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February 20, 2023

This week, a Magnet® appraiser team will join Texas Children’s for a virtual site visit (February 21 – 24, 2023), marking a huge milestone in the hospital’s journey towards achieving our fourth re-designation.

Since 2003, Texas Children’s has been a Magnet-designated organization. Every four years, the hospital applies for re-designation, which is the highest and most prestigious recognition provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) that reflects our commitment to providing quality patient care.

What to expect during the virtual site visit

The Magnet appraisers will be virtually accompanied by a staff nurse escort at all times, touring each clinical area (unit or clinic) where nurses practice. The Magnet appraisers will typically ask questions about how patient care is delivered at Texas Children’s, and those who interact with the appraisers are encouraged to reference exemplars (see our written documentation) that ladder up to the core Magnet model components:

• Transformational Leadership
• Structural Empowerment
• Exemplary Professional Practice
• New Knowledge, Innovations and Improvements
• Empirical Outcomes

Brush up on hot topics

Nursing staff are invited to join our remaining 15-minute Magnet Blitz sessions on Tuesday at noon and Friday at noon. Click here to access recordings of the previous Blitz sessions.

Our Magnet teams have been hard at work preparing rigorously to ensure readiness for this site visit, and now we’re off to the races! Clinical team members are encouraged to wear and lace up their best sneakers on Monday, February 20 as we sprint to the finish line of our Relay to Redesignation.

Texas Children’s staff have the opportunity to meet individually with the appraisers during an Open Session from 3:25 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21 at the following locations:

• Feigin Center (Medical Center) – C.0235.02
• West Campus – WC.310.40
• The Woodlands – WL110.54

January 24, 2023

In four weeks, a team of Magnet® appraisers will join Texas Children’s for a virtual site visit (February 21-24, 2023). This marks the next step in the process to obtain Magnet re-designation – the highest and most prestigious recognition provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).

What is Magnet?

Magnet is a credential bestowed by the ANCC, which formally recognizes an organization’s attainment of nursing excellence. By becoming Magnet-recognized, organizations empower nurses to reach their true potential.

For 20 years, Texas Children’s has been a Magnet-designated organization. Every four years, the hospital applies for re-designation and welcomes appraisers who seek to clarify, verify, and amplify the exemplars referenced in our written documentation. For the first time in our Magnet history, this year’s site visit will be conducted virtually.

Why is it so important?

Obtaining and maintaining Magnet designation is important because it benefits patients, nurses and our organization. Examples of the benefits include:

• Enhanced ability to attract and retain top talent in a highly competitive labor market
• Improved patient outcomes, safety and satisfaction
• Strengthened collaborative culture
• Advanced nursing practice and robust shared governance structure
• Heightened business and financial successes

How you can prepare

Nursing staff are encouraged to join our remaining 15-minute Relay to Redesignation Magnet Blitz sessions every Friday at noon leading up to the virtual site visit. Click here to learn more and watch recordings of previous Blitz sessions.

The Magnet appraisers will typically ask questions about how patient care is delivered at Texas Children’s, and how others interface with nursing staff. Brush up on your department or unit’s data for nurse-sensitive indicators, RN satisfaction and patient satisfaction. Be open and honest if you interact with appraisers, and most importantly, share what you’re most proud of.

Texas Children’s staff have an opportunity to submit comments to the Magnet Program Office prior to the site visit, click here for the Magnet Staff Notice. To learn more about the ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program,® click here.

January 11, 2023

Texas Children’s inches closer towards achieving its fourth Magnet® re-designation, which is considered the gold standard for nursing excellence. From Tuesday, February 21 to Friday, February 24, 2023, four Magnet appraisers will conduct a virtual site visit at Texas Children’s, which is one of the many required steps to obtain Magnet re-designation.

For 20 years, Texas Children’s has been a Magnet-designated organization. Every four years, the hospital applies for Magnet re-designation, which is the highest and most prestigious recognition provided by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and reflects Texas Children’s commitment to providing quality patient care. Only 9% of U.S. hospitals are Magnet-designated, putting Texas Children’s in the company of the best hospitals in the nation.

“This step marks a huge milestone in our journey towards Magnet re-designation,” said Chief Nursing Officer Jackie Ward. “The virtual site visit will provide our appraiser team with the opportunity to validate the exemplars referenced in our written documentation and witness how our nurses make a difference through world-renowned, life-changing care.”

Reaching this milestone was no easy task. For the past few years, Nursing leaders have been meeting to review various Magnet-related performance metrics to ensure ongoing readiness. More than a year was spent selecting, drafting, reviewing and editing exemplars to highlight in the submission.

Nursing Shared Governance Council members identified the theme, Relay to Re-designation, for this journey – which aptly captures the various checkpoints, teamwork and collaboration required for success. Additionally, the preparation for the site visit has required great collaboration with many Nursing partners – such as Quality, Human Resources, Information Services, Patient and Family Services, Marketing and others.

Following the virtual site visit in February, the Magnet appraisers will submit a report to the Commission on Magnet, which makes the final decisions regarding Texas Children’s Magnet re-designation.

“We are very confident that our organization will receive Magnet re-designation this year,” said Ward. “It is often said, ‘they have read our book and now they want to see our movie.’ I am so proud of the combined efforts of our entire nursing team who have worked so hard to make this collaborative achievement possible.”

Texas Children’s staff have an opportunity to submit comments to the Magnet Program Office prior to the site visit, click here for the Magnet Staff Notice. To learn more about the ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program®, click here.