St. Christopher's Hospital for Children Voted a Top Hospital by Region’s Nurses

Hospital is Only One of Eight to Make ADVANCE for Nurses' Honor Roll

St. Christopher's Hospital for Children has been selected as a top Philadelphia-area hospital by registered nurses who participated in a survey by ADVANCE for Nurses magazine.

The publication's second annual "Readers' Choice Survey" asked participants to rank hospitals in five categories that matter most to the nursing profession: quality of care, organizational culture, professional development, communications and retention efforts. St. Christopher's received the highest scores across all five categories, making the hospital only one of eight in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware to earn the magazine's honor roll status.

"We wanted to have a survey that determined the best hospitals from a nursing perspective," says Linda Jones, editorial director of ADVANCE for Nurses. "Nurses often make up the largest part of a hospital's workforce, therefore this is an important indicator of a facility's quality."

"This special honor reflects the excellence of our nursing staff," says Karen Blount, M.S.N., R.N., P.N.P., chief nursing officer of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. "It is especially meaningful since St. Christopher's supports and values its nursing staff and its dedication to the health of our patients. We are proud of this recognition and thank our nurses for being the foundation of the high quality patient care we provide every day."

Nurses voted in the unscientific online poll, which was available on the ADVANCE for Nurses website from March through July. The Readers' Choice results were featured in ADVANCE's Oct. 13, 2008 issue.

"The qualities that make St. Christopher's stand out are many," explains Blount. "Our nurses are dedicated professionals who treat children and their families as if they were their own. They rise to every challenge and the whole interdisciplinary team works together to create the ultimate experience for our patients and their families."

Dell Kennedy, B.S.N, R.N., C.P.N., clinical coordinator of 5 North, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, who participated in the survey says, "Education is something we live and breathe at St. Christopher's - both for our individual development and to ensure our nursing staff is not just current but advanced. We take what we do very seriously, in a genuinely compassionate, heartfelt and upbeat manner."

ADVANCE for Nurses reaches RNs in 10 regional areas, from New England to California. The biweekly magazine presents articles and features for registered nurses of all specialties, as well as clinical information, local nursing coverage, job opportunities and the latest product news. ADVANCE's Pennsylvania/New Jersey/Delaware edition circulates to more than 75,000 registered nurses.

Located in Philadelphia, St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is a 171-bed pediatric hospital dedicated to the physical and emotional well-being of children. A leader in pediatric care since 1875, St. Christopher's nationally recognized programs provide exceptional care to children from throughout the Greater Philadelphia area and around the world. St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is part of the Tenet Health System.