Sentara RMH Receives Gold Beacon Award from AACN

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Critical Care Unit (CCU) at Sentara RMH Medical Center. Gold is the highest level of the Beacon Award that can be granted.

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 patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with gold, silver or bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with Magnet® Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

“Gold Beacon designation demonstrates a positive and supportive work environment with staff-driven excellence,” said Jill Delawder, DNP, RN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, Clinical Nurse Specialist for critical care and nurse manager of nursing professional development at Sentara RMH. “With collaboration from all members of the team, our CCU is able to sustain improved outcomes that exceed the national benchmark and strive for continual process improvement.”

The Sentara RMH CCU earned a gold award by meeting the following evidence-based Beacon Award for Excellence criteria:

Leadership Structures and Systems

Appropriate Staffing and Staff Engagement

Effective Communication, Knowledge Management, and Learning and Development

Evidence-Based Practice and Processes

Outcome Measurement

“Our team is very excited and honored to achieve gold level Beacon recognition,” said CCU nurse manager Christy Crawford, BSN, RN, CCRN-K. “This designation validates the high level of care we provide to our patients, their families, and our community. Our exemplary patient outcomes, evidence-based practices and interdisciplinary team approach played a significant role in achieving this recognition.”

To learn more about the Beacon Award for Excellence, visit http://www.aacn.org/beacon.