Questions and Answers about the
Versant RN Residency

What will the Versant residency do for me?
Versant is a great way for you to transition from the role of student nurse to professional nurse. During the 18 - 20 week, full-time paid residency you receive classes, precepted clinical time, observational rotations to related units, mentoring, and group support meetings - all of which support you in your new career. Versant offers you confidence, competence, safety, and friendships.

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When is the next residency?
We offer two programs per year. The next Versant residency will start in March 2009.

Is there a contract to sign?
There is no contract to sign. We're convinced our program and organization will make you want to remain employed at Torrance Memorial.

When is the deadline to apply?
Applications are being accepted now for the spring cohort. There is competition for these positions so applying early is to your benefit!

• A completed Torrance Memorial job application
• At least one letter of reference from a clinical instructor
• Your RN license
• Current BLS card (American Heart Association)
• Official, sealed school transcripts (1 set). If you don't have these, please order them as soon as possible and have them sent to you. Hand carry them to Nurse Recruiter Virginia Mulligan, R.N. in Human Resources.

What is the schedule?
Versant is an 18-20 week program that requires a full time commitment. Time off is granted only on an emergency basis during this program.

Can I go to any unit?
Versant residents can be placed in all units with openings. Limited spaces exist in the specialty areas, i.e., Labor & Delivery, Emergency Department, Intensive Care Units, and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

What's a typical week like for a Versant resident?
Once a week on varying days, residents attend a block of "core" classes. Core classes are those programs that apply to all residents, e.g., blood administration, evidence-based practice, crisis management. During the same week as core classes, residents may also be scheduled to attend unit-specific classes, e.g., care of the ventilated patient (ICU residents), Emergency Department triage (ED residents), care of the shoulder surgery patient (4-North residents). Our goal is to give you a structured classroom-based education that supports your clinical experiences with the majority of your time being spent on your unit. (Residents hired for the night shift are scheduled so that they may attend the daytime classes.) At various times in the residency, a typical week might also include a group support session. These "debriefing" sessions give residents a comfortable and confidential setting to discuss any issues of importance with a skilled facilitator. Periodically, your schedule will also include various four-hour observational visits to related units or departments, e.g., Emergency Department, Cath Lab, Case Management, Diabetes Education. This experience, known as "looping," gives you a broad perspective of what occurs in other departments. Another aspect of your schedule will include mentoring circles. Mentoring Circles offer you information on how to develop a plan for your future professional and educational goals.

Are there tests?
There are no tests associated with the core classes although unit-specific classes may involve written and practical exams.

• Virginia Mulligan, R.N., Nurse Recruiter: 310-784-4894
• Barb LeQuire, R.N., Director of Clinical Education: 310-784-8728
• Pat Brienzo, R.N., Versant Coordinator: 310-891-6773
• www.versant.org