St. Francis-Emory Healthcare held its Cohort 22 Nurse Residency Graduation on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. A total of twenty-nine nurse residents graduated from the 14-week program. The outstanding resident award was presented to Allison Gooden. The speaker was former nurse resident Vanessa Wilcoxen, RN, who works in the St. Francis Emergency Department.  

"I am so proud of Cohort 22 Nurse Residency class. They had to endure most of the program during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Their graduation was even different, with no guests present, wearing masks, socially distanced, and no hugging. This class is special, and they will all make wonderful nurses," says Tricia Hamid, BSN, RN, Nurse Residency Manager. 

The St. Francis Nurse Residency Program utilizes Patricia Benner's "Novice to Expert" model to assist new graduate nurses in moving from the classroom to an acute care setting. Residents are trained to provide patient-focused care, centered on Clinical Excellence. 

To become a St. Francis Nurse Resident, a student must:

• Have graduated from an accredited school of nursing with an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN).

• Be a Registered Nurse in the State of Georgia prior to employment.

• Have less than six (6) months of hospital based experience as a Registered Nurse.

• Be certified through the American Heart Association to provide Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). 

Participation in the St. Francis Nurse Residency Program requires a fourteen (14) week commitment to the program as a full-time associate. During the program, Residents will work 32 hours alongside a preceptor and attend one professional development class per week. The clinical and classroom experience Residents receive provides the confidence and education needed to deliver high quality and patient centered care, preparing them for a challenging and rewarding career as a St. Francis Nurse! 

Active attendance and participation in professional development classes are required. Competency assignments, progress reports, and evaluation tools are utilized to demonstrate the learning outcomes that have been achieved. To be a St. Francis Nurse Resident requires compassion and an unyielding passion to provide the best care for the members of our community. 

Applications are currently being accepted for the Fall 2020 Nurse Residency Class and may be completed by clicking here. The deadline to apply is June 1, 2020.