Nursing Awards and Recognition

Lou Ann Montgomery selected as Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN)

The American Academy of Nursing announced that it has selected Lou Ann Montgomery, PhD, MAN, RN, NPD-BD, RN-BC, as a 2021 fellow,

considered the highest honor in the nursing profession. Montgomery serves as director, professional development and advanced practice; nursing director, Emergency Medical Services Learning Resource Center; and co-director, Nursing Clinical Education Center in the Department of Nursing Services and Patient Care. Throughout her distinguished career, she has served in many roles at UI Health Care in pediatric nursing and nursing administration. She is an adjunct clinical associate professor at the UI College of Nursing.

University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Receives 2014 Magnet Prize®

The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) has awarded the 2014 Magnet Prize®, sponsored by Cerner to the UI Hospitals & Clinics (UIHC) of Iowa City, Iowa, for its innovation in the "Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care." The distinguished prize was presented at the ANCC National Magnet Conference® in Dallas, Texas.

The Magnet Prize sponsored by Cerner Corporation, a global supplier of healthcare solutions, recognizes innovative nursing programs and practices in ANCC Magnet®-designated organizations. The $25,000 prize is used to continue, advance or disseminate the winning innovation.

UIHC's Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice to Promote Quality Care provides a framework and structure for nurses to implement new knowledge, research, innovations, resources, and other evidence in daily practice. To date, more than 30 countries have adopted the Iowa Model for improving patient care. Its wide success is attributed to leading nurse professionals who continuously drive quality patient outcomes, promote new research and innovations to implement in nursing practice, and share new knowledge with peers across the globe.

Its innovation exemplifies nursing excellence and is proven to help nurses deliver the highest-quality health care for patients across the globe

Gold Beacon Award for Excellence

UI Hospitals & Clinics is the first and only hospital in the state of Iowa to have a Gold Beacon unit designated by The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN).

AACN recognized the Intermediate Medical-Surgical Cardiology Unit, 4 Roy Carver Pavilion at UI Hospitals & Clinics with the Gold Beacon Award for Excellence. The Award a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and health work environments that recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that achieve this three-year, three-level award with bronze, silver, or gold designations meet national criteria consistent with Magnet Recognition®, the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, and the National Quality Healthcare Award.

NICHE Exemplar Status

UI Hospitals & Clinics 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.