Wolfson Children’s Emergency and Porter Family Trauma Center one of 7 pediatric ERs in the country to earn prestigious Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) award

Minutes matter when a child’s life is on the line. The care provided immediately following a serious injury or onset of illness can mean the difference between a lifetime of health or a catastrophic outcome.

To recognize the world-class, life-saving care provided at Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville, the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) selected the Wolfson Children’s Emergency and Porter Family Trauma Center as one of only 33 emergency departments (EDs) nationwide to receive the prestigious Lantern Award. Just seven children’s hospitals in the country received this prestigious emergency nursing honor.

The ENA bestows the Lantern Award on emergency departments that exemplify exceptional practice and innovative performance in the core areas of nursing leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research.

“It’s exciting to see a record number of emergency departments being recognized for their incredible work,” said ENA president Ron Kraus, MSN, RN, EMT, CEN, ACNS-BC, TCRN. “Each and every emergency nurse at these EDs should be proud of elevating the profession, their hospital, and their care for patients.”

“The men and women on this pediatric emergency nursing team work hard every day to provide the best care to children when they need it most,” said Karen Grissinger, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPN, director of Wolfson Children’s Emergency Services. “The Wolfson Children’s Emergency and Trauma team rose to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and their commitment to our young patients never wavered.”

Emergency departments that receive the Lantern Award are given an emblem to proudly display as a visible symbol of commitment to quality, safety, a healthy work environment, and innovation in nursing practice and emergency care.

Anthony Pohlgeers, MD, chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine for Wolfson Children’s Hospital of Jacksonville, said, “The nurses in the Emergency and Trauma Center provide both medical and emotional support for not only the patients, but the parents, as well. This national recognition is confirmation of what I have always known: this team is special, and we are lucky to have them here in Jacksonville.”

“The Wolfson Children’s Emergency and Porter Family Trauma Center team is specially trained to treat the most critically ill and injured children in the region,” said Michael D. Aubin, FACHE, president of Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “We hope parents will rest assured knowing that this expert pediatric team is ready and waiting, should their child ever need them.”