Nursing
Program overview
Nursing at St Joseph's Health Care London has an outstanding reputation for compassion and excellence in an environment where respect is the hallmark.
Nursing across St. Joseph’s Health Care London takes place in diverse settings and specialities – in clinics and at the bedside, as well as through outreach in the community. We have more than 1500 nurses working in roles that span the bedside to the boardroom. Registered Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses, Nurse Educators, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Nurse Practitioners are an integral part of our teams in delivering high quality and safe patient care.
Every day, they lead by example across a variety of programs – whether assisting clients and families in our mental health care programs, long term, complex care and rehab areas, or in our perioperative or Urgent Care Centre, these nurses care for their patients and families using best practices and compassion coupled with experience and knowledge as they work to address complex patient needs.
A philosophy of shared leadership among nursing and interdisciplinary teams enables care providers, learners and teachers to contribute their best to patient care, teaching and research.
Learn more about nursing at St. Joseph's:
Nursing Council
“Exceptional nursing … a passion for practice, learning and leadership.”
St. Joseph’s Health Care London (St. Joseph’s) has a very active Nursing Council that serves as an integral component of the organization’s shared governance. Established in 1990, the Council’s membership represents nurses across programs and roles at St. Joseph’s. As part of their mission, Nursing Council ensures that they have representation from key partners, for instance, patient partners, support services members, and academic partners from Western University and Fanshawe College Schools of Nursing.
St. Joseph’s Nursing Council meets in person, providing a forum for members to collaborate and plan innovative ways to advance patient care, nursing practice, nursing research, nursing leadership and the nursing profession.
The Nursing Council publishes a monthly Nursing Newsletter, which is distributed to all nurses and leaders at St. Josephs, and our partners at Lawson Research Institute, St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation, and Western University & Fanshawe College Schools of Nursing. The Nursing Newsletter highlights nursing research, theory, knowledge, innovation, and work in alignment with Nursing Council’s strategic goals and St. Joseph’s strategic plan. In addition to publishing a monthly Nursing Newsletter, Nursing Council develops and facilitates events each year, for example, a Nursing Research Day, and Building and Sustaining Nursing Leadership. Nursing Council also organizes and supports Nursing Week celebrations at St. Joseph’s each year.
Nursing Council has three Working Groups:
- The Social Group
Purpose: To create social experiences for nurses, develop Nursing Week celebrations, and recognize and celebrate nursing. - Community of Practice Group
Purpose: To create a Nursing Community of Practice where nurses from across the organization can come together for collaboration, support and camaraderie. - Knowledge Translation Group
Purpose: To interpret and share knowledge.
Jordan Tompkins, RN, St. Joseph’s Family Medical and Dental Centre & Nursing Council Member
Why I Joined Nursing Council
I joined Nursing Council to feel more connected to the broader nursing community at St. Joseph’s Health Care. Working as part of a small, offsite team at the Family Medical Centre, it can sometimes feel like we are a step removed from the larger organization. The Council provides an important bridge—an opportunity to engage with colleagues across different units, hear about their unique roles and work environments, and collaborate on initiatives that advance nursing practice and patient care organization-wide.
How I Contribute to Nursing Council
Through my involvement, I contribute by sharing the perspective of primary care nursing and bringing forward the experiences of our team in the community setting. I value the exchange of ideas and collective problem-solving that happens when nurses from diverse areas come together with a shared purpose.
Why I Feel Nursing Council is Important
Nursing Council is vital because it provides a structured forum where nurses from all areas—acute care, community, and specialized programs—can come together to share experiences, identify common priorities, and work toward shared goals. The Council helps align nursing initiatives with the broader mission and values of the organization. It fosters collaboration, advocacy, and innovation, and provides an opportunity for nurses to bring forward challenges that may otherwise go unheard.
What I enjoy Most About Nursing Council
I truly value the connections with other nurses that Nursing Council brings. It’s inspiring to work alongside nurses who are deeply dedicated to their patients and to continuous improvement, and to see how, together, we make a meaningful difference across St. Joseph’s Healthcare. I especially enjoy being involved in new and innovative initiatives—such as planning the Nursing Summit and Nursing Research Committee —initiatives that help move nursing practice forward. Participating in these discussions allows me to be part of the exciting progress happening within our profession. Being part of Nursing Council reminds me how meaningful our work is and how much we can accomplish when we come together to advance care, innovation, and excellence in nursing.
Nursing leadership
St. Joseph’s professional practice team supports regulated health professionals across the organization in upholding practice standards and striving to provide exceptional patient care. To accomplish this we work in a team approach that engages all health care professionals, regulated and unregulated, along with leadership and our external partners. The team has practice consultants that directly support the nursing profession, and help advance both nursing and interprofessional excellence.
The professional practice team is actively engaged in the development of practice standards, guidelines, and policies as well as documentation standards and forms development across the organization. Beyond this, we also support individuals and teams through model of care delivery and practice changes and quality improvement initiatives. We provide coaching and support to individuals and teams to enhance professional development and lifelong learning. Our team also works closely with our academic partners to facilitate and support student placements through various disciplines across the organization.
Links and resources
- Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
- College of Nurses of Ontario
- The University of Western Ontario - The Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing
- Fanshawe College- Health Sciences & Nursing
St. Joseph's Health Care London does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Careers in Nursing at St. Joseph's
We believe that respect for people, an environment of compassion, and the opportunity to provide excellent care are hallmarks of our organization.