UMMC neuroscience ICU receives national Beacon Award for nursing excellence
The Neuroscience ICU at the University of Mississippi Medical Center has been recognized with the Beacon Award for Excellence — silver level — by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. This prestigious national distinction is awarded to critical care units that demonstrate exceptional patient outcomes, evidence-based practice, leadership and a supportive work environment.
The UMMC NSICU is one of 58 units across the country and abroad to hold the designation, and one of only 39 with silver status. In 2023, the UMMC PICU also received the Beacon Award at the silver level.
“This NSICU team cares for the most complex neurology and neurosurgical patients in the state,” said Jason Zimmerman, chief nursing officer. This award is a testament to their leadership and staff’s commitment to UMMC’s core value of service excellence and recognizes them as one of the elite intensive care units in the nation.”
In 2024–2025, the NSICU met the criteria required for Beacon designation, demonstrating that high standards of care are embedded into daily practice, not limited to audits or high-visibility moments. The award also reflects the unit’s emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, patient safety and continuous improvement in an environment that supports staff at all levels.
“When we decided to apply for the Beacon Award, it started as a goal – something we wanted to chase because we knew our quality and outcomes were strong,” said Lucas Sandroni, nurse manager. “But the deeper we got into what Beacon represents, it became more than an award – it became a reflection of who we are as a unit.
“I’ve been part of the NSICU for more than 19 years, and while this recognition is for 2025, the standard behind It has been here for a long time – Beacon just puts a name to what our patients and families have experienced for years,” he said. “I’m grateful to be a small part of it, but I can’t take credit for it – this award belongs to our nurses, providers and every person who has cared for our patients.”
Beacon recognition is not common. In 2025, only 580 units nationwide were awarded Beacon status out of more than 20,000 critical care units across the United States. With this achievement, UMMC’s NSICU became the only adult intensive care unit in Mississippi to hold a Beacon designation.
Earning the Beacon Award reflects the collective efforts of the NSICU’s multidisciplinary team, including bedside nurses, charge nurses, nurse educators, quality staff, physicians, advanced practice providers, respiratory therapists and pharmacists. It also underscores the unit’s commitment to developing and retaining nursing talent through mentorship, professional growth and a supportive practice environment.
“As a pharmacist who has worked in the NSICU for over a decade, the Beacon Award reflects how our entire care team shows up for patients every day,” said Kyla Leon. “What makes the NSICU special is the way nurses, providers, respiratory therapists and pharmacists support one another and our patients. This recognition celebrates the relationships behind the care and the shared commitment we have to the patients we serve.”
The Beacon Award for Excellence affirms UMMC’s ongoing commitment to high-reliability care and recognizes the NSICU team for delivering consistent, patient-centered care in one of the hospital’s most complex and high-acuity settings.