Dropping Magnet

2 I found this interesting. One of this regions largest health system's flagship hospital has dropped it's Magnet certification. They have been certified since 2004 and was the first hospital in the state, outside the state capital, to recive Magent certification. They have a reputation of being an early adopter of technology and practice changes.

They have been struggling with profitability the last 3-4 years and have layed off around 200 people across the system, including all of their clinical nurse specialists and a bunch of managers.

Cost savings is the reason given to staff. Bedside nurses are pretty much indifferent and the public doesn't seem to know or care that they had a Magnet hospital in their town.

I wonder if this is an isolated case or if it will be a trend, or partial trend. Last edit by Joe V on Jun 26, '13 : Reason: spacing
My hospital is a few years into magnet certification. So far, I don't see the point. Things have deteriorated at the bedside since we've had it. It is costly.

My facility applied for recertification. We get emails and memos daily on magnet stuff. Study aides and magnet preps and peps. I can't bring my self to take things like that seriously.it is really shoved down our throats. One of the emails said their application was nearly 3,000 pages. god knows what they have spent on this endeavor.

Well if they laid off all their CNS I don't think this is 'cutting edge' leading the way kind of stuff............they are trying to survive. Our CNS are an invaluable part of our organization.

OK, so one take-away is work harder, study more, obtain additional certifications, spend more of your time and money away from family / friends / hobbies... and then be the first to get fired. Oh, okay... I think I get it now.

Ha magnet. Its up there on the list of pointless, pat yourself on the back programs like Studer, AIDET, etc etc.

Quote from That GuyHa magnet. Its up there on the list of pointless, pat yourself on the back programs...

Several of the local hospitals that had wanted to go Magnet have given up that goal. We only have 1 now. I don't think it makes any difference to patients.

I don't think the point was to make a difference to patients, but to make a difference to nurses they were trying to attract. Of course, this idea was conceived in the days of the "nursing shortage" when hospitals actually had to woo nurses to work there. Now, hospitals don't need to do anything extra, they have their pick of the litter.

Quote from kloneI don't think the point was to make a difference to patients, but to make a difference to nurses they were trying to attract. Of course, this idea was conceived in the days of the "nursing shortage" when hospitals actually had to woo nurses to work there. Now, hospitals don't need to do anything extra, they have their pick of the litter.

I doubt my hospital will get it again when we're due, but we're still pouring tons of money into it and going full force. There are other hospitals in the area that are talking about it, but conditions are so dismal in them I think it's a miracle they pass health department inspection. 1:13 ratios in acute med surg and nurses that don't seem to know what an alcohol wipe is and all...

Ha! That's the first time I heard AIDET mentioned outside of my hospital! It's an entire program that basically means smile at people you pass in the hallway and talk nice about the oncoming shift. Seriously.

Magnet isn't a big deal in my area, so educate please. All I know is a magnet hospitals prefers all BSN nurses. Why is this hospital dropping the status? Does it cost money to start and stay in the program? Why lay off nurses? If they have to keep the status, why is care deteriorating? You would think it would be the opposite.I find this interesting. A few hospitals, I have heard in the rumor mill, are considering Magnet, but nothing has been done.Thanks ahead for the insight. I want to hear the nitty gritty from real nurses, not read the magnet BS on the web.