‘Testament to Teamwork’: Neuro Critical Care Unit Earns Beacon Award for Excellence
All six Beacon Award-winning patient care units in Delaware are at ChristianaCare
ChristianaCare’s Neuro Critical Care Unit (NCCU) has received a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The designation is given to hospital units demonstrating excellence in patient care and outcomes and for providing a supportive work environment for caregivers that enables collaboration and higher morale. The award also recognizes units for providing the highest levels of satisfaction to patients and their families.
“Patients who need specialty neurological care get the best in the state on our Neuro Critical Care Unit at Christiana Hospital,” said Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC Chief Nurse Executive at ChristianaCare.
“The Beacon Award signals our nurses’ commitment to the best in evidence-based care for the most complex, critically ill patients and their loved ones.”
ChristianaCare’s NCCU is capable of handling the most acute neurological emergencies. The 18-bed NCCU provides evidence-based care to patients with brain injuries who need close neurological monitoring and treatment.
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The majority of patients in the NCCU have experienced an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, but some patients have brain tumors, spinal cord compression, Guillain-Barre syndrome and other conditions.
“It takes an amazing amount of grit to work in the intensive care unit,” said Shannon Guzman, MSN, MS, RN, NE-BC, nurse manager of the Neuro Critical Care Unit. “To come back day after day and do it at this level is truly a testament to the teamwork and collaboration of this entire group.”
ChristianaCare’s NCCU is a tight-knit group with very little turnover: This supports collaborative care focused on positive patient outcomes, said Emily Colonna, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, SCRN, nursing professional development specialist for the Neuro Critical Care Unit.
“I’m so proud of the nurses I get to work alongside every day for what they do to care for their patients,” she said. “Having an award that truly recognizes this devotion is very valuable. I see it every day, but to be recognized at a national level for it is great.”
In the NCCU, 98% of the registered nurses hold a bachelor’s degree or higher and 71% are board certified. All members of the unit’s leadership team hold at least one specialty certification. Research shows that nursing education and certification yield better patient outcomes.
The NCCU’s collaborative work environment helps boost morale among caregivers yielding high level of patient outcomes, said Leasha Roy, MSN, MHA, APRN, ACCNS-AG, PCCN, CCRN, a clinical nurse specialist for the Neuro Critical Care Unit.
“It’s true teamwork,” she said. “We focus on our patient metrics, we identify areas of opportunity, and we strive to fix those things. We serve together.”
Of the six Beacon Award-winning patient care units currently in Delaware, all are at ChristianaCare. The others are the Cardiovascular Stepdown Unit 4E (silver); the Transitional Medical Unit and 3C Intermediate Medical Unit (silver); the Cardiovascular Critical Care Complex (three-time gold winner); and the Medical Intensive Care Unit at Christiana Hospital (a record-setting five-time gold winner).
