Cincinnati Children’s Again Receives Men in Nursing Award

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

For the second time in three years, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center has been honored by the American Assembly of Men in Nursing (AAMN) with the Best Workplace for Men in Nursing Award.

The award recognizes employers that have implemented significant efforts in recruiting and retaining men in nursing at all levels of nursing practice. The vote by the AAMN Board of Directors for Cincinnati Children’s was unanimous.

Cincinnati Children’s submitted a lengthy application detailing the medical center’s focus on men in nursing through: 

• Recruitment materials and web site images 
• Career fairs and public relations events 
• Strategic plans to increase gender diversity 
• Statistical information

Comments from the AAMN board cited the percent of men at Cincinnati Children’s (62 percent increase) as testimony of Cincinnati Children’s efforts, interest and support in ensuring men are well represented. The board observed that the hospital’s marketing strategies and senior management show that male nurses are valued.

Bill Lecher, RN, Senior Clinical director at Cincinnati Children’s, is excited about receiving this recognition again.

“This is a great acknowledgment of the medical center’s strategic plan and the Patient Services strategic plan,” he said. “Diversity and inclusion must be intentional. It requires a shift in thinking and action among our nursing leaders. While this may seem intuitive, it’s not. Sometimes it’s awkward to speak and act differently on topics related to diversity and inclusion when you’re just beginning to develop competence and skill in this area.”

Cincinnati Children’s hosted the 2009 meeting of the AAMN National Conference in October. The nursing staff at the medical center is currently reaching out to male high school students through the Dan Beard Council by presenting information on nursing careers.

Lecher cited the support from Cheryl Hoying, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, Senior Vice President of Patient Services, as instrumental in the award. “She has provided executive leadership for gender diversity throughout. And while we may not be ahead of other hospitals in our percentage of male nurses, we are way ahead when it comes to being intentional about recruiting them,” he said.

About Cincinnati Children’s

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is one of 10 children’s hospitals in the United States to make the Honor Roll in U.S. News and World Reports 2009-10 America’s Best Children’s Hospitals issue. It is #1 ranked for digestive disorders and is also highly ranked for its expertise in respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care, neurosurgery, diabetes, orthopedics, kidney disorders and urology. One of the three largest children’s hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children’s is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

President Barack Obama in June 2009 cited Cincinnati Children’s as an “island of excellence” in health care. For its achievements in transforming health care, Cincinnati Children’s is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.