Grand River Hospital (GRH) is one of Ontario’s largest community hospitals that provides excellent patient centered care to over 760,000 residents of Waterloo Region and Wellington County. Through innovation and collaboration, Grand River Hospital has become a leader in the provision of patient care programs for our community, within available resources. This care includes a regional cancer program, renal program, childbirth and children’s services, mental health and addiction services, medical and surgical services, complex continuing care, laboratory medicine, pharmacy services, and diagnostics. Grand River Hospital’s programs and services are provided at the Freeport Site, the Kitchener-Waterloo Site and several satellite clinics throughout the region.

Support for New Learners

At GRH, we strive to provide nursing students with a positive experience. Our experienced nursing staff at GRH helps the student nurse to grow and develop into a successful novice nurse. GRH offers clinical placements throughout various clinical settings including the ER department, ICU and Complex Continuing Care. Together, the GRH staff and the human resources department recruit many of these student nurses and ensure each nurse finds their new ‘home’ at GRH.

Supportive Leadership

At GRH, the leadership team is passionate about implementing best practice initiatives and supports a number of staff members that participate in both provincial and national research projects. Staff members are also encouraged by the leadership team to sit on various best practice guideline development groups. Together, the leadership team and these staff members work to ensure who this information is shared with all front line and allied health staff, allowing them to incorporate best practice into their clinical practice.

Nurses at GRH are offered many opportunities to be an active partner with the leadership team in the decision making process that ultimately impacts on patient care. Nurses are encouraged to participate in committees such as Recruitment and Retention, Quality Council and Nursing Council. Committees such as these give nurses the opportunity to act as change agents and foster transformational leadership and professionalism.

One GRH nurse had this to say:

"In Nursing Council, a concern was raised about the amount of time being spent by nurses charting. The administration (who actively participates in Nursing Council) listened and worked with front line nurses to redesign the charting system. Charting now takes much less time. I am very proud to work at GRH and feel through this experience and others, a valued member of the team”….. Amanda Taylor, RN

Leadership Opportunities

Frontline nurses at GRH are offered many opportunities for leadership development, both formally and informally. GRH supports the promotion of bedside nurses to leadership roles such as resource nurse and education practice lead. Other leadership roles available include Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Practitioners, Geriatric Emergency Nurses (GEM) and Clinical Managers.

Quality of Work Life

Grand River Hospital has an active Quality of Work Life committee to identify the needs of our valued employees within the organization. The committee has representation from various occupations throughout the hospital and is committed to ensuring a robust quality of work life. The Quality of Work Life committee is responsible for ensuring the success of events such as the staff appreciation BBQ’s, the GRH Walking Challenge 2010, the “Treasure your Health” Health Fair, the Monthly Award of Excellence and the Quarterly Town Hall meetings with the CEO. These events help to improve and maintain the culture and morale of GRH.

The nurses at GRH are valued members of our team who incorporate the GRH’s mission of Exceptional Care with Compassion into their everyday practice. When you join the team at GRH, you will join an excellent interdisciplinary, patient centered healthcare team.