Q: What is meant by “Magnet?”
A: “Magnet” is a credentialing program
of the ANCC (American Nurses Credentialing Center), an ANA subsidiary.
ANA describes it as a recognition program for organizations that
provide the “very best in nursing care” and that “uphold
the tradition of professional nursing practice.” The MNA describes
it as a revenue-generating publicity tool.
Q: Which Massachusetts hospitals are Magnet hospitals?
A: Massachusetts General, Winchester, Dana Farber,
Jordan and Baystate.
Q: Why is the Massachusetts Nurses Association opposed to
the Magnet program?
A: Magnet does not require safe RN-to-patient ratios,
which is a critical patient safety requisite. Instead, Magnet is
a consultant-driven, JCAHO look-alike—meaning that its standards
look very much like JCAHO standards. Why the duplication? Because
ANA figured a credentialing program of its own could be a revenue
generator like JCAHO.
Q: What else do I need to know about the Magnet program?
