Professional
Development

Continuing Education for Nurses

Saint Peter’s University Hospital is proud to continually provide opportunities for nurses to expand their knowledge base as a means to better care for a diverse population. Nurses take advantage of the Saint Peter’s Clinical Advancement System, a program that features opportunities to take courses and volunteer in the community.  Nurses who complete educational programs as well as volunteer work are rewarded with funds that can be used to take courses. 

The Saint Peter’s nursing team also takes advantage of various university-level online courses as well as online programs available via an internal education portal available to staff. Another resource available is the online educational site CE DIRECT. Topics for study can be assigned by the clinical educators or selected by nurses based on topics that interest them. Course cost is covered by Saint Peter’s. 

Nurses also receive ongoing training in the Saint Peter’s Simulation Center for Interprofessional Learning, also referred to as the Sim Lab. In operation since 2017, nurses attend continuing education programs using state-of-the-art technology using tools such as robotic mannequins that can simulate a post-partum hemorrhage. 

Other professional development benefits include:

 

Dedicated Education Unit

Research shows that when students are mentored by students, they not only benefit from a rewarding relationship with the more experienced nurse, but they also experience better clinical training.  

In 2014, Saint Peter’s University Hospital launched a trial dedicated education unit in the Oncology Unit in order to provide student nurses with a better clinical experience and improve the relationship of nurse mentors with their students. This model pairs students with staff nurses who serve as a clinical instructor or mentor. The academic clinical faculty coordinator is available and retains accountability for the student’s performance and learning outcomes. The ratio is two students to one staff member. During a 12-hour shift, nurses are introduced to the reality of nursing. The DEU model has been expanded to the following units: Oncology, Metabolic, Surgical/Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Mother/Baby, and Renal.

 

Certification

The American Nurses Credentialing Center identifies certification as a “means towards the advancement of nursing professionalism, higher standards of care, and better patient outcomes.” Saint Peter’s is proud of the many nurses who seek certification in their specialties. Certificates are displayed on units. 

• At Saint Peter’s the nursing staff are reimbursed 100% for the certification examination
• An online learning system that offers review courses, as well as an unlimited number of contact hours that can be used for re-certification, is available free to staff.
• Registered nurses receive one educational day a year which can be used to attend a professional conference.
• Certified nurses are recognized annually on March 19 during National Certification Day at which times each certified nurse.  

 

Tuition Reimbursement

Saint Peter’s provides financial assistance for courses and professional examinations pertinent to healthcare industry/job related positions which will better prepare nurses for their work at Saint Peter’s University Hospital. All full-time employees and part-time employees who have completed six months of service prior to the start of a course, and who work a minimum of 40 hours per two-week pay period are eligible for tuition assistance.

• Employees are eligible to receive reimbursement for up to a maximum of $5,250.00 for undergraduate and $7,460.00 for graduate for doctoral studies per calendar year.  Employees may request a one-time advance for tuition to a maximum of $500.00.  (Please see Policy EB-6 for specifics).
• Saint Peter’s also has agreements with several online universities that provide discounted tuition rates.