Health

St. Luke’s Foundation Donates to Enhance Nursing Care

Jul 12, 2017

keybank Savings donates to SLCH — Trish Beck, MS, BSN, RN, NE-BC, Assistant Vice President of Clinical Practice, Joseph Markey, KeyBank, HV Metro/NY Market President, Margaret Deyo Allers, RN MSN BSN ANP, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, and Susanne Curry MS, RN, ACNS-BC, RN-BC, AE-C, Manager of Clinical Practice pose for a photo.

NEWBURGH – The St. Luke’s Cornwall Health System Foundation recently accepted a donation of $15,000 from KeyBank Foundation to help support the St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital (SLCH) Improving the Care of the Community through Nursing Education and Certification Program, an initiative designed to increase the number of SLCH nurses who achieve national nursing certifications.

The program is part of the hospital’s pursuit of Magnet® Recognition through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). This designation is granted to healthcare organizations that provide the highest quality nursing care, excel at improving performance and are at the forefront of guiding the future of the nursing profession. One aspect of the program is to increase the number of certified nurses in the hospital on an annual basis. The dollars obtained through KeyBank’s donation will help facilitate SLCH’s goal to have 10 percent of its staff earn certification in 2017.

“On behalf of the nursing staff at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital, I would like to thank KeyBank for their generosity and support of our pursuit to provide the best care to our community,” said Margaret Deyo Allers, Vice President of Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer.

“Lifelong learning is a hallmark of being a nurse. The rapid advances in technology and increasing complexity of patient care require our staff to expand their skills and knowledge base to ensure we continue to be on the forefront of healthcare transformation.”

KeyBank market president Joseph Markey presented a check to St. Luke’s nursing staff. “Key has been a consistent supporter of St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital and we are particularly pleased to invest in their nursing education program,” said Markey. “Supporting nurses with opportunities to advance their careers not only strengthens the skills of the SLCH staff, but it is also an investment in the health and wellness of our entire community,” he added.

SLCH nurses who participate in the certification process must complete a specialized education program, gain experience in a specialty area, and pass a qualifying exam. Learning the most contemporary best practices will allow the hospital to provide a higher quality of care to the community.