Congratulations to Franciscan Health (Dyer and Munster, IN) for graduating their second cohort of RN residents. The July 2022 cohort of six new graduates completed the year-long program and presented their project posters during Nurse Residency Poster Presentation Day on June 15, 2023.

Franciscan Alliance, Inc., an extensive healthcare system serving Indiana, partners with IONRP to provide support, continuing education, and professional development throughout the first year of nursing. The 12-month program provides learning opportunities through online modules, interactive experiences with guest speakers, group discussions, skill-building, and mentorship.

The program culminates with a professional experience centered around opportunities for improvement. The residents all chose a change project that would benefit a new graduate nurse, provide education for the nurse, or something that can make a positive change for the patient or floor.

Projects from the June 2022 Cohort include:

· Celina Torres, RN (ER) - Pediatric Sumer Time Traumas in ER - Tips for accident prevention.

· Angelica Horton, RN (Med Surg) - Potassium Goal Plan - Increasing patient comfort while receiving a potassium infusion.

· Ashley Pavell, RN (Med Surg) - Turning Color Clock Initiative - A colored clock that tracks when the patient was turned and where (left side, right side, and back).

· Madeline Gnezda, RN (ER) - Developed a checklist to help nurses remember what lab tubes to grab or use when ordering sets for a specific diagnosis.

· Nichols Harvey, RN - Blood Transfusion Administration - Developed a 23-step checklist for blood transfusion.

Site-Coordinator, Sarah Bennett, RN, BSN, Medical Surgical Nurse Educator, Franciscan Health, praised the residents for their year-long commitment: “Everyone did a fantastic job and should be very proud of themselves and their hard work.” said Bennett.

Congratulations to Franciscan Health – Dyer and Munster on completing your second cohort of residents. We look forward to your continued partnership and support of future new graduate nurse hires. Interested employers should contact contact nicole-weathers@uiowa.edu for more information or schedule a time to visit 1:1, to learn more.

IONRP Manager Nicole Weathers, MSN, RN, NPD-BC