Cook Children's awarded Magnet designation for excellence in nursing

Cook Children’s learned that the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) awarded Cook Children’s Medical Center Magnet Recognition for excellence in nursing in September 2006.

This distinction was held by only 10 other free-standing children’s hospitals in the entire nation at the time of the designation.  Less than 5 percent of hospitals in the country hold this prestigious designation.

“We have always believed the extraordinary level of care we deliver across our System is what distinguishes Cook Children’s,” said Nancy Cychol, president of Cook Children’s Medical Center. “At the heart of all we do, you will always find the tremendous professionalism and compassion of our superior nursing staff. We are truly honored and touched by this historic designation.”

The national director of ANCC contacted Cook Children’s via telephone with the official announcement, which signifies the end of a two-year rigorous evaluation process involving more than 400 nurses, patients and community members.

Immediately following the phone call, there was a highly emotional celebration by staff, administrators, board members as well as numerous patient families.  Cook Children’s patient and cancer survivor, Scott Odom presented Chief Nursing Officer Paula Webb with the official Magnet pin. Additionally, numerous retired Cook Children’s nurses pinned many of the current nursing staff.

"This honor further substantiates what we and our patients know and love about Cook Children's.” said Webb, “Our nurses provide uncommon care to every patient, everyday."

The Magnet award is one of the most coveted and prestigious honors a hospital and nursing staff can achieve. It is given by The American Nurses Credentialing Center, a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association. ANCC developed the Magnet program to recognize health care organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and uphold the traditions within the nursing profession.

ANCC states: “Consumers need to know how good the care is at their local hospitals. Magnet is a seal of approval for quality nursing care.” Independent studies of Magnet hospitals show that patients have shorter lengths of stay, higher satisfaction, higher nurse-to-patient ratios and lower mortality rates.

Cook Children’s joined only 13 hospitals in the state of Texas, at the time of the designation, that hold this honor and is the first free-standing children’s hospital in the Metroplex to gain Magnet recognition. Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas, is the only other free-standing children’s hospital with the designation in the state of Texas.

Cook Children’s is one of the leading integrated pediatric health care delivery systems in the country, and is comprised of a nationally recognized Medical Center, Physician Network, Home Health Company, Health Plan and Foundation. It has more than 35 pediatric offices across the Metroplex as well as specialty clinics across Texas. Cook Children’s currently provides extremely high quality care to children in Tarrant and its surrounding counties, as well as across Texas and the United States. Cook Children’s is known nationally for its high-level neonatology, hematology/oncology, pulmonology, cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery expertise. For more information about Cook Children’s, call 1-800-934-COOK(2665).