Nursing Education
The Nursing Education Department exists to support the educational, professional growth, and quality patient care goals of the Department of Nursing. These goals are realized through the development of an individualized, unit-based, competency focused orientation, the provision of relevant inservices, and the design of a quality continuing education program. Additional efforts toward these goals are put forward in the consultative role of each member of the department, in the coordination of affiliating schools, support for nursing committees, and the facilitation of the professional enhancement of each member of the nursing staff. Nursing Education strives to provide education in a creative, innovative, effective, and cost-effective manner to support the Department of Nursing.
Nursing Education Center
The Nursing Education Department at AI duPont Hospital for Children is proud to unveil its state of the art education center with simulation lab. Established in 1940, AI duPont Hospital has a three-fold mission of: patient care, education and research. The history of the Nursing Education Department is deeply rooted in this same progressive vision.
The changing trends in health care and the need for recruitment and retention of nurses were catalytic factors to forge the way the educational needs of the nurses are supported. As technological advances and the emphasis on evidence-based practice led the nursing administrators to refocus on education, the drive to deliver a fresh approach to nursing education was inevitable. In order for the nurses to receive hands on training, state of the art equipment and dedicated educators were essential.
Prior to the year 2000, the education department’s primary function was to provide for the basic educations needs of the nursing staff. The scope of practice of the educators changed in the recent years. As of December 2005, there are 15 educators - one for each patient care area, and their scope of practice encompasses global as well as unit specific education.
As the department grew, it was evident that more space and resources were essential. So in May 2005, a proposal was given to the hospital administration to facilitate acquiring a dedicated space with essential furniture, equipment (including a simulation lab) and supplies. With continuous effort by dedicated staff in the education department coupled with Nursing Administration, a dream has become a reality.
The nursing department foresees this education center to be utilized by many nurses on a daily basis for professional advancement. Computers, simulation lab, dedicated classroom space, teleconferencing capability, and a nursing education department in congruence with the vision of AI duPont – these strides have brought the AI duPont nurse into the 21st Century.
It is the progressive vision of the Nursing Administrators coupled with the energy of dedicated Nursing Education Department that has made this dream a reality. This education center is a stepping stone for many more developments to come on our journey to excellence where the nurses will be pursuing higher education, certification, clinical ladder, and contribute to the practice of evidence based nursing.
As members of the Department of Nursing Education, we will:
- Be role models of professional nursing practice for the direct care nurses with whom we work, as well as nursing students at all levels.
- Promote excellence in nursing practice by identifying learning needs and developing high-quality educational programs to address them.
- Represent the hospital professionally and enthusiastically in our relationships with our external customers.
- Promote the professional development of nurses at Nemours by providing guidance with obtaining specialty certification, advanced degrees, and achievement on the clinical ladder.
- Promote the use of evidence-based practice at the bedside by providing resources and information to the direct care nurses we serve.
- Work collaboratively with nurse leaders at all levels to achieve unit-based as well as organizational goals.
- Support and encourage each other to grow personally, professionally, and academically.
- Pursue continuing education to maintain expertise in our areas of practice and strive to promote evidence-based practice within our hospital.
