National Honors for Intensive Care Unit at Providence St. Vincent

June 24, 2008

PORTLAND, Ore. – The intensive care unit at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center (PSVMC) is filled with the latest technology to help critically ill patients fight for survival. But the unit’s greatest asset is the registered nurses who are skilled at detecting and managing any potential problem that might hamper a patient’s successful recovery.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has recognized that and selected the Providence St. Vincent intensive care unit (ICU) as one of 19 in the nation to receive the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence 2007-2008.

The PSVMC unit was recognized for excellent patient outcomes, staff training, a healthy work environment, leadership, evidence-based practice and research and the highest quality standards in nurse recruitment and retention.

The application process was involved and thorough, with the ICU team providing detailed documentation that the unit qualified for the honor. “We soon realized we were not only doing things right, we were exceeding the standards,” says Rose Delarosa, ICU charge nurse.

“Our commitment to the highest quality patient care, collaboration and teamwork was the key to our successful Beacon journey. It feels great to be recognized for the work done by this dedicated team,” says Paula Schmidt, ICU nurse manager.

PSVMC is the only Oregon facility to receive the AACN Beacon Award for 2007-2008. At any given time more than 200 units across the nation are in the process of applying for this honor. Awards are presented twice a year.