Driscoll Children’s Hospital Nurse Residency Program’s new Graduate Registered Nurse Residency Program was accredited with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) after an extensive evaluation.

“We are proud that the Transition to Professional Nurse Program at Driscoll Children’s Hospital is recognized by ANCC as one of the highest-quality transition programs for nurses,” said Julie Pina, MSN, RN, CNOR, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer at Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

“ANCC accreditation gives nurse residents assurance that Driscoll Children’s Hospital offers an elevated transition program with a clear course of instruction and reliable evaluation methods. With ANCC accreditation, our transitioning nurses gain the skills and confidence needed to perform effectively within a new practice setting,” she said.

Driscoll Children’s Hospital’s Transition to Professional Nurse Program is the first in South Texas to obtain the ANCC accreditation.

The accreditation adds several benefits to the Driscoll program:

• Nurses can claim they participated in an ANCC-accredited RN Residency Program that met rigorous evidence-based criteria.
• Nurses are assured Driscoll Children’s Hospital delivers the highest quality nursing practice transition program that will help them improve patient outcomes.
• Consumers gain confidence that nurses who successfully complete the RN Residency Program are competent.
• Potential new graduate nurse employees can expect a quality transition education program when they come to work for Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Accreditation Program recognizes the importance of high-quality continuing nursing education (CNE), interprofessional continuing education, the transition to practice programs, and skills-based competency programs. Around the world, ANCC-accredited organizations provide nurses with the knowledge and skills to help improve care and patient outcomes.

About Driscoll Children’s Hospital …

“Improve the health of adults and you give them back their health…  

Improve the health of children and you give them their life.”

Driscoll Children’s Hospital is a 189-bed pediatric tertiary care center with more than 30 medical and surgical specialties offering care throughout South Texas, including Corpus Christi, the Rio Grande Valley, Victoria, and Laredo. Through the vision and generosity of its founder, Clara Driscoll, Driscoll Children’s Hospital opened in 1953, becoming the first, and remains the only, free-standing children’s hospital in South Texas. In 2019, Driscoll had almost 142,000 patient visits, including more than 46,000 patients seen at South Texas’ first emergency room created exclusively for children.