Florida Hospital for Children Applies for Nursing Excellence

Florida Hospital for Children Applies for Prestigious Distinction in Nursing Excellence

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 9, 2008 - On your mark, get set, go! Sights and sounds in the Florida Hospital lobby recently resembled the start of a race, when Florida Hospital for Children nursing staff cheered with enthusiasm, confetti-filled batons exploded and nurses dashed through the front doors of the hospital in running gear. This celebration represented the official kick-off of 'Our Amazing Race,' as Florida Hospital for Children began its journey to becoming a global pacesetter by submitting its application for nursing magnet recognition, a prestigious distinction in nursing excellence.

The theme of the event, 'Our Amazing Race,' will continue during the two-year approval process to keep nursing staff energized and motivated as they undergo a rigorous evaluation, including extensive interviews and observation of overall performance.

"Running a children's hospital is a team sport," said Florida Hospital Chief Operating Officer Brian Paradis. "This commitment to the community will change the way healthcare is delivered in Central Florida."

Florida Hospital for Children would be the only hospital in Central Florida to hold the magnet accreditation, which is only awarded to four percent of hospitals in the country.

Nursing magnet status is a highly coveted certification from the American Nurses' Credentialing Center (ANCC) to recognize health care organizations that exhibit the best quality of care in nursing, demonstrate a high level of job satisfaction, deliver exceptional patient outcomes and adhere to national standards for nursing services. Magnet recognition ensures benefits for nurses, including improved job satisfaction and greater autonomy in practice; benefits for physicians, including enhanced patient interest in magnet hospitals and greater assurance of quality care; and benefits for patients, including shortened length of stay and increased satisfaction.

Florida Hospital for Children is a 155-specialty-bed, full-service facility served by nearly 60 Kids'  

Docs, the largest panel of pediatric specialists in Orlando and a highly trained pediatric team of more than 600 employees.  The dedicated children's hospital delivers a complete range of pediatric health services to younger patients, who benefit from the expertise of specialized departments throughout Florida Hospital.  When construction is complete in 2010, Florida Hospital for Children will have 200 beds; private, family-centered pediatric rooms; a dedicated pediatric emergency department; an Advanced Center for Pediatric Surgery; destination pediatric programs including advanced surgery, oncology, neurosurgery, cardiology, transplant services, and full-service pediatrics; and an innovative health and obesity platform.

For more information, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217.

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