Organizational Values Organizational Foundations Visiting

Organizational Values

Organizational Foundations

Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY): Organizational values

The stated vision of VNSNY is to "become the most significant, best-in-class, nonprofit, community-based integrated delivery system providing superior care coordination and care management services to vulnerable populations across a broad regional footprint" (Mission and vision, 2013, VNSNY). The VNSNY provides assistance to patients and their families who need health-related assistance necessary to thrive and function at home, enabling many patients to remain in the comfort of familiar surroundings while they are provided with care. The stated mission is "to promote the health and well-being of patients and families by providing high-quality, cost-effective health care in the home and community; to be a leader in the development of innovative services that enable people to function as independently as possible in their community; to help shape health care policies that support beneficial home- and community-based services; [and] to continue our tradition of charitable and compassionate care, within the resources available" (Mission and vision, 2013, VNSNY).

The VNSNY emphasizes caring for the 'whole' person. "VNSNY nurses and staff do much more than take their patients' blood pressure or provide medication to them-they take into account every aspect of their patients' lives to get a comprehensive picture and determine the best way to prevent hospitalizations and improve their lives" (Weston 2013). Treatments can span from pediatric and prenatal care for mothers and newborns to wound care for persons of all ages to end-of-life care. Whenever possible, "teaching is the focus…You want to make the patients independent. This is what prevents hospitalization or a call to 911" (Weston 2013). The focus of the organization is promoting independence, even while interdependence is fostered by the nurse-client bond.

The educational component of care, a vital cornerstone of the organizational culture of the VNSNY, is also supported by its Center for Home Care Policy & Research which conducts research upon home care for both the organization's sake and for outside policy-makers (What is home care research, 2013, VNSNY). It provides health-related advice on its website that all readers can benefit from, not simply those who use its services. As well as reaching out to the wider population of patients, it honors those within its fold who serve the organization with nights such as its "Celebrating Our Talent" ceremony designed to honor organizational members who have shown excellence in their duties (Boyd 2012).