Saint Peter’s University Hospital Earns Four Prestigious Silver Beacon Awards

Saint Peter’s University Hospital has earned four Silver Beacon Awards for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The awards recognize Saint Peter’s Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and
Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (CPCU), each for delivering exceptional patient care and maintaining the highest
standards of nursing excellence.

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 unit outcomes and align practices with
AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards: skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision
making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership. Units that earn this annual award with a gold, silver, or bronze designation meet specific criteria established by AACN that represent the characteristics and components of the unit environment that nurses can influence to achieve nursing excellence. Many units provide exceptional patient care; however, those recognized with the Beacon Award distinguish themselves by excelling in key areas such as patient outcomes, nursing workforce development, and work
environment, demonstrating an unwavering commitment to safe, evidence-based, high-quality care.

“I have always believed that our nursing staff at Saint Peter’s is exceptional, but receiving recognition from a third party, for not only one, but four distinct units that provide care to our most vulnerable patients in the most complex of circumstances, is an extraordinary distinction,” said Linda Carroll, MSN, RN, RN-BC, vice president of Patient Care Services and chief nursing officer at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System.

“This recognition reflects the culture of excellence that defines Saint Peter’s,” said Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE,
president and CEO of Saint Peter’s Healthcare System. “The Beacon Award recognizes the commitment, compassion, and clinical expertise that our Adult ICU, PICU, NICU, and CPCU teams bring to every patient interaction and reinforces Saint Peter’s reputation for excellence in critical care.”

The hospital recently completed construction of a brand-new, state-of-the-art PICU, something made possible by the generosity of the Dorothy B. Hersh Foundation and a $10 million state appropriation supported by New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin and the legislative delegation of Assemblyman Joseph Danielsen, Assemblyman Kevin Egan and Senator Bob Smith.

AACN President Rebekah Marsh praises the commitment that unit teams who achieve the Beacon Award for Excellence demonstrate by providing safe, patient-centered and evidence-based care to patients and families.

“Congratulations to our AACN Beacon teams for showing what nurses can do when we practice in a healthy
work environment,” she said. “This meaningful recognition is more than a point of pride; it demonstrates a commitment to cultivating a thriving workplace, one in which nurses and other team members are empowered to make their optimal contributions.”

To learn more about Saint Peter’s recognitions, visit saintpetershcs.com/awards.