AACN recognizes Children's MSICU, NICU with gold-level Beacon Awards for Excellence

Children's NICU and MSICU First in the Country to Achieve Designation

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has recognized the Medical/Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU) and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children's Hospital Boston with gold-level Beacon Awards for Excellence. Children's NICU is currently the only neonatal unit in the country to have achieved the Beacon Award at any level. Together, the NICU and MSICU are the first neonatal and pediatric ICUs to receive gold-level status. The MSICU was previously awarded the Beacon Award for Critical Care in Fall 2009/2010.

The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN's Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with gold, silver and bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

"The AACN is known and respected for setting national standards in critical care specialties," said Patricia Hickey, PhD, MBA, RN, FAAN, vice president of Cardiovascular and Critical Care Services at Children's. "The gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence is a distinction bestowed upon very few critical care units nationally. To be the first gold-level neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in America is extraordinary. This honor is a tribute to our exemplary staff who work together every day to optimize outcomes for critically ill patients and their families." 

The gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the Children's NICU and MSICU signifies excellent and sustained unit performance and patient outcomes. Each unit 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, learning and development and best practices; evidence-based practice and processes; and patient outcomes.

Recipients who earn silver-level awards demonstrate continuous learning and effective systems to achieve optimal patient care; bronze-level awardees demonstrate success in developing, deploying and integrating unit-based performance criteria for optimal outcomes.

"This acknowledgment is a wonderful testament to Children's clinicians' commitment to practicing excellence, providing the highest quality family-centered care, and ensuring a healthy work environment for patients, families and staff alike," said Eileen Sporing, MS, RN, FAAN, chief nursing officer at Children's.