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MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco recently earned a special recognition award one that hospital administration says sets it apart from the pack.
In February, the hospitals nursing staff received the Magnet Recognition award, an honor given by the American Nurses Credentialing Center through a special program that systematically reviews hospitals patient care practices.
Dr. Robert Newborn, associate chief medical director, expressed his support of the hospital's nurses. He said in a recent interview that, Coming to work at this facility, a physician has the ability to work with the best nurses in the world, as reported by Kerry Lynn Barrett, vice president of human resources.
Northern Westchester Hospital said it is the only hospital in the U.S. that can claim to be both Magnet-certified and Designated with Distinction by Planetree, a nonprofit that works to educate the health care community about creating high-quality healing environments.
Truthfully, I have gotten nursing candidates asking about opportunities, Barrett said of applicants who are interested in working for the Magnet-recognized hospital.
One reason for the hospital's nursing excellence is due to the importance placed on physician-nurse collaboration, which helps assure the quality of patient care, she said.
Chief Nursing Officer Lauraine Szekely said the collaboration of quality nurse training is important, pointing out that the hospital operates under a shared governance program in which nurses partner with staff and management. Nurses participate in integrated programs and they really learn about quality and professional development, she said.
Currently, out of the more than 6,000 health care organizations that exist in the U.S., 391 have received Magnet Certification, the hospital said.
The award comes at a time of controversy for the Northern Westchester Hospital. Last month, Douglas Kennedy, son of Robert F. Kennedy, allegedly attempted to take his newborn son out of the hospital and pushed two nurses who tried to prevent him from leaving, according to published sources.
Kennedy told media outlets he had consent to take the baby out of the unit and that he wanted to take his son for some "fresh air." The hospital defended its nurses, saying they were trying to uphold hospital policy that requires infants to remain in the maternity unit until discharged.
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