Careers at Lifespan Health System

Newly Licensed Nurse Residency Program at The Miriam Hospital

Logo for an ANCC Accredited Practice Transition Program

It’s an exceptional time for nurses everywhere. That’s why The Miriam Hospital is proud of its exceptional Newly Licensed Nurse Residency Program – the only accredited program in Rhode Island. 

In 2022, our program was reaccredited as a practice transition program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. There are only some 200 such programs worldwide. The Miriam, a widely recognized hospital, is a gateway for newly licensed nurses to learn from the best, work with a diverse team, and obtain the tools, resources, and support to ensure a smooth transition from academia to professional practice.

We also adopted the Vizient/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Nurse Residency Program in 2022. This addition enhances and provides additional resources to ensure The Miriam Hospital continues to maintain national accreditation status.

Why Launch Your Career at The Miriam?

We rank high. So will you.

  • The Miriam Hospital ranked first among Rhode Island hospitals in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2020-21 Best Regional Hospitals. It also is rated the number one hospital in the Providence metro area.
  • The Miriam Hospital attained Magnet recognition for nursing excellence – one of only three other U.S. hospitals that have earned the honor six consecutive times, and one of four hospitals to continuously maintain Magnet designations since 1998.

Through our Newly Licensed Nurse Residency Program, you’ll have the opportunity to learn not just how to care for patients and families more effectively, but to do so in line with the highest standards of excellence and quality care of The Miriam Hospital.

A nurse at The Miriam Hospital caring for an older patient.

For More Information

For more information about The Miriam Hospital Newly Licensed Nurse Residency Program, email Melanie Marco, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, NPD-BC, program manager, at [email protected].

What is The Miriam’s Newly Licensed Nurse Residency Program?

Established in 2007, The Miriam Hospital’s Newly Licensed Nurse Residency Program (NLNRP) is a structured, comprehensive program that provides licensed registered nurses experiences to acquire knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors to deliver safe, quality care that meets defined standards of practice.

  • Our 12-month program encompasses organizational orientation, practice-based experience, and supplemental activities to promote nursing professional development.
  • All newly licensed nurses hired to work at The Miriam Hospital are automatically enrolled in the program.
  • Our NLNRP aligns with quality and safety education for nurses (QSEN) competencies with a focus on leadership, patient outcomes and professional role. The Casey-Fink new graduate survey is completed on the first day, at six months, and upon graduation.
  • All classes are taught by subject matter experts.
  • Our program provides valuable hands-on experience.
  • A key element of the program is the peer support built into its framework, which provides nurse residents with shared classes, experiences, and social and professional networking opportunities.

Program Components

This year-long structured program is based on recommendations from national professional nursing organizations with individualized precepted nursing orientation. 

The program is divided into two phases. Learn more below.

Phase One of the Program

As a nurse resident (NR), you will gain on-unit clinical experiences with your preceptor. Every class begins with a mindfulness exercise and a debriefing session where NRs can share stories, all within a safe, and comfortable environment. 

Course Content

  • Communication, including the teach-back method
  • Situation, background, assessment, recommendation for patients (SBAR-P)
  • Peer feedback 
  • Escalation of patient care
  • Reality shock, transitioning to night shift, time management and prioritization, meet and greet with physicians
  • Emergency response: code blue, rapid response, and code stroke
  • Professional practice model, and patient conditions that include stroke, geriatrics, wound care, and ostomy
  • Quality priorities, nurse sensitive indicators, zero harm, high reliability, documentation, falls and safety event analysis, and sepsis
  • Pain, palliative care, end of life care, ethics, professional development, shared governance, wellness program, and safety event analysis

Phase Two of the Program

Course Content

  • Four evidence-based practice meetings for design, implementation, and presentation of a project
  • Four classes specifically designed to accommodate the current educational needs of the NR
  • The Charge Nurse workshop
  • The Care of the Behavioral Health Patient workshop
  • Rehabilitation therapy
  • Hands-on skills such as intravenous catheter insertion, chest tubes, and peritoneal dialysis
The Miriam Hospital Nursing Residency Class at 2022 hospital annual meeting
Lifespan Board members Jane Williams (far left) and Larry Sadwin (far right) presented the Barnet Fain Quality Award to team members (left to right) Melanie Marco, Jean Mellott, Cynthia Hughes, Dawn Packer, Heather Laplume and Cheryl Jollie.

Program Benefits

The Miriam’s Newly Licensed Nurse Residency program provides valuable hands-on experience taught by experienced professionals with extensive subject knowledge.

A key element of the program is the peer support built into its framework, which provides nurse residents with shared classes, experiences, and social and professional networking opportunities.

As part of a cohort, NRs are fully supported to transition to professional practice.

  • NRs are provided guidance to develop strong critical thinking and leadership skills.
  • NRs gain professional knowledge and ability to translate knowledge into practice through debriefings and reflective exercises.
  • NRs are given the tools and resources to feel confident in giving high quality patient care.

Program Goals

The goal of The Miriam’s Newly Licensed Nurse Residency program is to improve the professional confidence of new nurses while maintaining patient safety and quality care within the complex practice environment using evidence-based practice, enhancing leadership skills, encouraging professional development and lifelong learning, and supporting nurse retention.

Program Graduation Requirements

Participants will be able to graduate when the following criteria has been met:

  • Successful completion of precepted clinical nursing orientation
  • Mandatory class attendance
  • Completion and implementation of evidence-based project
  • Completion of program evaluations

Nurse residents who transfer to a different unit or area during the program will be allowed to continue towards graduation.

2022 Lifespan Barnet Fain Quality Award

Award Winning Program

The Newly Licensed Nurse Residency Program at The Miriam Hospital is the 2022 winner of the Lifespan Barnet Fain Quality Award.