Mount Nittany Health is committed to its mission of “Healthier people, stronger community.” We are continually implementing programs and processes to enhance our services and breadth of care. In 2021, Mount Nittany Health’s Professional and Organizational Development Department began hosting a nurse residency program to help nursing professionals transition from academia to professional practice, providing them with opportunities to enhance their knowledge, clinical skills, and confidence in a supportive learning environment.
Nurse residencies have become increasingly popular in recent years, and have been established in nearly half of all hospitals in the United States. Mount Nittany Health’s Nurse Residency Program has three cohorts (nurse residency classes) each year beginning in March, July, and October, and lasting for a total of 12 months. To be eligible for the program, applicants must be graduate nurses or registered nurses (RN) with less than one year of professional nursing experience.
The nurse residency program at Mount Nittany Health comprises various components, including didactic sessions, simulation experiences, and clinical orientation. It provides the opportunity for nursing professionals to learn how to serve patients and families more effectively, while providing care that is in line with policies, procedures, and technology used at Mount Nittany Medical Center. Nurse residents are offered the chance to develop critical thinking skills, sharpen their communication and leadership capabilities, build confidence, and apply important knowledge and skills in a continuous learning environment. The program is tailored so that the information presented is meaningful and pertinent to all specialties and departments within the Medical Center. Designated preceptors offer valuable insight, guidance, and support throughout the experience.
“We believe that investing in a comprehensive nurse residency program is essential to ensuring the highest level of patient care,” said Tiffany Cabibbo, DSc, MSN, RN, CENP, Executive Vice President, Patient Care Services and Chief Nursing Officer, Mount Nittany Health. “Through this program we provide our new nurses with the support, training, and mentorship they need to become confident and competent practitioners. We are proud to have such a strong program in place.”
Nursing professionals play a critical role across Mount Nittany Health. We understand that investing in professional development of new graduate nurses is vital to our organization’s success and ability to provide exceptional patient and community care. We are proud of the success of this program and how it supports our organizational mission.
Please join us in welcoming the new March 2023 cohort residents:
Ashlynn Hooper, RN
Justin Schatz, RN
Alsyssa Strausburg, RN
Emma Shannon, RN
Nikaelin Blakeslee, RN
Rachel Barben, RN
Josalyne Hoover, RN
Dale Haggen, RN
Jennifer Christensen, RN
Davida Wagner, RN
If you have any questions or would like more information on the program, please contact Lindsay Reiter, BSN, RN, Nurse Residency Coordinator: lindsay.reiter@mountnittany.org.