Jordan Ellis
Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) is a nationally ranked academic medical centre and the primary teaching hospital for the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University. The hospital offers a range of opportunities for nursing students, including clinical rotations and internships. Nursing students can gain valuable experience by working with experienced nurses and developing critical thinking and technical skills. NMH also provides nursing awards, publications, and presentations, as well as professional growth opportunities such as education, training, and conferences. Additionally, NMH offers a Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program to help employees in non-clinical roles transition into certified nursing assistant positions.
What You'll Learn
Northwestern Memorial Hospital's student nurse internship
The Northwestern Memorial Hospital Student Nurse Internship (SNI) program is an eight-week summer program that offers nursing students the opportunity to partner with a nurse preceptor to develop critical thinking skills and prepare for a smooth transition to clinical practice after graduation. Student nurses will also assist in delivering direct and indirect nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse. The program is designed for students entering their first or second semester of their senior year.
During the eight-week program, student nurse interns will work the day shift in either eight- or twelve-hour shifts. They will typically work every other weekend and will not work on holidays. No overtime is expected of nurse interns. Student nurse interns will receive a competitive salary and will have the option of flexible hours to accommodate their academic schedules.
To be eligible for the program, candidates must be enrolled full-time in an accredited baccalaureate nursing program and be entering their final year of their BSN program, with graduation expected by the spring of the following year. Candidates must also provide a reference letter from a clinical faculty member. Preference will be given to those who have not completed a previous clinical rotation at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
In addition to the SNI program, Northwestern Memorial Hospital also offers clinical rotation experiences to nursing students attending one of its affiliated nursing schools. During these rotations, students work under the direction of a clinical instructor and alongside hospital nurses to develop critical thinking skills and technical skills. The Clinical Role Transition (CRT) experience is a six- to eight-week program for senior nursing students, where they work one-on-one with a nursing preceptor. This is an unpaid student experience.
Northwestern Medicine is committed to providing nursing students with opportunities to be part of a knowledgeable and caring team of healthcare professionals dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care.
Lovelace Women's Hospital: Orthopedic Surgery Options for Women
You may want to see also
Nursing Student Experiences
Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH), a nationally ranked academic medical centre in Chicago, Illinois, offers a range of opportunities for nursing students to gain practical experience and develop their skills.
Clinical Rotations and Role Transition Experiences
Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers clinical rotation experiences to nursing students from its 12 affiliated schools of nursing. During these rotations, students work under the guidance of clinical instructors and alongside experienced hospital nurses. They develop critical thinking and technical skills while learning how to prioritise patient care. These clinical experiences provide a valuable opportunity for students to apply their knowledge in a real-world setting and make informed decisions regarding patient care.
Clinical Role Transition (CRT) Program
The Clinical Role Transition (CRT) program is a six- to eight-week intensive program designed for senior nursing students from affiliated schools. This program allows students to work one-on-one with a nursing preceptor, further refining their critical thinking and technical skills. Additionally, they gain valuable experience by participating in classroom learning sessions and Grand Rounds within specialised clinical areas.
Student Nurse Internship (SNI) Program
The Student Nurse Internship (SNI) program is an eight-week summer internship that provides nursing students with hands-on experience. Student nurse interns work closely with nurse preceptors to enhance their clinical and technical skills and learn how to effectively manage patient care. This program offers a competitive salary, flexible hours, and the opportunity for continued employment at NMH until the interns transition into staff nurse roles.
Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program
The Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program is designed to help non-clinical Northwestern Medicine employees transition into certified nursing assistant positions. This program, which combines classroom, lab, and clinical instruction, has successfully enabled individuals like Kiana Smith and Austin Garcia to pursue further nursing education and advance their careers within the healthcare field.
Nursing Professional Practice Committee
NMH's Nursing Professional Practice Committee has developed a unique initiative for nursing professional growth and development. The committee created a "Career Tree" that visually represents the diverse development opportunities available to nurses at the hospital. These opportunities include the Nurse Scholar Program and full-day conferences covering a range of medical specialties, such as research, neuroscience, cardiovascular medicine, oncology, women's health, and transplant medicine.
Through these comprehensive programs and initiatives, Northwestern Memorial Hospital demonstrates its commitment to fostering the next generation of nurses and providing them with the skills and experiences necessary for a successful career in healthcare.
Magnet Recognition: What Hospitals Need to Achieve
You may want to see also
Nursing Professional Practice Committee
While I could not find explicit information on whether Northwestern Memorial Hospital sponsors nursing education, the hospital does offer a range of opportunities for nursing students and employees looking to advance their careers in nursing.
Nursing Student Opportunities
Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers clinical rotation experiences to nursing students attending one of its affiliated nursing schools. During these rotations, students work under the guidance of clinical instructors and hospital nurses to develop essential skills such as critical thinking and technical proficiency, while also learning how to prioritize patient care. The hospital also provides a Clinical Role Transition (CRT) experience, a six- to eight-week program for senior nursing students from affiliated schools. This program pairs students with nursing preceptors to further enhance their critical thinking, technical skills, and care prioritization. Additionally, Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers a competitive summer student nurse externship and an intensive eight-week student nurse internship (SNI) program, which provides students with real-world nursing experience and the opportunity to develop critical skills.
Employee Training and Advancement
Northwestern Medicine offers its employees avenues for career advancement, such as the Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program. This program helps employees in non-clinical roles transition into Patient Care Technician (PCT) positions by earning certified nursing assistant certifications. The program involves classroom, lab, and clinical instruction, empowering participants to pursue further nursing education and highlighting the hospital's commitment to employee growth.
Nursing Shared Leadership Committees
Northwestern Memorial Hospital also fosters professional development through its Nursing Shared Leadership Committees. These committees provide nurses from all settings and roles with a two-year term, offering opportunities for involvement in decision-making processes that directly impact their daily practices. The committees advance nursing research and evidence-based practices through education, mentoring, and the creation of effective processes. They also contribute to innovations in nursing, patient care, and the overall practice environment. Additionally, these committees play a pivotal role in ensuring safe, high-quality care, consistent with the hospital's Framework for Nursing Practice.
Professional Recognition and Development
The hospital's shared leadership structure promotes professional recognition for nurses by developing programs and initiatives. It also enhances nursing professionalism through processes that encourage career development, continuing education, mentoring programs, and professional organization involvement. Furthermore, the committees monitor quality metrics, enabling nurses to recommend evidence-based practice changes to meet quality goals and advance specific strategic objectives.
The Nursing Professional Practice Committee (PPC), an elected committee of staff RNs, is a crucial aspect of nursing professional practice. The PPC meets in the hospital and tracks unsafe conditions through an independent documentation system called Assignment Despite Objection (ADO). This committee ensures safer lift practices by mandating the availability of appropriately trained staff for patient handling 24 hours a day. The PPC's contract language also sets a precedent, preventing new technology from superseding RN professional judgment and ensuring that floating is not required outside an RN's clinical area. These measures protect both patients and nurses, creating a safer healthcare environment.
Florida Hospital Psychiatric Ward: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Nursing awards, publications and presentations
Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers various opportunities for nursing awards, publications, and presentations. The hospital's nursing program aims to foster leadership and positively impact the nursing profession.
Nursing Awards
Northwestern Memorial Hospital recognises outstanding nurses through various awards. For example, the 2024 Illinois Nurses Foundation "40 Under 40 Emerging Nurse Leader Award" was presented to Sara Wernicke, BSN, RN, who works in the Infusion Clinic at Northwestern Medical Group. Danielle Hanlon, BSN, RN-BC, received the 2024 Excellence in Nursing Practice Award from the Northwestern Medical Group.
Publications
The hospital's nurses have authored and contributed to several publications. For instance, a study on "Physician and nurse well-being and preferred interventions to address burnout in hospital practice: factors associated with turnover, outcomes, and patient safety" was published in JAMA Health Forum in 2023. The article explored the relationship between clinician well-being, interventions to address burnout, and their impact on patient safety and turnover rates.
Presentations
Nurses at Northwestern Memorial Hospital actively participate in presentations and conferences. For example, Sheila Wade, MSN, RN, CMSRN, NEA-BC, and Lydia Koepke, MS, APRN, RN-BC, CWON, presented their work on an "Expanded wound nurse program to reduce hospital-acquired pressure injuries" at the American Hospital Association Leadership Summit in Seattle, Washington, in July 2023.
Nursing Student Opportunities
Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers various opportunities for nursing students, including education, training, and conferences. The Nursing School Alumni Affairs programme helps nursing graduates stay connected and informed about hospital news. Additionally, the hospital's Interprofessional Relationship-Based Care Model serves as a framework for delivering patient care and promoting interprofessional practice.
Emory Hospital's Unique Approach to Medical Education
You may want to see also
Magnet Recognition Program
The Magnet Recognition Program is a designation awarded to healthcare organisations that demonstrate excellence in nursing care and patient outcomes. Developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), it is considered the "gold standard" of nursing excellence and is recognised as the highest honour for nursing excellence in the United States.
The program recognises healthcare organisations that provide quality patient care, nursing excellence, and innovations in professional nursing practice. It is not just an award, but a commitment to excellence in healthcare with a focus on nursing talent. The Magnet model consists of five core components: transformational leadership, structural empowerment, exemplary professional practice, new knowledge and improvements, and empirical outcomes. These components are supported by 14 forces that respond to the evolving landscape of nursing and healthcare, including leadership, organisational structure, management style, personnel policies, and professional models of care.
To achieve Magnet Recognition, healthcare organisations must undergo a rigorous process that involves an application, written documentation demonstrating qualitative and quantitative evidence of patient care and outcomes, and an on-site review. The Commission on Magnet will then review the completed appraisal report and vote on whether to grant recognition.
The Magnet Recognition Program provides a roadmap for nursing excellence and benefits the entire organisation. It promotes education and development for nurses at every career stage, leading to greater autonomy and improved patient care. Patients can be assured they are receiving the best care from nurses who are supported and empowered to be their best.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is affiliated with several schools of nursing and offers various programs and opportunities for nursing students, including clinical rotations, externships, and internships. While it is not explicitly stated whether Northwestern Memorial Hospital has achieved Magnet Recognition, its focus on nursing student experiences and clinical training aligns with the principles of the Magnet Recognition Program.
The Intricacies of Human Tissue Disposal in Hospitals
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Northwestern Memorial Hospital offers an eight-week summer internship program for student nurses. This program provides an opportunity to partner with a nurse preceptor to develop critical thinking and technical skills.
Yes, interns will receive a competitive salary and will have the option of flexible hours to accommodate their academic schedules. They will also receive a formal evaluation at the end of the program and may receive an employment offer to continue working at the hospital until they transition into a staff nurse role.
Yes, Northwestern Memorial Hospital provides various professional growth and development opportunities for nurses, including education and training, conferences, and more. They also offer a Basic Nursing Assistant Training Program to help employees in non-clinical roles transition into certified nursing assistant positions.
