The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has awarded the Beacon Award for Excellence to four units within four Virtua hospitals. They are:

• The Coronary Care Unit 2 (CC2) at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, NJ,
• The Pediatric Pavilion at Virtua Mount Holly Hospital,
• The Intensive Care Unit at Virtua Marlton Hospital,
• The Intensive Care Unit at Virtua Voorhees Hospital (Gold level)

This prestigious national award recognizes nurses who set the standard for high-quality patient care.

The three-year Beacon Award for Excellence represents a significant achievement in exceptional patient care and healthy work environments. Specifically, the award recognizes caregivers who align practices with AACN’s Healthy Work Environment Standards.

“In many ways, nurses serve as a beacon for their patients by providing hope, knowledge, and comfort. Similarly, the Beacon Award helps to shine a light on units that provide exceptional care and experiences,” said Mary A. McCormick, MSN, RN, vice president and chief nursing officer at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.

Several additional Virtua hospital units have received the Beacon Award for Excellence in recent years. These units include the Special Care Nursery at Virtua Mount Holly and the Progressive Care Unit at Virtua Marlton, among others.

“The Beacon Award recognizes the health care expertise that our nurses provide to our patients and their families daily,” said Shannon Stillwell, MSN, RN, NE-BC, vice-president and chief nursing officer of Virtua Mount Holly Hospital.

“It is also a tremendous tribute to the collaboration, teamwork, and Culture of WE that our nurses have created, which makes it all possible, added Heidi Baur, MSN, RN, NE-BC, vice president and chief nursing officer for Virtua’s hospitals in Voorhees and Marlton. “We are tremendously proud of their commitment to excellence.”