Three Bronx-based hospitals were among the 13 recipients of a $51 million grant program launched by the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, New York’s largest grantmaking organization focused on improving the health and well-being of those living in vulnerable communities, on Wednesday, May 14.
Dubbed the “Nursing Initiative” grant program, it is meant to empower nursing professionals, reduce burnout, address shortages in the workforce and improve patient care at the 13 hospitals across the state. The Bronx-based Calvary Hospital, Montefiore Einstein Medical Center’s Moses Campus and St. Barnabas Hospital were among those to benefit from the grant program.
“At St. Barnabas Hospital, we are dedicated to serving the diverse and underserved population of the Bronx with the highest quality care. Our commitment to excellence is unwavering, and we recognize the critical importance of pursuing accreditation through the Pathway to Excellence program,” St. Barnabas Hospital Vice President of Nursing Operations and Quality Nursing Martine Edwards MSN-Ed, BSN, RN, said. “This accreditation not only validates our efforts to provide safe, effective and patient-centered care but also strengthens community confidence in our services. By achieving this milestone, we ensure that our patients receive the best possible care, fostering a healthier and more resilient community. Together, we are building a brighter future for the Bronx.”
This investment stems from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s ongoing commitment to bolster New York State’s workforce in the healthcare field. The Nursing Initiative grant program is meant to help the 13 hospitals achieve industry-leading frameworks in nursing excellence, establish innovative programs supporting front-line nurses and help transition recent nursing graduates into the profession.
“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,” American Nurses Enterprise Chief Executive Officer Angela Beddoe said. “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.”
In addition to the three Bronx-based hospitals, the other beneficiaries of this grant program include Auburn Community Hospital in Auburn, Mercy Hospital, Catholic Health System of Long Island in Rockville Centre, the University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, Columbia Memorial Health in Hudson, Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital and United Health Services Hospitals in Binghamton, Rome Memorial Hospital in Rome, Samaritan Hospital and the Eddy Foundation in Albany, St Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam and St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers.
“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,” Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Chief Executive Officer Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo said. “By supporting nurses, we are investing in better patient care and outcomes.”
Each of these hospitals will be provided with grants over five years, ranging from $1 million to $5 million, to pursue American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition or Pathway to Excellence status, which will play a big factor into driving excellence in nursing and transforming healthcare. The Nursing Initiative grant will also help these hospitals establish or expand virtual nursing and nurse residency programs.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation was inspired to develop this initiative based on findings from a healthcare workforce report by the Center for Health Workforce Studies in Albany, which found that some of the major factors contributing to a shortage in registered nurses included a lack of preparedness from the nurses, unsupported work environments, workplace violence, burnout, an experience gap from the previous nurses and generational differences in career expectations. The report also states that 15% of hospital patient care registered nurses between 20 and 39 years of age said they planned to leave their position within the next 12 months.
In an effort to holistically address the challenges contributing to a shortage in registered nurses, the Mother Cabrini Nursing Initiative will assist the 13 hospitals in the pursuit of ANCC Pathway to Excellence or Magnet accreditations. These frameworks are recognized within the healthcare industry to hospitals that set the leading standards in nursing excellence.
The Pathway to Excellence accreditation recognizes healthcare organizations that provide nurses with a supportive and empowering workplace. Hospitals that earn this distinctive status emphasize shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being and professional development.
The Magnet Recognition accreditation is given to healthcare organizations that demonstrate excellence in patient care and nursing practices. Organizations that gain this recognition have built a reputation for providing patients with high-quality care, resulting in better outcomes, lower error rates and fewer healthcare-acquired infections.
The grant will also support virtual nursing and nurse residency programs at these hospitals.
Virtual nursing presents a flexible and innovative approach to delivering healthcare. Front-line nurses benefit from this model through increased support, a lower administrative workload and enhanced mentorship from more experienced virtual nurses, who can help with admissions, discharges, patient education and other tasks while also allowing for the front-line nurses to dedicate more of their time to patient care.
The nurse residency programs are designed to assist in the smooth transition of nursing graduates into professional practice. They provide these graduates with structured learning experiences by combining classroom instruction with clinical practice. Additionally, they offer these nurses with mentorship and support from those with much more experience, helping to build their confidence and reduce their stress. These programs also assist in increasing job satisfaction and decreasing turnover rates by helping to foster a supportive work environment.
Over 6,500 nurses across New York State will be positively impacted by this program. Additionally, it will help with more than 7 million outpatient visits each year.
The 13 grantees were chosen from a field of over 50 hospitals from across the state that applied through a competitive request for proposals. The selection process included visits with leadership from these hospitals. It was meant to develop a portfolio of grantees that represent diverse sizes of hospitals and geographic areas across the state.
