Posted: 1/22/2020
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses award recognizes exceptional patient care, healthy work environment
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence to the Medicine Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at Parkland Memorial Hospital. 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 a gold, silver or bronze designation meet national criteria consistent with Magnet® Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.
AACN President Megan Brunson, MSN, RN, CNL, CCRN-CSC, applauded the commitment of the caregivers at Parkland’s MICU for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence.
“Receiving a Beacon Award for Excellence demonstrates a team’s commitment to providing safe, patient-centered and evidence-based care to patients and families. Creating healthy and supportive work environments empowers nurses and other team members to make their optimal contribution,” Brunson explained.
“We are extremely proud of our entire team of nurses, physical, occupational and respiratory therapists, nutritionists, palliative care providers and medical staff who have together earned this recognition. It truly takes a village of all caregivers working collaboratively to achieve excellence in patient care,” said Judy Herrington, MSN, RN, Senior Vice President, Nursing Services, Medicine & Neuro Science Division at Parkland.
The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the Parkland MICU signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The unit has evaluation and improvement strategies in place and good performance measures when compared to relevant benchmarks. The Parkland MICU earned its silver 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
About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, California, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN represents the interests of more than half a million acute and critical care nurses and includes more than 200 chapters in the United States. 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.
About Parkland Health & Hospital System
Parkland Health & Hospital System is one of the largest public hospital systems in the country. Premier services include the Level I Rees-Jones Trauma Center, the only burn center in North Texas verified by the American Burn Association and a Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The system also includes more than 30 community-based clinics and numerous outreach and education programs. By cultivating its diversity, inclusion and health equity efforts, Parkland enriches the health and wellness of the communities it serves. For more information, visit www.parklandhospital.com