The medical center didn’t just hit the benchmarks, but exceeded them, to achieve Magnet with Distinction^TM. Fewer than 2% of the nation’s 6,093 hospitals have achieved Magnet® designation at least five times, according to data from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, and fewer than five children’s hospitals in the world have received the recognition five times in a row.

“Nurses are the number one care providers at the bedside in the nation and certainly at Cook Children’s,” Kaylan Branson, Director of Nursing Quality & Magnet Designation, said. “It feels great to recognize the nurses who do this day in and day out. This recognition is a validation of their hard work.”

The Magnet® Recognition Program is the gold standard in nursing excellence and validation of high-quality patient outcomes. Research shows Magnet® hospitals have increased patient satisfaction, decreased length of hospitalizations, and lower mortality rates, as well as above average nurse-satisfaction and retention rates.

Only a select few hospitals are granted the designation “with distinction.” According to ANCC, these hospitals “serve as exemplary role models for nursing excellence and for creating an environment of care that improves patient outcomes.”

“Everything that goes into magnet designation is recognizing nursing excellence; and a huge part of that is patient outcomes,” Nursing Excellence and Wellbeing Manager Ora Asheton said. “So, everything we’re being recognized for is about the outcomes we have for patients and patient families.”

Consideration for Magnet® designation is a rigorous process, which includes providing more than 100 examples of nursing excellence, participation from nursing staff across nearly 70 departments and an onsite visit. Cook Children’s submitted 3,000 pages of evidence that it not only meets the designation’s criteria, but surpasses them.

Hospitals must re-apply for the designation every four years, and Cook Children’s has been recognized consistently since 2006. The requirements become more strenuous each time, Cheryl Petersen, Chief Nursing Officer said, meaning Cook Children’s has to showcase how it has grown, evolved and improved.

“To stand there and hear from the commissioner is anticipation and excitement, it's like waiting for lottery numbers to be drawn. Except you have more belief that your numbers will come up because of all the work you’ve put in,” Peterson said.

The designation is a powerful testament to Cook Children’s excellence, but Peterson said Cook Children’s is not content with simply reaching that summit; it's committed to continue exceeding all expectations.

The Magnet^® Recognition Program is the gold standard in nursing excellence and validation of high quality patient outcomes. Research shows Magnet^® hospitals have increased patient satisfaction, decreased length of hospitalizations, and lower mortality rates, as well as above average nurse-satisfaction and retention rates.

“This recognition is another example of the incredible culture of excellence at Cook Children’s,” said Nancy Cychol, chief of hospital services and affiliate ventures at Cook Children’s Medical Center. “Our nurses go above and beyond every day to elevate the experience for our patients, families, and staff.”

Only 8% of the approximately 6,000 hospitals in the U.S. are Magnet^® designated. Cook Children’s is the first freestanding children’s hospital in North Texas to receive its fourth consecutive designation. Fewer than 1% of hospitals receive Magnet^® recognition four times in a row, ranking Cook Children’s among an elite group of high performing medical centers. Hospitals must re-apply for the designation every four years. Cook Children’s has been recognized consistently since 2006.

Consideration for Magnet^®  designation is a rigorous process, which included providing more than 100 examples of nursing excellence at Cook Children’s, participation from nursing staff across nearly 70 departments, as well as an onsite visit, which was virtual due to COVID-19. Evaluators were particularly impressed with Cook Children’s highly competitive nurse residency program, outpatient clinics, and Heart Center.

“It’s important to realize that every single example of nursing excellence provided to the ANCC was above the call of duty. These were programs, processes, and curriculum developed by nurses to move the needle on quality and safety outcomes,” said Cheryl Petersen, chief nursing officer at Cook Children’s. “This is what sets Magnet^® hospitals apart from other hospitals. It is acknowledgment of forward-thinking innovation, research, and high-level training. We are so proud of what our nurses continue to achieve.”