In response to the landmark National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) 2011 report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, many organizations have advanced efforts to support and invest in nurses and nursing. Building a skilled and qualified nursing workforce is an imperative that will remain a priority for chief nursing officers and executives for years to come.
Sibley Memorial Hospital’s executive governance structure supports the report’s findings, and continues to implement initiatives and educational programs that create opportunities for nurses to access professional development and educational experiences. Ultimately, this focus allows Sibley to invest in both current and future nurses, and create a more professional and engaged workforce.
This includes nearly 60 front-line nurses—44 in 2019 and another 14 in 2020 before in-person events were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic—who have attended national conferences for professional development and nursing education over the past two years.
The hospital also recognizes the financial costs associated with student loans and real-time tuition payments, says Chief Nursing Officer Laura Hendricks-Jackson. As a result, a generous tuition reimbursement/assistance program is a standard benefit for employees. Multiple nurses received tuition assistance from the hospital at the baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral levels through this program. Thirty nurses received hospital support as they worked to prepare for and earn specialty certifications.
Several nursing-focused philanthropic gifts have allowed the hospital to offer new and long-time nursing staff even more opportunities to explore a range of specialty certifications, professional association memberships and networking sessions, as well as expanded professional development options. Ongoing professional development opportunities ensure that nurses stay up-to-date on current and best practices in their field.
With many hospitals in the 68-square-mile city and in the surrounding communities, talented nurses have a wealth of options for work in the Washington, D.C., area. In the last few years, Sibley’s hospital and nursing leadership have also made it a focus to position the hospital as a competitive and attractive career option for the most promising nurses.
Specific to nursing and nursing support staff, Sibley has a “grow your own” nursing approach that provides financial support to eligible clinical nurse associates who may have an interest in returning to school to become a nurse. Staff members who already embody the hospital’s mission for high quality care and aspire to achieve a career in nursing can receive internal scholarship support for nursing school in addition to the hospital’s standard tuition reimbursement and assistance program.
“In a market like ours, talented nurses are always in high demand,” says Hendricks-Jackson. “Our goal when creating opportunities and incentives is to solidify Sibley as one of the best places in Washington, D.C., to begin, advance and finish a successful career caring for the region’s patients.”