UCI Health — Orange neonatal intensive care unit receives Gold Beacon Award for Excellence
Hospital is first in the county and second in the state to receive the organization's top recognition
Orange, Calif. — The neonatal intensive care unit at UCI Health — Orange, the flagship academic medical center of the UCI Health system, has received the prestigious gold level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).
UCI Health — Orange is the first NICU in Orange County and the second in California to receive the organization’s top recognition.
Earning the Beacon Award is a significant milestone for a nursing unit. It signifies exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall satisfaction. Units recognized with the award routinely adhere to the highest standards of acute and critical care nursing and have demonstrated a commitment to patient care.
“This recognition is a testament to the exceptional family-centered care delivered during every shift by all UCI Health NICU nurses and medical leaders who foster a healthy work environment to support excellent outcomes and a culture of continuous improvement,” said Anne Marie Watkins, DNP, RN, UCI Health chief nursing executive and senior vice president.
These units are part of a select group. Nationally, 38 NICUs have earned a Beacon Award.
“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes,” said AACN President Rebekah Marsh, BSN, RN, CCRN. “Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care.”
Nursing excellence at UCI Health
UCI Health has a long-standing tradition of nursing excellence.
- In 2024, three inpatient nursing units at UCI Health — Orange received Beacon Awards; the neurosciences step down unit was honored with gold, the cardiovascular ICU and the cardiovascular surgery units received silver
- In 2023, the UCI Health — Orange burn and medical ICUs each received gold Beacon Awards
- In 2023, UCI Health — Orange received its fifth Magnet designation, the highest national honor for professional nursing practice and the gold standard for nursing excellence. The academic health system has held this designation since 2003, when it became the first Magnet hospital in Orange County.
- Half of UCI Health nurses hold a national certification in at least one specialty, and more than 90% have earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing or higher.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,461-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Health — Orange, its flagship hospital, the UCI Health — Irvine acute care hospital and medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Health — Orange provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).