Angie Buss, BSN, RN, worked on the Blessing Hospital Progressive Care Unit for four months before her experience with the Blessing Hospital Nurse Residency Program began.
It was a challenging four months.
"With the daily responsibilities of a bedside nurse, it is challenging for a new nurse to find the time to identify the resources needed to build their practice,” she said.
That’s one of the reasons Blessing Hospital chose to participate in the nationwide Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program. The year-long program effectively supports new nurse graduates as they transition into their first professional roles.
“The program does not supplant hospital or nursing orientation programs already in place; rather, it is intended to provide support to those programs and to nurse residents in their first year of nursing,” said Amy Wingerter, BSN, RN, Educational Services instructor and facilitator of the Blessing Nurse Residency Program. “The curriculum focuses on professional practice, and does not repeat what was learned during academic studies.”
Wingerter says the results of a national survey taken by nurse residents demonstrates the effectiveness of the program. The Casey-Fink Survey is intended to measure attainment of program goals. Consistently, Blessing nurse residents show above benchmark levels at the end of the Nurse Residency Program.
Another motivation for Blessing to offer the Nurse Residency Program is to reduce fist-year turnover among nurses. Data shows that this goal is being reached, too. Nine groups of nurses, known as “cohorts”, have gone through the program. The average retention of those nurses at graduation from the program is nearly 83%.
Angie continues to enjoy benefits today of her Nurse Residency experience.
“I still text Nurse Residency leaders to get their input in certain clinical situations,” Angie stated. “Those Nurse Residency leaders have become mentors for me and additional resources to enhance my practice.”
Goals of Nurse Residency Program
- Assist new graduate nurses in making the transition from advanced beginner nurse to competent professional nurse
- Develop effective decision-making skills related to clinical judgment and performance
- Provide clinical nursing leadership at the point of care
- Strengthen the commitment to nursing
- Form a professional development plan
- Incorporate research-based evidence linked to practice outcomes into the care he or she provides