Are you a new nurse entering the workforce? Don’t be nervous! Our Nurse Residency Program will help support you as you transition from new graduate to a competent, professional nurse!
The purpose of the Nurse Residency Program is to provide the essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes the novice nurse needs to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team, use informatics & evidence-based practice, and provide safe, quality, patient & family centered care during the transition to competent nurse. Our goal is to:
- Provide support during the transition period from novice clinical nurse to competent, professional nurse who provides safe, quality patient-centered care.
- Introduce and encourage the application of evidence-based practice in the clinical setting.
- Develop necessary communication skills to be able to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team.
- Develop clinical decision-making and critical thinking skills.
- Nurture the professional development of nurse residents.
Program Overview – What To Expect
The Nurse Residency journey begins with orientation week, including a full-day Nurse Residency Program orientation, where we discuss program expectations and how to hit the floor running. The program continues with learning on the units with a preceptor and six months of educational sessions that build on what you learned in nursing school and include specific topics you will see here at GFH. The second six months include a group mentorship where you’re reconnected with your residency peers to identify career advancement opportunities and how to grow in the nursing profession.
The first six months of educational sessions are known as the Bridge to Practice Series and include teaching strategies that allow learning and fun! Some topics include tracheostomies, chest tubes, code blue/rapid response, vascular access devices, Diabetes management, time management/prioritization, heparin drips, and so much more! Our teaching strategies include low-fidelity simulations, gaming, escape rooms, group activities, anything to keep the learning hands-on and interactive.
“I really enjoyed this BTP session. I’m usually confused on what each of the different lab tests do for my patients, so refreshing my memory on these tests since nursing school was very beneficial. I also liked how you broke us up into groups and asked us how each lab value relates to certain disease processes. The sepsis game was a lot of fun. It helped me understand the treatment protocol for patients with sepsis. The repetition of treatment helped me learn more effectively.”
“I thought that this presentation was great because I’m always looking to better my critical thinking skills since I am such a new nurse. It was beneficial to go through certain aspects of this topic so that I’m better equipped to handle situations that require critical thinking in the future.”
“I love doing hands on labs. That was the first time I reviewed trach care and chest tubes with an actual expert. You went over exactly what we need to know as nurses, which is what I needed help with.”
Support and Guidance
At Glens Falls Hospital, you have an assigned Clinical Nurse Educator to track your progress and serve as your personal resource and mentor throughout your first year as a nurse.
“My educator has honestly been the BEST! Throughout my residency she has popped in to see me on days that I haven’t had meetings, answers emails and text messages quickly and timely. She goes out of her way to encourage and support me when I need it most. She finds ways to help you learn from your mistakes or grow from something you could have done differently. She is very open, and easy to talk to. She is available when she is needed and is a great advocate for residents. She is open minded and lets you vent when needed and gives valuable advice and feedback. I have enjoyed having her as my educator and would recommend her to EVERYONE as a resource!”
“My educator has been an amazing support. She has helped me address issues with a preceptor in order for me to be successful. She has expressed on many occasions that she is available if I need anything. I think she has played a key role in my success. I am very grateful for all of her support.”
“My educator was always available for me to talk to. In the beginning when transitioning was hard, she provided me with her phone number and told me if I ever needed to vent, she will listen. She has consistently shown her support by coming by to see me on whatever floor I was working on to make sure I was comfortable. She helped me partner with the preceptor I wanted on 4W, which made for an awesome experience. Additionally, when I brought to her attention my concerns with my schedule and home life, she made it her mission to make sure I was happy. She has been in my corner every step of the way and I truly appreciate all she’s done! Lastly, when there was a small bump in the road and I had to stay an extra couple weeks on T6 she approached me to make sure I felt comfortable and that I was getting everything I needed out of the nursing residency experience. She has exceeded all my expectations as my CNE!”
Nurse Residency Program Tracks
The Nurse Residency Program Overview is the foundation for each track. The main differences in the specialty tracks include the length of orientation with a preceptor, the type of shadowing experiences offered, and the additional education and certification requirements. We currently offer specialty tracks in:
- Medical-Surgical, Telemetry/Neuroscience
- ED 101
- ICU 101
- PACU 101
- Periop 101
- OB 101
