American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Recognizes WVU Hospitals’ Neurocritical Care Unit with Beacon Award for Excellence

American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Recognizes WVU Hospitals’ Neurocritical Care Unit with Beacon Award for Excellence

 

WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital’s Neuro Critical Care Unit has earned the national silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for exceptional patient care and its efforts to foster excellence and a positive work culture.

The Neuro Critical Care Unit (NCCU) is the first nursing unit within WVU Hospitals (WVUH) to achieve the prestigious Beacon Award for Excellence and earn a silver status.

 

The Beacon Award for Excellence – a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments – recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve unit outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that earn this annual award meet specific criteria established by AACN that represent the characteristics and components of the unit environment that nurses can influence to achieve nursing excellence.

 

The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures, and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The units have evaluation and improvement strategies in place, along with good performance measures when compared to relevant benchmarks.

 

“I want to recognize and thank the nurses, staff, and leaders of our Neuro Critical Care Unit for the dedication, teamwork, and commitment to excellence that made this national recognition possible,” Michael A. Grace, EdD, MBA, FACHE, president and CEO of WVU Hospitals and senior vice president and chief operating officer of the WVU Health System, said. “Earning the Beacon Award for Excellence at the silver level is a powerful reflection of the culture our caregivers have built – one that values evidence-based practice, continuous improvement, professional growth, and a healthy work environment.”

 

Many units provide exceptional patient care; however, Beacon-awarded units distinguish themselves by demonstrating dynamic and outstanding performance in the areas of patient outcomes, nursing workforce, and work environment.

 

“This achievement is especially meaningful as the Neuro Critical Care Unit is the first nursing unit within WVU Hospitals to receive the Beacon Award,” Mary Fanning, DNP, RN, FRE, NEA-BC, vice president of nursing at WVU Hospitals and chief nursing officer, said. “Our teams consistently go above and beyond to deliver exceptional care to some of our most critically ill patients, while supporting one another and fostering a positive, collaborative workplace. We are incredibly proud of this milestone and look forward to continuing our journey toward excellence in patient care.”

 

AACN President Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN, applauded the commitment of the caregivers at Ruby Memorial Hospital for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence to achieve a silver-level designation. These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of our exceptional community of nurses, who set the standard for optimal patient care.

 

“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes,” Rebekah said. “Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.”