Children’s Minnesota achieves Magnet® redesignation
Children’s Minnesota achieved Magnet® redesignation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) in Sept. 2023. The designation is valid through Sept. 2027.
Considered the gold standard in nursing, Magnet recognizes quality patient care, nursing excellence and innovations in professional nursing practice. While nursing focused, it is important to note that the Magnet designation is an organizational recognition that highlights the interprofessional collaboration, best practices and patient outcomes all kid experts support every day.
It is a prestigious honor earned by only 10% of U.S. hospitals. Children’s Minnesota is one of only four hospitals in Minnesota to be Magnet designated, and is the only free-standing pediatric health system in the state to claim this honor.
For nurses, Magnet designation attracts and rewards the best in nursing talent and promotes a collaborative culture. It ensures nursing education, development and support are priorities for the organization. For patients, it shows that the organization is committed to providing the highest quality care. Patient families can rest easy knowing their child is in the best hands.
Achieving Magnet redesignation is a testament to the collaboration that lives within Children’s Minnesota each and every day.
Celebrating Nurses Awards recipients
The Nurses Awards at Children’s Minnesota recognize nurses who demonstrate excellence in the REACH Nursing Professional Model categories: Advancing Excellence, Partners in Care, Nursing Care Delivery, Shared Governance and The Children’s Way. Recipients are nominated by their peers and selected by the Recognition and Retention Council.
Awards are presented during Nurses Week, which is an annual event devoted to recognizing the many ways nurses create remarkable experiences and provide the best care for the patients and families we serve. Nurses Week is celebrated in May to also honor the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
Advancing Excellence
2023
- Anna Erickson, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Traci Kolling, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Mercy NICU
2024
- Courtney Kenefick, DNP, APRN, CNS, ACCNS-P, CPN, clinical nurse specialist, Center for Professional Development and Practice (CPDP)
- Ruth Sharp, BSN, RN, and Julie O’Hara, BSN, RN, clinical nurses, St. Paul NICU
Partners in Care
2023
- Kim Paris, BSN, RN, nurse case manager, case management
- Kim Quast, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis 7th floor
2024
- Jo Buche, BSN, RN, clinical educator, ECMO
- Calli Pettigrew, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis 8th floor
Nursing Care Delivery
2023
- Iliana Barrientos, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, cardiovascular care center
- Josie Robasse, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul emergency department (ED)
2024
- Joan Glennon, RN, clinical nurse, hematology/oncology clinic
- Barb Winfield, RN, clinical nurse, infant care center (ICC)
Shared Governance
2023
- Tember Dickman, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis infant apnea program
- Shayna Fleming, DNP, RN, CNOR, clinical practice specialist, Center for Professional Development and Practice
2024
- Kristin Berghoff, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul float team
- Kallie Hoffmann, BSN, RN, clinical educator, Minneapolis 8th floor
The Children’s Way
2023
- Carley Hansen, MSN, BAN, RN, PHN, PED-BC, RNC-LRN, clinical nurse, St. Paul infant apnea program
- Megan Madson, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis limited stay unit
2024
- Olivia Fenske, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul NICU
- Nicole Johnson, BSN, RN, per diem nurse, pre-operative/post anesthesia care unit (PACU)
Honoring nurses with the DAISY Award
The DAISY Award is an international recognition program that celebrates extraordinary nurses and the skillful, compassionate care they provide patients and families every day. We are proud to be a DAISY Award partner and have celebrated over 200 nurses since its establishment at Children’s Minnesota in 2008.
The DAISY Award was created by the DAISY Foundation, formed in 1999 by Bonnie and Mark Barnes after losing their son, J. Patrick Barnes, to complications of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), an auto-immune disease. The Barnes family was awestruck by the work nurses do every day for patients and families, and they wanted to say “thank you” to nurses everywhere. The DAISY (Diseases Attacking the Immune System) Award is now celebrated in over 6,500 health care organizations, in schools of nursing in all 50 states, and in 44 countries around the world! Over 260,000 nurses have received The DAISY Award and over 3.5 million nominations have been written.
Recognizing the many roles nurses play at Children’s Minnesota, DAISY Award opportunities expanded in 2021 to include the DAISY Nurse Leader Award, the DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity, the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students, the DAISY Award for Nurse Educators and the DAISY Award for Nursing Ethics; these awards are in addition to the DASY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, which has been presented on a quarterly basis since 2008.
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses 2023
Recognizes the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide patients and families every day at Children’s Minnesota. The following nurses received the award in 2023.
2023
- Johnna Bottila, BSN, RN, clinical educator, St. Paul 6th floor
- Anna Case, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis special care nursery (SCN)
- Erin Comford, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)
- Anna Erickson, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Sarah Hutchinson, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
- Paige Kahler, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, ECMO
- Anne Lacsamana, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis SCN
- Sarah McKoskey, RN, clinical nurse, cardiovascular care center (CVCC)
- Colleen Reynolds, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul 6th floor
- Team award: Julie O’Hara, BSN, RN, clinical nurse; Chad Sanders, BSN, RN, clinical nurse; and Scott Schuster, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, from the St. Paul NICU
Johnna Bottila, BSN, RN, clinical educator, St. Paul 6th floor
Anna Case, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis special care nursery (SCN)
Erin Comford, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)
Anna Erickson, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
Sarah Hutchinson, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
Paige Kahler, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, ECMO
Anne Lacsamana, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis SCN
Sarah McKoskey, RN, clinical nurse, cardiovascular care center (CVCC)
Team award: Julie O’Hara, BSN, RN, clinical nurse; Chad Sanders, BSN, RN, clinical nurse; and Scott Schuster, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, from the St. Paul NICU
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses 2024
Recognizes the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide patients and families every day at Children’s Minnesota. The following nurses received the award in 2024.
- Grace Brooks, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis PICU
- Verity Collingsworth, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis emergency department (ED)
- Cally Dawn, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis PICU
- Megan Donaghy, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul NICU
- Jill Dotzler, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis NICU
- Brittney Haukom, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis 6th floor
- Abby Henderson, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul 5th floor
- Kallie Hoffmann, BSN, RN, clinical educator, Minneapolis 8th floor
- Lily Kelley, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, inpatient mental health unit
- Pam Mitchell, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul PACU
- Terrance Rawson, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis pre-op/PACU
- Dana Schaefer, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis 7th floor
Grace Brooks, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis PICU
Verity Collingsworth, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis emergency department (ED)
Cally Dawn, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis PICU
Megan Donaghy, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul NICU
Jill Dotzler, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis NICU
Brittney Haukom, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis 6th floor
Abby Henderson, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul 5th floor
Kallie Hoffmann, BSN, RN, clinical educator, Minneapolis 8th floor
Lily Kelley, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, inpatient mental health unit
Pam Mitchell, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul PACU
Terrance Rawson, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis pre-op/PACU
Dana Schaefer, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis 7th floor
DAISY Nurse Leader Award
Honors nurse leaders who create an environment where staff are valued and their expertise recognized, resulting in excellent outcomes for patients and families.
2023
- Alyx Bystrom, MSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, performance improvement trauma coordinator, trauma administration
- Jayne Chatterton, APRN, CPNP-PC, associate medical director, diabetes and endocrine center
2024
- Jeanette LaBarre, BSN, RN, supervisor II of clinical services, infectious disease
DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity
Recognizes individual nurses or nurse-led teams whose work advances health equity, mitigating health disparities that are caused by social determinants of health.
2023
- Abbey Menth, MHA, BSN, RN, supervisor of clinical services, West St. Paul clinic
2024
- Adriene Thornton, MAOM, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC, director of health equity, value and clinical excellence
DAISY Award for Nurse Educators
Honors the extraordinary work of a nurse who makes strides to improve practice and advance patient care through teaching, precepting and mentoring.
2024
- Joe Schwartz, BSN, RN, clinical educator, St. Paul ED
DAISY Award for Nursing Ethics
Recognizes nurse leaders and clinical nurses whose leadership, compassion and clinical practice demonstrate the importance of human values and ethics in nursing.
2024
- Sally Hagen, per diem RN, cardiovascular care center
DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing Students
Recognizes and celebrates nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion shown to patients and their families.
2023
- Sarah C. Zimmermann, St. Catherine University
Nursing scholarship
The Nursing Scholarship is generously sponsored by Children’s Minnesota Professional Staff and a neonatal grant, and is awarded through the Professional Development Council. Established in 2003, the donation has supported nursing professional development totaling nearly $800,000 in the last 22 years.
The Nursing Scholarship is available to all nurses and allied health professionals throughout the organization who are in pursuit of higher education and professional development opportunities, including conferences, courses, professional nursing certifications and research.
2023 Recipients
- Kayla Albrecht, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, clinical nurse, St. Paul pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
- Kathryn Allen, BSN, RN, clinical educator, Minneapolis 6th floor
- Brea Anderson, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)
- Angela Becker, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul 6th floor
- Mindy Brice, BSN, RN, CLC, CPN, clinical educator, St. Paul sedation and procedural services (SPS)
- Joanna Buche, BSN, RN, clinical educator, Minneapolis ECMO
- Lola Buechler
- Shannon Diers, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
- Ellen Doherty, RN, clinical nurse, hematology-oncology clinic
- Nicole Eilers
- Michael French, BSN, RN, patient care supervisor, Minneapolis 6th floor
- Abigail Goetzman
- Lolita Granados, clinical assistant, rehabilitation department
- Jessica Isaac, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis ECMO
- Erin Januschka
- Afiifa Karie, APRN, CPNP, MSN, PHN, pediatric nurse practitioner, independent professional staff
- Tori Michaud, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul emergency department (ED)
- Britney Mosey, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul ED
- Ashley Nelson, DNP, RN, CPN, CCRN, patient care manager, Minneapolis 7th floor
- Devin Nelson, RN, clinical nurse, hematology-oncology clinic
- Feyisayo Ojoyeyi
- Ireland Prins
- Natalie Reker
- Erin Riley, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Mery NICU
- Austin Rondou, DNP, APRN, CPNP-AC, nurse practitioner, hematology-oncology clinic
- Daphne Scanlan, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Mercy NICU
- Summer Schneider, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, surgery
- Ah Thao-Vang, APRN, CPNP-PC, neonatal nurse practitioner, Minneapolis neonatal services
- Jamie Walton
- Melissa Wilson, BSN, RN, clinical educator, Minneapolis SPS
- Shuo Zhang, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis PICU
2024 Recipients
- Kara Baker, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul NICU
- Brianna Balacco
- Jennifer Barry, BSN, RN, patient care manager, Mercy NICU
- Linnae Bittner, RN, assistant nurse manager, retinopathy of prematurity
- Mindy Brice, BSN, RN, CLC, CPN, clinical educator, St. Paul sedation and procedural services (SPS)
- Lola Buechler
- Grace Burnett
- Pamela Cantelon, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis special care nursery (SCN)
- Brielle Christensen
- Precious Echenwunne, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis infant critical care
- Jodi Edwards, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis SCN
- Mariya Elverum Buxton, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul SPS
- Anna Erickson, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul NICU
- Ella Farley, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis ED
- Kara Foner, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Mercy NICU
- Rebecca Frank, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis SCN
- Judy Goebel, BSN, RN, BAN, PHN, clinical nurse, St. Paul vascular access
- Lacey Goldbeck, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul 5th floor
- Skylar Guse, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis 8th floor
- Cheryl Hale, RN, professional nurse, immunology
- Elizabeth (Betsy) Halvorson, BSN, RN, patient care manager, inpatient mental health
- Marina Her, CNA, clinical support associate, Minneapolis float team
- Jenne Hongosh, RN, professional nurse, infectious disease
- Jessica Isaac, MSN, RN, clinical nurse, ECMO
- Janine Johnson, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul NICU
- Amine Johnston, MAM, BSN, diabetes educator, diabetes and endocrine center
- Kate Joseph, RN, clinical nurse, hematology-oncology clinic
- Lily Kiekhoefer, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul NICU
- Lexia Levendoski, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Mercy NICU
- Faith Lindstrom, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul 5th floor
- Kim Lorence, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CPNP, clinical education specialist, Center for Professional Development and Practice (CPDP)
- Lee Maher
- Cassie Metzler, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, home health care
- Nicole Meuler, RN, clinical nurse, retinopathy of prematurity
- Devin Nelson, RN, clinical nurse, hematology-oncology clinic
- Hope Petersen, RN, professional nurse, heart clinic
- Savana Phillips, CNA, clinical support associate, Mercy NICU
- Terrance Rawson, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis pre-op/PACU
- Debbie Rivers, RN, clinical nurse, retinopathy of prematurity
- Jodi Sand, MAN, BSN, RN, cardiopulmonary services manager, critical care
- Vicki Schaefers, APRN, CPNP-AC, senior director of ambulatory service line
- Victoria Schultz, BSN, RN, patient care manager, Minneapolis limited stay unit (LSU)
- Joe Schwartz, BSN, RN, clinical educator, St. Paul ED
- Sophia Stearns, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, S. Paul 6th floor
- Ah Thao-Vang, APRN, CPNP-PC, neonatal nurse practitioner, Minneapolis neonatal services
- Jamie Walton
- Selam Werku, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, St. Paul 5th floor
- Madeline Wiche, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, cardiovascular surgery
- Melissa Wilson, BSN, RN, clinical educator, Minneapolis SPS
- Ashley Xiong, BSN, RN, clinical nurse, Minneapolis cardiovascular care center
