Pictured from left are Kelly Hey, RN; Stacy Sergent, RN; and Danielle Perior, RN, were among the first nurses to complete Oneida Healthcare’s “Best Practice” award-winning Educational Internship Program.
Oneida Healthcare Center news
(Oneida, NY – May 2013
) The Oneida Healthcare Nursing Department was awarded a “Best Practice” Award from the New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders at the 2013 annual conference held in April at Tarrytown. Twenty-eight programs from six state regions were entered, and Oneida Healthcare was the sole Central New York winner, taking the prestigious honor for their Educational Internship Program.
The program was developed in 2011 by Beth Kelly RN, BSN, Clinical Educator and Sherry Willis, RN, BSN, director of nursing. Willis explained that Best Practice initiatives are defined as those that “capture collaboration between education and practice to produce innovation and excellent outcomes. In other words, nursing practices which are based on the best evidence available from nursing research, with the goal of applying the most recent, relevant, and helpful nursing interventions, in real-life practice.”
The intention of the program is to provide an individualized learning experience for each newly graduated RN. This approach allows the new RN to develop her skills and confidence in various scenarios to help bridge the gap between the academic experience and real life patient care. The nurse educators share their expertise and knowledge to allow the new professional nurses to learn and expand in their new role.
“This not only improves patient safety but also contributes to the retention of new nurses,” Willis said.
Co-Program Developer Beth Kelly acknowledged that a gift of a high-fidelity simulation manikin by the Oneida Healthcare Foundation and a nursing education lab on the Medical Surgical unit allow hospital staff to have “hands-on” learning experiences.
“Currently, 22 RNs have completed the EIP program which typically runs for 12-16 weeks,” Kelly said. “The retention rate for the past year is 100 percent.”
The New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders represents the integrated voice of nursing leaders who are intent on shaping the future of nursing and healthcare in the State. The mission is to promote excellence in nursing through transformational leadership with the vision of being recognized as a catalyst for collaborative and innovative nursing leadership in the state.