Exeter Hospital Intensive Care Unit Receives National Award

EXETER – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Exeter Hospital.

Exeter is one of only two hospitals in the state to currently hold a Beacon Award in any department. In addition to the ICU, the hospital’s Progressive Care Unit and Family Center also currently hold Beacon Awards.

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. Exeter Hospital has also held a Magnet designation since 2013.

“I am extremely proud of the work the staff in the ICU has done to achieve this recognition,” said Elizabeth Keane, director of Exeter Hospital’s ICU. “Despite the continued additional work and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, the team put in the extra effort needed to apply for and achieve this award. They understand the importance of nursing excellence, and this is the fourth time the ICU has been recognized with this award.”

The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the ICU at Exeter Hospital 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 ICU at Exeter Hospital 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

AACN President Beth Wathen, MSN, APRN, CCRN-K, applauds the commitment of the caregivers in the Intensive Care Unit at Exeter Hospital for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence.

“The Beacon Award for Excellence is a testament to a team’s commitment to providing safe, patient-centered and evidence-based care to patients and families,” Wathen explained. “Creating healthy and supportive work environments empowers nurses and other team members to make their optimal contribution.”

Exeter Hospital is a community-based hospital that serves residents from 38 towns in New Hampshire’s Seacoast Region. The hospital and its affiliates employ 2,300 area residents and provide millions of dollars annually for community benefits. Exeter Hospital has held a Magnet® designation for nursing excellence since 2013, which has only been accomplished by approximately seven percent of the hospitals in the nation. For more information, visit exeterhospital.com or call (603) 580-6668.

Established in 2003, the Beacon Award for Excellence offers a road map to help guide exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall patient satisfaction. U.S. and Canadian units where patients receive their principal nursing care after hospital admission qualify for this excellence award. Units that receive the Beacon Award for Excellence meet criteria in six categories: leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, and learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement. To learn more, visit www.aacn.org/beacon or call 800-899-2226.

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.