GOUVERNEUR -- The first registered nurse to enroll at Gouverneur Hospital through St. Lawrence Health System’s nurse residency program is looking forward to the year ahead.

Kylie Currier, RN, graduated from nursing school in May 2020 and became part of the Gouverneur Hospital medical team. Currier is now continuing with her education through the nursing program provided by SLHS through the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program.

The program is available for new-to-practice nurses to close the gap between nursing school and work. A main component of the program is communication, as different approaches are required when speaking with patients and their families, peer nurses, staff, or providers, SLHS said.

During the year-long program, Currier will work closely with Interim Nurse Manager Carrie Foster and Online Nurse Residency Program Manager Nicole Weathers from the University of Iowa College Of Nursing. The local participant will also have virtual interaction with other new nurses enrolled in the program from around the country.

The program is divided up into seven segments. The first month focuses on Foundations for transitioning from being a student to a professional, and applying critical thinking. The second month is about Communication and Teamwork with providers and the health care team, and learning effective conflict management. The third month focuses on Managing Patient Care with time management, prioritization, and delegation. Months four and five are about Safe, Patient-Centered Care. The sixth month focuses on Bringing Value to Healthcare. Months seven through 12 are about Incorporating Evidence into Practice

In order to be eligible to take part in the Nurse Residency Program, nurses must be employed through St. Lawrence Health System, and have graduated from nursing school within the past year. More information may be found online at https://www.stlawrencehealthsystem.org/nurse-residency.