Patients and their families spend a lot of time interacting with nurses during their clinic visits or hospital stays. Because the role of nursing is so integral to the patient's care, it is important to know that those nurses are not only certified to treat specialty patients, but that they are excellent clinicians. Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics takes pride in its dedication to nursing excellence.

Children's Mercy Hospital has one of the highest levels of nursing specialty certification in the nation. This includes certification in pediatrics, pediatric oncology, pain, operating room and critical care, among others.

Inpatient nurse to patient ratios at Children's Mercy are among the best in the country: critical care - 1:1 or 1:2; med/surg - 1:3 or 1:4. Unlike many hospitals, Children's Mercy maintains these ratios at night and during the weekend. In addition, we have Charge Nurses scheduled for both shifts who do not take patient care assignments. Becky Paulsen, RN, MSN, Director of Med/Surg Nursing Services, says that this helps maintain the quality and continuity of care for all patients.

Children's Mercy has a high retention/low turnover rate, which means that long-term chronic patients get to know and trust their nurses. This stability of caretakers translates to better patient outcomes as well as better patient and family experiences. 

The American Nurses Credentialing Center awards Magnet designation to hospitals to recognize excellence in nursing services. In January 2003, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics had the distinction of becoming the first hospital in Missouri or Kansas to receive this recognition. Currently, we are honored to be one of only 216 Magnet hospitals worldwide, including only 12 other free-standing children's hospitals. And in February 2007, we again were the first hospital in Missouri or Kansas to be re-designated with this prestigious honor.

"Magnet designation recognizes the exceptionally high level of care we provide," says Cheri Hunt, RN, MHA, Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer. "But more than that, it distinguishes us as national leaders."

Magnet designation connects the hospital to a national network of Magnet hospitals. Children's Mercy has been asked to collaborate with other Magnet hospitals in a variety of national research projects for which the hospital would not have qualified previously. These projects have provided valuable information on patient outcomes and nursing operations.

Nursing is an integral part of the care team at Children's Mercy, serving on key committees, participating in Family Centered Rounds, working closely with the pediatric residents on the Nurse/Resident Council, and actively engaging in research.

"I don't think anyone can dispute the fact that the outstanding  level of pediatric nursing care we offer leads to better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction," says Kevin J. Kelly, Children's Mercy Pediatrician-in-Chief and Associate Dean, UMKC School of Medicine.