Norman Knight Nursing Center for Clinical and Professional Development

Before it was named the Norman Knight Nursing Center in 2007, The Center for Clinical and Professional Development (CCPD) was established in 1996 under the directorship of Marianne Ditomassi, RN. The center was created with the purpose of acting as an educational buttress to the nursing and nursing support service staff. It was one of the first institutions of its kind. Designed to centralize onboarding and in-servicing functions, the CCPD quickly became responsible for many activities of ongoing clinical training, education, and development critical to the promotion of excellence in nursing care services. Over 12 years, the CCPD grew as an educational resource that included many of the functions associated with the professional practice model. In 2007, the CCPD was renamed The Norman Knight Nursing Center for Clinical and Professional Development and dedicated to Mr. Norman Knight.

Norman Knight’s career is a story of vision, creativity, and perseverance. As a teenager, Mr. Knight ran errands for a local radio station. Through hard work, personal initiative, and exposure to great mentors within the industry, Mr. Knight became a giant in the field of broadcast communications.

Throughout his life, Mr. Knight has remained keenly aware of the profound influence one person can have on another. He has said that the greatest gift he received was his exposure to inspirational leaders who gave much more to the world than they received. Mr. Knight embodies this philosophy of giving. As his own expertise and resources grew, Mr. Knight took on the role of advisor, community leader, and philanthropist, enabling others to have better opportunities in life. He is a strong supporter of many community organizations such as the Boy Scouts, and is the founder of The Hundred Club of Massachusetts, Inc., which provides financial assistance to families of public safety officers and firefighters seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. The Hundred Club also provides resources to enhance their safety and welfare.

Mr. Knight is very interested in healthcare, and over the years, his admiration for the profession of nursing has inspired him to establish several funds at the Massachusetts General Hospital. As his relationship with the MGH Nursing Service has grown, Mr. Knight and his son, Scott, have come to realize the critical importance of education and support for nursing practice. This culminated in a historic gift to fund the Norman Knight Nursing Center for Clinical and Professional Development and a generous gift to endow the center’s programs into perpetuity.

What we do

In addition to Central On-boarding, Continuing Education, and Professional Development, The Norman Knight Nursing Center supports regulatory compliance readiness, provides educational consulting, and provides educational resources.

Educational Consulting

The Norman Knight Nursing Center for Clinical & Professional Development provides consultation to the MGH community and outside organizations about course design. Working with subject matter experts, the center offers educational support and counsel to individuals and departments.

Simulation

The Knight Simulation Program in The Institute for Patient Care at MGH offers nursing and interdisciplinary educational programs to promote patient safety and excellence in clinical care. Each simulation program addresses the overall themes of leadership, communication, teamwork, decision-making, and application of clinical knowledge and skills. A faculty guided debriefing focusing on both the clinical and behavioral aspects of performance is included in each program.

In addition to offering recurring programs, the Knight Simulation Program faculty can be consulted to develop individualized programs to meet unique learning needs for groups of participants.