Mercy South Surgical Intensive Care Unit Earns Silver Beacon Award for Excellence

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is again recognizing Mercy South’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) with its Silver Beacon Award for Excellence. Mercy South has the only Beacon Awarded adult intensive care unit in Missouri.

This is the third straight year the SICU has earned the Beacon Award, which is a significant achievement in exceptional patient care and healthy work environments. This prestigious recognition honors unit caregivers who successfully improve outcomes and align practices with the AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units earning this annual award meet rigorous criteria established by AACN, reflecting the highest standards of nursing. 

Under the leadership of Bridget Wilson, BSN, RN, CCRN, SICU displays cohesive teamwork, a strong integration model and an unwavering commitment to quality care. The exceptional level of critical thinking and collaboration among caregivers sets this team apart. 

"This honor belongs to every member of our team,” Wilson said. “We put patients first and strive for excellence, which means doing what’s right even when it’s hard.”

"This award is especially meaningful because it was written by our bedside nurses within our Unit Practice Council,” Wilson continued. “Other hospitals seek outside help to prepare their applications, but ours came from the roots, the nurses who live this work every day.”

Another example of the SICU’s dedication to quality care is their achievement of six consecutive years with no catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). Being CAUTI-free for one year is remarkable in an intensive care setting; hold to that standard for six years in a row is extraordinary.