Westerly Hospital receives prestigious Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award

Westerly, RI (July 27, 2026) – Westerly Hospital is proud to announce that its Emergency Department has been honored with the 2026 Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) Lantern Award, a national recognition of excellence in emergency nursing.  

This is the first time Westerly Hospital has been selected for the award. Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London, and Pequot Health Center in Groton, CT also received the honor last year. All three emergency departments are part of Yale New Haven Health. 

The ENA Lantern Award showcases an Emergency Department’s accomplishments in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care. It encourages departments to share stories that reflect a commitment to both exceptional patient care and the well-being of nursing staff.

“This prestigious recognition encourages Emergency Departments (ED) to share stories that highlight their commitment not only to exceptional patient care but also to the well-being of their nursing staff,” said Shannon Christian, chief nursing officer at Westerly Hospital. “It stands as a visible symbol of Westerly’s dedication to quality, safety and fostering a healthy work environment.”  

The ED was selected for outstanding performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research. The award reflects ongoing efforts to create a supportive and resilient environment for staff while delivering the highest standard of care to patients and families.  

“We are incredibly proud of our Emergency Department teams for earning this national recognition,” said Oliver Mayorga, MD, interim president, Westerly Hospital. “Their hard work, compassion and unwavering commitment to the patient and family experience are what make this honor so well deserved. This award reflects the excellence they bring to our emergency departments every day.”  

The Lantern Award is valid for three years and serves as a beacon for other emergency departments striving for excellence.  

For more information about the ENA Lantern Award, visit www.ena.org.  

Westerly Hospital, a member of Yale New Haven Health, is a 125-bed hospital that has been providing residents of southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut with a full range of inpatient and outpatient services in a community hospital setting for 100 years. Westerly Hospital patients receive the finest quality treatment in the following areas of care: emergency, medical, surgical, radiology, laboratory and rehabilitative services. The hospital also offers heart and vascular care, interventional pain management, wound care, pulmonary rehabilitation services and inpatient geriatric psychiatric care. westerlyhospital.org