A Mother and Daughter's Journey to Nursing

How Torrance Memorial Supports New Graduate Nurses

In 2006, Torrance Memorial Medical Center launched the New Graduate RN Residency Program, one of the first programs of its kind in Southern California. Created by nurses for nurses, the yearlong program offers individual attention and mentorship critical for new nurse graduates. With nearly 1,000 applications each year for 100 open spots, the program has become well-known and competitive among nursing students in the South Bay community.

This means that sometimes students have to wait for an opening. For Norma Barajas and her daughter, Charlene Ramirez, the wait was worth it.

A Shared Calling, Strengthened by Experience 

Barajas has been a longtime caregiver—always focused on helping others. Her brother had spina bifida, so she spent a lot of time in hospitals throughout her childhood. Her passion for caregiving motivated her to begin her nursing prerequisites in 2010 while working and caring for her family. During that time, her mother was diagnosed with lymphoma. 

Barajas didn’t want to stop school, so she balanced driving her mother to and from the hospital, attending classes and studying at her bedside—completing all but one prerequisite before her mother died. Caring for her wheelchair-bound brother with cognitive delays and her young daughter, her focus shifted. Over time, her nursing prerequisites expired.

Inspired by watching her mother care for both her grandmother and uncle, Ramirez decided to pursue nursing as well. After high school, she encouraged her mother to renew her prerequisites and enrolled them both to complete the coursework together. But when Ramirez became pregnant, she paused her studies.

She returned in 2020, taking classes part time while raising her child. They completed their prerequisites together in January 2023 and began attending nursing school. 

“Doing it together just made sense,” reflects Ramirez. “We kept each other motivated every step of the way. We went through everything side by side and became each other’s support system.”

“I didn’t think I would ever finish—life had always gotten in the way—but before I knew it, we were preparing for the HESI exam,” Barajas explains. “I felt like my time had passed, but my daughter wouldn’t let me give up. It became my mission to succeed in nursing school: not just for myself, but for her.”

The HESI (Health Education Systems Incorporated) exam is primarily used by nursing schools as an entrance assessment to evaluate candidates’ academic preparedness and potential for success in nursing programs and future licensure exams

A Risk Worth Taking

Following graduation, Barajas and Ramirez set their sights on working at Torrance Memorial, as they both had great experiences during their clinical rotations. But when they applied for the New Graduate RN Residency Program, they weren’t selected on the first try. Instead they were offered positions as patient care technicians (PCTs). This meant delaying the start of their nursing careers—a risk they both decided to take.

“When we first met Norma and Charlene at our open house, we knew there was something special about them,” reveals Sean Yokoe, RN, executive director of Progressive Care and Medical Surgical Services. “They connected with the culture at Torrance Memorial, excelled as PCTs and earned the respect of our team. It was clear they were team players and a great fit.”

Working as techs for several months provided valuable experience in the hospital environment and helped Barajas and Ramirez feel less overwhelmed. They met other employees and learned where to find supplies and other resources. After they reapplied to the New Graduate RN Residency Program, they were thrilled to be accepted. 

“What you do in school and on the job are vastly different,” explains Yokoe. “Because that transition is so challenging, we extend training beyond the typical five to eight weeks and provide side-by-side support for 18 weeks to help new nurses build confidence while learning the culture and routine.”

The program holds an Accreditation with Distinction through the American Nurses Credentialing Center Practice Transition Accreditation Program—the highest recognition a transition program can receive, and one held by only select programs nationwide.

Colleagues Who Feel Like Family

Barajas and Ramirez are several weeks into the program and are immersed in learning. They are receiving hands-on training alongside experienced nurse preceptors who help them cultivate the communication skills needed to advocate for patients. Didactic courses refresh their skills in charting, reporting and interacting with patients and physicians.

They both value Torrance Memorial’s commitment to new graduates, noting that the hospital invests significant time and resources to ensure nurses feel supported and confident.

“It feels like a family here; everyone greets you and looks out for each other,” Barajas explains. “You’re never on your own. Even if it’s something small, I’m never afraid to ask for help.”

Yokoe says he can count on his colleagues as a supportive family who will “always stick by you when things get tough.”

The program’s success is reflected in its strong retention rates. Yokoe, who has spent his entire career at Torrance Memorial, points to the many nurses who have remained with the hospital for 10 to 30 years as a source of inspiration.

“We want you to feel invested in your work and proud to be here; that’s what makes you a better nurse,” Yokoe says. “At the end of the day, we’re here to care for our community.”