The Intensive Care nurses of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital have earned a prestigious distinction: a Gold Beacon award from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

The award, given to just 8% of hospitals in the state of California, is a national benchmark distinction that measures continual improvement among a team of critical care nurses.

“This is a recognition of excellence from AACN,” said Raffi Boghossian, MBA, BSN, RN, PHN, clinical director of ICU, telemetry, the respiratory department and wound care services at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. “The Gold Beacon award represents outstanding care in a unit that prioritizes patients.”

Patient outcomes were a chief measurement assessed by AACN, which recognized the nurses of the USC-VHH ICU for their careful attention to patient safety, their proactive approach to resolving patient issues and the evidence-based initiatives that increased safety and quality of care for everyone admitted to the unit.

“It brings me immense joy as a leader to witness the incredible accomplishments of our nursing staff and how these achievements positively impact patient care,” Boghossian said.

While the ICU nurses at USC-VHH are proud of their Gold Beacon distinction, they have no intention of slowing down. In the year to come, they’ll continue to seek out new, original ways to provide their patients with the best outcomes possible.