For nurses fresh out of school, earning a degree is a major accomplishment. Walking onto a hospital unit and taking responsibility for patients is another milestone entirely.
At FMOL Health | St. Dominic, the Nurse Residency Program is designed to help new nurses make that transition with the time, training and support they need to grow into confident caregivers. The one-year program serves new graduate registered nurses and nurses with less than a year of experience, surrounding them with experienced educators, preceptors and leaders as they put what they learned in the classroom into practice.
For Theilet Washington, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, director of clinical education at St. Dominic, that investment reaches beyond a nurse’s first year on the job. It helps build a nursing workforce prepared to care for patients across Jackson and surrounding communities for years to come.
Building a Strong Foundation for New Nurses
St. Dominic welcomes new nurse residents in three cohorts throughout the year. Each begins with two weeks of clinical education followed by 10 weeks working with a preceptor, giving new graduates 12 weeks of onboarding before moving into independent practice.
“Our goal for the residency is to bring that textbook and put it into practice,” Washington says. “They have that multilayer of support.”
That extended training is an important distinction. Washington says traditional orientation for new nurses at many hospitals may last four to six weeks. The additional time at St. Dominic gives residents more opportunities to practice their skills, learn from experienced nurses and become familiar with the teams and processes they will rely on every day.
“We want our nurses to go in there with the confidence and the pride of, ‘I’ve made it through nursing school, and now I’ve been trained and I’m prepared to take care of this patient,’” Washington says.
Investing in the Next Generation of Nurses
St. Dominic launched its Nurse Residency Program in 2024, creating what Washington describes as the only program of its kind in the Jackson metro area and one of only a small number of nurse residency programs across Mississippi.
Providing that level of support requires a significant investment. New nurses receive protected training time during onboarding, monthly residency seminars and ongoing access to educators and other resources.
For Washington, that investment comes back to the responsibility nurses carry every day.
“A competent nurse at the bedside saves lives,” she says.
The residency is also part of St. Dominic’s broader efforts to develop future nurses. Through Mississippi’s nurse externship program, nursing students can gain hands-on experience at St. Dominic before graduation, with some continuing as nurse techs and eventually entering the residency program.
These opportunities help create a pathway from nursing school to professional practice while introducing future nurses to the teams and culture at St. Dominic.
From New Graduates to Confident Caregivers
New nurses often arrive with the knowledge they gained in school but limited experience with the realities of a full hospital shift. The residency gives them time to adjust to those demands while knowing experienced nurses, educators and leaders are available to help.
Washington says residents regularly share how much they value that support. Some nurses have even come to St. Dominic after hearing friends in the program describe their longer orientation and additional training.
That growth is also visible to the team members who work alongside the residents. Nella Payton, nursing professional development specialist at St. Dominic, has watched new nurses become increasingly confident in their skills and responsibilities as they move through the program.
“Being on the floor with the new residents who go through the program, I can see the impact on their confidence level,” Payton says, “and that has a great impact on patient care.”
Experienced nurses notice the difference as well. Washington says seasoned team members recognize the growth in nurses who complete the program and appreciate having colleagues they can trust as part of the care team.
After more than two decades at St. Dominic, seeing that transformation carries special meaning for Washington.
“To see these nurses, they come in looking like little kittens with big eyes, and then to see them looking like lions and tigers once we finish the program, that means a lot to me,” she says.
Stronger Nurses Mean Stronger Patient Care
Ultimately, the training and support provided through the residency lead back to one goal: preparing nurses to provide safe, compassionate care.
Residents develop a stronger understanding of St. Dominic’s clinical processes while building the judgment to recognize changes in a patient’s condition and respond appropriately. They also gain the knowledge and communication skills to answer questions from patients and families with confidence.
“We want to make sure those nurses know what it takes to be safe and compassionate simultaneously,” Washington says.
That preparation strengthens the nursing team as a whole. Experienced nurses have colleagues they can rely on, leaders can build teams with a strong mix of skills and new nurses have a foundation they can continue building throughout their careers.
Washington remembers beginning her own nursing career without a residency program to guide the transition. Now, after more than 20 years at St. Dominic, she has helped develop that support for a new generation of nurses.
For her, watching new graduates become capable, confident caregivers is a reminder of what that investment can mean for the communities St. Dominic serves.
“It made me feel like I’ve done something special, not just for the hospital, but for the people in Jackson and the surrounding areas that we serve,” she says.
Supporting Growth Beyond Residency
The support nurses receive at St. Dominic continues well beyond their first year. Washington helps team members take the next steps in their careers through professional development opportunities, specialty certifications and continuing education.
St. Dominic’s tiered Professional Enhancement Program (PEP) recognizes nurses as they gain experience and advance their skills. Washington also introduced the hospital’s first ANCC Success Pays program, which helps remove financial barriers to specialty certification. Through the Preceptor Program, residency graduates can continue developing their leadership skills while mentoring the next generation of nurses.
Washington also helps team members access education assistance benefits to pursue advanced degrees and other learning opportunities. Together, these programs reflect St. Dominic’s commitment to investing in its nurses, supporting their professional growth and building a stronger nursing workforce for the future.
