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The Versant RN Residency at
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital

Information for the New Graduate

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital would like to congratulate you on your recent graduation. You’re probably wondering which new graduate RN program is right for you. With so many programs to choose from, it is important to select an exceptional program that is designed with the needs of new graduates in mind.

There are many variables to consider - some programs are longer than others, some pay more than others, many do not offer sufficient guided clinical time or a formal mentor program. Ultimately, many programs do not meet the needs of new graduate nurses. Is it any wonder that first-year nurse turnover rates between 35% and 60% nation-wide are so alarming?

With this in mind, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital teamed with Versant to develop the most innovative and comprehensive RN Residency program available. Unlike most other new graduate programs, the Versant RN Residency program is designed to be a supportive and appropriately paced learning experience.

As an RN Resident, you are hired into the facility as a full-time employee. Upon successful completion of this paid residency, you’ll be prepared to work as a full-time, independent professional RN on your home unit at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. The Versant RN Residency includes:

One-to-One Preceptors: Your preceptors are experienced, unit-based RNs who work one-to-one with you to provide challenging patient care experiences. Additionally, preceptors teach technical skills, share clinical knowledge, and help residents develop clinical decision making skills. RN residents experience over 650 hours of one-to-one preceptor time.

Classroom and Skills Lab Education: RN Residents benefit from over 180 hours of classroom and skills lab education, developed and taught by highly qualified nurses and other healthcare specialists. This valuable education and training provide the knowledge and experience necessary for you to make the successful transition from new graduate nurse to a professional RN.

Caring and Committed Mentors: Your mentor is an experienced RN professional who will support you and help you navigate the complexities of nursing. Your mentor is not your preceptor or your manager, but a nonevaluative, supportive RN on staff at your hospital. Residents find that having a mentor enhances their critical thinking and communication skills, helps them build confidence and self-esteem, and encourages self-evaluation, independent thinking, emotional maturity, and conflict resolution.

Self-care/Support Groups: As a RN resident, you’ll participate in debriefing/self-care and support groups, which are led by expert facilitators. These groups offer you a safe, confidential environment in which to share your experiences and help you develop the practical tools needed to deal with the stresses of being a new nursing professional.

Individualized Rotation and Orientation: During your residency, you will “loop” to and become familiar with other units and areas related to the “home” unit for which you were hired. During this “looping” experience, you will have an assigned preceptor who will cover specific learning objectives relevant to that area with you.

In summary, the unique Versant RN Residency includes:

• Clinical experiences with one-to-one expert preceptors (75% of program)
• Classroom and skills lab education (25% of program)
• Dedicated individual mentors
• Support/self-care group meetings
• Individualized rotation or “looping” to related units

For more information about the Versant RN Residency program, contact St. Elizabeth’s Hospital
at 800-995-2120, ext. 1121 or click here to apply online.

RN Residency Refresher

The RN Residency is also available for experienced nurses who have been away from hostile nursing for more than 5 years. Hospital nursing involves a blend of technology, nursing, and human caring. The RN Residency allows the returning nurse the opportunity to regain his/her skills in a supportive and appropriately paced learning environment. Upon completion of this paid residency the returning nurse will be prepared to work as a full time independent professional RN on his/her hoe unit. Click here to apply online.

RN Residency Graduation - November 2007