RWJ Hamilton Helps Fuel Nurses' Passion and Professionalism With the Gift of Knowledge

HAMILTON, NEW JERSEY – A nurse at the bedside of a patient calls upon a wealth of knowledge and experience to care for that person. He or she also brings a spirit of compassion and empathy fueled by a passion for helping people at a time when they are most fragile and vulnerable.

"Nursing: A Profession and a Passion" is this year's theme for National Nurses Week, May 6 to 12. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) embraces that theme every day by helping to keep the passion burning by continually enhancing nurses' knowledge base.

"Nursing is a career that grows with you," says Sharon Brown, RWJ Hamilton's Assistant Vice President of Nursing. "Nurses have a sense of purpose and a calling that grows by continually being exposed to new technology, research and information."

Online Education Nurtures Nurses
To recognize nurses and the thirst for ways to improve their practice, the hospital is offering all full-and part-time nurses, both R.N.s and L.P.N.s, membership in the Nursing Spectrum CE Direct. The CE Direct offers over 450 online courses with contact hours. Nurses can complete online continuing education programs to enhance their knowledge and earn contact hours required to maintain their professional license.

The hospital has also given nurses access to professional nursing journals through an online journal library.

"By putting knowledge literally at their fingertips, we are empowering our nurses to improve their practice by participating in research, staying abreast of evidence-based research, completing advanced degrees / certifications and using computerized documentation," Brown says. "Having real-time access to information adds another layer of innovation and promotes professional development. It also increases patient satisfaction and patient safety by offering immediate answers whenever there are questions or concerns."

This gift of knowledge is only one way RWJ Hamilton supports its nurses. "We strive to provide an environment that emphasizes work-life balance, recognizes achievements, supports learning and celebrates diversity," Brown says. "Nurses were very involved in designing the new Lakefront Tower to be comfortable and efficient, with state-of-the-art equipment and a beautiful environment for patients, families and staff.

RWJ Hamilton provides a generous benefits package that includes childcare discounts, health and dental coverage, mortgage assistance, tuition reimbursement and many educational and scholarship opportunities. The hospital recently received an award from the American Heart Association for our efforts to promote a healthy working environment for our employees.

National Nurses Week is celebrated every year to highlight the diverse ways nurses are working to improve health care. It coincides with the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, on May 12.

For more information about nursing opportunities at RWJ Hamilton, please contact Human Resources at (609) 584-5924.

More About RWJ Hamilton
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJ Hamilton) is the only New Jersey hospital to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Located in Hamilton Township, NJ, the hospital is part of the RWJ Health System and Network and is affiliated with the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-RWJ Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey.

The RWJ Hamilton Health Care Corporation serves communities within a five-county area and includes an acute care hospital, the Cancer Institute of New Jersey Hamilton, three affiliated medical groups, seven Lakeview Child Centers, and the RWJ Hamilton Center for Health & Wellness, home of a medically-based fitness center and the hospital's extensive community education program. Over 1,900 hospital employees and 650 medical staff physicians share RWJ Hamilton's passion for Excellence Through Service. For more information, visit www.rwjhamilton.org.