Nursing leadership organization honors UCI Health ICU nurse manager

Muriel Moyo is one of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s 2024 Young Professional Voices

"I advocate for the nursing voice in care," says
Muriel Moyo, DNP, MS, RN, a nurse manager in
the medical ICU at UCI Health.

Orange, Calif. — UCI Health nurse manager Muriel Moyo, DNP, MS, RN is one of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership’s (AONL) Young Professional Voices for 2024.

The national professional organization’s Young Professional Voices program recognizes nurse leaders who have shown strong potential to be leaders in healthcare. They have demonstrated leadership within their organization, community and within the nursing profession.

Moyo was nominated for the award by a senior nursing leader. In her personal vision statement for the nomination, Moyo writes:

“As a young nurse leader, my vision is to propel nursing practice to unparalleled excellence. I envision a future of nursing to be that of empowerment, inspiration, and with nurses who have pride in their expertise, knowledge and skills to provide exceptional care. I have committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth for nurses. I advocate for the nursing voice in care.”

Moyo started at UCI Health as a nursing assistant in 2012 and became an RN in 2013. She has been the nurse manager for the medical intensive care unit since 2021. In September, the unit won a DAISY Team Award in recognition of its tireless work on behalf of critically ill patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I absolutely love my role as a nurse manager. I do the work because I know managers are crucial in driving clinical excellence from their staff and optimizing patient outcomes,” Moyo wrote.

“So, to be here today in a role that I now absolutely love truly serves as a reason to never give up when things get tough.”

Nursing excellence at UCI Health

UCI Health has a long-standing tradition of nursing excellence. In 2003, UCI Medical Center became the first academic medical center in Southern California to achieve Magnet® designation and the first hospital in Orange County.

In recent years, nursing units at UCI Medical Center have earned multiple Beacon Awards for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, including:

• Burn intensive care unit — one of only three burn ICUs in the country to have earned a gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence
• Surgical intensive care unit — consecutive Beacon Awards for Excellence
• Neurosciences and cardiac care units — silver Beacon Award of Excellence

Nearly 52% of nurses at UCI Health are nationally certified in at least one specialty and 83% are prepared at the BSN level or higher.

About UCI Health

UCI Health is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine, and the only academic health system in Orange County. Patients can access UCI Health at primary and specialty care offices across Orange County and at its main campus, UCI Medical Center in Orange, Calif. The 459-bed, acute care hospital, listed among America’s Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 23 consecutive years, provides tertiary and quaternary care, ambulatory and specialty medical clinics, behavioral health and rehabilitation services. UCI Medical Center is home to Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center and regional burn center. UCI Health serves a region of nearly 4 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.