NICHE

Hunterdon Medical Center is one of only 519 hospitals in North America to be designated a NICHE hospital. We are proud to carry the NICHE designation as a sign of our commitment to holistic care for our older adults.

NICHE stands for Nurses Improving Care to Healthsystem Elders and is the only national designation indicating a hospital’s commitment to elder care excellence. The program puts evidence-based principles and tools into the hands of nurses at the bedside.

The focus of NICHE is on programs and protocols that are under the control of nurses so that they may have a positive impact on patient care. As part of the program, Hunterdon Medical Center offers nurses specialized nursing education and the opportunity to earn the designation of Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN). GRNs understand the specific needs of elderly patients and become a resource for their peers to enhance their ability to improve outcomes and foster greater patient and family satisfaction.

Common geriatric syndromes, such as incontinence, pressure ulcers, and delirium, often result in increased lengths of stay and increased expense for the patient. Nurses have an important role to play in the prevention or management of these conditions.

Both NICHE and Magnet™ programs concentrate on transforming nursing care from a task-oriented approach to one of evidence and outcomes.