L-R – Nicole Opitz, RN; Brandie Neufer, RN;Lacy Slusser, RN; Angel Vielhauer, RN; Teara Leibee, RN and Megan Perkins, RN.
Six new registered nurses successfully completed the hospital’s six-month Nurse Residency Program. Their graduation ceremony was held last week. This is the seventh cohort to graduate from this unique program designed to support the transition of new RNs to the practice environment.
Key areas of focus in this program are not only clinical competencies necessary to care for patients and families, but the confidence needed to translate their learning and knowledge into clinical practice.
This year’s group was selected from a large number of applicants. Each participant is granted the opportunity to work one-on-one with an experienced nurse preceptor. They complete additional specialized training using a systems based approach to reinforce their education with real world hands-on nursing.
Clinical Educator Tricia Colson and Director of Nursing Lacey Johnson congratulated the cohort and welcomed guests. Tricia expressed the hospital’s excitement about welcoming the new nurses, “Working with this group has been such a wonderful experience for the education staff. As educators, we work hard to provide these RN’s with the skills they will need to be successful and provide great patient care. We thank the managers, supervisors and preceptors for all their work to ensure the success of these residents. We also want to recognize and thank their families for supporting them during the past 6 months.”