Leading our region with
1-to-4 nurse-to-patient ratios

Nurses in our Emergency Department (ED) are professionally challenged every day. In this critical care area, RNs practice advanced clinical skills within a team-approach model of care. We pride ourselves on our excellent nurse-to-patient ratio.

Extensive sets of competencies are validated each year. Each nursing Colleague maintains certifications that include:

• Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support

Many nursing Colleagues also maintain certifications in the Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum and Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course.

Education time and support are provided to acquire advanced certifications.

The Certified Emergency Nurse designation recognizes an ED nurse as having expertise in this specialty nursing field. Progress toward this designation is provided through ongoing education and study materials available in the ED. Certified Emergency Nurse RNs also participate in education programs offered through the ED, as well as attend additional education opportunities to maintain their advanced clinical skills.

Intensive Care Unit

The Intensive Care Unit environment is ideal for nurses who enjoy the challenges of providing specialized care for critically ill patients in collaboration with the hospital intensivist, internists and other members of the interdisciplinary team. The expanded and remodeled unit provides a family-friendly atmosphere coupled with the latest technological advancements.

Evidence-based practice is the foundation of our patient-centered care. Nurses in the unit receive individualized orientation and training for skills vital to the intensive care setting, including hemodynamic monitoring, arrhythmia detection, ventilator management and patients with intra-aortic balloon pumps.

Nurses complete the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Essentials of Critical Care Orientation, which is a computerized orientation program in congruence with monthly advanced critical care classes. Nurses are required to obtain and then maintain ACLS certification. Continuing education is a focal point of our proficiency training. In addition, certification by the AACN is promoted and encouraged. A yearly bonus is given to those who maintain their certification.

Progressive Care Unit

The Progressive Care Unit is ideal for nurses who are interested in working in the telemetry unit environment care for patients with acute and chronic coronary conditions, post-cardiac catheterizations, arrhythmias, and acute and chronic respiratory conditions. Nurses provide care in collaboration with healthcare specialists, utilizing evidence-based practice as the foundation of our patient-centered focus. Nurses in the unit receive individualized orientation and training, including an arrhythmia course.

Nurses complete the AACN Essentials of Critical Care Orientation, which is a computerized orientation program in congruence with monthly advanced critical care classes.

Nurses are required to obtain and maintain ACLS certification. Continuing education of our staff is a focal point of our proficiency training. In addition, certification by the AACN is promoted and encouraged. A yearly bonus is given to those who maintain their certification.

Few specialties rival surgery for its energy, fast pace and variety. Whether you arrive with years of experience or a new degree, count on our thorough orientation to make you feel part of the team. We use evidence-based practice to enhance patient safety and drive quality outcomes. Steeped in a tradition of innovation, we initiate better ways to deliver patient-centered care.

Certification by the Association of PeriOperative Registered Nurses or by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses is promoted and encouraged. A yearly bonus is given to those who maintain their certification.

The Cardiovascular Labs (Cardiac Catheterization, Interventional Radiology, Electrophysiology, and Hybrid OR) provide nurses with the opportunity to develop and incorporate advanced clinical skills and critical thinking in a close collaborative practice with cardiologists, interventional radiologists, gastroenterologists, electrophysiologists and vascular surgeons. The team approach to the delivery of cardiovascular services allows the RN to participate in the patient care process from pre-procedure, peri-procedure and the post-procedure phases. The RN functions in the roles of circulating, scrubbing and physiologic monitoring. All RNs are thoroughly oriented and precepted in these roles to assure clinical competency and patient safety.

RNs are required to maintain Basic Life Support for the Health Care Provider and Advanced Cardiac Life Support. The certification of Registered Cardiovascular Invasive Specialist can be obtained and is encouraged; although RNs with a bachelor of sciences in nursing degree are the preferred standard as a Magnet Hospital. Procedures in the CVL include:

• Cardiac – diagnostic cardiac catheterizations, percutaneous coronary interventions, elective cardioversions and transesophageal echocardiograms and permanent pacemaker implantations)
• Vascular – arterial and venous angiography, percutaneous and open peripheral balloon angioplasty/stenting, complex peripheral arterial bypass grafting and endovascular aortic repair
• Interventional radiology – complex endovascular arterial, venous, and visceral angiograms and interventions, subcutaneous ports, intravascular filters, biliary/nephrostomy tubes/stents
• Electrophysiology – complex arrhythmia mapping, recording, testing, ablations, cardiac defibrillator implantations and gastroenterology (endoscopic gastric diagnostic tests and interventions)

The RNs in Cardiovascular Services are multifunctional. Their skills include monitoring patients in the cardiac stress labs/cardiac PET/CT, MRI and CT sedations and other cardiovascular diagnostic and interventional procedures.

The world of obstetric nursing is exhilarating and challenging. It is ideal for the nurse who likes the intensity of managing high-risk situations, as well as the satisfaction of supporting the natural process of childbirth. The obstetric nurse must be keenly aware of what is normal and know that observation and support is sometimes all that is needed.

Obstetric nurses are cross-trained to care for laboring, postpartum and newborn patients and provide physical, emotional and educational support for women and their families. Nurses have many options available to tailor the labor and delivery experience according to the needs of each family. Low intervention initiatives, as well as high intervention procedures may be a part of a typical day. Excellent communication skills and teamwork are essential as the obstetric nurse collaborates with a broad spectrum of providers, including family practice, anesthesiologists, obstetricians, certified nurse midwives, pediatricians and ancillary units to achieve excellent patient outcomes.

Obstetric nurses are required to obtain and maintain competencies in NRP, STABLE, CPR and AWHONN fetal monitoring. Certification by the NCC in inpatient obstetrics is promoted and encouraged. A yearly bonus is given to those who maintain their certification.

If you are looking for variety, our medical/surgical specialty unit includes both medical and general surgery patients. This unit greatly value assessment skills of the staff.

Medical/surgical units are a specialty themselves. Common medical diagnoses include COPD, CHF, diabetes, hypertension and CVA. We work closely with surgeons, internal medicine and family medicine physicians. Good working relationships with ancillary departments, such as physical and respiratory therapy, lab, discharge planning and social services, are also important.

Nurses who value a culture where the patient and family benefit from a holistic model of care delivery find great satisfaction working at Goshen Center for Cancer Care or on the Oncology Unit at Goshen Hospital. The Oncology RN directs care by incorporating all disciplines in the planning of individualized care that addresses any physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the patient and family.

Nurses are constantly challenged to learn new treatment modalities and advance their skills as new cancer treatments are introduced. RNs deliver care to patients who are often critically ill with multi-system issues. Evidence-based practice drives our resolve to enhance patient safety and outcomes. Innovative nursing practice is not only encouraged, but expected.

Certification from the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation is promoted and encouraged, with many of the current RN Colleagues holding certifications. A yearly bonus is given to those who maintain their certification.

The Home Care Department is ideal for nurses who enjoy independent, team-centered nursing in a variety of nursing areas, including skilled home care, wound care, medication management for new diagnosis, IV and eternal therapy, and telehealth services. A modified version of primary nursing is used as a method to deliver care. Patients are assigned to a primary RN, who is responsible to oversee and coordinate all aspects of the patent’s care, including coordinating care with other community agencies. It is always a challenge to meet patient needs and expectations while still maintaining the high quality of care the community has come to expect from Goshen Health.

Hospice is for nurses who enjoy the challenges of providing palliative interdisciplinary care for terminally ill patients and their caregivers. Knowledge and comfort in working in a diverse cultural environment is a must when working with families of differing socio-economic levels. Hospice nurses teach caregivers the skills and provide information needed to support caregivers in end-of-life care.

Hospice nurses work as primary case managers along with social workers, chaplains, home health aides, and volunteers. Care is provided in a variety of residential settings, including single dwelling homes, apartments, extended care facilities and assisted living facilities. The nurses also collaborate and coordinate care with nurses from Goshen Hospital nursing units for those patients who need the acute inpatient and respite level of care.

Hospice nurses receive individualized orientation, training and ongoing education for skills in assessment and interventions for the palliation of symptoms in diverse cultural settings. Nurses are encouraged to obtain certification for Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing.