Initiative Overview

Through the Betty Irene Moore Nursing Initiative, the Foundation has awarded more than 100 grants totaling more than $100 million to improve the quality of nursing and nursing-related patient care in adult hospitals in the San Francisco and Greater Sacramento areas.  

From the start, the Nursing Initiative was designed as a ten-year initiative. That extraordinary 10 years will soon be drawing to a close in 2015. The achievements of the Betty Irene Moore Nursing Initiative and the accomplishments of the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing at the University of California, Davis, have led the way for an expanded focus and enduring commitment within healthcare. As we look to build on these achievements, the Nursing Initiative and School of Nursing will become vital parts of the Patient Care Program.  

Background Summary 

The Betty Irene Moore Nursing Initiative, the Foundation’s first major investment in healthcare, was born from Betty’s vision and leadership. 

Having served as a caregiver for multiple generations of her own family, she has always understood the important influence nurses have on their patients and the role they play in providing safe, high quality care. After suffering adverse consequences from a medical error, Betty made improving healthcare for adults in her community a priority, for which she placed a strong emphasis on nursing. As a result, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation established the Betty Irene Moore Nursing Initiative in 2003.  

Notable Achievements to Date 

Over the past eight years, Nursing Initiative grantees have demonstrated the central role that nurses, particularly those providing direct patient care, play in ensuring safe, evidence-based care for hospitalized patients. Notable achievements by our grantees include: 

• A stronger local nursing workforce. Nursing Initiative grantees have trained more than 2,000 additional nurses and 200 new nurse educators. In addition, through Foundation support, more than 2,000 local frontline nurses, nurse leaders, and other clinicians have participated in leadership development programs and projects to enhance their individual and collective effectiveness. 
• Significant reductions in hospital-associated infections, sepsis mortality, and hospital readmissions. For example, 70% of Nursing Initiative grantee hospitals have reduced ventilator-associated pneumonia and central line-associated bloodstream infections to essentially zero. An equally significant number have reduced rates of sepsis mortality, pressure ulcers, and patient falls–all complications for which nurses play a critical role in identifying and addressing. Additionally, more than 50% of local hospitals are implementing evidence-based models to improve the transition from hospital to home, which is reducing preventable readmissions. 

• More hospitals that achieved designation in the Magnet Recognition Program^®. There are now three Magnet-designated hospitals in the Bay Area, and others are in the Magnet Recognition Program^® application process. 

Next Steps 

The Nursing Initiative will conclude in 2015. In the coming year we anticipate announcing several investigative grants and research projects in support of the new Program’s goals.