Nurse Residency Program Finds Success at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital

Uniontown, PA — The first cohort of graduate nurses have successfully completed WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital’s new Nurse Residency Program, with 100% of the residents remaining employed at Uniontown Hospital.

The cohort, consisting of nurses from the emergency department, intensive care unit, intermediate care unit, and medical-surgical departments, began the nine-month program in March 2023 as part of the program’s initial launch.

“With an ever-increasing nursing shortage, the retention of these newly-graduated nurses is crucial to providing care in our community,” Jarrod McMaster, Director of Critical Care Services & Education at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital said. “The Nurse Residency Program was designed for newly-graduated nurses, allowing them to successfully integrate into the culture of safety and continuous improvement that exists within the organization. This translates to providing the high-quality care that WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital is committed to providing to our community.”

Designed using Benner’s Novice to Expert Model, the program focuses on supporting newly-graduated nurses as they transition from student to professional practice. The curriculum was designed to assist new nurses in overcoming transitional hurdles that are most common during their first year of practice, with a focus on prioritization, communication, leadership, critical thinking, professional development, and evidence-based practice.

The program is designed to empower newly-graduated nurses to feel confident in their abilities and utilizes a mix of traditional instruction, case studies, simulation, expert guest speakers, and interactive activities to engage residents.

“I am better prepared for what to expect in the real world of nursing due to the Nurse Residency Program,” program participant, Kylie Kavka, said. “I am very fortunate to have had such great instructors and to have gained knowledge that made me a better nurse.”

A second cohort of graduate nurses began the program in the fall of 2023 and is expected to complete the program in April 2024, with a third cohort beginning in March 2024. The Nurse Residency Program is a commitment to the well-being, success, development, and retention of newly-graduated nurses at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital.