LVHN is now proudly part of Jefferson Health
La Lehigh Valley Health Network se enorgullece en ser ahora parte de Jefferson Health.
Proudly Part of Jefferson Health
Lehigh Valley Health Network celebrates the latest nurse residency cohort graduation and looks to future growth
At Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), we support our shared calling by empowering nurses through continual learning and professional growth. Our Nurse Residency Program is a shining example of this commitment. We recently celebrated the graduation of our June 2024 nurse residents, marking the 10th anniversary of our program. This milestone highlights a decade of dedication, hard work and remarkable achievements.
Since its inception in 2013, our Nurse Residency Program has evolved significantly. Inspired by the 2010 IOM Report, “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health,” which recommended the implementation of nurse residency programs, a group of visionary stakeholders at LVHN brought this idea to life. Over the years, our program has grown to become an integral part of our network, with more than 2,600 graduates to date. These graduates have completed nearly 800 evidence-based projects, impacting all clinical areas across our health network and contributing to the advancement of nursing practice at LVHN.
What sets our program apart is its comprehensive, evidence-based approach. The Vizient/AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) Nurse Residency Program at LVHN focuses on more than just technical skills and procedures. It emphasizes leadership, quality outcomes, professional roles and scholarship for nursing practice. Our residents benefit from the expertise of subject matter experts across the health network, covering essential topics such as employee assistance programs, ethics, crucial conversations and evidence-based practice.
Our program guides graduate nurses during their first year at LVHN, helping them transition from advanced beginners to competent professional nurses. This journey results in decreased turnover, enhanced clinical leadership and improved incorporation of research-based evidence into practice.
The positive impact of our Nurse Residency Program on new nurses is profound. Graduates emerge as leaders, educators and innovators, taking on roles such as preceptors, charge nurses and members of governance councils. They contribute to the field through professional presentations and ongoing education, reflecting their commitment to excellence and continual improvement.
Mentorship is a cornerstone of our Nurse Residency Program. Our “Tales from the Bedside” clinical reflection groups and Evidence-Based Practice Project groups are facilitated by trained professionals, including professional development specialists, patient care specialists, clinical leaders and quality specialists. These mentors provide invaluable support throughout the program.
Additionally, our “LVHN Nurse Residency e-Mentoring Program” is introduced during seminar one, offering new nurse residents the opportunity to become mentees. As they progress through the program, they are encouraged to participate and ultimately to become mentors themselves, fostering a culture of continual support and learning.
Our graduates’ experiences speak volumes about the program’s effectiveness. Rachel Gross, CRNA, shares, “I currently work in the operating room at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest as a CRNA, and I truly believe the nurse residency program gave me the most tremendous start to my nursing career and led me to this amazing opportunity. I am thankful I got to be a part of it, and it has allowed me to attain a job at the health network I love so much and am so passionate about today.”
Building upon our commitment to lifelong learning, professional development, nursing excellence and collaboration, we proudly introduced our Nursing Professional Practice Fellowship: Grow with 2.0 for our Nurse Residency Program graduates starting in April 2024.
The Grow with 2.0 fellowship provides nurses with professional development time, based on feedback from nurse residency surveys, to explore the next stages in their professional and personal growth through the lens of LVHN’s Nursing Professional Practice Model, mission and values. The fellowship consists of six workshops, spanned over a year, offering 24 hours of nursing continuing education credit upon completion. As we strive for excellence, all Nurse Residency Program graduates after January 2024 are now expected to attend and complete the fellowship. Themes emerging from the fellowship workshops include building strong relationships, practicing cultural humility by being more curious, connecting with their purpose in nursing, financial planning for their future, becoming more comfortable with providing feedback and developing intrinsic motivators to become preceptors.
Our Nurse Residency Program exemplifies our commitment to supporting our shared calling. By nurturing the growth and development of our nurses, we ensure they are well prepared to deliver exceptional patient care. As we celebrate a decade of success, we look forward to continuing this journey, empowering our nurses and enhancing the quality of care at LVHN.
Join us in celebrating the remarkable achievements of our nurse residency graduates and the bright future for nursing at LVHN. Together, we are reimagining nursing practice and paving the way for a new era of excellence in health care.
