This month, the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) recognized the Renown Regional Medical Center Emergency Department with the 2025 ENA Lantern Award for demonstrating outstanding leadership, practice, education and advocacy, resulting in improved patient care, experience and staff well-being. Renown Regional Medical Center was the only Emergency Department team in the state to be recognized with the award.
The Lantern Awards have been awarded annually since 2011. The ENA Lantern Award Committee reviews and scores applications based on evidence-based practices and innovation in emergency care.
“Receiving this national recognition from the Emergency Nurses Association is a testament to the dedication, skill and compassion of our emergency department team. They consistently prioritize the needs of patients and families, especially during critical moments,” said Chris Nicholas, FACHE, LNFA, CEO, Renown Regional Medical Center. “This award highlights the exceptional clinical excellence of our emergency and trauma care team, as well as the collaborative leadership across Renown that empowers our nurses, clinical teams, and other front-line teams to bring their best, every day, to every situation.”
“This award is so well deserved. At Renown Health, we are proud to be one of the most trusted and utilized emergency departments in Nevada, and across the United States, caring for more patients than any other hospital in the region,” says Bret Frey, MD, Director of Emergency Services of the Emergency Department at Renown, and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. “As the region’s only Level II Trauma Center serving patients across 100,000 square miles from Salt Lake City to Sacramento, our experienced team delivers expert, life-saving care with speed, skill and compassion. Whether it’s a heart attack, stroke or traumatic injury, our community knows they can count on Renown to be here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and ready to respond in moments that matter most.”
“This award is so well deserved. At Renown Health, we are proud to be one of the most trusted and utilized emergency departments in Nevada, and across the United States, caring for more patients than any other hospital in the region,” says Bret Frey, MD, Director of Emergency Services of the Emergency Department at Renown, and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. “As the region’s only Level II Trauma Center serving patients across 100,000 square miles from Salt Lake City to Sacramento, our experienced team delivers expert, life-saving care with speed, skill and compassion. Whether it’s a heart attack, stroke or traumatic injury, our community knows they can count on Renown to be here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and ready to respond in moments that matter most.”
The Emergency Nurses Association represents emergency nursing professionals dedicated to enhancing patient care and advancing the specialty. The ENA Lantern award, spanning 2025-2028, is the only award to recognize emergency departments for their commitment to safety, quality and a healthy work environment. Renown Regional Medical Center was one of 96 hospitals recognized nationally by the Emergency Nurses Association after a substantial committee and application review, conducted through an evidence-based application and a proven approach to demonstrating innovation.
“In the Emergency Department our goal is not only to treat critical injuries and illnesses- but to create a safe environment where people truly come first,” said Melodie Osborn, MBA, BSN, Chief Nurse Executive, Renown Health. “By actively listening, fostering teamwork, and addressing both team and patient needs, we ensure compassion and safety remain at the heart of every interaction- even under pressure filled situations.”
Among the achievements acknowledged by the Emergency Nurses Association, three specific efforts were related to the Renown Regional Emergency Department’s commitment to professional development, collaboration and improved patient care:
“Being selected for the 2025 ENA Lantern Award is both an honor and a testament to Renown Health's commitment to putting people first. This award recognizes the interdisciplinary collaboration, professional development and innovation that contribute to making our emergency department an exceptional environment for both patients receiving emergency care and the employees dedicated to providing that care," said Jimmy Lao, MSN, Director of Nursing at Renown Regional Medical Center.
Renown Health is proud to offer emergency medicine professionals the opportunity to work alongside nationally recognized teams dedicated to patient care, safety and innovation. We invite you to join our exceptional team of emergency nurses thriving in a culture of teamwork, professional growth and excellence. Learn more and explore opportunities at renown.org/Careers.
To learn more about trauma and emergency care at Renown, visit renown.org/ER.
Renown Health is the region’s largest, locally governed, not-for-profit integrated academic health care network serving Nevada, Lake Tahoe, and northeast California. With a diverse workforce of 8,000 employees, Renown has fostered a longstanding culture of excellence, determination, and innovation. The organization comprises a trauma center, two acute care hospitals, a children’s hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a medical group and urgent care network, and the locally owned not-for-profit insurance company, Hometown Health.
