HIGN receives grant to develop long-term care nursing workforce in New York

HIGN, a leader in advancing age-sensitive and equitable care for older adults and the geriatric arm of NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing, has received a $500,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation to develop the ArchCare Nurse Fellowship Program. The fellowship will target recruitment and retention of nurses in long-term care by providing a program to enhance the integration of registered nurses into the long-term care environment. 

“It is essential that nurses coming into the long-term care environment have the training and support they need to understand the unique care of this complex and vulnerable older population,” said Tara Cortes, PhD, RN, FAAN, executive director of HIGN, clinical professor at NYU Meyers, and principal investigator on this grant. 

ArchCare is the Continuing Care Community of the Archdiocese of New York, and one of the nation’s largest and most dynamic Catholic healthcare ministries. ArchCare provides quality care to thousands of people of all faiths through its home and community-based and residential care programs, including long-term nursing care, short-term rehabilitation, nursing home alternatives, home care, adult day care, assisted living, hospice, an acute care specialty hospital and services for people with Huntington’s disease, HIV/AIDS, developmental disabilities, and other specialized care needs.

The ArchCare Nurse Fellowship will educate and provide mentorship for up to 30 nurses newly hired to ArchCare who have not had previous experience in long-term care. The nurses will be educated through an intensive online program composed of interactive modules and case studies developed by HIGN, as well as planned mentoring sessions with NYU Meyers faculty who are experts in the care of older adults. In addition, HIGN will develop an online interactive curriculum to prepare up to 10 preceptors who are experienced nurses in ArchCare long-term care communities. The preceptor curriculum will help them understand their role as a leader in supporting new nurses, developing their clinical skills, and promoting work behaviors that encourage growth, professionalism, and job satisfaction. 

“Our ministry is appreciative of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation and excited for this opportunity to work with a leading education institute like HIGN. Developing and retaining nurses is critical to our mission and to our future ability to provide the highest quality of care,” said Jason Hutchens, Senior Vice President of Residential Services at ArchCare. 

The ArchCare Nurse Fellowship will start with new nurses in late summer/early autumn 2024.