UT Southwestern nurses took the field this past year and delivered a standout season.

In her annual State of Nursing address, Vice President and Health System Chief Nurse Executive Susan Hernandez, D.N.P., M.B.A., RN, used the sports analogy to reflect on a year of national recognition, growth, and the kind of teamwork that drives lasting success across the UT Southwestern Health System. Other remarks at the May event came from Jonathan Efron, M.D., Executive Vice President for Health System Affairs; Emily Flahaven, M.S.N., RN, Associate Vice President and Chief Nursing Informatics Officer; and the Rev. John O’Neal, UT Southwestern’s Director of Spiritual Care and Support and Volunteer Services. Each leader offered a perspective on the impact of nursing across the Health System.

A look at the crowd during the 2026 Nurses Week event.

The presentation embraced a soccer-inspired theme, aligning with UTSW’s role as an Official World Cup 2026 Dallas Host City Supporter. Throughout her address, Dr. Hernandez characterized 2026 as a winning season, reminding attendees that lasting success depends on a team moving in the same direction.

Among the year’s milestones was UT Southwestern’s third Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and its first designation with Distinction. The organization also earned six Magnet exemplars, reflecting excellence in areas ranging from patient-centered care to nursing research. 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.

Dr. Hernandez highlighted how nursing continues to evolve across the Health System. More nurses are returning to school to pursue advanced degrees, building on their clinical experience. Nurses also earned 15% more RN certifications over the past year, showing a stronger focus on developing expertise in specific areas of care. Research remains a priority, with nurses sharing their work through publications and presentations and contributing to evidence-based practice initiatives.

She also noted efforts to improve the experience of providing care. New tools, including artificial intelligence-assisted documentation and other workflow advancements, are helping streamline nurses’ daily work. For example, documentation tools reduce electronic health record clicks, saving nurses an estimated 5,000 hours each month and giving them more time with patients.

Health System executives seated in the front row listen intently as Dr. Hernandez delivers her remarks.

“We continue to push ourselves to be smarter, to be kind, and to show our compassion to others,” Dr. Hernandez said. “And that’s exactly what our exemplars speak to.”

The address also recognized nurses whose work earned regional and national honors. For Dr. Hernandez, those achievements point to something larger than individual accolades.

“I want to remind you that all of the wins you’ve seen start with you,” she said. “I’m grateful that you’ve chosen to be part of this team, and I hope that continues. Championships are not just about talent. They’re about resilience. They’re about building trust. They’re about showing up every day, willing to learn, adapt, and get better – that’s what we do.”

If the past year marked a championship run, the work ahead is about sustaining and transcending that level of play, she said. For UT Southwestern nursing, that means continuing to invest in its people, advance the practice, and deliver exceptional care to the communities it serves.