Leadership Residency Program

Leadership Residency Program

Based upon the successful nurse residency program model, the leadership residency brings together new health care leaders to expedite the likelihood of success in the leadership role.  New leaders in health care often come from the ranks-employees with good potential for leadership and management but with little training or support.

Attract and retain your new leaders by investing in this residency program! 

Application Deadline for Upcoming Sessions: June 30, 2024 (Class size is limited) 

Broad Program Outcomes - The intended outcomes of the Leadership Residency Program include:

  • Transitioned successfully from individual contributor to competent supervisor/manager
  • Advanced critical thinking for leadership decision-making
  • Competency in giving feedback to improve performance of others
  • Commitment to life-long learning as a leader
  • Full engagement in the leadership role
  • Enhanced job satisfaction

Bi-Monthly Learning Sessions for one year - Every other month for one year a leader attends highly interactive and enriching learning sessions, with practical skill-building topics that can be applied immediately. The session schedule is: 

  • Day 1: 12:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 
  • Day 2: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Coaching Calls - Between sessions for personalized growth and learning. 

Email Listserv and Portal - For “just in time” learning, networking and support between sessions 

Curriculum Structure - The learning session topics are organized according to:

  • Building capacity in the self
  • Building capacity as a member of a new team-your leadership peers
  • Building capacity as a professional and leader
  • Building capacity for leadership across the continuum and beyond

Themes that will run throughout the curriculum:

  • Critical thinking, decision making and prioritizing
  • Being a visionary
  • In the moment leadership
  • Defining what kind of leader you want to be
  • Personal and professional accountability

Learning Session Focus
SESSION 1
Building Capacity
Within the Self  “Know thyself first”
  • Welcome to the program!
  • Overview, logistics, integration with your new colleagues
  • Servant leadership
  • Personality assessment
  • Diversity awareness
  • Self-care and stress management
  • Time management
  • Transitioning from peer to “boss”
  • Managing the challenges of being a working manager
  • Identifying personal values
SESSION 2 
Building Capacity 
Within the Self “It’s all about communication”
  • Assertive communication
  • Preventing and managing conflict
  • Speaking in front of a group
  • Performance Management and Performance Reviews
  • Feedback and coaching skills-having the tough conversations
  • Negotiation skills
  • Dealing with bad behavior
  • The importance of debriefing
SESSION 3 
Building Capacity as a Team Member
“I can’t do this alone”
  •  Leading a change
  • Managing projects
  • The five dysfunctions of a team
  • Delegating effectively
  • SMART goals
  • Collaborating
  • Getting results in your meetings
  • Behavior based interviewing, how to hire the right person
SESSION 4
Building Capacity as a Professional Leader
“Walking my talk”
  • Differentiating management and leadership
  • Defining professionalism
  • Engaging your workforce
  • Creating a positive culture
  • Service excellence
SESSION 5
Building Capacity Across the Continuum
“How do I impact the bigger picture?”
  • Systems Thinking
  • Alignment of mission, vision, values and organizational goals
  • Finance for the non-finance managers (charge master, budget, FTE, capital, resource management, developing/managing staffing models)
  • Community Needs Assessments and new program development-writing a business proposal
  • Managing the competency program
SESSION 6
Building a Capacity Across the Continuum
“How do I follow the rules – and how do I even know what they are?”
  • Quality and risk management
  • Safety responsibilities
  • Human Resources (impaired employees, FMLA, ADA, disciplinary/grievances/performance action plans)
  • Regulations and standards (the Joint Commission, state, CLIA)
  • Compliance
  • Population health
  • Life-long Learning: Five-Year Plan
  • Final program evaluation and celebration


Contacts: 


  • Corrie Searles, MPT, Leadership Development Educator: 
    csearles@rwhc.com, 608-643-1057

  • Cella Janisch-Hartline, RN, BSN, PCC Professional Certified Coach, RWHC Nursing Leadership Senior Manager: 
    chartline@rwhc.com, 608-644-3235

  • Erin Smital, RN, is the Nursing Professional Development Educator, Nurse Residency Coordinator and Lean Residency Coordinator:
    esmital@rwhc.com, 608-643-1066

  • Sarah Ewers, RN, BSN, Nursing Clinical Development Educator: 
    sewers@rwhc.com, 608-644-3227