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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:    

MARGE SULLIVAN, PALM HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION, 561-833-6333

MELANIE OTERO, THE WATERS PELTON ORGANIZATION, 561-626-0026, x11

JENNIFER MARTINEZ, THE WATERS PELTON ORGANIZATION, 561-626-0026, x19

Boca Raton, Fla. – On Friday, June 29, 2007, the first ever graduation ceremony was held for the Novice Nurse Leadership Institute (NNLI) at Florida Atlantic University – Boca Raton Campus Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing.  In an environment where research has shown thirty-percent of new nurses leave their first nursing job within twelve months, the NNLI is helping to reduce that number by assisting and supporting new nurses as they transition from school to the workplace. Innovative programs like the NNLI are critical to easing this transition and increasing retention. The NNLI was developed in partnership with a variety of healthcare agencies in Palm Beach County, and funded by Palm Healthcare Foundation, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida and Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc.

“We have a serious nursing shortage here in Palm Beach County,” said Suzette W. Wexner, president of Palm Healthcare Foundation.  “Developing Palm Beach County’s healthcare workforce is one of Palm Healthcare Foundation’s primary funding initiatives. We are so honored to be a part of the program and so proud of these first graduates who will begin their careers with a level of knowledge and confidence that will help them advance in their field and become nurse leaders.”

Nineteen graduates, representing nine different healthcare organizations throughout the county, including Bethesda Memorial Hospital, Boca Raton Community Hospital, Glades General Hospital, Hospice of Palm Beach County, Jupiter Medical Center, the Palm Beach County Dept. of Health, Palms West Hospital, St. Mary’s Medical Center and Wellington Regional Medical Center, were recognized for their achievements as part of the NNLI over the past year. 

“Good patient care starts with a well-prepared nurse workforce,” said Catherine Kelly, vice president for public affairs, signature programs of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.  “The graduates of the NNLI are a testament to the important role of workplace mentors who can make a difference in whether a new nurse stays in the profession. We congratulate these exemplary health care professionals for their success, and we are proud to join them in the effort to strengthen the nursing workforce.”

Eric Kelly, regional vice president, Allegany Franciscan Ministries also congratulated the nurses and added, “We are delighted that our partnership will enhance the cultural competency of our future nurse leaders.” 

About the Novice Nurse Leadership Institute:

The Novice Nurse Leadership Institute (NNLI), a year-long series of workshops for a group of Palm Beach County nurses in their first year of practice, is designed to assist and support new nurses as they transition from school to the workplace, enhance their knowledge base and skill sets, and promote the value of lifelong learning and leadership in nursing.

About Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc.:
Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc. was chartered in 2001 as an independent community healthcare foundation. Believing that “Together We Can Do More,” the foundation’s mission is to transform healthcare challenges by bringing together the talents and resources of the community to create innovative solutions that deliver high-impact results. The Foundation’s funding priorities—access to healthcare, healthcare quality and safety, healthcare technology, healthcare policy and healthcare workforce—are designed to empower non-profit healthcare organizations and healthcare professionals to create programs and services that improve the quality of life for Palm Beach County’s underserved citizens.  Since 2001, the Foundation has distributed more than $20 million to over 70 non-profit organizations in Palm Beach County operating over 130 programs that met its funding goals.  To learn more about Palm Healthcare Foundation, please visit www.palmhealthcarefoundation.org.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida:

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is a leader in Florida's health industry. A focus of its corporate philanthropy is aimed at boosting the number and cultural diversity of the nursing workforce. The initiative called Generation RN (sm) supports nurse education and research as a strategy to improve health care.  BCBSF and its subsidiaries serve more than 8.6 million people. Since 1944, the company has been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of all those it serves by offering an array of choices. BCBSF is a not-for-profit, policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., BCBSF is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information concerning BCBSF, please see its Web site at www.bcbsfl.com.

About Allegany Franciscan Ministries:

Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit Catholic organization striving to be a catalyst for systematic change, committing resources and working collaboratively to promote physical, mental, spiritual, societal and cultural health and well-being. Guided by the tradition and vision of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, and a member of Catholic Health East, Allegany Franciscan Ministries provides grants to organizations in three regions of Florida: Miami-Dade County, Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties, and the Tampa Bay area of Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties/