St. Joseph Healthcare is a network of hospitals and health care facilities serving the greater Nashua area, southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts.

NASHUA – St. Joseph Hospital has implemented New Hampshire’s first accredited Nurse Residency program based on the Vizient and American Association of Colleges of Nursing (Vizient/AACN) at St. Joseph Hospital.

The program is open to all graduating nurses hired by St. Joseph Hospital. It is designed to ease newly graduated nurses from the classroom setting to the clinical practice environment to promote quality, safety and reduce turnover rates for first-year nurses.

“I am very excited about the launch of the first accredited nurse residency program in New Hampshire. It is truly a pleasure to be a part of an organization that values advanced learning for nurses,” states Andrea Erickson, MSN, RN, CNM, vice president, patient care services and chief nursing officer. “It is so important for new nursing graduates to have a group of peers and mentors who assist them in enhancing their skills and becoming comfortable with the challenges of nursing. Our program is evidence-based, with positive clinical outcomes that will help the nurses and our patients.”

“Transitioning into the nursing profession is a challenge for new graduate nurses. They are asked to jump into a difficult role and expand their development quickly, leading to high turnover. We know that it takes a full year to grow their confidence, competence and engagement in the profession and the organization, “said Evy Olson, associate vice president of nursing programs at Vizient. “We are pleased that St. Joseph Hospital has committed to supporting their nurses in their transition into practice and their professional development through a nurse residency program.”