More than 20 registered nurses (RN) at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital earned certificates Thursday for completing a year-long residency program.  Phoebe instituted the program last year for all RNs hired at the hospital with less than 12 months experience as an RN.  It shows Phoebe’s commitment to giving new nurses all the tools they need to succeed.

“The Phoebe Nurse Residency Program (NRP) is designed to assist first-year nurses with the transition to a professional nursing role.  This extensive program features a series of learning and hands-on work experience that develops clinical leadership skills necessary to become a successful member of the healthcare team,” said Evelyn Olenick, DNP, Phoebe Chief Nursing Officer.

During monthly scheduled seminars, students focused on topics such as patient care coordination, inter-professional communication, pain management, infection prevention and control, management of the changing patient condition, cultural competence in the nursing care environment and more.

The program helps nurses use effective decision-making skills, provide clinical nursing leadership at the point of care, incorporate research-based evidence into practice and strengthen their professional commitment to nursing.

As part of the program teams of nurses chose topics outside of what they learned in classes and conducted evidence-based research projects which they presented during the graduation ceremony.  “I was genuinely impressed with their presentations on various topics including fall prevention, early sepsis recognition, incivility in the workplace, neonatal abstinence syndrome, work relationships between nurses and certified nursing assistants and hand hygiene.  The amount of work was evident, and the pride they had during their group presentations was palpable,” Dr. Olenick said.

NRP graduates say the program has been invaluable for them.  "I work in ICU.  When I'm there, there is not a single day that goes by, not a single shift that goes by that I can't come back and reference something that we learned in this program and then incorporate it in a way that I operate with my patients,” said NRP graduate Jennifer Carter, RN.

The second cohort of the Phoebe NRP will graduate in September.