VCU news

By Malorie Burkett

The Children's Hospital of Richmond Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) has received the Beacon Award for critical care excellence from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

It is the first PICU in the Commonwealth of Virginia and one of only a handful in the country to receive the Beacon Award, which recognizes adult critical care, adult progressive care and pediatric critical care units that demonstrate strong patient outcomes and exemplify excellence and innovation.

“What a fantastic recognition to receive our fourth Beacon Award for critical care excellence. It certainly is an affirmation of the outstanding nursing team we have in the PICU and throughout the VCU Health System,” said John Duval, CEO of MCV Hospitals. “I commend them for a job well done and to all who worked so hard to achieve this goal."

The Pediatric ICU includes 14 beds and specializes in the care and treatment of critically ill infants, children and teenagers.

Leadership and interdisciplinary team members from this unit include Jeniece Roane, nurse manager, Sue Sreedhar, M.D., medical director, and Demeatrice Thomas, nurse clinician.

The PICU joins the Surgery Trauma ICU, Medical Respiratory ICU and Neuroscience ICU, which have previously received this prestigious award. All of these units meet national evidence based standards for high quality critical care outcomes.

Established in 1969 to help educate nurses working in newly developed intensive care units, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the world's largest specialty nursing organization. For more information, visit http://www.aacn.org.