Setting Up New Nurses For Success
Torrance Memorial’s nursing residency program gives new RNs the tools to build fulfilling careers while enhancing retention, job satisfaction, patient experience and safety
Across the nation, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the essential role nurses play in delivering outstanding health care. But when it comes to recognizing the value and contributions of nurses, Torrance Memorial has been ahead of the curve for years.
In 2006 the hospital demonstrated its commitment to nursing excellence by creating its new graduate RN residency program—one of the first programs of its kind in southern Los Angeles County—to support nurses during their first year of professional practice.
“When we launched the program in 2006, it wasn’t very common for hospitals to invest time and money into creating a highly structured orientation program for new nurses,” says Edward S. Nazareth, director of clinical education and one of the founding nurses involved in building the program. “However, we knew that without the proper support, nurses experience high rates of burnout during their first few years of practice—and our leadership saw the benefit developing and retaining high-quality nurses would have on patient care outcomes.”
Investing in Nursing Excellence
Nearly two decades later, the nursing residency program continues to pay dividends, contributing to higher nurse retention and job satisfaction rates, as well as patient safety and patient satisfaction scores among the highest in Los Angeles County.
“Our program receives nearly 1,000 applications each year, and we accept about 100 new nurses,” said Nazareth. “We are able to attract the best candidates because our program was created by nurses, for nurses—and we provide the tools nurses need to successfully launch and build their careers.”
The nursing residency program provides 18 weeks of classroom instruction, experiential learning and mentorship. Nurses meet with and learn from staff nurses, managers, directors and even the hospital president/CEO—an investment that allows the hospital to attract and retain the cream of the crop.
“Nationwide, the post-pandemic nursing turnover rate for hospitals is around 25% to 30%,” says Nazareth. “Torrance Memorial’s nursing turnover rate is around 10%, and before the pandemic, there were years when we had 100% retention.”
Through education, support and mentorship, the nursing residency program is also improving patient safety. “Our new grad nurses get so much personalized attention, and patient safety is our highest priority,” says Nazareth. “As a result, our new grad nurses have been involved in zero safety events.”
Jaleesa Amezaga, RN, began her career at Torrance Memorial in 2011 as a new graduate RN. Pictured above with President and CEO Keith Hobbs, she was promoted last month to clinical director of oncology/med surg and the cancer resource Center as a result of her demonstrated professional growth.
Culture of Support Benefits the Community
In addition to providing outstanding patient care, Torrance Memorial nurses build successful careers, pursue leadership positions, give back through mentorship and become integral members of the hospital team. Ninety percent of the nursing residency program’s current faculty have graduated from the nursing residency program.
And in 2019, when the nursing residency program earned its initial accreditation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Transition Program, this longevity, continuity and organization-wide commitment to nursing excellence proved to be a significant contributing factor.
“Since 2011 Torrance Memorial has been Magnet-designated by the ANCC, which means that our team has received the nation’s highest recognition for nursing excellence,” says Nazareth. “Earning the Accredited Practice Transition Program designation was the next step on our journey, and we were able to take that one step further when we achieved the Practice Transition Program Accreditation with Distinction in September 2023.”
Perhaps most exciting of all, Nazareth says the nursing residency program is just one more example of the sense of community and caring that is evident at Torrance Memorial. “Our program is just another subset of our entire hospital culture. We’re a family, and this program provides a forum for nurses to connect with and support each other. And when we take great care of our nurses, they can take great care of our patients—which benefits the entire South Bay community.”
Nursing Residency Program Alum Gains Support and Skills through Innovative Program
Charge nurse Hannah Gainer is committed to supporting her patients and colleagues in her nursing leadership role at Torrance Memorial Medical Center. And as a 2018 graduate of the new graduate RN residency program, she credits the program for providing her with the tools she needed to succeed in her career.
“Most other nursing programs give new graduates six weeks of training,” says Hannah. “At Torrance Memorial, I received six months of training.”
She says one of the most helpful aspects of the program was a weekly meeting with senior nurses, which provided a forum for new grads to seek advice and support and learn coping strategies for the everyday challenges they face. “In nursing school you learn a lot, but I learned most of the skills I have today from the nursing residency program.”
Furthermore, she says, many of the nurses at Torrance Memorial live in the South Bay, and the nursing residency program plays a crucial role in helping to retain nurses from the local community. “Our patients benefit from our unique knowledge and understanding of the community, and this program enables our nurses to grow their careers and find the support they need—without having to leave the South Bay,” says Hannah.
