Nursing Awards

Nominate someone for a Daisy Award
Do you know a nurse who has gone above and beyond in order to make a difference? Nominations are open for The DAISY Award, which rewards and celebrates nurses who have demonstrated extraordinary clinical skill and compassionate care.
Nominate today

Our Magnet Recognition

Magnet Recognized

University of Iowa Health Care was the first hospital in Iowa to earn ANCC Magnet Recognition Program® hospital designation (2004) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and the first hospital in Iowa to be re-designated four times (2008, 2013, 2018, and 2023). Magnet Recognition is the highest designation bestowed for excellence in nursing practice.

Magnet designation is given to a hospital only after a rigorous review application and onsite evaluation process of all aspects of the nursing department. UI Health Care is one among a select group of top hospitals in the world to receive this honor. At a Magnet-designated hospital, nurses are committed to maintaining the highest standards of care in an environment that values quality, safety, satisfaction, and education.

Beacon Awards for Excellence

Beacon Award

UI Health Care was the first hospital in the state of Iowa to have a Gold Beacon unit designated by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). Additionally, units have earned Silver Beacon awards.

Gold Beacon Award for Excellence

  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
  • Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) 
  • 4 Roy Carver Pavilion (RCP)

Silver Beacon Award for Excellence

  • Surgical and Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit
  • 4 John Pappajohn Pavilion (JPP)
  • 3 John Colloton Pavilion (JCP)
  • 2 Roy Carver Pavilion (RCP)
  • Burn Treatment Center
About the Beacon Award for Excellence

The AACN’s Beacon Award designates three levels recognizing significant milestones along a unit’s journey. For patients and families, the Beacon Award signifies exceptional care through improved outcomes and greater overall satisfaction. For nurses, a Beacon Award signals a positive and supportive work environment with greater collaboration between colleagues and leaders, higher morale, and lower turnover. The Beacon Award includes bronze, silver, and gold levels so that a unit can chart its excellence journey over time. Beacon Award recipients receive a three-year designation

NICHE Exemplar Status

Niche Exemplar Logo

UI Health Care is the first hospital in Iowa to achieve NICHE Exemplar status for our nurse-driven NICHE program.

We are one of only 72 NICHE Exemplar hospitals out of the 620 NICHE designated hospitals in North America. NICHE Exemplar hospitals are recognized for greatly increasing the quality of care for older adult patients. Exemplar is the highest of four levels of recognition, demonstrating ongoing, high-level dedication to geriatric care and preeminence in the implementation and quality of system wide interventions and initiatives. Exemplar status was achieved after the completion of an annual program evaluation.