Three nursing units at Upstate University Hospital that care for some of the most complex medical cases throughout Central New York have been recognized for excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

Upstate’s Neurocritical Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and Adult Oncology Unit have been named Beacon Awards for Excellence winners.

Nurses on the Neurocritical Intensive Care Unit, or 9E, received gold-level designation—the highest offered by the AACN; Adult Oncology, 10 E, was selected for silver designation; and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, 12 F, was honored with bronze designation.

The Neurocritical Intensive Care Unit is a state-of-the-art 14-bed unit, where nurses care for some of the region’s most complex neuro-critically ill patients with advanced neuro-monitoring and neuro-assessment. It is a key feature of Upstate’s designation as a comprehensive stroke center.

The Adult Oncology Unit, the silver designation winner, features 27-bed specializing in the advance care of adult medical hematology and oncology patients who require treatment in an acute-care setting, particularly those receiving chemotherapy, biological modifiers, undergoing radiation therapy, and those requiring symptom management, accommodating the needs of oncology patients throughout Central New York.

The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, which received the bronze designation, is a 15-bed unit at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital providing comprehensive and family-centered care to critically ill infants, children and young adults. This unit is the only dedicated Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in the Central New York region.

"Earning Beacon Awards at all three levels—gold, silver, and bronze—is a remarkable accomplishment and speaks volumes about the excellence, collaboration, and resilience of our nursing teams," said Chief Nursing Officer Scott Jessie, MSN, MBA, RN. "These awards reflect the tireless work our nurses do to improve outcomes, create healthy work environments, and elevate the standards of patient care. I am deeply proud of their leadership and dedication."

Chief Executive Officer Robert Corona, DO, MBA, offered his congratulations. "This national recognition from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is a testament to the extraordinary commitment, skill, and compassion of our nurses," he said. "The Beacon Awards earned by our Neurocritical Intensive Care Unit, Adult Oncology, and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit reflect the excellent care our nursing teams exhibit every day. I couldn’t be prouder of their achievement and the exceptional care they deliver to our community."

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. 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.

AACN President Jennifer Adamski, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, applauds the commitment of the caregivers at the Neurocritical ICU, Adult Oncology, Pediatric ICU at Upstate University Hospital for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence to achieve these special level designations.

“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes,” Adamski said. “Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.”

About the Beacon Award for Excellence: 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: structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, and learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome measurement.

Caption: Nurses representing the Neurocritical Intensive Care Unit, which was awarded gold-level designation for care by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, are, from left, Jessica Urtz, Sara Greenway, Megan Hawkins, Emily Harding and Josie Quattrocchi.