Abstract
Much is understood about the issues that nurses believe impact their work environment and how Magnet hospitals have better organizational and patient outcomes. The majority of these large-scale studies have not included large numbers of nurses who care for children. In addition, we know little about how nurses perceive their work environment as their years in nursing increase. This study used a secondary analysis of survey responses from pediatric staff nurses to determine (1) whether there were differences in nurses' perceptions of organizational support, workload, intent to stay, and overall satisfaction within Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals, and (2) whether there were differences in these responses as the years in nursing increased. Findings indicate that Magnet nurses perceive a better work environment than do nurses from non-Magnet hospitals, and that for nurses in their first year as a nurse and for those nurses who have been a nurse for 15 years or longer believe their work environment is more supportive. The implications for nurse administrators include finding ways to keep new nurses engaged and satisfied after that initial "honeymoon" feeling about their new profession as well as providing further evidence of the value Magnet provides an institution.