Magnet Hospitals

There is an accreditation that hospitals can receive called "Magnet". This accreditation is specific to nursing and therefore, is supposed to be a benefit for the nursing staff. The Magnet recognition is supposed to be geared towards nursing excellence and is supposed to be a great recruiting tool. The application process is long and costly but in the end, if you succeed, you will have this prestigious designation. The process at my hospital took 18 months. There were committees formed, consultants brought in, staff was hired, management was prepped and so were the bedside nurses. Flowsheets were sent to everyone in case a Magnet surveyor approached you, make sure you know the right answers. Flyers were hung on the wall, management information was made available, newsletters were started and communication was prevalent. Nurse and physicians were communicating and working on the same team. Staffing was a dream come true, everyone was happy and fulfilled, therefore, we achieved Magnet status. Good for us. I have now worked at 4 Magnet hospitals; I stayed here because it wasn't Magnet (that backfired).

Now, 6 months after Magnet status was achieved there is a different story. Those committees are gone, staff has left and not been replaced, management is absent, no one cares about the mission statement anymore. The budget is a mess (think how expensive those consultants are), the flyers are gone, management information that was so available is now 6 months out-dated, communication is non-existent. The nurse-physician relationship is spiraling downward, the autonomy that was enjoyed by nursing has been replaced with poor physician support and no management support. Staffing is a nightmare and with no more overtime (because of the budget) there is no relief in sight. Support services have been cut so nurses are doing more work, but don't worry, they aren't hiring anymore nurses.

So this is my advice to all the hospitals that are trying to achieve or are considering Magnet status. Save your money and time. Instead of spending money on committees, consultants, more staff and management put the nurses at the bedside. The patients come to the hospital to receive nursing care and they don't understand about budget constraints when they can't get a nurse to help them. Save the time you would have spent on the entire process and instead support the nurses you have, tell them they are doing a good job and give some positive feedback. Don't get consumed with achieving Magnet status, it really isn't that great.

The big game

I had never lived in a big college town until this adventure to Ohio. We arrived in Columbus right after the national championship win, I didn't really know what that meant or the significance of what that meant. This town is crazy about football. Not just fans, they are crazy, psycho fans. The fight song plays year round, the countdown to kick-off start in spring, radio shows analyze the team year round. It is amazing to see so much energy placed on football. The first time I went out in 2003 I was at a bar with some friends and the "hang on sloopy" song played, complete with the O-H-I-O chant in the middle. That was an experience, now I know the song, when to chant and the hand motions that go with it. I went tailgating in 2004 for the first time. We arrived at 8am and left at 10pm, not that I remember leaving. I'm pretty sure it was the OSU vs. Michigan game, we won and chaos broke out. Buckeye necklaces, beer and cigars are all a blur. We bought the house and immediately bought a buckeye flag to wave on game day; we live here, might as well enjoy the spirit.

So as football season is once again starting the city will be crazy for the next few months. I may not understand the significance but it is fun to enjoy the buzz that comes on Fridays as the anticipation of the Saturday game builds. I still get chills when I hear the fight song and yes, I now appreciate "hang on sloopy" as an OSU song.

Autumn

There is just something special about autumn. I haven't been able to put my finger on what exactly is so special, but it is in the air. Autumn represents a break from the heat of summer, crisp mornings when I leave the hospital, air without humidity. The smell of autumn is so unique. The changing leaves does something to the air that I am sure a scientist could explain. The smell of leaves burning in piles and towards the end of autumn, the smell of fireplaces burning. I always swore that I would live down south as soon as possible, and did for 5 short years. One thing I missed without even realizing I missed it was the changing seasons. The colors of the leaves is so spectacular, the apple cider, apples from the farm up the road. Autumn is so special and at this time, this very second, my favorite season.