Nurse Residency Program Prepares New Graduates for Success

Covenant Health is pleased to announce the implementation of a nurse residency program that will support newly graduated nurses as they transition from an educational setting to a fast-paced hospital environment.

Covenant has adopted the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program™, used by more than 200 hospitals and health systems nationwide. The program emphasizes evidence-based practices and is designed to empower new nurses with increased competence, more confident decision making, stronger leadership and critical-thinking skills, and greater satisfaction. Hospitals that have implemented the program have also seen reductions in nursing turnover, and a positive impact on patient safety and quality of care.

“I am very excited about the launch of our nurse residency program – it is a pleasure to be part of an organization that values advanced learning for nurses,” said Janice McKinley, chief nursing officer for Covenant Health. “It is so important for new nursing graduates to have a group of peers and mentors who assist them in enhancing their skills and becoming comfortable with the challenges of practice. Our program is evidence based, with positive clinical outcomes that will help not only the participating nurses, but also our patients.”

Covenant Health’s nurse residency program is a 12-month structured curriculum that uses classroom learning seminars, case studies, small-group discussion, precepted clinical practice, and practice projects and presentations.

“Our program enhances competency in three core areas: leadership, patient outcomes and professional roles,” said Sara Meadows, MA, RN, coordinator of the program. “Our expert nurse facilitators will place special emphasis on competence and confidence in decision making, leadership and critical thinking skills, relationship building, and quality of care.”

For more information about the program, contact Sara Meadows at [email protected], call 865-374-8132 or visit the Covenant Health Nurse Residency Program page.

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