South Florida Baptist Hospital Achieves Pathway to Excellence® National Nursing Designation

Hospital Earns Recognition for “Environments Where Nurses Excel”

PLANT CITY, Fla. (March 7, 2018) – South Florida Baptist Hospital has achieved the Pathway to Excellence® designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The national nursing recognition is awarded to health care organizations with elements of work environments where nurses can flourish and feel empowered.

To qualify, organizations need to meet six practice standards essential to an ideal nursing environment: shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being and professional development. Applicants must successfully undergo a thorough review process that documents the integration of those standards in the organization's practices, policies and culture.

Pathway designation can only be achieved if an organization's nurses validate the data and other evidence submitted, via an independent, confidential survey submitted to every licensed nurse in the facility.

“I am extremely proud that our nurses at South Florida Baptist Hospital feel this is a place where they can effectively serve our patients and achieve their goals,” said hospital President Karen Kerr. “Nurse satisfaction is very important to us, and the 93 percent response rate is a testament to the pride our nurses have in South Florida Baptist Hospital and BayCare.”

“We are very pleased with the Nurse Survey response rate,” said Joanne Mayers, vice president, Patient Services and chief nursing officer for BayCare’s East Region.  “An organization is required to submit the survey to every licensed nurse in the facility, even if they are not practicing at the bedside.  Over a 21-day period, 277 out of 298 nurses completed the survey.”

South Florida Baptist Hospital joins St. Joseph’s Hospital, Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South, Morton Plant Hospital, Mease Dunedin Hospital, Mease Countryside Hospital, Morton Plant North Bay Hospital and St. Anthony’s Hospital as BayCare hospitals that have achieved the Pathway to Excellence designation. 

“We are thrilled that another hospital has been recognized by the ANCC and we are one step closer to achieving our goal of all 15 BayCare hospitals earning the Pathway to Excellence designation,” Mayers, added.

About South Florida Baptist Hospital

Since 1953, South Florida Baptist Hospital has served Plant City and surrounding areas as a not-for-profit community hospital.  The progressive, 147-bed acute care facility offers a full range of diagnostic, rehabilitative, surgical, therapeutic and women’s services, including obstetrics.  South Florida Baptist Hospital is part of the BayCare Health System, a family of health care providers consisting of the 15 leading not-for-profit hospitals in the Tampa Bay region.

About BayCare Health System

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 15 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care.