UT Southwestern’s nursing team has earned Magnet Recognition with Distinction, a top-tier honor from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) reserved for organizations that exceed key Magnet performance benchmarks.

Nurses and Health System leaders gathered at William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital and West Campus Building 3 (WCB3) on Friday, March 20, for the live announcement and to celebrate what would become UTSW’s third straight Magnet designation. Only 12.5% of Magnet hospitals nationwide hold the “with Distinction” designation, placing UTSW among a very small group recognized for exceptional outcomes in areas such as nurse management, patient experience, and nursing-sensitive quality measures.

Watch the Magnet announcement

“This is a huge honor for you – all of you,” said Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN, Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive. “I am honored to serve you and I’m so proud of you.”

The highly anticipated videoconference began when David R. Marshall, J.D., D.N.P., RN, CENP, NEA-BC, Chair of the Commission on Magnet, announced that UTSW had earned the exceptional distinction after submitting documentation and findings from the site visit. More than 60 nurses and leaders gathered in person to watch the meeting from the Education Center at Clements University Hospital (CUH) and at WCB3. More than 400 others across campus tuned in via livestream.

“It’s my absolute honor to tell you and your colleagues that we are officially notifying you that the Commission on Magnet has unanimously voted to credential UT Southwestern Medical Center as a Magnet organization with Distinction,” he said.

Immediately, dozens of celebratory emojis popped up and confetti floated across computer screens as viewers expressed their joy. At CUH, those attending to listen live waved pompom wands and inflatable thundersticks when the results came in. In addition to lots of hugs, the jubilant sounds of cheering, shouting, and clapping filled the room.

Nurses and supporters celebrate the Magnet redesignation during a viewing of the live announcement at Clements University Hospital.

Leaders across the call recognized the nursing team, including UT Southwestern President Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., who took part via Zoom.

“Thank you for what you do day in and day out – caring for our patients and caring about our patients, at the same time advancing nursing practice. Through the essential role you play in the care we provide across our Health System, you have put UT Southwestern at the vanguard of health care in North Texas,” Dr. Podolsky said. “I realize this comes through enormous dedication, commitment, expertise and truly caring about our patients.”

Mike Mayo, M.S.N., B.S., RN, Director of Emergency Services in Nursing Administration, and Tessa Clarkson, B.S.N., RN, Interim Nurse Manager in the Emergency Department, are all smiles holding pompoms after hearing the great news.

Although UT Southwestern first achieved Magnet status in 2016, programs must reapply and be reevaluated every four years. Commission reviewers visit the campus to evaluate the level of nursing care provided, the respect that nurses are given, and opportunities for them to advance their practice through research and professional opportunities.

In his announcement, Dr. Marshall cited six areas that UTSW excelled in, referred to as exemplars. One highlights registered nurse satisfaction and engagement – UTSW’s score was 75.72% above the benchmark in this area. Others focus on nurse incident clinical quality indicators, metrics that reflect the quality of nursing care and contribute to outstanding patient outcomes. In each area, UTSW outperformed the benchmark. One exemplar emphasizing new knowledge, innovation, and improvement highlighted UTSW’s deeply embedded and exceptionally well-resourced nursing research infrastructure, Dr. Marshall added.

Dr. Hernandez said she was never nervous leading up to the announcement.

“We knew we were going to be ‘with Distinction’ because you are distinct nurses,” she said. “You absolutely are. So, thank you for what you do every day.”

Ramona Baucham, Ph.D., M.S.N., M.S.O.R.D., RN, Director of the Magnet Program and Nursing Research, left, and Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN, Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, listen in as David R. Marshall, J.D., D.N.P., RN, CENP, NEA-BC, Chair of the Commission on Magnet, announces via videoconference that UTSW has achieved the Magnet with Distinction designation.

Jonathan Efron, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs, said he was confident, too, because UT Southwestern’s nurses provide the best care.

“What I heard today is that this is an organization that teaches, discovers, and provides outstanding clinical care and nursing. All three of those things are what make UT Southwestern,” he said. “You all are the future of nursing, today.”

Early in the process, Ramona Baucham, Ph.D., M.S.N., M.S.O.R.D., RN, Director of the Magnet Program and Nursing Research, said she did a screen grab of the Magnet with Distinction logo and wrote: “This is the goal.”

“Thank you so much to every person in this room and throughout the campus. You did it,” Dr. Baucham said. “It was all about you.”