Educational Development
Montefiore is an academic medical center and as such, critical thinking and education are essential to meet our strategic initiatives and to contribute to professional development. Acquisition of new knowledge and skills and their utilization is supported through a variety of programs including new associate and clinical orientation, preceptorship, mentorship and professional management and leadership development seminars designed and conducted by the Division of Education and Organizational Development.
The RN/LPN competency-based orientation program introduces newly hired nurses to the mission, organizational structure, standards, policies and procedures, physical facilities, performance improvement and role expectations of Montefiore Medical Center as well as to cognitive, technical, and interpersonal skills necessary to function safely and effectively in the Patient Care arena. Orientation consists of a formal didactic component as well as learning activities based on individual needs. A unit-based component is designed to facilitate competency assessment and validation. In addition, there is a variety of clinical and management continuing education courses available with contact hours awarded by Montefiore which is an approved contact hour provider.
The Management Orientation Program is a competency-based model designed to identify and bring about critical behaviors through which orientees demonstrate competency in the core management skills required of new Administrative Nurse Managers (ANM) and other managers. Based on a novice-to-expert theoretical framework, this program is appropriate for the individual who comes to a management role with any level of experience, ranging from zero to many years. The program includes relevant information about Montefiore such as its organizational structure, the medical center's Care Center model, Professional Nursing Practice, and regulatory agency requirements. It is organized around five key managerial competency areas: fiscal management, leadership, communication, professional development, and management of information. Each area has a list of critical behaviors, which the trainee must complete to demonstrate competency in that area. Available learning resources, (i.e., videos, manual and self-learning modules, preceptors, individual coaching), and key documents for review, (policies, procedures, etc.), are identified.
Professional development needs for the Registered Professional Nurse are addressed in a series of workshops that are designed to provide insight into the development of skills for enhancing communication, problem solving and delegating effectively. Management development needs are met through the Management Development forums and Learning Circuits that addresses management issues and targets development of specific management and leadership skills.
Nurses' ongoing educational needs are assessed continuously; programs are then developed and offered throughout the year to meet these needs.
The summer Clinical Assistance Program establishes a relationship with nursing students, offering an invaluable clinical experience, preceptorship with a professional nurse and a development series to advance clinical knowledge.
