Memorial Hermann's nursing units emphasize a culture of healthy work environments

Memorial Hermann had 12 units earn AACN Beacon Awards this year and 24 units hold active awards systemwide; leaders say open data sharing, shared governance and leadership support are central to sustaining healthy work environments.

Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston is receiving national recognition for embedding healthy work environment practices into daily operations. The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses awarded Beacon Awards for Excellence to 580 hospital units nationwide in January. Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center had 12 units earn the recognition this year, the most of any hospital. Systemwide, 24 Memorial Hermann units hold active Beacon Awards. Key facts: - The AACN Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes units that align with Healthy Work Environment standards such as skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition and authentic leadership. - Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center had 12 units recognized this year; across the health system 24 units hold active Beacon Awards. - Memorial Hermann Greater Heights Hospital has two gold-level Beacon Awards and is described by leaders as a model for embedding the standards into daily work. - Hospital leaders say transparency in sharing performance data and shared governance bring improvement conversations to the bedside and support continuous improvement. - The system shares performance data across campuses to benchmark and learn from higher-performing peers and approaches metrics as opportunities for collaboration rather than as punitive measures. Summary: The recognition reflects Memorial Hermann’s emphasis on transparency, shared governance and leadership support as foundations for nursing engagement and stronger patient care outcomes. Undetermined at this time.