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Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Emergency Department Nurses Receive National Recognition for a Second Consecutive Time
ED Celebrates Receiving Lantern Award for Second Consecutive Time

(Wilmington, Del., July 25, 2022) —The Emergency Department nurses at Nemours Children’s Hospital Delaware were once again awarded the prestigious 2022 Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA). Nemours Children’s first received this award in 2019 and is the only hospital in Delaware, as well as the only pediatric hospital in the Delaware Valley (out of six pediatric hospitals), to have received this national award. Only 29 emergency departments across the country out of 5,000 were awarded this year. Nemours Children’s Delaware remains one of only a handful of emergency departments in the U.S. that is a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, a Level 1 Pediatric Emergency Department, through the Emergency Medical Services for Children facility recognition program, and a Lantern Award recipient.

“We are very proud of our nursing team for achieving this prestigious award for the second consecutive time,” said James Thomas, DNP, RN, CEN, Manager of Emergency Services and Emergency Department Patient Access at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware. “Knowing that the ENA has recognized Nemours Children’s Hospital Delaware during a global pandemic makes the award that much more meaningful. Throughout the past two years, our nurses have continued to provide exemplary care to their patients and families all while supporting their fellow coworkers. During the pandemic, our nurses have also displayed a level of strength, dedication and commitment that not only supports our mission of creating the healthiest generations of children but continues to unify the community.”

“Our nursing team is comprised of exceptionally caring, dedicated professionals who are deeply committed to the highest level of quality care,” said Jane Mericle, MHS-CL, BSN, RN, CENP, Chief Nursing Executive at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware. "Receiving an award like this takes an extraordinary team effort and we celebrate all of our associates for once again achieving such a prestigious honor for the second time.”

The Lantern Award is named in honor of Florence Nightingale, who famously worked to improve and change nursing care in the 19th Century. This award recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate excellent practice and innovative performance through leadership, education, advocacy and research. The Lantern Award has been recognizing Emergency Department nurses since 2011 and each award is valid for three years.

If you are interested in joining our exemplary Emergency Department team, please visit our Careers page. 

About Nemours Children’s Health

Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two free-standing children's hospitals and a network of more than 70 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children's seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also caring for the health of the whole child beyond medicine. Nemours Children's also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.

The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.

For further information: Jennifer Reardon, jennifer.reardon@nemours.org, 302.300.2257