St. Joseph Institute for Nursing Excellence
At PeaceHealth, our caregivers have the tools to heal, the strength to love and the spirit that makes a difference. In keeping with this commitment, the St. Joseph Institute for Nursing Excellence empowers our nurses at every stage of their careers.
With support from the institute, our nurses become leaders and innovators, influencing the art and science of nursing in our region and beyond.
Nurturing nurses’ purpose and potential
Founded in 2024 thanks to generous donors in our community and the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Foundation, the institute helps nurses thrive personally and professionally. We offer tools and resources our nurses can count on — so our patients can always count on our nurses.
“The institute belongs to all our St. Joseph nurses. Wherever you are on your nursing journey, the institute is here to support you.”
— Melissa Laitsch, MFA, MSN, RN, CCRN
Director, St. Joseph Institute for Nursing Excellence
“Our nurses are absolutely the heart of our community and the care that we provide here, so we invest in our nurses. We empower our nurses."
— Roseanna Bell, MSN, RN
Chief Nursing Officer, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center
“I’m interested in what I can do to make other people’s lives better.”
— Keith Schnip
Major donor, St. Joseph Institute for Nursing Excellence
Excellence in action
What happens when nurses are encouraged to apply their skills and creativity to improving patient care? Here’s just one example, from the PeaceHealth St. Joseph maternity ward.
Nurses Jamie McAllister and Stephanie Den Adel know that childbirth is a life-changing experience for new parents — and one that can bring with it some anxiety. The nurses in their unit also know that movement during labor can lower stress and make delivery easier. To help their patients get the benefits of gentle movement, they led the unit in creating a resource called the Labor Walk.
Available in five languages to ensure equitable access, the Labor Walk guides patients through the birth center. At each stop along the walk, they’re encouraged to stretch, bounce, even dance, as their bodies prepare for delivery.
The project was so successful that McAllister and Den Adel won an award for best unit-level quality improvement when they presented it at a statewide nursing conference.
Support for excellence
Community support for nursing excellence at PeaceHealth St. Joseph helps make our hospital a top choice for nurses to work. One such supporter is Keith Schnip, who went from patient to donor after getting excellent heart care at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.
Schnip credits nurses in the cardiology unit with saving his life and inspiring him to make an extraordinary $2 million estate gift in support of the institute. His appreciation for nurses is also rooted in his mother’s nursing career, which set the stage for his gift.
Excellence by design
The institute includes three centers, each with a different focus. This design allows us to meet nurses where they are today — and to help them grow to meet their future goals.
- Center for Research and Innovation: Gives nurses space to develop and test new ideas for improving patient care. This work has influenced nursing best practices in our area and nationally.
- Center for Professional Growth and Development: Offers educational opportunities that help St. Joseph nurses deliver the latest evidenced-based care.
- Center for Clinical Expertise: Focuses on recruitment and workforce development. New graduates, returning professionals and nurses transitioning to a new specialty within St. Joseph will find resources tailored to their needs.
Support Our Work
Make your gift in support of nursing excellence through the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation.
Come Care With Us
Find career advancement opportunities, a nurse-friendly culture and work-life balance at PeaceHealth St. Joseph.
Get Involved
Request resources, explore programs, and learn more about our career development opportunities.
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