The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has designated Nicklaus Children’s Hospital as a premier institution for patient care, bestowing two more unit-based Beacon Awards for Excellence that bring the hospital’s total number of Beacon Awards to six, a distinction no other children’s hospital in the nation currently holds. The newly awarded units include 3 Northeast, with a gold-level Beacon Award, and 2 East (the pre- and post-surgical unit) with a silver-level Beacon Award.
 
In 2016, the hospital’s three intensive care units (Pediatric, Neonatal and Cardiac), each received gold-level Beacon Awards. The respiratory care unit, 3 East, also received a gold-level Beacon Award this year. 

“This award is truly a testament to our commitment and dedication to the children entrusted to our care and how we are measured in comparison to peer organizations. At Nicklaus Children’s, delivering quality pediatric care and patient satisfaction is our utmost priority and we are honored to be recognized for that,” said Jackie Gonzalez, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.

Beacon Awards set the standard for excellence in patient care environments by collecting and utilizing evidence-based information to improve patient outcomes and patient and staff satisfaction. The awards signify excellent and sustained unit performance and patient outcomes.
 
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is a designated Magnet hospital for nursing by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Magnet-designated hospitals offer an environment that fosters leadership, nursing research, staff involvement and innovation in practice, as well as foster an environment that supports teamwork and collegiality. The Magnet Recognition Program is widely accepted as the gold standard of patient care with only six percent of hospitals nationwide having achieved Magnet designation.