Nursing Excellence at Saratoga Hospital
A Commitment to Excellence
We are committed to nursing excellence – a caring approach that supports the well-being of patients, their families, our colleagues, and our nurses. Our success comes from our incredible nursing staff. We embrace shared decision making and believe in fostering a nursing environment that is safe, collaborative, and offers opportunity for continuous professional advancement while offering our patients exceptional care at every level.
In 2004, Saratoga Hospital became the first in the region to achieve Magnet recognition for nursing excellence, earning re-designation again in 2010, 2015, and in 2020. Only 9 percent of U.S. hospitals have earned Magnet status, and we strive every day to maintain that standard.
Nursing Annual Report
View the 2023 Nursing Annual Report (PDF) to learn more about the invaluable contributions our nurses made throughout the year.
Nursing Education & Professional Development Opportunities
We believe in supporting our nurses’ dreams of higher education and professional development. This is why we offer multiple opportunities to advance your career through higher degrees, certifications, leadership development, committee membership, residency, internships, scholarships, and advancement opportunities.
The PEAK Program serves as a development pathway for our registered nurses by recognizing nursing excellence through the continuous opportunity for new knowledge, personal growth, and collaborative relationships. This program is open to all Registered Nurses in full- or part-time positions.
Saratoga Hospital’s RN Residency Program provides recent RN graduates with a comprehensive transition-to-practice program upon hiring.
Areas of residency include:
- Medical/Surgical Units
- Intensive Care Unit
- Emergency Department
- Labor & Delivery
- Mental Health Unit
- Ambulatory Practices
For more information, please contact:
Lesley Caracci MS, RN
RN Residency Program Coordinator
Clinical Education Department
[email protected]
518-886-5340
Susan Lewsey
Senior Recruitment Specialist
Human Resources
[email protected]
518-886-5705
Our 10-week summer internships provide nursing students with an educational opportunity to improve their nursing skills in the clinical setting while also receiving summer employment. There are two internship options.
Summer Nurse Internship I
Program Description
- Directed and supervised by a Registered Nurse
- Provide direct patient care, gain hands-on experience, and enhance assessment skills
- Development of organizational and time management skills
- Work in a collegial relationship with RNs and gain a better understanding of professional practice
- Educational in-services presented throughout the summer to further supplement the learning process
- Receive a competitive salary
- Centralized and unit-based orientation provided
- Pipeline program—Upon successful completion, interns recruited to apply for a Patient Care Assistant position with flexible hours to meet the demands of the academic year
- Interns encouraged to apply for Summer Nurse II Intern position
Commitment
- Selected interns must commit to all program dates. No exceptions!
- Must be prepared for a full 36–40-hour commitment per week
- Weekend rotation required
- May be required to work a holiday
- Must be available for a day and/or night shift position
Eligibility Qualifications
- Attained junior status in the fall
- Anticipate graduation within two years from the end of the program
- Cumulative GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0. Transcript will be required after completion
Summer Nurse II Internship
Program Description
- Directed and supervised by a Registered Nurse
- Provide direct patient care, gain hands-on experience, and enhance assessment skills
- Development of organizational and time management skills
- Work in a collegial relationship with RNs and gain a better understanding of professional practice
- Educational in-services presented throughout the summer to further supplement the learning process
- Receive a competitive salary
- Centralized and unit-based orientation provided
- Nursing Care Model combines Relationship-Based Care with an Evidence-Based Approach for a stronger connection between the nursing care team and the patient while assisting with an enhanced individualized approach to deliver appropriate care
- Magnet culture that includes teamwork, professionalism, mutual respect
- Acquire valuable insight into the various key roles of a professional nurse
- Pipeline Program—Upon successful completion, interns recruited to apply for a Patient Care Assistant position with flexible hours to meet the demands of the academic year
- Interns recruited to apply for our New Graduate Nurse Residency Program
Commitment
- Selected interns must commit to all program dates. No exceptions!
- Must be prepared for a full 36–40-hour commitment per week
- Weekend rotation required
- May be required to work a holiday
- Must be available for a day and/or night shift position
The Nursing Scholarship Program was established in 2002. Since then, more than 200 scholarship recipients have graduated with associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees in nursing and approximately 40 annually earn their degrees each year. Our competitive benefits include a generous tuition assistance option that can be used as part of our partnership program with Maria College for an RN to BS degree program, as well as for financial support in pursuing general and specialty certifications.
Recognizing Exceptional Nurses
Saratoga Hospital is proud to recognize members of our nursing team for their care, compassion, dedication, and teamwork. No accomplishment or act of kindness is too small to go unnoticed. We support and celebrate our nurses’ hard work and continuous commitment to their patients.
DAISY Awards
The DAISY Award is celebrated each month to highlight exceptional care by our nurses. The nursing excellence award is based on nominations submitted by patients and their families. Learn more about the DAISY Award and nominate a nurse today!
Nursing Excellence Awards
Each year, nursing professionals are nominated by their colleagues as examples of nursing excellence in categories such as Innovator in Nursing, Transformational Leader, Licensed Practical Nurse of the Year, Exemplary Professional Practice RN, Nurse Extender of the Year, and Nurse Empowerment.
