The AACN's Beacon Award for Excellence provides a road map and tools to assist hospital units on their path to excellence, honoring individual units that distinguish themselves by improving every facet of patient care. The Beacon Award's three levels of designation recognize 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.