Transitional Medical Unit earns Silver Beacon Award for excellence in care

ChristianaCare’s Transitional Medical Unit (TMU) has earned a Silver Beacon Award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for excellence in professional nursing practice, optimal patient outcomes and exceptional experiences for critically ill patients and their families.

“This award takes us to the next level and validates the commitment of the TMU staff to being exceptional today and even better tomorrow,” said Nurse Manager Sonya Stover, MSN, RN, CCRN, NE-BC. The unit earned a Bronze Beacon Award in 2017.

The critical care nurses on the 32-bed stepdown unit care for many of ChristianaCare’s most complex, medically fragile patients.

“We care for patients and families who are experiencing life-altering illnesses, and the staff find deep meaning and joy in this work which is evident in the achievement of this award,” Stover said. “The skill, competency and compassion that TMU staff demonstrate every day, on every shift, in every patient encounter is unmatched and inspirational.”

The AACN’s Beacon Award measures systems, outcomes and environments against evidence-based national criteria for excellence in patient safety and experience. The TMU has earned a ChristianaCare Zero Harm award, has gone more than 48 consecutive months without a catheter-associated urinary tract infection, and is 12 months free of central line associated blood stream infections.

“Beacon signals the success that interdisciplinary partnerships can make in patient outcomes and our own caregivers’ professional experience,” said Ric Cuming, Ed.D., RN, ChristianaCare chief nurse executive. “This important national recognition is another meaningful indication that we serve together at ChristianaCare, guided by our values of excellence and love.”

The team will showcase the unit’s exceptional care at the AACN’s 2020 National Teaching Institute and Critical Care Exposition in May in Indiana.