Hasbro Children’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has again received The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Silver Beacon Award for Excellence for demonstrating excellence in patient outcomes, nursing workforce engagement, and healthy work environments.
The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve unit outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. 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.
“This marks the second consecutive year Hasbro Children’s has earned the Beacon Award under AACN’s newer annual designation process,” said Sarah Frost, Chief of Hospital Operations and President of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s. “This designation is acknowledgement of our PICU team’s passion for excellence and providing our patients with the best high-quality, patient and family-centered care.”
Units earning the Beacon Award demonstrate excellence across three core areas:
• Patient Outcomes
• Nursing Workforce; and
• Work Environment
The Hasbro Children’s PICU submitted extensive quantitative data related to infection prevention, high-risk interventions, staffing, and retention, along with qualitative narratives describing interventions implemented to improve care delivery and workplace culture. The unit also completes an annual survey capturing feedback directly from bedside nurses to guide ongoing improvement efforts.
"We care about every child and family member we treat as though they are our own, providing support and encouragement every step of the way. We care for the sickest children across Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. It’s a difficult job at times, but one of the most rewarding. We're all so passionate and dedicated as individuals and a team, and that’s what makes Hasbro Children’s so special,” said Michaela Vieira, BSN, RN, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit nurse at Hasbro Children’s, who led this year’s application effort.