Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif., formed an Institute for Nursing Excellence and Innovation to further enhance training and preparation of the hospital’s nursing workforce. Along with the institute’s creation, the hospital received a $1 million leadership gift from Hospital Board Chairman Jim Rothenberg and his wife, Anne, to help launch the initiative.
"The nursing institute at Huntington Hospital is a key part of our hospital’s Magnet sustainability plan, which calls for developing and supporting a solid infrastructure to produce advances in nursing innovation, evidence-based practice and nursing research," Bonnie Kass, RN, vice president of patient services, said in a news release.
While still under development, some components of the institute are clear. One is the establishment of a Nurses’ Scholars Program. New nurses or nurses joining the Huntington team are matched with seasoned members of Huntington’s nursing team who provide one-on-one mentoring, counsel and support. In addition to preceptors for new nursing graduates, the institute will offer specialty training programs in critical care, emergency medicine, obstetrics, neonatal intensive care, surgery, pediatric intensive care and other areas.
"Building this institute will have a truly transformative impact ... and will hopefully serve as a model for other hospitals at a time of increased emphasis on healthcare quality and cost efficiency," Kass said in the release.
Through the institute, the hospital will expand its nursing education to increase nurses with degrees and specialty certification. The hospital plans to launch an on-site BSN program in collaboration with Western Governor’s University. Nursing education will be funded for nurses to take part in projects that result in presenting and speaking at national conferences. The institute also will fund a doctoral-prepared nurse researcher and nursing research fellowship.
"The nursing institute at Huntington Hospital is a key part of our hospital’s Magnet sustainability plan, which calls for developing and supporting a solid infrastructure to produce advances in nursing innovation, evidence-based practice and nursing research," Bonnie Kass, RN, vice president of patient services, said in a news release.
While still under development, some components of the institute are clear. One is the establishment of a Nurses’ Scholars Program. New nurses or nurses joining the Huntington team are matched with seasoned members of Huntington’s nursing team who provide one-on-one mentoring, counsel and support. In addition to preceptors for new nursing graduates, the institute will offer specialty training programs in critical care, emergency medicine, obstetrics, neonatal intensive care, surgery, pediatric intensive care and other areas.
"Building this institute will have a truly transformative impact ... and will hopefully serve as a model for other hospitals at a time of increased emphasis on healthcare quality and cost efficiency," Kass said in the release.
Through the institute, the hospital will expand its nursing education to increase nurses with degrees and specialty certification. The hospital plans to launch an on-site BSN program in collaboration with Western Governor’s University. Nursing education will be funded for nurses to take part in projects that result in presenting and speaking at national conferences. The institute also will fund a doctoral-prepared nurse researcher and nursing research fellowship.
