magnet status and nursing practice

[smbrn]

Having worked at one hospital that had "magnet status" I am wondering how nurses in other magnet facilities feel about how "the forces of magnetism", the underlying philosophy of the program, has worked out in their facilities. Initially the awarding of the status was a source of much pride for the staff nurses but over time it became apparent that it was having absolutely no impact on nursing practice at that hospital. In addition there was tremendous pressure on staff nurses to join committees, provide inservices to colleagues, make posters to be hung on the walls of the unit, etc. Sitting on committees and all the other activities were not what bothered me so much as the expectation that all this additional work was to be done on your own time with no reimbursement. It seemed to me if the hospital administration wanted the magnet status badly enough they certainly could have allowed nurses to participate in these activities on hospital paid time. After 24 years as a nurse I am quite tired of the age old excuse, "We'd love to do that but just don't have the staff, resources...". Lastly on the issues of committees it may be that that would be easier to pull off in a large facility. I worked at a very small hospital and so there was a very small pool of nurses from which to recruit for committee work. As for impact on nursing practice, when I left conditions were actually deteriorating for nurses with increased patient loads, little support from nursing management. Nurses had absolutely no say in how their work was structured or carried out on a daily basis. Any input would be appreciated.

[Joshua]

Oops, I posted a new thread asking about Magnet status before seeing that it has already been started. I have a question; Is it true that magnet hospitals do not hire LPNs, only RNs and the ratio is 1:4?
I also have to say that since reading the posts from nurses who have worked in magnet facilities I am much more enlightened, thank God, lol!!!

[kimmiejs]

The city hospital where I live has received "Magnet Status" and from what I have been told nothing has changed. Patients in the ER wait hours upon hours either on gurneys in halls or the actual waiting room to be seen. I have been told by patients, nurses and MDs that nothing has changed for the better since they received Magnet Status.