Reimagining Nursing Practice Across Lehigh Valley Health Network

At Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), we are embarking on an exciting journey to transform nursing practice in ways that deeply resonate with our core values. For LVHN nurses, our shared calling is our dedication to fostering an environment where compassion, innovation, communication and professional growth thrive. But what does this mean for our nurses and the patients they care for? Let’s explore nursing at LVHN.

Annmarie Chavarria, Chief Nursing Executive, shared that “At LVHN our leaders are fierce supporters of our nurses because they understand the pivotal role of nurses for the success of our organization. This unwavering support has unleashed waves of innovation and a complete transformation of our nursing practice over the last two years. LVHN nurses are trailblazers in the development of world-class nursing practice not only locally, but nationally.”

At LVHN, we recognize that the best patient care stems from a foundation of teamwork and compassion. LVHN nurses always have each other’s backs and aim to put these crucial elements of our nursing practice front and center.

Initiatives like the Integrative Healing Arts Academy, which launched October 2023, bring this to life by cultivating holistic care approaches, allowing nurses to connect more deeply with patients on their healing journeys. Camille Delacruz, RN, from Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest, shared that the “connected community helped her find this new sense of self” and that “it taught me to remind myself to breathe and to remember who I am. And it reminded me that everyone matters, including yourself.”

The expansion of our Caritas Program reinforces our compassionate care principles, ensuring every interaction is grounded in empathy and kindness. We are also forming a steering committee focused on the Nursing Bundle, which includes nurse leader rounding, bedside shift reports and purposeful rounding. These initiatives are designed to foster meaningful patient interactions and elevate the quality of care we provide.

Nurses are at the forefront of health care innovation at LVHN. Our Innovation Units empower nurses to lead the way in creating and implementing leading-edge care practices. By fostering a culture of innovation, we’re ensuring our patients benefit from the latest advancements in health care and our nurses have the freedom to implement solutions that improve efficiency.

Our commitment to research and education is unwavering. We’ve established roles dedicated to supporting nursing research, publications and presentations, providing our nurses with the resources they need to contribute to the broader medical community and further their expertise.

Clear communication and strong support systems are the backbones of effective nursing practice. At LVHN, we’re enhancing our communication infrastructure and support networks to ensure our nurses are heard, valued and empowered.

We’re streamlining the flow of information from our leaders to our teams and back again through consistent news updates, engaging nursing forums and more.  

Professional growth is pivotal to keeping nurses engaged and inspired. We’re redesigning and standardizing our unit-based orientation and preceptor programs to provide our nurses with robust and consistent training experiences. Additionally, we’ve reinforced our commitment to work-life balance, enabling our nurses to thrive professionally and personally.

Megan Anderson, RN, shared, “I am very thankful that LVHN provided the opportunity for the Nurse Residency Program. It helped to make that transition from nursing student to graduate nurse to nurse very smooth. I’m very thankful to work for a health network that provides so much to its employees in the way of education, support to pursue change and interprofessional growth.”

To further support career development, we’re introducing a new mentoring program targeting nurses in their early career stages, offering guidance and support to reduce turnover and enhance job satisfaction. We’ve also implemented career mapping across units and enhanced our clinical ladder programs to provide clear pathways for advancement.

In addition, we’re looking at the future and ensuring nurses find the opportunities they are looking for with our health network. By building a registered nurse pipeline focused on training and retention, we’re nurturing the next generation of nurses and investing in the future of nursing at LVHN. Our goal is that our nurses can envision and achieve long-term career goals within LVHN.

At LVHN, we’re not just reimagining nursing practice – we’re actively shaping a future where nurses are empowered, supported and inspired to deliver the best possible care. By aligning our initiatives with the principles of teamwork, innovation, communication and growth, we’re creating a nurturing environment for our patients and nursing staff.

Join us by embracing our shared calling and paving the way for a brighter future in health care.