Nurse-Friendly Hospital Designation Awarded to Four Texas...( AUSTIN Texas Nov. 13 -- The Nurse...),Health

AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 13 -- The Nurse-Friendly(TM) hospital designation of Texas Nurses Association has been awarded to four more hospitals in Texas -- CHRISTUS St. Catherine Hospital, Katy; McKenna Memorial Hospital, New Braunfels; St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, Round Rock; and St. David's South Austin Hospital, Austin.

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The Nurse-Friendly designation attests to the presence in a hospital of 12 essential elements of the ideal nursing practice environment - as defined by nurses and research - where nurses can practice safe, quality patient care, and pursue a level of professional development and career satisfaction that can retain them in the workforce. Even though hospitals applying for the three-year designation must undergo a lengthy review process of demonstrating that the 12 criteria are present in their policies, practices and procedures, it is only after a majority of the facility's own nurses confirm that fact through confidential survey that the designation is finally awarded.

The 12 Nurse-Friendly Hospital Criteria of Texas Nurses Association is the basis for awarding the Nurse-Friendly designation.

"The criteria - which includes strong nurse leadership, control of practice, and safety in the work environment for nurses and the patients for whom they advocate - are important components in providing quality patient care and nurse job satisfaction," explained Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, president of Texas Nurses Association. "When hospitals utilize the research-identified criteria in their policies and practices, they demonstrate a commitment to a practice environment that is consistent with quality patient care and nurse retention."

In the three years that the Nurse-Friendly hospital designation has been awarded, 53 of an approximate 581 licensed hospitals in Texas
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