeness, full names and department they worked in on display next to the highway we work next to for stalkers to arrive)...not ONE of an LPN. Some of the ADN nurses were slighted by the higher educated BSN and Advanced Practice Nurses...made to be as belittled as I felt. And, when we didn't get it, our missing in action DON never even conducted a meeting to say exactly WHY it didn't happen. The entire process made us very miserable; the embarassing Magnet marathons, the paperwork to memorize like hypnotized parrots or Stepford Wives, and the arguments that took place was not worth the headache, when, essentially, all of us are being mistreated and disrespected.

Also, because of this farce, (along with many other reasons), LPNs are being phased from hospitals. I really feel that there is enough at the table for ALL NURSES (because that is what we are) to eat, but they are diminishing this chance for some of us.

If I ever did apply elsewhere and heard that the facility is either Magnet or intending to be, I plan to run elsewhere for greener pastures. Again, no flames, here. I wish to work with all and ANY nurse that has the best in mind for patients and each other. We should not be fighting...we really need each other.