Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute
Cedars-Sinai founded the Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute in 2002 to help expand the supply of skilled nurses working in the Los Angeles region. The institute seeks to attract more people to the profession and to increase the retention of nurses by providing resources for professional development.
The institute provides educational opportunities, encourages evidence-based practice, develops nurse leaders and examines the issues that strengthen workforce retention.
Since its inception, the institute has provided free educational programs and financial assistance to advance more than 1,100 nurses to associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees.
In addition, within Cedars-Sinai, mentors and preceptors serve as educators and role models to help less-experienced staff bridge the gap between theory and practice. Through the Mentoring Program, nearly 800 Cedars-Sinai nurses serve as mentors.
From 2004 to 2006, Cedars-Sinai was one of 13 hospitals nationally – and the only hospital in Southern California – that participated in a two-year pilot program for Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB), a national project sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to improve the quality, safety and reliability of patient care and to eliminate waste through "lean" processes.
Cedars-Sinai has continued to participate in the TCAB initiative and share insights with other hospitals. To date, more than 500 patient care improvement ideas have been put through "tests of change" and more than 75 have been implemented.
Leadership
Jane Swanson, RN, PhD
Director, Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute
