How was your Nurse Residency Experience

SteelGrey · Apr 17, 2019

I'd look into the details of the residency program. Most hospitals in my area automatically put anyone with less than 1 year of RN experience in the program...so you don't get to advance yourself in pay by going around it.

They can be great or be really just like a "title" for you. Some programs have great clinical support and training and thorough orientations, which helps people become confident and successful--especially if its in a "specialty" area like ICU/ER/ L&D etc that normally you would not be getting in as a new graduate.

When it comes to pay, even if not in a residency program- I don't think it's guaranteed you would be paid more with no experience. If you need certain salary requirements look outside of the hospital- dialysis, LTC, etc can pay more sometimes but I am not familiar with your area.

Also taking night shifts and doing weekends usually helps the bank account

Good luck! Get interviewing if you haven't already and see what they say!

etakstat, ADN, RN · Apr 17, 2019

Thanks for your reply. I hope to attend some open houses to gain more information. I’m trying to get some insider information about other new grad nurses’ experience with their programs.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2019

Mine was horrible. 6 weeks of onboarding onto a medical ICU which was really a regular ICU with the occasional influenza case. Three weeks were classroom and I barely met my preceptor until the fourth week.

If a hospital is serious about safely onboarding new nurses, they'll do better than six weeks.

Regarding the preceptor - if s/he isn't clicking with you or if s/he is making comments like "Well, not every nurse should be in the ICU," ask immediately for a new preceptor. Not every nurse should be a preceptor, no matter how skilled s/he is.

Life might have been different if I had landed a spot in a smaller, rural hospital. Mr. Ruby Jane did his first two years in a rural hospital in the Pacific Northwest and all those nurses trained him up right. Consider location.

Residency may really be a good thing. Remember, your job right now is to safely transition into the practice of a registered nurse. You have a lot going for you as you've already had some nursing practice; but the scope is different.

I wouldn't be put off by $25 an hour (and realize that you'll work nights and weekends which will up that income). I would be more concerned with the length, expectations, and past successes of the residency. Best of luck.

Quota, BSN, RN · Apr 17, 2019

All new grads are put in the residency program at my hospital which is a year long thing. Meeting once a month for 12 months, the year is broken into cohorts. I started the first week of Feb, some of my classmates who are also in my cohort started in January, and another new grad on my unit just started mid March is in my cohort. We just had our first new grad seminar the first week of April. Honestly based on the first seminar meeting plus talking to other recent new grads to finish the program it’s kind of a waste of time...but it does give you numerous people to reach out to if you do need help.

My unit has been very supportive during my orientation, one week left for me. I have a ton of people I can reach out to for help if needed that are specifically intended to help me if I’m struggling.

All new grads start at RN I in my hospital system and are bumped up to RN II with a raise after 6 months.

etakstat, ADN, RN · Apr 17, 2019

3 hours ago, ruby_jane said:
Mine was horrible. 6 weeks of onboarding onto a medical ICU which was really a regular ICU with the occasional influenza case. Three weeks were classroom and I barely met my preceptor until the fourth week.
If a hospital is serious about safely onboarding new nurses, they'll do better than six weeks.
Regarding the preceptor - if s/he isn't clicking with you or if s/he is making comments like "Well, not every nurse should be in the ICU," ask immediately for a new preceptor. Not every nurse should be a preceptor, no matter how skilled s/he is.
Life might have been different if I had landed a spot in a smaller, rural hospital. Mr. Ruby Jane did his first two years in a rural hospital in the Pacific Northwest and all those nurses trained him up right. Consider location.
Residency may really be a good thing. Remember, your job right now is to safely transition into the practice of a registered nurse. You have a lot going for you as you've already had some nursing practice; but the scope is different.
I wouldn't be put off by $25 an hour (and realize that you'll work nights and weekends which will up that income). I would be more concerned with the length, expectations, and past successes of the residency. Best of luck.

Thank you for the real tea! Great advice.

NurseLAE, BSN, RN · May 12, 2019

my nursing residency came as a surprise. it was not mentioned on the application or during the interview. two months into my job is when i received an email. i did not want to do it because i was not willing to commit to more than one year of med-surg and move on. i had no choice, it was mandatory. it was the very first group ever within the hospital system. there was no hands on learning just a bunch of lectures.....pointless to say the least.

AspiringICUnurse, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2019

My nurse Residency program is in Boston. At one of the larger hospitals- my dream hospital tbh.

I worked as an aide in a different hospital system praying for entry cause that hospital is the #1 hospital in the country (hint hint ) but getting in as a nurse was like pulling teeth! I ended up getting a job in a skilled nursing facility aka rehab aka DONT EVER DO THAT lol ( my assignment was always 10+ patients with lots of dressing, wound vacs, TPN, abx THE WORKSSSSS) and within 9 months of rigorous hunting I got the residency position in medsurg (not my favorite but grateful).

Anyways, the hospital I work at now is great. We started off with lots of classroom work; reviewing policies and skills we’d use on the floor, practicing codes and techniques for safe practice. Once we were well oriented on paper, we were put out on the floor. Started with shadowing and slowly increasing the workload as our educators seen fit. Orientation was scheduled for 6-8 months but I was able to be on my own after 4 months (thank God for that wild experience prior). Despite getting off orientation early, I reeeeally felt ready. I still have some anxiety going into work cause of course I’m responsible for the lives of others but also because my floor is a surgical telemetry floor; all my patients are fresh post op or fresh traumas from the ED needing surgery and things can go south pretty quick. But with all the training and support I’m given, If i ever feel flustered I either have the knowledge, resources or staff assistance to get things done. for example, I work nights and as a new grad we were hooked up with these DNP fellows who check on us throughout the night, keep us up to date with our education etc. our hospital also has resource nurses so when *** hits the fan, we have an experienced ICU God in arms reach (biggest blessing). One thing about my hospital, though, that makes things a little difficult is the patient population but nothing a little patience can’t solve.

My dream is to be an ICU God one day. Itching to working my way up the latter. Its interesting to hear from others about residency programs! I hope this forum continues! Ask me anything.

mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN · Oct 7, 2019

I had a great residency. It was 6 months and called "SNIP" specialized nurse intensive program.

I am an orthopedic certified nurse.

I love having a mentor and learned so much at a much relaxed rate. I didn't feel rushed and it gave me a lot of confidence. Whether I did the 6 month residency or someone did a residency that required a year of classes along with a 3 month orientation, all CNIs got paid the same.

Wuzzie · Oct 7, 2019

On 4/17/2019 at 9:23 AM, ruby_jane said:
Mine was horrible. 6 weeks of onboarding onto a medical ICU which was really a regular ICU with the occasional influenza case.

That wasn't a residency. I'm not sure it even qualifies as orientation.?

JBMmom, MSN, NP · Oct 7, 2019

12 hours ago, TtheIndecisiveRN said:
I ended up getting a job in a skilled nursing facility aka rehab aka DONT EVER DO THAT lol ( my assignment was always 10+ patients with lots of dressing, wound vacs, TPN, abx THE WORKSSSSS) and within 9 months of rigorous hunting I got the residency position in medsurg (not my favorite but grateful).

There are many reasons that working in a skilled nursing facility can be a great place. There are certainly challenges to having a large patient assignment, but if you can look at is as a positive you can gain assessment skills, time management skills and many nursing skills related to task work. I worked in one for five years before transitioning to acute care, and I work in the critical care setting now.

From the couple posts I've seen from you, I would caution you to temper some of your enthusiasm/criticism of certain work environments. It is possible to inadvertently come across as condescending to others when describing different work environments and that attitude can easily cross over into your current job. There are those that enjoy their jobs no matter where on your ladder they fall, not everyone has to want to be in the ICU or OR because you perceive that it means they have moved "up" somehow. It's great to have enthusiasm and goals, but you don't want to give others the impression that you don't respect them for where they choose to work. And even just by your word choice that can come across. Your coworkers are vital to your success in any nursing environment.

ruby_jane, BSN, RN · Oct 7, 2019

1 hour ago, Wuzzie said:
That wasn't a residency. I'm not sure it even qualifies as orientation.?

Thank you for saying so. I don't think on it much anymore but I felt horrible for three months trying to make it work.