RN residencies?

It's really good program and the turn over into a staff nurse after the 18 weeks is over is high..I just interviewed for it 2 weeks ago out here in Atlanta....I was surprised I got a call back because it's REALLY COMPETITIVE.. You're still a full time employee and you get benefits as well as the class room orientation time. You should go for it!

But how does it work? You graduate with your BSN. Get licensed. Then what, choose a facility? So does it only work if the place you want to go offers it? Or is it expected that you'll go through the program and then if not selected to stay on you go on? How does the pay differ while you are in the program versus upon completion of the program? Sorry for all the questions, just trying to get a detailed understanding of what it is.

How competitive to get in? If you're not selected to stay on, and you are forced to go somewhere else, do you have some explaining to do as to why you weren't selected? In other words, if you are not selected, can that be a liability?

You have your ADN OR BSN but they prefer BSN... All the new grads that I spoke to that went through in June to the present now have a full time position....u got paid as a resident which is abot 2 bucks less than a regular staff nurse but when your 18 weeks are up your pay increases....you're going to stay after the 18 weeks unless you are just a horrible nurse...they only chose 9 ppl for 3 different units...they're aren't going to spend time and money on a nurse to let them go after 18 weeks...very dumb

The Versant program is for people who have already graduated from nursing school. It is not a program to obtain that degree..

(I am sorry now if you know this and I am reading your posts incorrectly)

The Versant program is for people who have already graduated from nursing school. It is not a program to obtain that degree..

(I am sorry now if you know this and I am reading your posts incorrectly)

Nah, I know you have to have your degree. No problem. I've only seen it in a handful of hospitals that I've looked at so I'm wondering how widespread the program is. Here are my remaining questions on it...

1. Is it intended for you to enter the program straight out of nursing school?

2. Once you complete the program, are you done with (formal) training? No precepting afterwards?

3. A little philosophical here...I have some relatives who are nurses and all of them scoffed at this. They look at it as just another hoop to jump through as if there weren't enough already. One said she hoped it didn't catch on because it's just another way to make it more difficult for new grads to get work. I have to agree. There are accelerated nursing programs in which you can obtain your RN in one year and NCLEX pass rates are > 90%. With that said, maybe one year is too short. Maybe it should be set up like medical school wherein you graduate and are required to work for a year as part of a guaranteed placement. Would the training costs be less for a new grad if all schools attached a residency to their program? My own personal fear is that it is disingenuous for a private organization to start something like this that catches on and becomes a de facto requirement, with program acceptance rates lower than those of nursing school itself, when the schools refuse to implement their own version of it.

The Versant RN Residency Solution

Unfortunately I've seen that one already.

It makes sense to me. Either we reform nursing education so that nurses come out actually prepared to assume their job duties immediately, or somebody will have to do the training. That burden is usually picked up by the hospital, which is why there is a dwindling number of hospitals willing to employ new grads. If there is a ready-made structure in place for training new nurses, the costs are spread. I think the gov't should invest in nurse residencies instead of expanding existing nursing schools or importing foreign grads.

3. A little philosophical here...I have some relatives who are nurses and all of them scoffed at this. They look at it as just another hoop to jump through as if there weren't enough already. One said she hoped it didn't catch on because it's just another way to make it more difficult for new grads to get work. I have to agree. There are accelerated nursing programs in which you can obtain your RN in one year and NCLEX pass rates are > 90%. With that said, maybe one year is too short. Maybe it should be set up like medical school wherein you graduate and are required to work for a year as part of a guaranteed placement. Would the training costs be less for a new grad if all schools attached a residency to their program? My own personal fear is that it is disingenuous for a private organization to start something like this that catches on and becomes a de facto requirement, with program acceptance rates lower than those of nursing school itself, when the schools refuse to implement their own version of it.

Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see how it's much different than hospitals that offer new grad programs that they run and administer themselves. I have some relatives who are nurses too and they think the trend towards nurse residencies and internships for new grads is fantastic and have been very encouraging about me pursuing them.

Either we reform nursing education so that nurses come out actually prepared to assume their job duties immediately, or somebody will have to do the training.

I think they used to call them Diploma Programs

I've talked to many nurses (quite a few of my professors, who did the Diploma thing when your choices were MRS., teacher or RN, then went on for BSN, MSN, or PhD later), who all say they were completely prepared to transition from student to full on floor nurse when they got their diploma. It was a full time job to be in school.

I think they used to call them Diploma Programs

I've talked to many nurses (quite a few of my professors, who did the Diploma thing when your choices were MRS., teacher or RN, then went on for BSN, MSN, or PhD later), who all say they were completely prepared to transition from student to full on floor nurse when they got their diploma. It was a full time job to be in school.

But this was back when nursing students were used as free labor by the hospitals, right? DH's aunt is a nurse and went to nursing school when you went to class, then went to work at the hospital, then went home to the nurses dormitory and often had evening work to do for the hospital. They also had pretty strict morality codes too, didn't they?

I'd definitely be in favor of increasing clinical time but I'm glad I wasn't trying to go to nursing school "back in the day."

I am currently at the end of a versant program. I applied after I graduated from nursing school. It was highly competitive. Once in, you are an employee of the hospital. You get paid a fair salary, you get benefits, you earn time off. You receive a combination of classroom instruction and floor nursing. For the first few weeks its mostly classroom orientation, but as the program progresses you are doing more and more floor nursing with your preceptor. The program lasts 18 weeks but can be extended a couple of weeks at the program director's discretion.

It is not a trial. Once you get accepted into the Versant program, you are considered hired. The hospital invests an incredible amount of money in you and will try everything possible to make sure there is a positive outcome. My hospital hired 39 new grad versants in July, we will all succeed.

The versant program follows a formula and although it may have variances depending on the hospital, the core education and expectations are pretty much equivalent across the nation. If you get a chance to be a part of this program, I highly encourage it. I have nothing but positive things to say about it and I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to be a part of this.