Professional Development & Support Services
Our commitment to education is reflected through a variety of outstanding services offered by the Nursing Educational Services Department. In-house CEU Courses in Basic Arrhythmia, Telemetry, Intensive Care, Basic Oncology, hemodialysis, and Operating Room are a few of the training courses available. In-house workshops and community and statewide continuing education conferences support professional development.

A four-step clinical ladder that recognizes and rewards clinical advancement through monetary compensation is supported by the Nursing Education Department. Plans for The Queen's Nursing Institute are currently being finalized. As an umbrella organization of the Medical Center, the Institute will provide support to the development of professional nursing activities at The Queen's Medical Center, in the community, state, national and international arena.

Clinical nurse specialists, social workers, dieticians, therapists, educators and researchers in many specialized areas also provide a broad range of support services.

Ancillary support allowing you more time to provide quality patient care include:

• IV Therapy
• Pain Management
• Trauma Services
• Enterostomal Therapy
• Infection & Environmental Control
• Cardiac Invasive Services
• Heart Center
• Cancer Institute
• Mental Health Services
• Imaging Services
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Outpatient Oncology
• Breast Health Center
• Nuclear Medicine
• Radiation Therapy
• Nutritional Support Team
• HIV Community Programs
• Queen Emma Clinic
• Patient Education
• Nursing Educational Services
• Nursing Research
• Quality Assurance
• Nursing Continuous Quality Improvement
• Hospital Ministry

RN New Graduate Program
The Medical Center offers an 11 week RN New Graduate Transition Program to newly graduated/licensed Registered Nurses who are hired into staff nurse positions here at Queen’s.

This intensive program includes:

• Hospital Orientation
• 24 hr Didactic Education Classes
• Clinical Preceptorship

The prerequisites to enter into the RN New Graduate Program include :

• Being hired into a staff RN position at The Queen's Medical Center (to search for RN New Grad postings, visit our Jobs at Queen’s page and search for positions labeled "New Grad Okay")
• Having a Hawaii RN License (must be obtained 2 weeks prior to date of hire)
• Having current BLS - Health Care Provider certification.

RN Salary Information
The Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Hawaii Nurses Association covers all full-time and part-time RNs. Starting salaries are based on the amount of experience accumulated in an acute care facility within the five year period immediately preceding employment. In addition, shift differentials are provided. RNs can choose from 8 to 12 hour shifts and weekend options, subject to availability, to accommodate lifestyles. Nurse Managers can provide details specific to their units.

* New hires who have 24+ months of experience shall be placed at the 19+ month start rate for a minimum of 3 months (probationary period) before progressing to the job rate.

I. Philosophy
A. We believe:

1. A New Graduate Nurse has competence in the theoretical aspects of nursing and the related medical sciences.
2. A New Graduate Nurse recognizes the limitations of his/her clinical expertise.
3. A New Graduate Nurse recognizes his/her need to continue to learn and gain experiences.
4. A New Graduate Nurse can become a productive staff nurse practitioner.

B. As a new staff nurse we recognize that he/she has these needs:

1. To develop more realistic familiarity with hospital life.
2. To give nursing care to a larger group of patients.
3. To develop a wider range of technical skills.
4. To experience the continuity of patient care of all shifts.

II. Purpose
To prepare the newly graduated nurse to function safely and productively in the role of the staff nurse who is a primary nurse and a hospital employee.

III. Objectives
Given an eight to twelve week orientation period, and with the assistance of a preceptor, the new graduate will be able to:

A. Perform the duties of a staff nurse:

1. The staff nurse plans, gives and evaluates his/her nursing care for a group of patients.
2. The staff nurse demonstrates skill in providing nursing care by performing basic nursing procedures.
3. The staff nurse is able to safely give medications.
4. The staff nurse instructs and involves patient and family in aspects of care including discharge planning.
5. The staff nurse clearly and concisely communicates information and observations through reports and chart documentation.
6. The staff nurse is responsible for developing his/her own personal and professional growth, through self-evaluation of his/her strengths and needs.

B. Perform selected duties of a staff nurse in a leadership role who:

1. Makes rounds to assess patient condition, needs, and progress.
2. Plans and gives safe care to groups of patients on all three shifts.
3. Conducts at least one patient care conference.
4. Makes rounds to observe and evaluate care being given by team member.
5. Instructs and supervises others in the performance of skills and procedures related to patient care.
6. Gives clear, concise, pertinent, and organized reports to:
       a. Staff members
       b. On-coming shift
       c. Charge Nurse/Manager
       d. Administrative Coordinator

7. Develops the ability to assess the clinical status of all patients in his/her care and make appropriate nursing judgments for their follow-up care.
8. Appropriately delegates activities.
9. Is available to act as consultant and/or assistant to others.
10. Consults and/or assists physician with specific patient care problems.
11. Accurately transcribes and carries out physician's orders.
12. Identifies and participates in components of ward management that provide for continuity of patient care.

C. Functions as a safe, responsible and dependable staff nurse employee
who can:

1. Identify steps he/she would take in the event of external and/or internal disaster.
2. Perform CPR.
3. Identify and utilize major unit reference resources.
4. Contribute to unit effort on own initiative.
5. Adhere to safety rules in providing direct patient care.
6. Work toward achieving hospital goals.
7. Recognize and foster interdepartmental communication.

D. Performs selected duties of a primary nurse:

1. Is responsible and accountable for using the nursing process in problem solving, in planning and coordinating care and in coordinating the plan of care among all disciplines.
2. Assumes responsibility for total patient care for a group of patients for his shift of eight hours or from admission (meds, V.S., hygiene, treatments, teaching) through discharge.
3. Performs patient assessment and written documentation of nursing plan of care and problem list identification.
4. Assumes responsibility for patient and/or family teaching.
5. Encourages the patient to participate in his own care.
6. Assists the patient in identifying patient goals and methods of achieving goals.
7. Is responsible for discharge planning
       a. Patient teaching
       b. Family involvement
       c. Appropriate referrals

8. Participates in interdisciplinary heath care by incorporating other professionals into patient's care as appropriate.
9. Acts independently by accepting decentralization of responsibility and accountability for the management of patient care.
10. Documents patient's physical and emotional responses to hospitalization.
11. Will provide the total care of as many patients as feasible.
12. Recognizes the patient and his family as the central focus of all care.