"We offer a Nurse Residency Program that is designed for the new graduate nurse. It is structured around monthly learning sessions, with a focus on providing an interactive, reflective and enriched learning environment. The program is designed to enhance recruitment/retention of the new graduate nurse and support their transition into a competent practitioner. I am proud to announce that we recently completed year 19 of this program. I asked our participants to write an open letter to a Dear New Nurse. These kind words of support and encouragement are meant for every nurse, in every position, in every stage of their career."
– Erin Smital, Nursing Professional Development Educator & Nurse Residency Coordinator, RWHC

What I want you to know is you need to take this program seriously and take what you learn to heart. You are not alone in your struggles as a new nurse, let alone a new nurse in a rural healthcare system. You will learn lifelong skills in this program that you should not take for granted. Erin is someone you can learn so many things from in such a short time. A year long program seems like a long period of time, but let me tell you, a year goes by so fast. Bring the trials and tribulations you face in the next year to small group and lean on the other new nurses for support. The Rural Wisconsin Health Cooperative is a great privilege that we have access to, so enjoy your time because you’ll miss it when it ends.