Congratulations to CGH Medical Center (Sterling, IL) for graduating their recent cohort of RN residents. The residents shared their capstone projects with CGH staff, managers, and administrators on Monday, November 20, 2023. The graduates included Nicole Pitts (Surgical), Karen Nestor (Oncology), Maddie Gasso (OB Nursery & Delivery), Emily Adee (Acute Care Services), Delaney Richardson (Peri-Operative Services), Ashleigh Chapman (Gastroenterology), Marjorie Wiley (Floats - Clinic), Samantha Bennett (ED), Emma Krull (ED), Aubrie Kindle (CCU), and Alex Escalante (CCU).

CGH Medical Center, an acute care facility in northwest Illinois, partners with the IONRP to provide a 12-month program that promotes success in new graduate nurses by exploring continuing education and professional development using online learning and an in-person, hands-on approach. Topics include communication, evidence-based practice, delegation, confidence, burn-out support, and problem-solving. The new nurses were treated to skills demonstrations by experienced staff and involved in role-playing activities to support their learning. 

The program incorporates a capstone project to encourage the new graduates to understand their potential to become change agents within the organization. Projects are led by the graduate nurse and supported by the unit educator. The goal of the project is to help solve a problem in the nurse’s area of expertise as well as introduce them to other departments that connect within the organization. Supporting departments for this year’s projects included IT, Health Informatics, Risk Management, Laboratory, Purchasing, Central Supply, Quality, and Nursing Professional Development. The projects presented in November included Streamlining Nurse Charting in Oncology to Improve Patient Safety by Karen Nestor, Oral Glucose Gel Treatment for Hypoglycemic Neonates by Maddie Gasso, IV Heparin Exploration by Emily Adee, CHG Wipes for All Central Lines on Acute Care Services by Nicole Pitts (previously presented at ACS Unit Meetings), and Specimen Chain of Custody and Pathology Requisitions by Delaney Richardson.

Congratulations to CGH Medical Center on completing your recent cohort of residents. We look forward to your continued partnership and support of future new graduate nurse hires.

Interested employers should 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