Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Launches $51M Grant Program to Support Nurse Workforce in Safety Net Hospitals Across New York State

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, New York’s largest grantmaking organization focused on improving the health and well-being of vulnerable communities, today announced a $51 million investment to empower nursing professionals, reduce burnout, address workforce shortages and improve patient care in 13 New York hospitals serving high-need populations.  

The first-of-its-kind investment stems from the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to bolster the healthcare workforce across New York State. The new “Nursing Initiative” grant program will help hospitals achieve industry-leading frameworks in nursing excellence, establish innovative programs to support front-line nurses, and help recent nurse graduates transition into the profession.  

Each hospital will receive $1-5 million over five years to pursue American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet Recognition or Pathway to Excellence status, driving nursing excellence and healthcare transformation. The grant will also assist hospitals to establish or expand virtual nursing and nurse residency programs. The new initiative will ultimately support more than 6,500 nurses statewide and positively impact care for more than 7 million outpatient visits annually. The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation Nursing Initiative grant recipients include: 
 

• Guthrie Lourdes Hospital - Binghamton, NY 
• Auburn Community Hospital - Auburn, NY 
• Calvary Hospital - Bronx, NY 
• Mercy Hospital, Catholic Health System of Long Island - Rockville Centre, NY 
• University of Vermont Health Network – Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital- Plattsburgh, NY 
• Columbia Memorial Health – Hudson, NY 
• Montefiore Medical Center - Bronx, NY 
• United Health Services Hospitals - Binghamton, NY 
• Rome Memorial Hospital - Rome, NY 
• Samaritan Hospital and the Eddy Foundation - Albany, NY 
• St Mary’s Healthcare - Amsterdam, NY 
• St. Barnabas Hospital - Bronx, NY 
• St. John’s Riverside Hospital - Yonkers, NY  

 
“From Binghamton to the Bronx, New York nurses are the backbone of patient care, demonstrating dedication and resilience. Our Nursing Initiative is designed to provide the resources needed to ensure they can thrive and deliver the highest quality of care,” said Msgr. Gregory Mustaciuolo, Chief Executive Officer, Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. “By supporting nurses, we are investing in better patient care and outcomes.” 

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation’s bold philanthropic investment will play a vital role in recruiting and retaining nurses, while fostering the supportive environments they need to thrive,” said Angela Beddoe, Chief Executive Officer of American Nurses Enterprise. “We are proud to be a partner in this transformative effort to help New York hospitals pursue their accreditation journey. When nurses are empowered to lead and deliver care at the highest level, patients benefit—and entire communities are healthier for it.” 

Nursing Initiative grantees were selected from among a group of more than 50 hospitals that applied through a competitive request for proposals. The extensive selection process, which included visits with hospital leadership, was aimed at developing a portfolio of grantees representing a diversity of hospital sizes and geographies across New York State.

Guthrie Lourdes Hospital will receive a total of $4 million over the next five years for ANCC Pathway to Excellence status, which will aid our ongoing mission to retain and train the best and brightest in a setting that fosters high-quality care and career growth. 

“We are grateful to the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation for this investment in the future of nursing at a time when the country continues to face a shortage,” said Debra Raupers, EVP, Chief Nurse Executive, The Guthrie Clinic. “This generous grant enables us to recruit, retain and build up our existing nursing staff. It will strengthen our workforce and increase the level of care we provide for the community. Just like our nurses are committed to the health of their patients, we are dedicated to our nurses’ well-being.” 

The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation developed the Nursing Initiative following the findings of a healthcare workforce report by the Center for Health Workforce Studies in Albany. The report found major factors that contribute to persistent RN shortages including challenges with new RN preparedness, unsupportive work environments, workplace violence, burnout, the experience gap created by retirement of older nurses. and generational differences in career expectations that impact nurse tenure at hospitals. In addition, according to data referenced in the report, 15% of hospital patient care RNs between the ages of 20 and 39 reported plans to leave their current position within the next 12 months, underscoring the urgency of addressing these challenges.  

To address these challenges holistically, the new Mother Cabrini Nursing Initiative will help hospitals pursue ANCC Pathway to Excellence or Magnet accreditations - industry-recognized frameworks that set leading standards of nursing excellence. In addition, the grant will also support virtual nursing and nurse residency programs. More details below:  
 

• Pathway to Excellence – administered by the ANCC, this program recognizes healthcare organizations that foster a supportive and empowering workplace for nurses. It emphasizes shared decision-making, leadership, safety, quality, well-being and professional development. Achieving this status is a mark of distinction recognized worldwide. 
• Magnet Recognition – awarded by the ANCC, is a prestigious designation for healthcare organizations that demonstrate excellence in nursing practice and patient care. Magnet-recognized organizations are known for providing high-quality patient care, resulting in better patient outcomes, lower error rates, and fewer healthcare-acquired infections.  
• Nurse Residency Program - designed to help new nursing graduates transition smoothly into professional practice. These programs provide structured learning experiences, combining classroom instruction with clinical practice.  They offer mentorship and support from experienced nurses, which helps new nurses build confidence and reduce stress. They also increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover rates by fostering a supportive work environment.  
• Virtual Nursing – a flexible and innovative approach to healthcare delivery, especially in times of workforce challenges. Front line nurses benefit from virtual nursing models through increased support, reduced administrative workload, and enhanced mentorship from experienced virtual nurses. Virtual nurses can assist with tasks like admissions, discharges and patient education, while allowing front-line nurses to dedicate more time to direct patient care.