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Nurse Residency/Fellowship Program

Nurse Residency update – 10/2/2009

The next potential Nurse Residency cohort could begin in March 2010. We anticipate a decision will be made by our Nursing Leaders by mid to late-December whether we will be moving ahead with a March cohort. Please check this web site at that time for further updates.

We appreciate your continued interest in nursing career opportunities with HealthEast as well as your patience as we continue to monitor our options for the Nurse Residency program. We wish you the best as you begin your nursing career and hope you will consider HealthEast in the future.

Can I be considered for a regular RN job if I'm not a current employee?

The Nurse Residency program was developed to address the crucial transition from the academic environment to your first RN job. We believe the support offered within the Nurse Residency is not optional, but is required for success in an acute care setting. For that reason, we continue to require six months of hospital experience or one year of RN patient care experience (long term care, home care, etc.) to be considered for a regular RN position at HealthEast.

About the program

HealthEast's Nurse Residency/Fellowship Program helps you smoothly transition from student to successful practitioner. We offer an in-depth program that focuses on both classroom and clinical experience, preparing you for a career in nursing.

Our current model is a new program that has evolved out of our highly successful Nurse Residency Program. It lets new grads experience different units at one hospital to help determine the best fit with a specific unit.

The Nurse Residency/Fellowship Program gives participants the opportunity to find their best fit with a specific nursing unit.

New grads interested in the program:

Must apply and be hired into the 1-year residency program.
Will be hired for a specific hospital (Bethesda, St. John's, St. Joseph's or Woodwinds), but will not be assigned to a specific unit.
Will be hired as a 0.8 FTE on a rotating day/evening schedule for the initial fellowship (90-120 days). The program will require some weekends.
Will spend three to four weeks on one unit, and then transfer to another unit for three to four weeks. The resident RN will rotate to all of the Med Surg units at the hospital during their residency.

Through HealthEast's program, new grads have the opportunity to acclimate to a specific hospital and later apply on a unit that is their best fit. We work with new grads to help determine the unit best suited to their skills and interests, as well as HealthEast’s needs. This takes place within the first 60 to 90 days of the program.

HealthEast is the only hospital system in the Twin Cities to offer a nurse residency program developed in partnership with Marquette University.

Orientation

New graduates at HealthEast will:

Be hired and oriented using a "cohort model." New grad RNs are hired as a group, receive classroom training together and support one another as they begin a new career. Cohorts begin each January, July and September.
Receive continued orientation on your assigned floor by a preceptor, in addition to classroom training time.
Enjoy orientation that is tailored to meet your individual needs.
Have access to a free NCLEX workshop (offered each April and November). HealthEast also provides a 3-week online NCLEX course that is fully reimbursable after you begin your employment. Additional online courses are also available at your own expense.

Building on your education

HealthEast wants to make sure you succeed. Our program is designed to build on what you've learned in school so you'll be well-equipped to be a confident, competent nurse. The Nurse Residency/Fellowship Program includes:

Professional development plan - You'll create an individual plan to build your skills. With the help of the expert nurses leading our program, you will outline specific activities to enhance your function within your unit and hospital.
Clinical coaches - You will be assigned a partner or clinical coach who will guide and support you.
Facilitated learning sessions - You will meet with other program participants and have an opportunity to reflect on your nursing practice. We will guide you through writing clinical narratives, analyzing case studies and dialoguing with advanced practice nurses and other experts.

Here's just a sampling of topics you'll cover:

Stress and time management, delegation
Conflict resolution, communication, feedback
Failure to rescue, airway management, hypoxia
Recognition of myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest
Acute and chronic pain, assessment, stroke
Liver disease, renal disease, alcohol withdrawal
Wound management, hazards of immobility
Special needs and behavioral problems of the elderly, complementary therapies, end of life care

To apply for the Nurse Residency/Fellowship Program

Go to the career search page, click the "Login" button and complete an online employment profile.

Attach to your profile:

Your resume, noting your current GPA
A cover letter identifying your areas of interest and any specific career or educational goals

Please note: It works best to combine your cover letter and resume into one document before attaching

After completing and saving your profile (note: There is a two step save process - you will need to Confirm your the changes after you have Saved your profile) locate positions by typing "Resident RN" into the keyword search field on the Search page.

Open the positions at the HealthEast sites that are of interest and click "Apply" in the upper right hand corner. You may apply to all four hospitals if you are interested in being considered by all of the sites.

If we are not currently accepting applications, no positions will be listed. See the "Important Dates for upcoming Cohorts" section above for details. Check back after the posting date to apply.

Frequently asked questions

As a new grad RN, may I apply to RN positions that are outside the Residency?

Because we believe so strongly in providing adequate support and resources to new RNs, we do not consider new grads for positions outside of the Residency. Standard RN positions require either a minimum of six months acute care experience (one year is preferred) or one year of RN experience in another type of patient care setting.

Will I be guaranteed a job after the Fellowship time on the Med-Surg Units?

Upon successful completion of the Fellowship phase, we will assist you in applying to open positions at your site that match your qualifications. We are not able to guarantee a position on a specific unit or with a particular shift/schedule.

What if there is not a position I am interested in after the orientation?

We hope this will not be an issue but since we cannot know the hiring needs of a department months in advance, it is a possibility. If this happens, our RN Placement Coordinator will assist you in looking at available options in light of your career goals

Can I apply at a different site after the orientation?

One of the advantages of a health care system like HealthEast is the ability to move within the system. We ask that new grads stay in their initial position for at least one year before moving.

What if I feel I need additional orientation before applying to an area?

We want you to identify your unique learning needs. Education staff and your unit leadership will work to be sure you have what you need to function on the unit.

What kind of interview process will I need to go through after orientation when I’m applying for an actual position?

You will have the opportunity to meet with the Clinical Director of the area in which you are interested. The Clinical Director may have staff from the unit involved in the interview, too.

Will I be able to apply to any area, such as OB, ER or ICU?

At the end of the fellowship, we would not expect to move you directly into a specialty area. Instead, we want to get you to the area suited to give you the best experience in your first year. From there (approximately 12 months after you start), you can apply to novice positions in our specialty areas.

How do I attach my letters of reference and transcripts?

You do not need to submit your letters of reference and transcripts at the time you apply. If you are selected for a phone screen we will e-mail you an electronic template by which you can submit your references along with instructions. Your GPA should be noted on your resume and plan to bring a copy of your transcript to your interview.

Who can I contact if I have additional questions?

For more information, contact our RN Placement Coordinator at 651-326-5269 or
RNPC@healtheast.org.