Rundown on Residency Programs
Likes
Extra attention / mentorship with no judgement on “ dumb ” questions . Easy way to make friends with other new nurses
Weekday classes during pre-clinical phase of program ; free weekends and no nights
Hospital time commitment of a year or less / no time commitment
Time structured into classes for ACLS and PALS certifications
Guaranteed job in specialty of choice
Tuition reimbursement , sign on bonuses , getting paid for attending classes
Dislikes
Less independence / higher level of supervision between the program directors , instructors , and preceptors
Scheduling based on preceptor availability meaning less flexibility
Hospital time commitments over a year
Required an evidence-based practice ( EBP ) project , which was stressful
Some residency programs can be competitive to get into
Starting pay can be less than that of other new grads
The Power of Nursing Organizations As members of NSNA , you are already aware of the benefits of a nursing organization . It is important to remain active in nursing organizations post-graduation . If you have had an opportunity to attend a Resolutions Hearing at an NSNA annual convention , you will remember the excitement in the room as nursing students made passionate pleas to garner support on issues that mattered to them . At the end of each resolution , you will notice that there is a section that lists nursing organizations to which a copy of the resolution should be sent . These organizations can take advocacy to the next level via their presence on Capitol Hill and other pertinent political spaces . If you are passionate about nurses having a seat at the table when decisions are being made , nursing organizations are for you . With more than a hundred active state , national , and international nursing organizations , it can be difficult to choose one . Most are based on clinical specialty , but there are others for specific other interests such as race / ethnic groups and religions . Membership dues for multiple organizations can add up quickly . Did you know that NSNA has a partnership program that offers free discounted membership to a variety of nursing organizations ? Now you do ! Scroll through this list and see if any of these organizations pique your interest . There is no time like the present to impact the future .
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