Your Experience In Nurse Residency

[Toribio]

These questions are geared towards those of you who have recently graduated and are in a Nurse Residency program, or have been in one recently.

I will be graduating this fall. I know I want to do a Nurse Residency program. I am wondering what to look for in terms of a quality program. What factors did you all look at when you were applying? Also, if you could share your experience, and perhaps the state in which you are completing or have completed the program.

Thank you in advance!

Also posted under General Nursing Discussion forum: https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/your-experience-in-1034517.html

[NurseIndependa]

Honestly, I just applied to a wide range of programs in the surrounding area. All of them were at well respected hospitals, had at least 12 weeks of orientation and allowed me to work on a unit I was interested in. Also, some programs I looked at paid less during the orientation. I did not apply to those programs because I wanted full nurse pay.

My experience was very good. 20 weeks of orientation and one on one with a preceptor. I am in the ER, so we did online modules recommended by the Emergency Nurses' Association for new ER nurses. We attended 2 weeks of classes where we were lectured on different topics relevant to the ER. The residency also paid for me to become certified in ACLS and PALS. So overall I can't complain, it was worth the extra effort (studying for certifications) to have those 20 weeks.