RN Residency Program
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RN Residency Program?
The WMMC RN Residency Program is an innovative, comprehensive program that transitions newly graduated registered nurses from the student role to safe, competent professional practice. Program components include an extensive guided clinical experience, customized classroom curriculum, formal mentoring and debriefing / self-care sessions, and hands-on lab time for skill development.
WMMC Versant uses the following conceptual threads throughout the program to link together the whole experience for the residents:
- Critical thinking
- Family-centered care
- Leadership
- Self-care
- Socialization
- Research
- Technical skills
The program uses a state-of-the-art web-based management system, or portal, to efficiently execute every program component and associated process. The web portal provides for fast and effective data collection in tracking performance, running performance reports, evaluating and analyzing the program, scheduling, and creating calendars.
Why was the RN Residency developed?
In 1999, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) created the RN Residency in response to a severe national shortage of experienced nurses. Realizing that newly graduated RNs would quickly become their main source of nurses, CHLA created a customized, disciplined program to transition these new professionals from students to skilled and confident practitioners. In addition, the RN Residency provided a substantial financial benefit to the hospital through dramatic reduction in new graduate turnover. After five years and $10 million in refining, researching, and evaluating the program, the RN Residency is now the most comprehensive and effective new graduate RN residency program in the country. In May 2004, CHLA formed Versant, a non-profit, public benefit corporation charged with assisting hospitals to implement the RN Residency.
How is the residency program different from other new graduate programs, internships, or residencies?
The RN Residency is unique for two main reasons. First, the entire program is evidence-based and proven to be effective in developing quality nurses and reducing new graduate turnover. For five years, CHLA’s research department has performed rigorous program evaluation using data from 4 hospitals, 700 residents, and over 1000 preceptors, mentors, managers, and educators.
Second, Versant delivers the RN Residency using a state-of-the-art web-based management system. This customized web-based system is extraordinarily efficient, allowing you to immediately access and refine program content, rapidly schedule activities, quickly evaluate the progress of skills training, and for instructors to lead the core curriculum content.
What are the main elements of the program?
The program includes:
- 75 percent of time spent in guided clinical experiences
- 25 percent of time spent in classroom and skills lab education
- One-on-one preceptors for all clinical experiences
- Assigned mentors
- Supportive debriefing/self-care groups
- Focused, individualized orientation to all appropriate hospital departments
- A web-based system to reduce administrative time and increase consistency in organization, data collection, evaluation, and communication
- Real-time data compilation as well as analysis and reporting by Versant’s research staff
How can I become a WMMC Nurse Resident?
Register for our RN Residency Program between September and January for our February cohort and apply March through June for our July cohort.
Applicants must furnish the following items:
- Two letters of reference from nursing school instructor or former health care manager
- Essay describing your professional goals for the next five years
- Unofficial transcript from school of nursing
- A professional resume
All new graduates must have an Interim Permit in order to start the program. Candidates should work directly with their schools prior to graduation in order to apply for the Interim Permit.
New graduates must take and successfully pass their nursing boards within 30 days of hire. AHA CPR is also required.
All interested applicants should apply online and call to set up a prescreening interview.
Julio Martinez, Recruiter
(323) 260-5790
martinj1@ah.orgJamie Bituin, Recruitment Specialist
(323) 268-5000, ext. 1922
(323) 881-8806
bituinjm@ah.org
Text used with permission. © 2005 Versant Advantage, Inc. All Rights Reserved
