Hearst Foundation grant bolsters new grad intern program
Saint Joseph’s Hospital’s Center for Nursing Excellence program receives $100,000 

ATLANTA - (Nov. 13, 2009) – The post-baccalaureate nurse internship program, part of the Kenneth E. Thomas Center for Nursing Excellence (CNE) at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Hearst Foundation, Inc. of New York. 

In 2009, Saint Joseph’s post-baccalaureate nurse internship program became one of the first non-university hospitals in the nation to partner with the University HealthSystem Consortium/American Association of Colleges in Nursing (UHC/AACN) Nurse Residency Program™. The program is designed to assist the new graduate nurse to transition into their first professional role and to become leaders at the bedside. 

Saint Joseph’s Hospital is the first in Atlanta, first in Georgia and first non-university hospital in the world to have sustained the Magnet™ Recognition for Excellence for 14 consecutive years. The UHC/AACN Nurse Residency program’s goals of evidenced-based, patient-centered nursing practices are similar to the key components of the Magnet program. Funds received from the Hearst Foundation grant will allow Saint Joseph’s to renew the UHC/AACN program annually. 

During the year-long internship, Saint Joseph’s new graduate RNs attend monthly classes and rotate to three different medical/ surgical units. Saint Joseph’s preceptors work one-on-one with nurse interns during each rotation. 

Having a large pool of well-trained preceptors is a critical component to the success of the intern program. Grant funds will be used to enhance the training of the preceptors who work with the new graduates.