Empowering Nurses with Educational Advancement
Many of Northridge Hospital Medical Center’s nurses are hitting the books once again -- and for good reason. “In assisting our nurses to further develop their critical thinking skills and applying knowledge and principles to patient care through a variety of innovative nursing education programs, we are in a way addressing the nursing shortage,” emphasizes Ann Dechairo-Marino, PhD, RN, Senior Vice President, Patient Care Services.
While we boast highly-educated nurses who hold bachelor degrees or higher in nursing, many have taken their education a step further by pursuing advanced certifications in areas such as critical care, labor and delivery, emergency nursing, rehabilitation, surgery, and more.
Versant RN Residency Program
Northridge Hospital has partnered with Versant, originally a non-profit public benefit corporation of expert nurse educators and researchers, to offer its comprehensive education and training program designed to increase the confidence and competency levels of a beginning level staff nurse. In 2009 Versant Holdings, LLC was formed to continue its mission and vision. Currently the Versant residency is offered in 82 acute care hospitals nationwide and has a total of 6,409 graduates as of January 2011.
We were the first site in California to offer Versant’s adult training program and were originally one of only two test sites in the nation. The Northridge Hospital RN Residency Program enhances the skills and confidence of new nursing graduates, which leads to improved patient care and outcomes.
“I chose Northridge Hospital because of the Versant Residency program. It has superseded my expectations,” says former Versant graduate Jaime DeLoera, RN. “The program taught us how to apply everything we learned in nursing school to real-world situations. I have built a strong foundation and feel confident about my skills.”
Since the Versant residency began in November 2004, more than 200 nurses have graduated from the program here at Northridge Hospital. More importantly, Northridge Hospital has realized a dramatic reduction in new graduate staff turnover.
Judy Sumner, BSN, RN-BC,PHN RN Residency program manager, emphasizes, “It’s really a cultural change, not only are we investing in our new graduate nursing staff, but we are elevating the nursing profession as a whole. We’re producing safe, self-assured and competent nurses. ” The RN residency program is available in both adult and pediatric nursing specialties, including the neonatal intensive care area.
Advanced Degree Partnership
Catholic Healthcare West (Northridge Hospital’s Health System) and Holy Names University, a Catholic university in Oakland, have formed a partnership to offer a bachelor of science degree in nursing (BSN) program for current employees via interactive video conferencing at the Hospital. This program emphasizes critical thinking and ethical decision-making. It prepares students to become exceptional healthcare professionals who care for their patients and their families using a holistic evidence-based approach.
Nursing today demands proven knowledge, strong decision-making skills and a high degree of compassion. “By offering our nurses such valuable educational tools, we are investing in their future with us,” concludes Judy. For employment opportunities at Northridge Hospital Medical Center please visit our Career pages, or call the Job Line at 818-885-5363.
