Magnet-recognized for nursing excellence

In March 2018, Texas Children’s Hospital achieved Magnet^® re-designation for the fourth consecutive time, which is considered the highest and most prestigious recognition provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

“We are so proud of our nurses, physicians and our interdisciplinary teams who consistently provide exceptional care to our patients and families,” said Texas Children’s Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre. “Our nurses and our entire health care team have worked so hard to help us maintain this gold standard of nursing excellence.”

To achieve Magnet status, health care organizations must complete a thorough review process that requires system-wide engagement from nursing, physicians and the interdisciplinary teams. When applying for designation, the Magnet Recognition Program also requires health care organizations to provide documentation and supporting evidence that aligns with the Magnet standards and demonstrates improvement and sustainability in quality nursing care and outcomes.

In January 2018, Magnet appraisers conducted a five-day site visit at Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the many steps required to obtain Magnet re-designation. Texas Children’s was evaluated by four Magnet appraisers from the ANCC. After the visit, the appraisers provided overwhelmingly positive feedback about our hospital system.

“During our Magnet site visit, our nurses and entire health care team shared their accomplishments, highlighted our great partnership, exceptional care delivery and collaboration to enhance patient outcomes,” said Texas Children’s Magnet Program Director Emily Weber. “Our nursing team was recognized for leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration and steadfast focus on family-centered care.”

Magnet designation reflects Texas Children’s commitment to providing excellence in quality, safety and outcomes that positively influence patient and family-centered care. Magnet designated organizations must reapply for this designation every four years.

Less than 9 percent of U.S. hospitals have Magnet designation. Texas Children’s Hospital has been a Magnet-designated organization since 2003.

Texas Children’s co-hosts largest, nursing event of the year

In fiscal year 2018, Texas Children’s co-hosted the largest annual nursing conference in the country. More than 10,000 nurses and nursing executives representing more than 20 countries gathered at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) National Magnet Conference.

Texas Children’s Magnet team handled various parts of the coordination including registering and preparing staff volunteers to serve in a variety of roles at the conference. The team also organized a pediatric Magnet hospital networking dinner and hospital tours for nursing leaders from pediatric hospitals across the country as well as a tour for nurses from Lebanon. The groups toured Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Epilepsy Monitoring Unit and Mission Control at Texas Children's Medical Center campus.

Chief Nursing Officer Mary Jo Andre and Executive Vice President Dan DiPrisco welcomed the more than 10,000 attendees at the opening session. In addition to poster presentations, several of Texas Children’s nurses and staff delivered insightful podium presentations including a presentation on how simulation-based pre-construction design tests helped improve patient care workflows to enhance patient safety, minimize risk and foster family-centered care in our hospital’s new Lester and Sue Smith Legacy Tower, which opened at Texas Children’s Medical Center Campus in May 2018.

“It’s important for our nurses to attend the Magnet Conference to fully understand what it means to be a Magnet nurse,” said Curt Roberts, a staff nurse in the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Texas Children's. “When you experience the positive changes in practice and patient outcomes that have been spearheaded by nurses, you realize that it’s a big deal to work in a Magnet institution and be a Magnet nurse.”

More than 125 employees from Texas Children’s Hospital attended the conference.