St. Joseph's Health Emergency Departments Recognized for Nursing Excellence

Paterson, NJ, August 10, 2026 – St. Joseph’s Health is proud to announce that the emergency departments at both St. Joseph’s University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center have been selected as recipients of the 2026 Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award. The honor recognizes exceptional innovation and evidence-based practice improvements that result in improved patient care and staff well-being.

"This recognition belongs to our specially trained nurses and every member of our emergency departments who serve our community with skill, compassion, and integrity,” said Debbie Smith, RN, MSN, Senior Vice President, Chief Nursing and Patient Care Officer, St. Joseph’s Health. “We are proud to be recognized for creating an environment where patients receive outstanding care and our team is empowered to excel.”

St. Joseph's Health's emergency departments are among just126 recipients across the country to receive this designation from the ENA, the premier professional nursing association dedicated to defining the future of emergency nursing through advocacy, education, research, innovation, and leadership.

“The Lantern Awards honor the excellence of an emergency department and the professionals who work together to provide exceptional patient care," said Brian Dolan, Director of Nursing, Emergency Departments, St. Joseph's Health. "It recognizes the teamwork, leadership, and commitment that define outstanding emergency care throughout St. Joseph's Health.”

The emergency team at St. Joseph’s Health is equipped to handle any type of adult or pediatric emergency using the latest technology, effective treatments, and the highest safety precautions and protocols. The emergency departments are staffed by board-certified physicians highly skilled in treating all medical emergencies, as well as award-winning Magnet? nurses with special training in emergency medical care. St. Joseph’s University Medical Center is designated as a Level II Trauma Center by the state of New Jersey and a verified Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons, caring for the most complex illnesses and injuries.

For more information on this year’s Lantern Award recipients, please click here. For more information about emergency care at St. Joseph's Health, please click here.

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH

Founded in 1867 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, St. Joseph’s Health is a world-class hospital and healthcare network supported by more than 5,000 leading and renowned physicians, nurses and care teams. From its humble beginnings, St. Joseph’s Health has become one of the premier health systems in the state. The organization continues to evolve as the leading health resource in the community, the largest employer in Passaic County, and one of the largest providers of charity care in New Jersey.

The St. Joseph’s Health system is one of the leading clinical teaching and academic centers in the country, and has been recognized for its innovative programs and cutting-edge services. The health system operates a full continuum of care, including a regional tertiary care medical center (St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson), an acute care medical center (St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center, Wayne) a state-designated children’s hospital (St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Paterson), an outpatient facility (St. Joseph’s Totowa Health Campus, Totowa), comprehensive home care (Visiting Health Services of New Jersey), and multiple ambulatory care centers located throughout Northern New Jersey. The system is further supported by St. Joseph’s Health Medical Group, which operates more than 100 physician medical and specialty practices across northern New Jersey.

For more information, please visit www.stjosephshealth.org.