Congratulations to Delta Health (Delta, CO) for graduating their third cohort of RN residents. In collaboration with the Colorado Center for Nursing Excellence (CCNE), Delta Health launched its 12-month Nurse Residency Program in the summer of 2022. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Labor, with curriculum and support staff provided by the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program. The third cohort of 2 new graduates completed the year-long program and presented their professional experiences during the graduation ceremony in February.

Delta Health partners with IONRP and CCNE to provide support and professional development throughout the first year of nursing. The program provides learning opportunities through online content, interactive experiences with guest speakers, group discussions, skill-building, and mentorship. The program culminated with a professional experience centered around opportunities for improvement and included dissemination of the results to leaders and peers. Residents select from a change project, case study, or committee work.

Delta Health Nurse Residency Program Site Coordinator Shauna L. Meilner, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNE, praised the residents for their year-long commitment and shared the outcomes of their professional experiences.

Professional Experiences from the March 2023 Cohort include:

Reveille Sullivan, RN (Med-Surg) – Change Project. Sullivan chose to work on a change involving an upcoming reorganization of the Med-Surg storage room. Supplies will be grouped according to category and color-coded for convenience, as in other hospital areas. Cumbersome shelving will be removed and replaced with wall-mounted bin holders. Benefits include finding supplies more timely, cutting down on nurse frustration, and saving money by ordering supplies only when needed.

Jenna (Regenfuss) Carney, RN - Committee Work. Carney chose to help upgrade a specific Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) report sheet to improve accuracy between shifts and ensure the transfer of necessary information, such as oxygen requirement and delivery method, telemetry, diet and dietary restrictions, and issues related to mobility. 

Carney believes that these types of programs are beneficial for new nurses in that they help “new grad nurses become involved” and enable them to see the big picture within the patient care arena. Carney emphasizes that committee work “allows nurses to improve their work environment,” which has the power to impact healthcare.

Interested employers should contact nicole-weathers@uiowa.edu for more information or schedule a time to visit 1:1 to learn more.