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Welcome Aboard: Backus and Windham Welcome Latest Nurse Residents to Staff
July 25, 2019
Schools out for summer for latest group completing the year-long East Region nurse residency program. Fifteen nurses have officially completed the program and were recognized during a ceremony at Backus Hospital on July 19.
All 15 — thirteen at Backus Hospital and two at Windham Hospital — have been hired directly into their units.
Nurse Educator Melody Zande, RN, who facilitates the program for the East Region called this year’s class was a forward thinking group who was always bringing new ideas and looking to drive change.
One of those new ideas brought forward by this year’s group is the Preceptor Recognition Award Program. The 2018 Nurse Residents partnered with Clinical Education to recognize those that provide excellent experiences in the development and training of nurse residents and new employees. The award will continue with each new Nurse Resident class graduation ceremony.
Preceptors were nominated by peers and nurse residents and recipients were selected by a blind review committee. The committee was asked to review nominees for stand out qualities including promoting educational and learning opportunities, accountability, coaching and mentoring, demonstrating H3W behaviors, using STAR moments, fostering positive relationships and a team approach. Six preceptors were selected from the nominations and were also honored at the July 19 graduation event.
Kimberly Ballestrini, a recipient of the inaugural Preceptor Recognition Award completed the Nurse Residency Program at Backus a year ago and was approached by her managers to serve as a preceptor. She said it was important to her to give back to the program.
East Region President, Donna Handley, a former oncology nurse, told this year’s class, “You can do anything, follow your passion..” She reminded the group that nursing is the heart and soul of our organization and that every day they work to give our patients and families what they need-hope, healing and comfort.
The Nurse Residency Program, the only one of its kind in Eastern Connecticut, builds on the newly-licensed nurse’s previous academic knowledge by providing in-depth learning through clinical immersion, simulation training and classroom-style activities.
Mahogany Johnson, RN who spent her time in the program on E4 said the unique program is a lot different from school. “It’s a great way to transition to be on the floor alone. There is always someone there to help you.”
2018 Nurse Resident Cohort
Joseph Ferraro, RN-Backus Telemetry (E3)
Alysha Kalinowski, RN-Backus Telemetry (E3)
Emma Rooney, RN-Backus Telemetry (E3)
Mahogany Johnson, RN-Backus Telemetry (E4)
Meagan Muriel, RN-Backus Telemetry (E3-L&D)
Kyle Davis, RN- Backus Emergency Department
Aleck Mikulka, RN- Backus Emergency Department
Courtney Shelsy, RN- Backus Emergency Department
Cassie Stimson, RN- Backus Emergency Department
Elizabeth Olszewski, RN-Backus Medical Surgical (A2)
Tassel Brown, RN-Backus Medical Surgical (A4)
Jie Chen, RN-Backus Medical Surgical (A4)
Jennifer Netopski, RN-Backus Psychiatric Services
Iain Campbell, RN-Windham Telemetry
Meredith Walker, RN-Windham Telemetry
Preceptor Recognition Recipients
Kimberly Ballestrini, RN- Backus Operating Room
Kate-Lyn Birchel, RN-Backus Emergency Department
Greg Congdon, RN-Backus float, ICU
Nancy Deady, RN-Backus PACU
Pam Purcell, RN-Windham Emergency Department
Pam Smith, RN-Backus CCU