Achieving recognition for excellence in patient care is paramount for hospitals and their nurses. The Beacon program is tailored to evaluate a unit’s outcomes and empower nurses and unit leaders to make improvements.
Unlike other awards that recognize whole hospitals and facilities, the Beacon Award for Excellence serves as a distinguished recognition for individual hospital units. It awards three levels of designation - gold, silver, and bronze - and complements other healthcare excellence and benchmarking programs.
The Beacon Award for Excellence
The Value of Beacon
Who Can Apply?
It’s more than recognition; it’s a commitment to cultivating thriving workplaces.
In addition to national recognition, the Beacon Award offers tangible benefits that can positively impact an institution's financial performance and operational efficiency. Units that receive the Beacon designation consistently report:
But wait - there’s more!
Participating units receive detailed feedback and benchmark data, enabling them to identify areas for improvement. These insights can inform unit strategy and goals reflective of current unit performance and comparisons.
To be eligible to receive the Beacon Award, hospital-based units in the United States and abroad* must report the predetermined data elements and complete all three modules.
Patient Outcomes: Focuses on measurable results related to patient care
Work Environment: Assesses the health and functionality of the unit's work setting
Nursing Workforce: Evaluates the mechanisms to support the skills, education, and overall well-being of the nursing staff
The list of required measures can be found in the Program Overview handbook.
We also offer the flexibility of purchasing individual modules and earning module-level recognition for units or teams that are unable to complete the required questions or who choose to measure performance at the module level.
*Applicants from any country other than the U.S. must contact the Beacon Team at beacon@aacn.org before purchasing an application.
We’ve bundled all three module assessments for units that want to apply for the Beacon Award. We also offer the following discounts to support unit participation:
Program Pricing
Single Unit
Multi-Unit Bundles
Now Available! Individual Modules
*Bulk pricing can be applied to initial or redesignation application fees and must be used in one application year.
*For units looking to participate in multiple modules, we offer a flexible approach allowing modules to be purchased individually.
The Beacon Award program provides unique recognition and actionable data and feedback unlike other award programs because it is unit-based. That means your unit is measured against other individual units who apply, and in-turn provides powerful data for nurses and leaders at the unit level.
Review our Beacon Value Flyer to share your case with leadership.
Nurse Leaders
OR
Direct Care Nurses
The Beacon Award is valid for 1 year. Units that have applied should plan to complete a new HWEAT before receiving their results so they are prepared to apply the following year. Units receive the most benefit by participating every year by accessing our redesignation discount and continual evaluation of unit performance. Units that re-apply each year must complete a new application during the annual application window. Re-designation is not guaranteed.
With Beacon's streamlined, metric-driven approach, participating units gain the power to make real change.
1Determine your application timeline.
2Conduct the required prerequisite HWEAT survey. It must be completed in the year prior to the year you plan to apply for Beacon (i.e., complete the HWEAT in 2025 to apply for Beacon in 2026).
3While you're waiting for the cycle to open, begin brainstorming about projects, improvements, and achievements or successes the unit had the year before applying. These can be sources for your written exemplars.
4Purchase the application once the cycle opens. Applications must be completed within the same year they are purchased.
Additional Information
Do you have to be an AACN member to apply?
All you need is an AACN user account, which you can create free of charge. You do not have to be an AACN member to apply for the Beacon Award for Excellence. Anyone else who collaborates on the application will also need a free AACN user account.
How do I start the Beacon Award?
We offer live information sessions to help you better understand the Beacon Award application process. Learn about eligibility, requirements, and tips for a successful submission. Click here to sign up for an upcoming session.
How do I pay the application fee?
You may pay with a credit card using our online checkout process (or over the phone), or, if you choose to pay by check, you can generate an invoice during checkout that must be included with the payment mailed to AACN. Wire transfers and ACH payments must have the unit's invoice number included to be sure the payment is routed to the correct application. The point of contact (POC) will gain access to the application as soon as the payment has been received by AACN.
Do I have to complete the application in one sitting?
No, the Beacon application is entirely online, and you can work on it at your own pace. You can save your progress while filling out the application and continue from where you left off the next time you log in.
I am the Point of Contact (POC) for our unit’s application. What communication should I expect?
The primary contact for the application will receive notifications including: news or updates, application results, plaque orders and information about NTI celebrations. If the primary contact needs to be changed, please call the Beacon team at 800-899-AACN (2226) or email beacon@aacn.org, and we will update this information for you.
Can users be added to the application?
Yes, the application point of contact (POC) can add users after payment is received. The POC will need to create a free AACN account to access the application. They can then invite additional users through the ‘manage users’ link in the application. The link is under the unit name after you click on it in the Beacon application portal. Users will receive an email invitation that they must accept to gain access.
How can we be assured of the confidentiality of the information in our application?
Strict confidentiality is observed in every aspect of the Beacon application review and feedback process, including the online application, feedback report, and expert review. In accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, avoid including patient- or employee-specific information. If confidential information is used in the narrative, it may be included by removing all identifying information.
Are there any discounts available?
Yes! Multi-unit (bulk) pricing is available for organizations submitting applications for more than one unit. There is also a redesignation discount for returning units within their designation period. Discounts cannot be combined. Download the flyer to view detailed pricing information and see if your organization qualifies. If interested in multi unit discounts, please contact us at beacon@aacn.org.
Do I have to use AACN's HWEAT survey?
Yes, units must use AACN’s HWEAT survey using the unit-specific link generated at the time of survey setup. Units cannot use the HWEAT questions to create their own survey, as the questions are proprietary to AACN, and you will not generate accurate total and individual scores for each standard.
Does a unit leader have to set up the HWEAT survey?
No, anyone can set up the survey; however, a unit leader should be invited as a user, so they can also view and download the results. Note: The person who sets up the HWEAT should be the same person that will be the point of contact (POC) for the Beacon application.
Does Beacon require a minimum HWEAT participation rate?
Units can choose to complete the HWEAT-RN or the HWEAT-Team survey, and must have a minimum of five responses to generate a result report. If there are fewer than five responses, there will be no results, and without results, the unit cannot apply for Beacon.
Although a minimum of five responses is required to generate a results report, Beacon does not require a minimum number of RNs to complete the survey. However, the response rate is a scored component. One strategy you can use is to consider the number of direct care nurses on your unit and determine what response rate best reflects the majority of voices, and set that as your target response rate.
Can I still participate if my HWEAT scores are low?
Yes, absolutely! Although your scores may not be at the level you desire, you do not know how you compare to other Beacon applicants in the cycle. Remember, this is a journey of growth and an opportunity for improvement the unit can act upon.
How can I check the progress on the survey?
To check the response rate on your survey, set a calendar reminder for the survey's halfway point. Go back into the survey by clicking on the “get started” button on the HWEAT page and view the progress. You will be able to see the number of responses, send out or post reminders, and have discussions with staff. In addition, if you need to extend the survey, you can change the end date while the survey is still open.
When do I get my HWEAT results?
The day your survey closes, the results are immediately available. You will not receive a notification from AACN that your results are ready, so be sure to set a calendar notification to remind you to view and download the results on the survey end date.
What do I do with the results?
Review the results with staff and use the results to drive change in the unit. Projects that many develop from the results can potentially be sources for your exemplars.
Can units from international hospitals apply for the Beacon Award?
Yes, we welcome international units to participate in the Beacon Award program and ask that they contact a Beacon team member at beacon@aacn.org before purchasing an application. Applicants from international facilities are required to submit the same data as domestic facilities.