GOSHEN — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recently conferred a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence for the intensive care unit at IU Health Goshen Hospital.

“We are honored to receive this award recognizing our ICU colleagues’ dedication to our mission of providing innovative, outstanding care and service to our critically ill patients,” said Julie Crossley, MSN, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer, IU Health Goshen Hospital. “This award aligns with our magnet designation and further elevates our standards as a Magnet -designated workplace.”

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 gold, silver or bronze designations meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award. IU Health Goshen Hospital is the only hospital in the area to receive the award.

The gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence earned by the intensive care unit at IU Health Goshen Hospital signifies excellent and sustained unit performance and patient outcomes. Colleagues earned a gold-level 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, learning and development
• Evidence-based practice and processes
• Outcome measurement