Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University Hospital's Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU) has been honored with the Silver Beacon Award for Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) for the period 2024-2027. This accolade acknowledges caregivers who have improved patient outcomes and aligned their practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Stony Brook is among only five NCCUs in New York State to receive this award.

“This achievement recognizes the exemplary efforts of our NCCU nursing staff to provide excellent, safe, patient-centered care to patients and their families,” said Carolyn Santora, MS, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at Stony Brook University Hospital. “Those that receive care here at Stony Brook can expect to experience the highest level of nursing care from a group of exceptional healthcare professionals.”

The Beacon Award for Excellence was established in 2003 by AACN to honor hospital units that excel in recruitment and retention; education, training and mentoring; research and evidence-based practice; patient outcomes; leadership and organizational ethics; and creation of a healthy work environment. Units awarded meet national criteria consistent with prestigious recognitions such as the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and National Quality Healthcare Award.

In addition to this recognition, Stony Brook University Hospital's Emergency Department received the Emergency Nurses Association’s (ENA) 2024 Lantern Award for excellence in leadership, practice, education, advocacy, and research performance.

Stony Brook University Hospital is Long Island’s leading academic health center with 624 beds. It serves as the region’s only tertiary care center and Regional Trauma Center. The hospital includes specialized centers such as the Heart Institute, Cancer Center, Children’s Hospital, Neurosciences Institute, Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center, AIDS Center, Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, Burn Center, ALS Center of Excellence, Kidney Transplant Center, and Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has been promoting acute and critical care nursing excellence for over 50 years. With around 130,000 members across more than 200 chapters nationwide, it stands as the largest specialty nursing organization globally.