Medical-Surgical Nurse Residency

Overview

Medical-surgical nursing is the leading nursing specialty in the United States. Med-surg nurses practice primarily on hospital units. They care for adult patients who are acutely ill with a variety of medical issues.

Medical-surgical nurses are the main coordinators of the unit. They juggle care for many patients while keeping the healthcare team on the same page. Med-surg nurses have high-level critical thinking skills and vast clinical knowledge, and they can stay calm under pressure.

After a 2-week general orientation, the medical-surgical nursing residency is 6-12 weeks long. To help new graduate nurses acclimate to Franciscan Health, we place emphasis on our:

• Policies and procedures
• Clinical practice guidelines
• Documentation requirements

Medical-surgical clinical educators

Clinical educators track clinical progression by making rounds on new graduate nurses during their orientation. You receive support and guidance from clinical educators who:

• Have a master’s degree in nursing
• Have med-surg expertise
• Are board certified

Nurse residency goals

• Promote safe clinical practice
• Provide a strong competency-based orientation
• Support the advanced beginner nurse in strengthening essential nursing skills
• Develop clinical leadership skills at the point of care
• Link research-based evidence to practice outcomes and incorporate these principles into patient care
• Decrease nurse turnover rates
• Promote a lifelong commitment to professional nursing
• Demonstrate effective clinical decision-making skills related to clinical judgment and performance

Franciscan Health Simulation Center

The Franciscan Health Simulation Center adds an innovative teaching methodology to help integrate new knowledge into med-surg nursing practice. Nursing residents will participate in simulation experiences using a high-fidelity manikin. "Participant Truths" (a judgement-, criticism- and evaluation-free zone) make simulation a popular and enjoyable learning method.

The Simulation Center consists of:

• Four simulation rooms
• Two debriefing rooms
• Control room
• Medication room with a working Pyxis

Rooms feature up-to-date patient care environments that simulate:

• Surgical suite
• Critical care/medical-surgical room
• NICU
• Labor and delivery
• Emergency department patient rooms