Nurse Residency Graduation

On July 8th, San Luis Valley Health celebrated the nurses graduating from their residency program.

Dr. Alice Birch, the keynote speaker, commended all the nurse residents for their resilience in an already difficult job, made even more challenging due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and included the big differences their making in the community.

Cohorts 9, 10, and 11 graduated and each group gave a different presentation on improving patient handoff, safe medication administration, and fluid resuscitation guidelines, respectively. 

Brittany Sours, professional development specialist, says Nurse Residency is an important part of education and professional development.

“Nurse Residency is a program that utilizes best-practices and evidence to develop a foundational profession practice for newly licensed nurses. The purpose of Nurse Residency is to help transform new novices into strong confident professionals. Nurse Residency takes place over a year. The first twelve weeks the residents meet weekly while also still in orientation with their preceptor. Then the residency meets monthly and sharpen their skills while working on core concepts in nursing. Residents also complete an evidence-based project which looks at best practices throughout the organization.

“I am incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication this group has put into completing this program. Any nurse will tell you that professional development is an ongoing process to provide the best care for our patients and community. With this group our patients are in good hands.”

Pictured left to right: Lilliana Chavez, Thomas (Hayes) Arnold, Emma Ulmala, Mason Montano, Savanna Edgar, and Molly Robertz.