Nurse Residency Program

• Supports transition to practice for all new graduate nurses in their first year of practice
• Emphasizes healthy work environment, clinical skill development, patient safety and professional development
• Develops clinical reasoning and competence in nursing practice through active learning and simulation
• Allows nurses to build stress resiliency skills and connect with a mentor to reach optimal professional growth
• Provides opportunity to build relationships with new nurse colleagues, leadership colleagues and interdisciplinary team colleagues

• Six (6) professional skills seminars including hands-on activities and simulation to integrate seminar topics into bedside practice
• Specialty-specific clinical skills classes lead by subject matter experts
• Small group support facilitated by experienced bedside nurses
• Connection to ongoing mentor support
• Assistance with professional development

Multiple weeks of direct clinical orientation with a dedicated preceptor (length depends on specialty). During this time new graduate nurses can expect the following with an experienced nurse preceptor:

• Working side-by-side for each shift
• Performing tasks together
• Open communication/shared dialogue
• Tackling problems/changes in real time

Simulation activities in the Memorial Learning Center focused on specialty-specific simulations and hands on clinical skill practice. Specialty tracts include emergency, critical care, medical/surgical, maternity, perioperative and psychiatric nursing care.

Six seminars with information provided by content experts that focus on clinical application of topics including: scope of practice, communication, delegation, time management, resource management, ethical considerations, self-care, resiliency, stress management, teamwork, career planning and professional growth and development, healthy work environment, physician communication, patient safety, mentor support, workplace violence, de-escalation, evidence-based development and equity, diversity and inclusion.

Features of the Professional Skills Seminars:

• Small Group Reflection: A confidential small group discussion led by an experienced practicing nurse that provides support to nurse resident with coping mechanisms, self-care techniques and dealing with work-related challenges (e.g., conflict resolution, communication with physicians, stress, etc.).
• Mentorship & Support: Nurse residents will be given opportunities to have face-to-face check-ins with their nurse managers throughout the program to ensure that the transition to practice is meaningful and supportive. Nurse residents will be connected with a mentor early on in the program to ensure ongoing support beyond the structure of unit orientation.

"The Nurse Residency Program gave me a safe place to practice skills, taught me resources that are available to both myself as a new nurse and for my patients,” one recent resident said. “The program gave me a sense of community with the other new grads. It was nice to recognize my cohorts around the hospital."