Registered professional nurses are assigned to provide care 24 hours a day, and they work with a team of nurse assistants and patient care technicians (PCTs). A director of nursing is responsible for leading each of the divisions of the department, while a nurse manager is responsible for directing and coordinating care on each unit.

As a member of Western Connecticut Health Network, the nursing specialty areas (dependent on location) at Danbury Hospital and New Milford Hospital include:

• Cardiology
• Emergency Department
• Family Birth Center
• Intensive Care Unit
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Outpatient Observation
• Pediatric
• Psychiatric
• Radiology
• Oncology
• Medical/Surgical
  • Rehab
  • Bariatric
  • Orthopedic
  • Neurosurgery
  • Cardiovascular
  • Trauma
  • Digestive Disorders
  • Oncological Surgical Services

We continue to look for qualified staff to join our teams and keep Western Connecticut our premier patient-centered system of care.

Please click here for opportunities at Danbury Hospital.

Please click here for opportunities at New Milford Hospital.

Please click here for opportunities at Norwalk Hospital.

Please click here for opportunities within Western Connecticut Medical Group.

Newly graduated nurses take part in a program called Graduate Residency in Nursing (GRIN). The GRIN program expands on the nursing orientation program to support the new grad through the first year of employment at Danbury Hospital. The standard classroom orientation includes:

• Nursing orientation classroom review
• Skills practice using simulation equipment
• EKG basics and cardiac rhythms

In addition to working with a preceptor on the patient care unit, new grads spend time with nursing multi-specialists and visit other hospital departments that work closely with their home unit.

To continue to support the new grad after their unit-based orientation is completed, they are matched with experienced mentors who will support them for the first year and beyond with their professional development and integration into the hospital community.

Making a commitment to provide quality patient care means being willing to continue to learn every day.

The healthcare field is constantly changing and progressing, with new theories on disease, technological advances, patient care trends, new and revised protocols, medical breakthroughs and research findings. Added to that are the vast amounts of information affecting how nurses practice and provide patient care. We know that learning new information can help boost a nurse’s knowledge, skills and competence, which in turn will lead to positive patient outcomes and better patient care.

The goal of the Department of Nursing Education and Research for Western Connecticut Health Network is to help nurses keep pace with this evolving knowledge. We want to support the career and clinical development of all of the nurses in our network.

Drexel University Online

We have a special collaboration with Drexel University Online, allowing you and your immediate family members to earn a top-ranked degree or certificate and receive substantially discounted tuition rates when you enroll in one of Drexel’s distinguished online programs. Drexel has an exceptional reputation for their online curriculum which caters to working professionals, making it convenient to complete online courses. Please contact Drexel University, Attention Ryan Rhodes at 215-895-6290, for more details.

St. Vincent’s College Nursing Pilot Program

Earlier this year we launched a pilot program with St. Vincent’s College to help staff who were interested in becoming a nurse. Currently, 80 staff members from various departments are enrolled in the pilot and taking courses onsite at Danbury Hospital. The Ethics class will be offered again in late January. We are also exploring ways to expand to all three hospitals in the near future. We will share more details as they become available.

Cora Spratt Center for Nursing Education and Research

The Cora Spratt Center for Nursing Education and Research was established in 2008 at Danbury Hospital and provides:

• National Certification preparation classes
• Research and publication workshops
• Preparation and submission of a Health Resources & Services Administration grant
• Assistance with numerous journal submissions
• Partnerships with national and international schools of nursing
• Opportunities for global collaboration
• Support for national and international conferences on patient safety and quality initiatives and nursing excellence