February 17, 2026 by South Shore Health
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has awarded a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence to the Richard and Joann Aubut Critical Care Unit (CCU) at South Shore Hospital. This recognition marks the fourth consecutive Beacon Award for the CCU and its dedicated team of caregivers.
The Beacon Award for Excellence honors hospital units that utilize evidence-based practices to improve patient and family outcomes. Units may receive gold, silver, or bronze designations based on their performance in professional practice, patient care, and clinical outcomes.
“Our team’s commitment to excellence is unwavering. Earning a fourth consecutive Beacon Award reflects the skill, compassion, and collaboration that define the care we provide every day,” said Dilip Nataraj, MD, Chair of Critical Care Medicine at South Shore Health. “We are honored by this recognition and remain focused on delivering the highest‑quality care to our community.”
As a Beacon Award recipient, South Shore Hospital’s CCU was evaluated across several key areas, including recruitment and retention; education, training, and mentoring; research and evidence-based practice; patient outcomes; leadership and organizational ethics; and the creation of a healthy work environment.
Opened in 2017, the Aubut CCU is staffed by a highly skilled, interdisciplinary team that cares for patients with significant injuries, complex illnesses, and those recovering from major surgery. The unit includes 24 private rooms designed to support the advanced technology required to save and sustain lives.
“This achievement speaks to the extraordinary dedication of our nurses, physicians, and support staff,” said Lynn Wenners, RN, nurse manager of the CCU. “Our team continues to rise to the occasion. I am incredibly proud of their expertise and their deep commitment to our patients and to one another.”
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with more than 130,000 members and over 200 chapters nationwide. For more than 50 years, AACN has been committed to advancing acute and critical care nursing excellence.