At Eskenazi Health, new acute care nurses with less than one year experience are welcomed to the organization through the Linda Hojnacki, RN, Nurse Residency Program. The program supports the transition to practice and prepares nurses to care for complex patients and increasing acuity needs common in hospital settings. Eskenazi Health nurses are surrounded by a strong network of accomplished individuals who value nurses and are invested in their success for not only their development but also improved patient safety and quality of care.
The nurse residency program follows Patricia Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory, providing a multi-modal learning format and resources specifically targeting the needs of the novice nurse to foster growth and development. The six-month program hosts four cohorts clustered by hire date. The average size of each cohort is 24 people and provides:
- Orientation to the Eskenazi Health culture and introduction to key members of the Senior Leadership Team and nursing leadership
- Guided leadership, support and facilitation from a dedicated nurse residency coordinator
- Monthly educational sessions that address clinical care, communication, patient outcomes, professionalism and resiliency/wellness
- Didactic lectures, simulation lab and interactive activities provided by experts at Eskenazi Health
- Support for the development of decision making, assessment, communication and patient advocacy skills