Nationally Recognized Nursing Care

At St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, the excellence of our Magnet®-designated nurses significantly contributes to the hospital's recognition for the highest quality and safest patient care. They consistently receive excellent patient satisfaction scores, reflecting their professionalism and dedication. Patients and their families rely on St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center nurses for trustworthy care.

Our nurses also play a key role in St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center being recognized as one of the safest hospitals on Long Island by the Leapfrog Group and the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services and rated one of the best hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.

Magnet® Award

St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center nurses are Magnet®-designated for excellence in nursing care, one of the most prestigious honors a hospital and its nurses can achieve. Only about 9.7% of hospitals in the U.S. have earned the Magnet® designation. We have continued to hold Magnet® designation since 2006, when we became the first hospital in Nassau County to obtain the Magnet® award. 

The Magnet® program was created, and is administered by, the American Nurses Credentialing Center. It recognizes health care organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing philosophy and practice, adhere to national standards for improving patient care, have an active research program, and display leadership and sensitivity to cultural and ethnic diversity.

Our Philosophy of Nursing

We are committed to excellence in patient care based upon the principles of Christian charity, nursing theory and scientific knowledge. Nursing at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center is always patient centered and our nurses are dedicated to total patient care. Our goals:

  • Assess and meet the unique needs of patients
  • Restore function and well-being
  • Promote good health practices
  • Identify potential problems
    • Prevent further illness
    • Respect a terminally ill patient's right to die with dignity
    • Foster patient independence—both the patient and their family actively participate in the planning and administration of care

    Our Nursing Program

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    Ann Cella
    Ann Cella, MA, MEd, RN, NEA-BC
    Chief Nursing Officer, St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center

    Welcome to St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, home of our Magnet® award-winning nursing staff.

    Our nurses’ dedication to providing the very best in patient care is founded on something we refer to as "the culture of St. Francis.” It is a philosophy that places the focus on the patient and his or her family at all times. It is driven by the principles of Christian charity, nursing theory, and scientific and medical knowledge, and it cherishes the qualities of dignity and respect.

    The nurses at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center always strive for excellence in total patient care. Our mission is to help restore patients to their optimal well being, promote good health practices, identify potential problems and identify opportunities to prevent further illness.

    Through a program called Tomorrow’s Nurses we hope to continue the St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center tradition of attracting caring, compassionate and knowledgeable professionals who want to make a difference in the lives of those who need urgent care.

    Please call 516-562-6893 for more information about nursing at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center or if you are interested in a career in nursing.

    Ann Cella, MA, MEd, RN, NEA-BC

    Chief Nursing Officer, St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center

    Explore a Nursing Career at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center

    Do you want to make a difference in the lives of those in need of medical care? Have you ever admired a nurse or wondered what it would be like to choose nursing as a profession? If you have asked yourself these or similar questions, perhaps nursing is a potential career for you.

    Registered Nurses at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center set the standards for excellence with collaborative, patient-centered care practice models and evidence-based nursing practice across a wide range of clinical practice areas.

    Nurses at all levels are invited to participate in a variety of interdisciplinary committees that focus on patient safety, patient satisfaction and excellence in patient care. Clinical nurses participate in shared governance.

    Ann Cella, RN, chief nursing officer and director of Tomorrow’s Nurses at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, invites you to shadow a registered nurse for a day or a half day to experience first-hand the rewards and challenges of nursing in a hospital that has earned a reputation for high-quality, compassionate care.

    Tomorrow's Nurses goals:

    • Provide a nurse mentor who will share with you their daily work experiences.
    • Provide you with information and career counseling about various nursing programs.
    • Give you the opportunity to attend educational sessions for nurses.
    • Invite you to join our Future of Nurses Committee.

    Please call 516-562-6893 for more information.

    Nurses at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center can choose to concentrate their practice in any of the following nursing specialties:

    Medical/Surgical/Telemetry

    • Kellenberg 2
    • 1 East
    • 1 West
    • 2 East
    • 2 West
    • FP2

    Intermediate Care Unit

    • 3 East

    Critical Care

    • Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
    • Medical Intensive Care Unit 2
    • Surgical Intensive Care Unit

    Perioperative Services

    • Pre Admission Testing
    • Heart Center Operating Rooms (6)
    • Operating Rooms (14) (DeMatteis Pavilion Operating Room)
    • Post Anesthesia Care Unit
    • Endoscopy Suite

    Nursing Administration

    • Patient Experience
    • Palliative Care

    Diagnostic Services

    • Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
    • Radiology
    • Cardiac Imaging
    • Electrophysiology

    Outpatient Services

    • South Bay Cardiovascular
    • Infusion unit
    • Cardiac Rehabilitation and Fitness
    • Center for Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics (CACT)
    • Research

    Emergency Department

    Care Management

    As a member of the St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center health care team, our professional nurses unify and coordinate interdepartmental patient services and functions as a role model to their team in the practice of nursing diagnosis and intervention. Nurses are aware of new trends and concepts within the profession through continuing education. They are expected to innovate, initiate and effect change.

    In addition to the comprehensive and competitive compensation and benefits package offered to all St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center® employees, additional benefits available to our nurses include:

    • Professional Development Advancement Program
      • All nurses participate in this program, which rewards and recognizes nurses who have developed expertise in nursing practice and who function as preceptors and mentors for novice colleagues. The path for clinical nursing experience follows the continuum of: Clinical Nurse I; Clinical Nurse II; Clinical Nurse III; and Clinical Nurse IV.
    • Experience Differentials
    • Education Differentials
    • Float Differentials
    • Relief Charge Nurse Differentials
    • Shift Differentials
    • Loan Forgiveness
    • Retention Benefit
    • Certification Payment & Annual Stipend
    • Preceptor Payment
    • Free Uniforms
    • Free Parking
    • Endowment Program
    • Paid Continuing Education Hours
    • Continuing Education Programs

    Certification & Education

    At St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, our goal is to provide our nurses with many exciting opportunities to develop and enhance their careers. Our nurses can change their clinical focus to reflect their interest, experience and advanced nursing degree, all of which are facilitated by our generous tuition assistance benefits.

    Professional nursing certification is an indicator to patients, families and health care team members that nurses are qualified, competent and committed to excellence.

    “The Road to Certification” leads to personal achievement, recognition of your professional commitment, increased job satisfaction, validation of your knowledge, and improved patient outcomes.

    St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center will reimburse full-time and part-time nursing staff for testing fees after successful completion of the exam and provide flexibility in their work schedule to attend review classes. Current staff members should contact their nurse managers for more information and eligibility requirements.

    Our Awards

    • All Medical-Surgical Telemetry Units have achieved Prism Awards. The AMSN PRISM Award is co-sponsored by the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses (AMSN) and the Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification Board (MSNCB). PRISM stands for Premier Recognition In the Specialty of Medical-Surgical. It was created at the request of AMSN members who wanted an award to recognize the exemplary practice of medical-surgical units.
    • All Critical Care Units, Intermediate Care Unit, Cardiac Catheterization Lab and PACU have achieved Beacon Awards from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes units that distinguish themselves by providing high-quality patient care in a healthy work environment.
    • The Emergency Department has achieved the Lantern Award. The Emergency Nurses Association Lantern Award recognizes emergency departments that demonstrate exceptional and innovative performance in leadership, practice, education, advocacy and research — a way to showcase your ED’s accomplishments in incorporating evidence-based practice and innovation into emergency care, and a visible symbol of your commitment to quality, safety, and a healthy work environment.
    • The Joint Commission has given Hospital Accreditation Disease-Specific Care Certifications for the following: Hip, Knee, Thromectomy-Capable Stroke Center, and Ventricular Assist Device.

    Join Our Nursing Team

    National Honor for Emergency Department

    St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center’s Emergency Department has been honored with the Emergency Nurses Association’s (ENA) Lantern Award, which is dedicated to recognizing emergency departments. 

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