The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children was recently awarded the gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence, the highest achievable designation from the American Association for Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). One of only thirteen children’s hospitals nationally to reach gold, duPont Hospital for Children’s PICU is also the only pediatric facility in the tri-state area to hold this award.
Established in 2003, the Beacon Award for Excellence is a national three-year, three-level award. The gold-level designation, achieved by our PICU, is granted to healthcare units that demonstrate excellent and sustained unit performance and patient outcomes. These criteria are evaluated based on the AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement.
Key Facts
- The pediatric ICU at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children was awarded the gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association for Critical-Care Nursing (AACN).
- Nationally there are less than 100 Gold level Beacon units and only 13 of these are in children’s hospitals.
- duPont Hospital for Children’s PICU is the only pediatric ICU in the tri-state area to hold this award.
- The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards.
Quotes
"We are honored to join an exceptional community of nurses who set the standard for optimal patient care. This is a remarkable achievement and a true testament to nursing excellence and the inter-professional collaboration of our PICU team."
--Jane Mericle, Chief Nurse Executive, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, MHS-CL, BSN, RN, CENP
"The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care."
--Karen McQuillan, President, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, RN, MS, CNS-BC, CCRN, CNRN, FAAN
Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. To learn more about AACN, visit www.aacn.org, connect with the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/aacnface or follow AACN on Twitter at www.twitter.com/aacnme.
Nemours is an internationally recognized children's health system that owns and operates the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., and Nemours Children's Hospital in Orlando, Fla., along with outpatient facilities in six states, delivering pediatric primary, specialty and urgent care. Nemours also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, KidsHealth.org and offers on-demand, online video patient visits through Nemours CareConnect.
Established as The Nemours Foundation through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, Nemours provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to families in the communities it serves.
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