Five NJ emergency departments win prestigious Lantern Award
Five Garden State emergency departments were recently 
recognized by the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), earning the prestigious ENA Lantern Award.
Established in 2011, the recognition – the only such award dedicated to showcase emergency departments for their outstanding work – was awarded to 29 hospitals nationally.
The five New Jersey 2022 ENA Lantern Award recipients are:
- Chilton Medical Center Emergency Department in Pompton Plains,
- Inspira Medical Center Vineland Emergency Department in Vineland,
- Monmouth Medical Center Emergency Department – RWJ Barnabas Health in Long Branch,
- The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital Pediatric Emergency Department in New Brunswick, and
- The Valley of Hospital’s David F. Bolger Emergency Department in Ridgewood.
“These emergency departments are doing so many remarkable improvements and initiatives and they deserve to be honored for their work,” said ENA President Jenn Schmitz. “I look forward to meeting some of these emergency nurses in Denver and celebrating them for their incredible achievement.”The 2022 ENA Lantern Award recipients will also receive a physical award that they can display in their emergency department: They will be officially recognized during the group’s annual conference – Emergency Nursing 2022 – in Denver, Colo., from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.
“The Pediatric Emergency Department at The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University is the only pediatric emergency department in New Jersey to receive the prestigious Lantern Award,” said Pam Harmon, nursing director of Saint Peter’s Woman and Children’s Division. “Earning the Lantern Award shows that The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s has met the highest standards for pediatric emergency care. Our nurses strive to provide the highest level of patient care and service excellence every day.”
“Recognition with the Lantern Award is such a great reward for our team,” said Sharmine Brassington, administrative director of emergency services, Monmouth Medical Center. “They are a focused and dedicated team, especially with COVID-19, they exemplify altruism, resiliency and endurance – showing up to work every day to provide culturally competent and congruent care to our patients.”
The award was created to recognize emergency departments that demonstrate exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research.
“This award is such a testament to you and your team – to be able to achieve this award during one of the most challenging times in health care, you should be so proud,” said Schmitz. “To be able to keep your team engaged and on track despite the challenges of the pandemic is so remarkable.”
(This story originally appeared in NJBIZ.)
