Beacon BIS012026
Presenter(s): Andrea Schmitt, MSN, RN, CCRN, NPD-BC; Michelle Sanchez, MSN, RN, CPHQ, CENP
Contact Hours 1.00
CERP C 1.00
Date Jan 20, 2026
Time 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PT
Topics: Beacon
20 days left to register
This session introduces participants to the AACN Beacon Award for Excellence, outlining the program’s purpose, eligibility requirements, pricing structure, and the value it brings to units and organizations. Attendees will explore how the Beacon Award fosters a culture of excellence, enhances team engagement, and offers meaningful recognition for high-performing units. The session also reviews the annual program cycle and the three required modules that must be completed for a unit to be eligible for the award, concluding with a walkthrough of the application components to support submission readiness.
To empower participants with the insight and clarity needed to determine whether pursuing the AACN Beacon Award aligns with their unit’s goals, readiness, and commitment to excellence.
Course objectives include:
Sessions are approximately 50-60 minutes.
Andrea Schmitt, MSN, RN, CCRN, NPD-BC
Andrea Schmitt is a Clinical Practice Specialist with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and co-editor of the AACN Beacon Program Overview Handbook and the Applicant Module Handbooks. As an experienced educator, she guides teams through every stage of the Beacon journey—providing foundational information to assess readiness and understand program requirements. For units actively working on their application during the cycle, Andrea offers targeted instruction on crafting strong, standards-aligned exemplars that reflect their practice and impact. Her teaching emphasizes clarity, usability, and empowerment—making the Beacon process approachable and meaningful.
Michelle Sanchez, MSN, RN, CPHQ, CENP
Michelle Sanchez is the Program Manager for the Beacon Award for Excellence and oversees the development and implementation of the Beacon Award program. Michelle collaborates with hospital units and healthcare organizations nationwide to guide them through the application process and supports their continuous improvement efforts. With over a decade of experience at AACN, she is dedicated to promoting excellence in acute and critical care nursing.
Learners must complete the entire activity and the associated evaluation to be awarded contact hours AND read Implicit Bias impacts patient outcomes. No partial credit will be awarded.
Accreditation
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.
Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider number CEP 1036, for 1.00 contact hours.
DisclosureAny relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content will be identified by the Nurse Planner within the activity. Any relevant relationship between an ineligible company and an individual with the ability to influence clinical content has been mitigated.
Accreditation refers to recognition of continuing education only and does not imply AACN, ANCC, or CBRN approval or endorsement of any commercial products discussed or displayed in conjunction with this educational activity.
Activities with pharmacology hours are to assist the APRN in fulfilling the pharmacotherapeutic education requirements for licensure and certification renewals.
Activities meet the standards for most states that require mandatory continuing education for license and/or certification renewal. AACN recommends consulting with your own state board of nursing or credentialing organization before submitting your certificate of completion.Continuing Education Activities are nonrefundable.