The Methodist Hospital System. Leading Medicine
The Methodist Hospital System. Leading Medicine

Nursing

The Methodist Hospital Nurse Residency Program

Programs for Graduate Nurses and New Nurses
No Nurse Should Start the Journey Alone

Launching your nursing career is an exciting time, but it also can be a little frightening. That's why The Methodist Hospital (TMH) is strongly committed to its Nurse Residency Program (NRP), which ensures that our nurses do not start their journey alone, but are instead nurtured every step of the way.

By focusing on the twin aspects of clinical practice and leadership development, TMH helps new nurses build confidence and clinical competency throughout their first year of practice.

Clinical Practice

Oftentimes, the new nurse graduate is thrust into clinical care situations with little or no quantifiable background. At The Methodist Hospital, the Nurse Residency Program has been established to assist with this transition. Through formal and clinical instruction, the Nurse Residency Program focuses not only on strengthening proficiency, but more importantly on ensuring the nurse's role in patient safety and patient outcomes.

All new graduate nurses at Methodist must participate in the Nurse Residency Program. And, while not required to take part in the program, experienced nurses transitioning into specialty areas are strongly encouraged to take part in the formal classroom instruction offered during the orientation period.

Nurse Residencies are available in the following areas:

  • Acute Care
  • Perioperative Area
  • Critical Care
  • Women's Health

Each program is approximately 6 - 16 weeks long and is individualized based on the specialty area and specific learning needs. For the duration of the program, nurse residents are paired with a formally trained clinical preceptor and meet weekly to ensure that milestones are met. Undoubtedly, gradual independence will begin to occur as the nurse resident comes to rely on his/her own skills and knowledge and less on the preceptor's experience.

Throughout the program, multiple topics are covered in the classroom setting including EKG interpretation, legal aspects of nursing, respiratory management, diabetes in the acute care setting and code blue management. Additionally, traditional learning experiences are supplemented by high fidelity simulation experiences to enhance learning and improve teamwork, communication, decision making and situational awareness.

Outside the formal classroom, the nurse resident actively participates in hands on instruction. By playing an important role in supervised clinical care, the nurse resident will have the opportunity to encounter situations not covered in text books and much of the anxiety that accompanies a new position soon dissipates.

Leadership and Professional Development

The Methodist Hospital Nurse Residency program has been designed to take new baccalaureate prepared nurse graduates beyond their formal education. A collaborative venture with the University HealthSystem consortium (UHC), the residency program offers support to baccalaureate prepared nurses by cultivating their leadership abilities and professional development.

As the only Nurse Residency Program affiliated with the UHC in the Texas Medical Center, participation requires a one-year commitment from all nurse residents. This key objective of the program is to transition nursing graduates from the student role to a leadership role at the bedside by focusing on the in-depth development of leadership skills through evidence analysis, application of complex situations and professional development. In addition, The Methodist Hospital's Nurse Residency Program offers practical solutions to dilemmas that nurses often face and has proven to be very effective in fostering confidence and guiding new nurse graduates through their first twelve months of practice.

Key Features of The Methodist Hospital's Nurse Residency Program:

  • A 12-month program to smooth transition into practice.
  • A series of thoughtfully developed classes that will enhance skills in critical thinking, assessment, leadership and clinical decision making.

Goals:

  • Transition from entry-level, advanced beginner nurse to leader at the bedside
  • Develop effective decision-making skills related to clinical judgment and performance
  • Incorporate research-based evidence into practice
  • Formulate individual development plans for career progression
  • Develop, implement and disseminate an evidence based project

Participation in this program is a part of the regular work assignment. Nurse residents participate in monthly seminars for four hours over a 12-month period and complete an evidence-based practice project. Seminar topics include:

  • Resource management
  • Communication
  • End of life care
  • Evidence based practice
  • Patient safety

Requirements include:

  • Successful completion of an accredited BSN program
  • Eligible for RN licensure in Texas and GN permit
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.2 or greater
  • HESI score of 950 or greater preferred
  • Letters of recommendation

How to Apply:

Graduate Nurses will be selected year round for employment. Please visit the Web site's career center and look for the job title — Clinical Apprentice. In addition to your online application, please attach your updated resume, with current GPA, your exit HESI scores, and specific area of interest.

For more information on The Methodist Hospital Nurse Residency Program, contact:

The Methodist Hospital Nurse Residency Program Coordinator
Rosemary Pine, Ph.D.(c), RN, CDE
6565 Fannin
MGJ 11-002
Houston, TX 77030
713-441-4527
rpine@tmhs.org

For questions concerning the application process please contact:

Alicia Hernandez, MSN, RN, BC
The Methodist Hospital
Academic Program Leader - MGJ11-002
The Center for Professional Excellence
6565 Fannin Street
Houston, Texas 77030
713-441-4517
ahernandez@tmhs.org