Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Pediatric CVICU Earns National Beacon Award for Nursing Excellence

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) has earned the Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), becoming the first unit within Memorial Healthcare System to receive the national designation.

The Beacon Award recognizes unit-based excellence in critical care nursing, with a focus on patient outcomes, nursing workforce engagement, and a healthy work environment. The Pediatric CVICU earned a Silver-level designation, placing it among a limited number of pediatric cardiac units nationwide recognized for sustained excellence in these areas.

“This recognition reflects what families experience every day in our Pediatric CVICU, where highly skilled nurses work in close partnership with physicians and care teams to deliver exceptional, compassionate care,” said Caitlin Stella, MPH, chief executive officer of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “It speaks to a culture where teamwork, accountability and clinical excellence are not aspirations but expectations.”

The Beacon Award program evaluates unit performance through a rigorous review of clinical outcomes, evidence-based practices, staff engagement, and leadership structures that support nursing excellence. Units must demonstrate measurable results and a commitment to continuous improvement to earn the designation.

The Pediatric CVICU cares for children with complex and critical heart conditions, supporting patients and families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. The Beacon Award echoes the unit’s ability to deliver high-quality care while fostering an environment where nurses are supported, heard, and empowered.

“This award belongs to our nurses,” said Jineal Shinn, chief nursing officer. “It recognizes the depth of their clinical expertise, the standards they hold themselves to, and the way they show up for patients and each other every day. The Beacon designation reinforces what we know to be true: when nurses are supported and fully engaged, patient outcomes are stronger.”

Participation in the Beacon Award program also serves as a roadmap for ongoing excellence, encouraging units to evaluate performance, strengthen collaboration, and sustain improvements over time.

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital continues to invest in nursing practice and professional development across the organization, building on its Magnet® designation and reinforcing a systemwide commitment to high-quality, patient-centered care.