The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has honored Laura Raichle, RN, BSN, nurse manager at Glendale Adventist Medical Center with its 2015 Circle of Excellence Award. Raichle is one of three nurses in California to receive this honor. The award is bestowed annually to up to 25 outstanding nurses nationwide for achieving excellent outcomes in the care of acutely and critically ill patients and their families.

Criteria used to evaluate the Circle of Excellence Award candidates include relentless promotion of patient-driven excellence; communication skills; true collaboration; effective decision making; meaningful recognition of others; ability to transform thinking, structures and processes; and ability to address challenges and remove barriers to excellent patient care and achieve visible results through leadership.

AACN’s Circle of Excellence Awards align with the association’s mission of creating a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. Awardees receive a plaque and a $1,000 honorarium and become members of the Circle of Excellence Society.

This year’s 25 honorees will be recognized at AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, San Diego, May 18-21.