St. Joseph Institute for Nursing Excellence

At PeaceHealth, our caregivers have the tools to heal, the strength to love and the spirit that makes a difference. In keeping with this commitment, the St. Joseph Institute for Nursing Excellence empowers our nurses at every stage of their careers.

With support from the institute, our nurses become leaders and innovators, influencing the art and science of nursing in our region and beyond.

Explore careers

A PeaceHealth St. Joseph Nurse speaks with a colleague

Nurturing nurses’ purpose and potential

Founded in 2024 thanks to generous donors in our community and the PeaceHealth St. Joseph Foundation, the institute helps nurses thrive personally and professionally. We offer tools and resources our nurses can count on — so our patients can always count on our nurses.

“The institute belongs to all our St. Joseph nurses. Wherever you are on your nursing journey, the institute is here to support you.”

— Melissa Laitsch, MFA, MSN, RN, CCRN
Director, St. Joseph Institute for Nursing Excellence

“Our nurses are absolutely the heart of our community and the care that we provide here, so we invest in our nurses. We empower our nurses."

— Roseanna Bell, MSN, RN
Chief Nursing Officer, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center

“I’m interested in what I can do to make other people’s lives better.”

— Keith Schnip
Major donor, St. Joseph Institute for Nursing Excellence

Excellence in action

Front cover of St. Joseph Nursing Excellence Annual Report 2026 with a nurse in the background speaking with a patient in the foreground

PeaceHealth St. Joseph nurses continue to live our Mission: promoting personal and community health, relieving pain and suffering, and treating each person in a loving and caring way.

This year’s highlights include:

Nurses reached out to the institute for support, education and inspiration nearly 1,000 times
A new Simulation Center offering immersive and realistic clinical training.
Promotions for 30% of eligible nurses through our Professional Nurse Advancement Program (PNAP).

See more ways nurses brought out Mission to life in the FY26 Nursing Excellence Annual Report.

PeaceHealth St. Joseph Parking Garage and Medical Center from drone photo

Support for excellence

Community support for nursing excellence at PeaceHealth St. Joseph helps make our hospital a top choice for nurses to work. One such supporter is Keith Schnip, who went from patient to donor after getting excellent heart care at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.

Schnip credits nurses in the cardiology unit with saving his life and inspiring him to make an extraordinary $2 million estate gift in support of the institute. His appreciation for nurses is also rooted in his mother’s nursing career, which set the stage for his gift.

See how other donors support PeaceHealth.

Excellence by design

The institute includes three centers, each with a different focus. This design allows us to meet nurses where they are today — and to help them grow to meet their future goals.

Center for Research and Innovation: Gives nurses space to develop and test new ideas for improving patient care. This work has influenced nursing best practices in our area and nationally.
Center for Professional Growth and Development: Offers educational opportunities that help St. Joseph nurses deliver the latest evidence-based care.
Center for Clinical Expertise: Focuses on recruitment and workforce development. New graduates, returning professionals and nurses transitioning to a new specialty within St. Joseph will find resources tailored to their needs.

Learn more