Nursing Residencies
Emory Healthcare is the place for innovative nurse residencies.
All new graduate nurses at Emory Healthcare start their full-time employment in one of three residency programs. The majority go through the UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program – a residency program Emory Healthcare has adopted on-site within the organization. The only exceptions are for those resident nurses in the oncology or perioperative residencies. Perioperative residents do not go through the UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program. Oncology residents may or may not go through the UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program.
These three residencies are described below, along with other residencies that are offered based on need.
Critical Care: This 16-week program includes a clinical orientation with an experienced preceptor and two courses – a three-day basic dysrhythmia course and an eight-day introduction to critical care course.
Emergency: This full-time program prepares nurses to function as team members in the emergency department. The 12-week program follows the Emergency Nurses Association core curriculum and provides classes along with clinical orientation each week with an experienced preceptor.
Gerontology: This 10-week program offers classes and clinical experiences covering an array of issues pertaining to the reasons why gerontological nursing is special. The program follows the American Nursing Credentialing Center board certification content to prepare nurses for the certification exam.
Medical-Surgical Subspecialties: This program is designed to provide novice nurses socialization into the medical and post-operative surgical nursing area. The major emphasis is to expand the participant's knowledge base and enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The program is composed of core classes and specialty-specific classes. The content is based on common disease processes, health alterations and therapies seen in orthopaedic, neurologic, gynecologic, plastic, general surgery and general medical patient populations.
Neuroscience: Two residencies are offered in this rapidly expanding specialty area of nursing – an eight-week program for novice nurses working in non-ICU neuroscience units and a 16-week program for neuroscience ICU. The program includes core classes in neurosciences and preceptor-guided clinical orientation. Participants learn from experienced nurses who provide support and mentoring at the bedside.
Oncology: This six-month program is designed to provide novice oncology nurses with didactic and clinical experience to begin specialization in medical hematology, oncology and marrow/stem cell transplantation.
Perioperative: This five-week course provides instruction on basic theoretical and clinical components of perioperative nursing. The nine-month clinical rotation immediately follows.
Rehabilitation: This 12-week program is designed to provide both classroom and clinical education in rehabilitation nursing. The course follows the Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse core curriculum and prepares nurses for certification.
UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program for Resident Nurses: The UHC/AACN Nurse Residency Program is an evidence-based program developed by the University HealthSystem Consortium and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Emory Healthcare has adopted this program and administers it on-site at Emory Healthcare. It consists of monthly sessions for the first year of practice to support the new nurse residents as they transition into their first professional role in nursing. Outcome data from the residency has demonstrated that, through participation in the residency, residents develop improved confidence, competence, communication skills and leadership capabilities. They also demonstrate a decrease in stress levels. Residency sessions and facilitator support are planned and delivered with the primary goal of assisting the new resident nurse in acquiring the skills necessary to become successful as a full partner of the health care team.
