During the pandemic, 100,000 nurses left the profession. For nurses looking to develop their careers, CHI Saint Joseph Health offers the opportunity to learn from experienced nurses who stayed.
“Nurses are motivated to serve and succeed in their professional careers,” said Andrea Holecek, EdD, MSN, MBA, RN, NE-BC, CENP, FACHE, vice president of patient care services at Saint Joseph Berea, Saint Joseph London and Saint Joseph Mount Sterling. “If we don’t encourage and support nurses, they’ll move on to other organizations that will.”
Here are a few ways we’re helping our nurses thrive, so you receive the best care.
In May 2023, CHI Saint Joseph Health launched a new nurse residency program. This program targets all nurses who have less than a year of hospital-based experience.
Following a week-long orientation, nurses take assessments to ensure they have basic essential skills. They also attend classes, such as:
With these fundamentals in place, new nurses head to their hospital units. There, from day 1, they work alongside an assigned preceptor. These preceptors mentor new nurses, answer questions and act as a sounding board.
Nurses work alongside their preceptors for 18 to 24 weeks. During that time, nurses in the program attend a four-hour class each week to learn more about patient care within their specific departments.
“Whether the nurse is coming straight out of nursing school or from a nonhospital environment, the transition to hospital care is unique,” said Kami Poole-Warder, MBA, RN, CCM, NE-BC, vice president of patient care services at Saint Joseph East, market education and professional practice. “The nurse residency program supports nurses through that transition, helping them gain confidence and skills to provide the best possible patient care.”
Along with in-house education, we support nurses seeking to enhance their knowledge through advanced degrees and certifications. Such support has wide-reaching benefits.
“The more educated a health care organization is overall, the better the outcomes for the patients, employees and company,” Holecek said. “By helping our nurses develop professionally, we’re serving our community.”
Earning advanced degrees and certifications is more than an investment in time. To lighten the financial load, CHI Saint Joseph Health provides reimbursement in the following amounts:
We do our best to recognize nurses who push themselves to excellence. To keep up with their efforts, we encourage nurses to submit a portfolio of their ongoing professional and academic efforts. A team reviews their portfolios and awards monetary bonuses based on the nurses’ efforts.
Everything in the portfolio should demonstrate a commitment to the nursing profession, as well as the nurse’s community and patients. Items that fit into these portfolios include:
“We want our nurses to be aware of the latest practices and policies and feel empowered to provide the best possible care,” Poole-Warder said. “This support helps our nurses feel valued. When they feel valued, they stay here for years to come, growing their careers and caring for their community.”
The power of humankindness works here. Learn more about a career at CHI Saint Joseph Health.
Brooke Dadisman does not try to avoid the heartbreak that sometimes occurs in Flaget Memorial Hospital’s birth center. In fact, she said she is dedicated to “walking that path” with bereaved parents.
Read More Additional information about A Comforting Presence for Parents
Nurse practitioner Heather Smith has learned a lot about her patients and their barriers to health care by simply taking the time to talk.
Read More Additional information about Celebrating Our People – Meet Heather
From bubble wands and Hot Wheels to Barbie dolls and more, ER technician Irina Dulina is bringing comfort to our littlest patients through the Toy Chest project at Saint Joseph Jessamine.
Read More Additional information about Bringing Comfort to Our Littlest Patients
Fill out the form below to receive monthly health news and information to your inbox.
Spirit of Health magazine's print edition is distributed quarterly and focuses on topics related to our CHI Saint Joseph Health purpose and values.
