We know that our nurses at Froedtert Hospital are unmatched in their expertise, education, professionalism and above all, compassion. We wouldn’t be a leading academic medical institution without top-of-the-line nursing care, and we’re proud to say we have it, and more.
The model has been adapted from Relationship-Based Care: A Model for Transforming Practice (Koloroutis, 2004)
Nursing Mission
To Care and Comfort
To Collaborate
To Advocate
To Educate
To Innovate
Nursing Vision
Froedtert Hospital nurses will be trusted leaders demonstrating passion, innovation and excellence in professional nursing practice.
Nursing Professional Practice Model of Relationship-Based Care
The Nursing Professional Practice Model of Relationship-Based Care depicts nursing practice at Froedtert Hospital. A central focus of the model is care of the patient, family and the community. Six elements serve as the model’s foundation, with the mission, vision, values, philosophy and strategic initiatives influencing nursing practice.
Nursing Philosophy
Nurses at Froedtert Hospital support professional nursing practice, which emphasizes:
Relationship-based care that is individualized, compassionate and culturally sensitive, in which nurses advocate for care that is delivered with utmost respect and dignity
Courageous, agile and responsive leadership that builds resilience and facilitates successful navigation of change
Interprofessional collaboration for optimal patient outcomes, including empowering patients and families as active participants in their care
The delivery of high-quality patient care and making a difference in the lives of patients through commitment to nursing research, evidence-based practice and quality improvement
Education of our patients, families, the community, future health care professionals and ourselves
A foundation of shared governance that supports autonomous, participative decision-making
An environment that nurtures and supports top-of-license practice, innovation, clinical expertise and ongoing professional development, enhancing the recruitment and retention of outstanding nursing staff who exemplify nursing excellence
Message from the Chief Nursing Officer
Paula Schmidt, MSN, MBA, RN NEA-BC, Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Froedtert Hospital
Froedtert Hospital nurses provide exceptional patient care in a professional nursing practice environment. National recognition of this nursing excellence was demonstrated with the achievement of a fourth Magnet® designation in 2021. Froedtert Hospital nurses take pride in continuing to take a leadership role in high-quality, evidence-based care delivery.
Froedtert Hospital first received its Magnet® recognition in 2006, with redesignation in 2011 and 2016. In 2021, Froedtert Hospital achieved its fourth Magnet recognition for excellence in nursing services by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®. This recognition is a seal of approval for hospitals that earn it and signifies quality patient care and nursing excellence.
Learn more about Magnet recognition and our commitment to nursing excellence in our nursing special report, "Nurses — Growing Excellence."
Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital
Froedtert West Bend Hospital
Nursing Mission
To Care and Comfort
To Collaborate
To Advocate
To Educate
To Innovate
Nursing Vision
Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital nurses will be trusted leaders demonstrating passion, innovation and excellence in professional nursing practice.
Philosophy of Nursing
Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital nurses support the Mission, Vision and Values of Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network. Honoring and respecting the diverse individuals in our care by providing a personalized, healing environment, rooted in evidence based care. We treat the whole patient while empowering them to take an active role. This is supported by utilizing shared governance, continuous professional development and the support of our leadership team. As nurses we:
Believe that we treat others with respect, knowing that their feelings, thoughts, and experiences are as important as our own (Value People).
Believe that we collaborate across the enterprise to put forward our best (Work Together).
Believe that we take action to solve problems and move forward quickly (Act Now).
Believe that we take full accountability for our decisions, actions, and results (Own It).
Believe that we change the future of care with creativity and innovation (Break Through).
Believe that we set the standard that others aspire to by always asking “What more can we do?” (Deliver Excellence).
A Message From the Chief Nursing Officer
At Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital, 2020 and 2021 were years of change, challenge and opportunity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, our nurses were able to persevere and provide excellence in care as well as collaborate and support one another during challenging times. Noteworthy achievements included significant advancements in our shared governance structure, clinical innovation, evidence-based practice and nursing research. Our nurses played a vital role in transforming our organization and creating a safe, caring environment for our patients. Our Magnet journey was formally initiated, which strengthened our culture of excellence and has enhanced nursing professional practice by fostering nursing autonomy and empowerment.
In 2021, the Professional Model Steering Committee redesigned the Professional Practice Model. Our new Professional Practice Model provides the structure for change, growth and empowerment for the nursing profession. The foundation of our model is based on the Froedtert & MCW health network core values: Work Together, Act Now, Deliver Excellence, Break Trough, Own It and Value People. The elements of the model depict our nursing practice at every level of nursing and include shared governance, quality and safety, community, professional development, leadership, healing environment and evidence-based practice. The center core of the model represents our commitment to the patient through the delivery of person-centered care.
Throughout 2020 and 2021, nurses at Froedtert Menomonee Falls and Froedtert West Bend Hospitals provided exceptional patient care and actively supported the Froedtert Health goals of quality and safety, education and research, and professional growth and recognition. My gratitude goes to all nurses for your constant hard work, support, patience and compassion. Your dedication calls for much respect and appreciation as the heroes of our community.
Shelly Waala, RN, MSHA
Vice President, Patient Care Services
Chief Nursing Officer, Community Hospital Division
Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital both received their first Magnet® recognitions in 2023 for excellence in nursing services by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®. This recognition is a seal of approval for hospitals that earn it and signifies quality patient care and nursing excellence.
Nursing Awards and Recognitions
To recognize excellence in nursing, Froedtert Hospital, Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital are DAISY Award Partners, recognizing a selection of nurses with this special honor every quarter. Learn more about the DAISY Award.
Advanced Practice Nurses
Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are important members of the Froedtert & MCW health care team. They provide some of the same care provided by physicians and maintain close working relationships with physicians.
Nursing Qualifications and Skills
What makes our nurses the best of the best is a kind of “perfect storm” of qualifications:
Our nurses are well-trained. Many have advanced degrees or advanced certifications in their specialties and many are active in their professional associations. They are critical thinkers who value lifelong learning, specialty certification and professional development.
Our nurses practice in an academic medical center that fosters collaboration, innovation and clinical excellence. They have access to the newest technology and research, putting them on the cutting edge of health care.
Our nurses strive for continuous improvement in patient outcomes. That means they continually seek better ways to provide care. They question the routine and, through research, develop better ways to provide high-quality patient care.
Our nurses care for patients with compassion and respect. They are mothers and sisters, husbands and brothers, and they know what it means to be a patient or have a loved one who’s ill.
Our nurses are connected to the community. In addition to their own volunteer commitments, our nurses are involved with numerous hospital-sponsored community health care and health education programs.
Froedtert & MCW nursing care sets the standard for excellence, and anybody who’s been a patient in a hospital knows how important superior nursing is to healing. Our nurses are compassionate, clinically competent and culturally sensitive professionals. They are the pivotal link in delivering consistently excellent patient care. And that’s what makes the Froedtert & MCW health network exceptional.
Froedtert Hospital, Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital and Froedtert West Bend Hospital offer outstanding opportunities to provide valuable learning experience for instructors and students from the Schools of Nursing in the greater Milwaukee area and across southeastern Wisconsin.
Froedtert Hospital first received its Magnet® recognition in 2006, with redesignation in 2011 and 2016. In 2021, Froedtert Hospital achieved its fourth Magnet recognition for excellence in nursing services by the ANCC Magnet Recognition Program®. This recognition is a seal of approval for hospitals that earn it and signifies quality patient care and nursing excellence.
