Parkland Health earns first Magnet® designation with distinction
Prestigious recognition distinguishes Parkland as a leader in nursing care
Parkland Health has achieved its first Magnet® designation with distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the highest national honor for nursing excellence and quality patient care. This prestigious recognition places Parkland among an elite group of healthcare organizations recognized for exceptional nursing professionalism, teamwork and outcomes.
The ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® recognizes hospitals that provide outstanding patient care, nursing excellence and innovative practices. It is the highest recognition a hospital can receive from the ANCC, the largest nursing credentialing group in the country. Only a small and select group of U.S. healthcare organizations have achieved Magnet recognition.
“Achieving our first Magnet designation is a proud and defining moment for Parkland,” said Donna Richardson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive at Parkland Health. “This recognition speaks to the high standards we uphold and the culture of excellence we’ve built together. Every nurse, physician, technician, partner and support service played a vital role in this accomplishment. From the bedside to the boardroom, each act of excellence and teamwork brought us to this moment.”
To earn Magnet status, hospitals must meet high standards in nursing excellence, patient care and leadership. The ANCC carefully evaluates each hospital through a detailed and rigorous process that includes site visits, reviews of hospital documents, and staff and patient surveys and interviews.
Research shows that Magnet-recognized hospitals tend to offer better patient care, including lower mortality rates and higher patient satisfaction. These hospitals also have lower staff turnover among nurses. Magnet recognition also helps hospitals attract and retain top nursing talent.
During a virtual call with an ANCC representative, Parkland was commended for outstanding performance in several areas of nursing excellence. As of Oct. 20, 2025, Parkland Health is one of only five organizations nationwide to hold dual designation through the ANCC with both Pathway to Excellence® and Magnet® recognition — and one of just two to earn Magnet with Distinction®.
Additionally, Parkland received seven Exemplars for demonstrating exceptional outcomes:
- Nursing education and expertise: Parkland reported 82.1% of nurses with a bachelor’s degree or higher at the time of the Magnet site visit.
- Delivering culturally sensitive care: Parkland was recognized for its award-winning CROWN Project (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair), which promotes health equity through specialized hair care for patients with textured hair. The program earned the 2024 ANCC Pathway Award®, sponsored by Press Ganey.
- Structural empowerment: Parkland’s Correctional Health team was commended for delivering culturally sensitive care to Dallas County patients and for its partnership with the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.
- Nursing satisfaction and engagement: Parkland’s nursing engagement scores exceeded national benchmarks, with more than 75% of units outperforming their peers nationwide.
- Interprofessional collaboration: The Parkland Burn Center was recognized for its multidisciplinary approach to patient care across inpatient, acute and ambulatory settings.
- Nursing retention: Parkland’s nursing turnover rate remains below 10%, averaging 8.8% compared to the national average of 16.4%.
- Professional practice: In the ambulatory setting, Parkland outperformed national benchmarks for clinical nursing quality indicators, including surgical patient burns per 1,000 visits or cases.
“This recognition is a testament to the incredible dedication of our nurses and their commitment to providing exceptional care to everyone in our community,” said Fred Cerise, MD, MPH, President and CEO of Parkland. “Magnet designation affirms what we see every day at Parkland, nurses leading with compassion, skill and innovation to improve the lives of those we serve. We’re proud that the ANCC has recognized what our patients have always known – that Parkland nurses set the standard for excellence in care.”
To learn more about becoming a part of Parkland’s nursing team, go to www.parklandcareers.com
About ANCC’s Magnet Recognition Program
The Magnet Recognition Program — administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world — identifies healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice.
The Magnet Recognition Program is the highest national honor for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit www.nursingworld.org/magnet.
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