ChristianaCare's Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department has earned the Lantern Award from the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) for a second consecutive cycle, renewing its place among a select group of emergency departments recognized internationally for exceptional nursing practice.
The new designation covers 2026 through 2029. Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department first earned the award for the 2023–26 cycle.
“Earning the Lantern Award for a second consecutive cycle is a testament to the extraordinary skill and commitment of the Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department team,” said Danielle Weber, DNP, MSM, RN-BC, NEA-BC, chief nurse executive at ChristianaCare. “These caregivers have created an environment where nurses are empowered to identify opportunities, apply evidence and lead changes that result in safer, better care for patients.”
The Lantern Award honors emergency departments that demonstrate exceptional performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research. Named in honor of Florence Nightingale, the award recognizes the use of evidence-based practices and a strong commitment to quality, patient safety and a healthy work environment.
Applicants undergo a rigorous, blinded review of quantitative measures and qualitative examples that highlight their accomplishments.
Wilmington was one of 126 emergency departments honored this year.
“The Lantern recognizes something incredibly special. It isn’t an award for an individual or an entire hospital — it’s a recognition earned by an emergency department and the team that powers it every day,” said ENA President Dustin Bass, DNP, MHA, RN, CEN, NEA-BC. “These 126 departments have demonstrated what is possible when emergency nurses lead with purpose, innovation and a relentless commitment to excellence.”
During the one-year period covered by the application, Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department cared for 63,765 patients. The application showcased numerous nurse-led and interdisciplinary initiatives designed to make emergency care safer, timelier and more responsive to patients.
“What distinguishes this team is its ability to turn frontline insight into measurable improvements,” said Jennifer Moberg, DNP, MPA, RN, CPPS, NEA-BC, vice president of Emergency Services at ChristianaCare. “From reducing the time it takes patients to receive critical testing to redesigning triage so patients can begin care sooner, these caregivers work across disciplines to solve problems and improve patient outcomes and experience.”
Among the results highlighted in the application was an improvement in the time required to provide electrocardiograms (ECGs) to patients experiencing chest pain or related symptoms. The team established a dedicated ECG room in the triage area, helping reduce door-to-ECG time to approximately seven minutes by the end of 2025 — below the national benchmark of 10 minutes.
Frontline nurses also created an “Idea Bin,” which enables caregivers to submit suggestions in real time by scanning QR codes placed throughout the department. The first 42 submissions led to 26 projects or process changes, ranging from making point-of-care testing more readily available to placing commonly used supplies closer to caregivers.
The application also highlighted the growth of Wilmington Hospital's forensic nurse examiner program, which provides specialized care to patients affected by violence, assault or abuse. The program completed 158 in-person forensic examinations in 2023, 299 in 2024 and 386 in 2025 — growth that has allowed more patients to receive this care at Wilmington Hospital without being transferred elsewhere.
Other initiatives in the award-winning application included improvements in patient flow, pediatric readiness and nursing education, as well as specialized training that enables ED nurses to provide ultrasound-guided intravenous access.
“This recognition belongs to the entire emergency department team,” said Christina Hoddinott, MSN, RN IV, FNP-BC, CEN, CPEN, who led the development of Wilmington Hospital Emergency Department’s application. “Nursing is a big puzzle, and each of us brings a piece. By working together, we keep finding better ways to care for our patients and support one another.”
