WDH 2020-2021 Nursing Report - Flipbook - Page 30
Structural Empowerment
Nurse Residency Program
Julie Cole, MSN, RN-BC
Clinical Educator
At Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, our Nurse Residency
Program supports newly licensed registered nurses in
their transition from advanced beginner to competent
professional. Because it is known that the first year of
practice significantly influences the decision to remain in
practice, we provide a safe, effective, nurturing learning
environment for our newest colleagues.
Coordinated by the Nursing Education, Research, and
Innovation team of researchers, educators, clinical nurse
specialists, and clinical trainers, the program’s goals are
to enhance new nurse’s competency and confidence, offer
them a safe space to share challenges and successes,
and help them survive and thrive in their first year of
professional practice. Three Nurse Cohorts are hosted
each year to meet the needs of the organization and
nurse residents. The Cohort start dates are in February,
July and October of each year.
During the immersive Week 1, nurses attend classroombased workshops and participate in hands-on
learning in our Simulation Center. Topics range from
physical assessment, safe medication administration,
communicating during a crisis and learning on the fly. In
addition, get-to-know-you sessions help develop a team
and create a sense of belonging.
During Weeks 2-12, in addition to working one-on-one
with a clinical expert preceptor, the nurses attend
biweekly seminars on a wide range of subjects such as
recognizing and responding to patient deterioration
and work-life balance for new grads. Each session
includes time for debriefing and team building, activities
well-documented in the nursing literature for their
contribution to the success of a new nurse. Each nurse
meets weekly with the preceptor and unit-based clinical
nurse educator. Together, they evaluate progress towards
clinical competencies and identify goals for the week
ahead.
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Wentworth-Douglass Hospital
2020 Nursing Residents
2021 Nursing Residents
In 2020 Covid-19 forced NERI to change delivery
methods of key content. Some topics such as ABG
Analysis and Interpretation, 60 Second Assessment,
Strengthening Critical Thinking Skills are delivered via
Zoom. Other topics such as IV skills, First Five Minutes
of a Code, Recognizing and Responding to Arrythmia are
conducted in small group settings. Each class builds upon
prior learning and helps develop more advanced skills
and competencies.
Graduates of our Nurse Residency Program
overwhelmingly endorse the program. They appreciate
“seeing the progress we have made” and the opportunity
of “working with the same group of people for a year,
working together, growing together, hearing each other’s
good and bad stories, and having people to lean on.”
The WDH Nurse Residency Program improves patient
care by ensuring that our newest nurses receive the
knowledge, skills and ongoing support to become
excellent clinicians. Our program continues to grow and
respond to the changing healthcare environment of our
local community. As we approach the end of 2021, we are
already looking forward to the 2022 cohorts!