Catholic Health’s Mercy Hospital announced that it will receive $4 million in multi-year funding from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s new Nursing Initiative to strengthen nursing excellence, support nurses at every stage of their careers, and improve outcomes for patients and families. Mercy Hospital is among 13 hospitals in New York to receive the funding — and the only hospital on Long Island.
“From Binghamton to the Bronx, New York nurses are the backbone of patient care, demonstrating dedication and resilience. Our Nursing Initiative is designed to provide the resources needed to ensure they can thrive and deliver the highest quality of care,” said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, Chief Executive Officer, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “By supporting nurses, we are investing in better patient care and outcomes.”
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s bold philanthropic investment will play a vital role in recruiting and retaining nurses, while fostering the supportive environments they need to thrive,” said Angela Beddoe, Chief Executive Officer of American Nurses Enterprise. “We are proud to be a partner in this transformative effort to help New York hospitals pursue their accreditation journey. When nurses are empowered to lead and deliver care at the highest level, patients benefit—and entire communities are healthier for it.”
Nursing Initiative grantees were selected from among a group of more than 50 hospitals that applied through a competitive request for proposals. The extensive selection process, which included visits with hospital leadership, was aimed at developing a portfolio of grantees representing a diversity of hospital sizes and geographies across New York State.
“This transformative support strengthens our commitment to providing high-quality, compassionate care to our community, who relies on us for the best possible care with the best possible outcomes,” said Christopher Ruppert, MBA, MS, RN. “I’m thrilled we’re able to continue to invest in our nurses by expanding services, reducing burnout, and advancing our journey of excellence.”
“As a nurse at Mercy Hospital the incredible support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to achieve Magnet Accreditation and invest in our nurse residency program is just incredible,” said Catherine Nicpon, RN, BSN, CBC, nurse at Mercy Hospital. “This investment in our nurses, and resources needed to further help us to deliver the best quality of care to the patients that count on us.”
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation developed the Nursing Initiative following the findings of a health care workforce report by the Center for Health Workforce Studies in Albany. The report found major factors that contribute to persistent RN shortages including challenges with new RN preparedness, unsupportive work environments, workplace violence, burnout, the experience gap created by retirement of older nurses and generational differences in career expectations that impact nurse tenure at hospitals. In addition, according to data referenced in the report, 15% of hospital patient care RNs between the ages of 20 and 39 reported plans to leave their current position within the next 12 months, underscoring the urgency of addressing these challenges. To address these challenges holistically, the new Mother Cabrini Nursing Initiative will help hospitals pursue ANCC Pathway to Excellence or Magnet accreditations – industry-recognized frameworks that set leading standards of nursing excellence. In addition, the grant will also support virtual nursing and nurse residency programs. More details below:
- Pathway to Excellence – administered by the ANCC, this program recognizes health care organizations that foster a supportive and empowering workplace for nurses. It emphasizes shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being and professional development. Achieving this status is a mark of distinction recognized worldwide.
- Magnet Recognition – awarded by the ANCC, is a prestigious designation for health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and patient care. Magnetrecognized organizations are known for providing high-quality patient care, resulting in better patient outcomes, lower error rates, and fewer health care-acquired infections.
- Nurse Residency Program – designed to help new nursing graduates transition smoothly into professional practice. These programs provide structured learning experiences, combining classroom instruction with clinical practice. They offer mentorship and support from experienced nurses, which helps new nurses build confidence and reduce stress. They also increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover rates by fostering a supportive work environment.
- Virtual Nursing – a flexible and innovative approach to health care delivery, especially in times of workforce challenges. Front line nurses benefit from virtual nursing models through increased support, reduced administrative workload, and enhanced mentorship from experienced virtual nurses. Virtual nurses can assist with tasks like admissions, discharges and patient education, while allowing front-line nurses to dedicate more time to direct patient care.
Mercy Hospital has been serving the surrounding Rockville Centre community for over 100 years. For more information call 516-626-3729 (516-62-MERCY).
