Hospital achieves Magnet with Distinction® designation for exceptional nursing care
St. Louis Children’s Hospital has once again achieved the highest recognition of nursing excellence—Magnet® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). St. Louis Children’s also achieved the Magnet with Distinction® designation, which celebrates hospitals and health care organizations that exceed expectations.
Considered the gold standard for nursing excellence, this marks St. Louis Children’s fifth consecutive designation since 2005—20 years of Magnet recognition—and places the hospital among an elite group of five-time honorees.
As of November 2025, there are 619 U.S. hospitals with Magnet designation, and of those, SLCH is one of only four U.S. pediatric hospitals to achieve the Magnet with Distinction designation.
“This recognition is a direct reflection of our dedicated and compassionate nurses,” says Trish Lollo, president of St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “As the criteria continues to become more rigorous for each Magnet designation, our nurses continue to overdeliver and outperform to meet these standards.”
The Magnet Recognition Program® evaluates nursing practices worldwide, and applying for Magnet designation is a thorough and lengthy process. Hospitals are required to collect data reflecting the quality of nursing care being provided, and benchmark it against a national database.
“The Magnet designation is an honor, but it’s also a testament to the countless contributions our nurses have made to ensure that St. Louis Children’s always provides the highest level of nursing care,” says Carrie Lee, DNP, MBA/HCM, RN, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer. “We know how devoted our nurses are to delivering seamless patient care, and the Magnet recognition allows us to celebrate their commitment on a global scale.”
