Nurse interns expand their horizons at Independence Blue Cross

When Ashley Walsh, a nursing student at Temple University, began seeking a summer internship, a health insurance company wasn’t the first place that occurred to her. But with an open mind, she applied for a position at Independence Blue Cross (Independence) through the Independence Blue Cross Foundation’s (Foundation) Nursing Internship Program. During her interview, Ashley learned that she wouldn’t be wearing scrubs or interacting with patients at bedside,...
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IBC Foundation supports vision training for Philadelphia school nurses

The Independence Blue Cross Foundation, in cooperation with the Eagles Charitable Foundation, supported vision screening professional development for more than 250 Philadelphia school nurses to ensure they are properly trained and certified to administer vision screenings. The all-day event, held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, provided nurses with extensive, in-depth training to certify them as vision screeners....
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National Nurses Week 2017: Focusing on the Selfless Work of Nurses

National Nurses Week
“Bound by paperwork, short on hands, sleep, and energy…nurses are rarely short on caring.” — Sharon Hudacek, EdD, RN, ACNS-BC Nurses are arguably the hardest working individuals, coordinating and providing patient care in fast-paced shifts that often exceed twelve hours and don’t provide much down time. Yet their innate sense of compassion allows them to put aside their needs to ensure that patient care comes first....
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First Cohort of Future of Nursing Scholars Set to Transform Health Care

From left to right, the first cohort of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars, funded by the Independence Blue Cross Foundation: Stephen Perez, RN, MS, NP; Liz Novack, RN, BSN; Faith Atte, RN, MSN. How can health policy decisions affect infectious disease outcomes and patient safety in health systems? How much can nurses improve the overall health of women who have experienced intimate partner violence using a trauma-informed approach to care?...
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Launching the Nation’s Third Nurse Practitioner Residency Program

Imagine you’ve just graduated from medical school and are working as a physician in your community. The waiting room in your office is packed with patients, many of whom have complex chronic conditions. Suddenly, a nurse informs you that three patients are presenting with severe stomach pain and require immediate attention. Could one of the cases require a hospital visit?...
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Health Care Leaders Convene in Philadelphia to Discuss Recommended Actions to Solve Nation’s Deepening Primary Care Crisis

Practice models featuring enhanced role for registered nurses offer promise toward meeting nation’s urgent need for a transformed primary care system

Philadelphia, PA – Mounting pressures, including more than 50 percent of Americans with a chronic condition and many with multiple illnesses, are rendering the nation’s primary care system inadequate to meet the population’s needs....
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Increasing CPR-readiness Through our New Healthy Hearts Initiative

Imagine walking down the street when suddenly, the person walking towards you falls to the ground — their heart has stopped beating. Fortunately, you have recently completed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training, and without hesitation, you put your new life-saving skills into action. Your quick response revives a heartbeat and provides time for paramedics to arrive at the scene....
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The Future of Nursing Scholars Program: Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Nurse Educators

Pictured above (left to right): Liz Novak, Stephen Perez, IBC Foundation President Lorina Marshall-Blake, Faith Atte, RWJF Future of Nursing Scholars Program Co-Director Susan B. Hassmiller, Brittany Stark, Michelle McKay In 2014, the Independence Blue Cross Foundation became the inaugural funder of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars program,...
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Meet Some of Our 2016 Nurse Interns

We're always excited to have new participants in our Nursing Internship program.
Independence Blue Cross and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation have supported nursing education for 12 years. Since then, a total of 215 undergraduate nursing students have interned in community health centers or within Independence. They’ve contributed more than 80,000 hours of work since the program began in 2004, including 7,500 hours contributed this year alone. For the first time,...
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Investing in the Next Generation of Nursing Leaders

Nurses play a critical and evolving role in health care delivery, and the Independence Blue Cross Foundation (the Foundation) is leading the way for nurses pursuing teaching or clinical practice roles to educate the next generation of health care leaders. Through our Nurses for Tomorrow program, we’re proud to partner with 22 nursing schools in southeastern Pennsylvania and award more than $1.5 million annually in undergraduate,...
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