PLATTSBURGH — The University of Vermont Health Network — Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) recognized 27 nurses who completed the New Nurse Residency Program at the hospital.
The registered nurses are continuing their work in a variety of care settings at CVPH, including Medical/Surgical, Progressive Care, Psychiatry, the Emergency Department, the Alice T. Miner Women and Children’s Center, CVPH Skilled Nursing Facility and Oncology.
“The first year of nursing can be incredibly challenging and emotional,” Rian Jock, MHA, BSN, RN, program manager for the residency, said.
“Having this program helps our new nurses, who are fresh out of school, get their bearings, ask questions and have the confidence and competency to provide high quality care to our patients.”
The residency provides new nurses — those just starting their career — with additional education and mentors. They spend the first few weeks of the program on the hospital’s Designated Orientation Unit (DOU), housed within the Progressive Care team. Described as innovative by nursing leaders at CVPH, the DOU helps graduate nurses get up to speed on hospital protocols while partnering up with an experienced colleague. Also known as preceptors, these veteran RNs provide invaluable support and guidance as the new nurses transition from the classroom to providing care at the bedside.
Throughout the year-long residency, graduate nurses take on dozens of hours of curriculum, providing them time to enhance their clinical skills, participate in educational team-building exercises and learn about professional development opportunities within the organization.
About 400 nurses have graduated from the program since it was first offered in 2013. The New Nurse Residency Program is accredited as a Practice Transition Program (PTAP) by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), considered the gold standard for nurse residency programs around the world.
The hospital is continuing to recruit new nurses and is welcoming the next class of 29 graduate nurses to join the team throughout the summer. For more information on the program, visit: https://www.cvph.org/Residency-and-Education/Residency/Nurse-Residency. Visit the University of Vermont Health Network careers page to learn more about nursing and many other positions open at CVPH and across the health system.