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The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) is one of seven units at UNC Hospitals to earn a Beacon designation from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and among only 130 units nationwide.


The Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) is one of seven units at UNC Hospitals to earn a Beacon designation from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) and among only 130 units nationwide.

In November 2015, the AACN conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) at UNC Hospitals. The MICU is now one of seven Beacon recognized units at UNC Hospitals.

MICU Nurse Manager Lewis McKenzie, RN, said that this award honor would not have been possible without the hard work of the entire MICU staff. “Achieving the award is a tremendous honor for the entire MICU because it represents the commitment each MICU team member has for each of our patients and the patients’ family members. That commitment exists every moment of every day and night,” he said.

The Beacon Award recognizes unit caregivers who successfully align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards in the areas of leadership structures and systems; appropriate staffing and staff engagement; effective communication, knowledge management, learning and development; evidence-based practice and processes; and outcome management.

Beacon-designated units meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in stellar units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” explained AACN President Karen McQuillan, RN.

The AANC honored the MICU and other Beacon Award winners with announcements in its monthly member magazine, AACN Bold Voices. The AACN also honors awardees at the National Teaching Institutes & Critical Care Exposition, the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families.

Please join us in congratulating the MICU on receiving this honor.

In 2015, UNC Hospitals received more AACN Beacon Awards than any other hospital. Read more about the 2015 Beacon Awards