Covenant Health in Levelland recently celebrated earning the American Nurses Credentialing Pathway to Excellence designation at a reception on June 22.
Upon receiving the honor, Leslie Hackett, Chief Nursing Officer at Covenant, said, “This recognition means that our organization has been recognized as a place where nurses are supported, where their voices matter and where teamwork, safety, quality, professional growth and compassionate care are part of our everyday culture.”
According to Hackett, Pathway to Excellence is not just an award or sign on the wall. It reflects the environment the Covenant nursing team has worked hard to build an environment where nurses are encouraged to speak up, share ideas, lead improvements, care for one another and provide the kind of safe, high quality care patients and families deserve.
“This accomplishment belongs to many people,” said Hackett. “It belongs to every nurse who showed up with commitment and compassion, every leader who supported this journey and every caregiver who helped strengthen the way we care for patients, our families and one another.”
Hackett noted that the designation reflects what the community already knows Covenant nurses bring heart, skill and dedication to the bedside each day. Through their work, they help bring “the promise to life to know, care for, ease the way of every person we are privileged to serve.”
As Chief Nursing
As Chief Nursing Officer, Hacket said she could not be prouder of the team because they demonstrated what is possible when nurses are empowered, supported and engaged. “You have earned this recognition through your professionalism, perseverance and unwavering commitment to excellent care.”
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Pathway to Excellence Program is a premier organizational credential that recognizes healthcare facilities for cultivating positive, empowering practice environments where nurses can thrive. The designation highlights institutions that prioritize staff well-being, professional development and collaborative decisionmaking.
There are six pathway standards built on an evidence-based framework that include: -Shared Decision-Making: Nurses are empowered to have a voice in organizational policies and patient care standards.
-Leadership: Leaders are expected to support, advocate for, and empower frontline nursing staff.
-Safety: The environment prioritizes physical and psychological safety for both patients and healthcare workers.
-Quality: The facility embraces continuous improvement, evidencebased practice, and personcentered care.
-Well-being: The organization actively supports the holistic, mental and physical health of its nursing staff. -Professional Development: Nurses are provided with the mentorship, education, and tools needed to advance their careers.
Covenant Health in Levelland has joined other hospitals, clinics and longterm care organizations to pursue the Pathway to Excellence credential to improve recruitment, reduce turnover, and elevate patient outcomes. What makes the application process unique is that it heavily involves frontline staff, who must formally validate that their everyday experience with the organization meets the Pathway standards before the designation is granted.
Pathway originated in Texas in 2003 as the Texas Nurse Friendly (TNF) program, whose primary objective was to attract and retain a competent nursing workforce in the state of Texas. TNF was created by the Texas Nurses Association to improve the work environment and recruitment of nurses.
In 2007, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) acquired the TNF program and created a national nursing excellence credential for PPEs, Pathway to Excellence. The original program was designed for acute care hospitals in the United States and has since expanded internationally to include care settings beyond hospitals.