Nursing Innovation and Excellence - Baptist Health South Florida

Community College. To addressthe need for more nursing faculty,we have hired master’s-levelnurses to serve as clinical andclassroom instructors for nursingprograms at those institutions.We also have student affiliationagreements with the Universityof Miami, Florida InternationalUniversity, Keiser University,Florida State University and theUniversity of Florida, whosenursing students may do theirclinical rotations at one of ourhospitals. In 2009, more than 650nursing students did their clinicalrotations at Baptist Healthhospitals.Many Baptist Health nursesalso are pursuing advanceddegrees through our NurseScholars Program. To date, 160nurses have received master’sdegrees in nursing and four havereceived their doctorates. Theseopportunities contribute to keepingnurses at Baptist Health andhave created a culture in whicheducation is valued and promoted.We have given many of our employeesand members of the communitythe opportunity to pursueor advance a career in nursing,which otherwise many would havefound impossible to accomplish.In mid-2008, we established aScholars Alumni Association,which focuses on recruitment andretention activities with our staff,Human Resources and BaptistHealth Foundation.Versant RN ResidencyBaptist Health works hard tobridge the gap between educationand practice. The complex challengeof becoming a competent,confident member of the nursing“Versant really exceeded my expectations in all senses, andonce I was off orientation, I never felt left out or unprepared.I had the certainty of having all necessary tools to manageand care for all my patients safely and effectively.”Yaima Milian, R.N. — Baptist Hospitalworkforce has led to highturnover nationally among newgraduates. Maintaining a lowturnover rate for new nursesimproves employee and patientsatisfaction, keeps experiencednurses at the bedside and providesreplacements for retiringnurses.In the summer of 2007,Baptist Health standardized anorientation and training programfor all newly graduated nurseshired across the organization. The18-week Versant RN Residencyfor adult acute care (plus a22-week pediatric residency)ensures that new nurses developthe confidence, skills, judgmentand support they need to be satisfied,successful and committed.Each cohort of residents progressesto a level of competencyquickly, safely and efficientlywithin a structured program thatincludes guided clinical experiencewith a preceptor, instructor-ledclasses, a formal mentoringprogram and debriefing/self-caresessions.A recent cohort of Versant residents.