RN Residency Spotlight

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What brought you to apply for the Logan Health RN Residency?

I applied for the Logan Health Residency because I was not willing to work on anything that wasn’t pediatrics and also my girlfriend (now fiancé) has family who live in Kalispell. We wanted to be close to family in this new stage of life and Logan Health seemed like a perfect fit (still is).

What are you looking forward to most as you move through your first two years as a new RN?

I’m looking forward to learning even more than I already have. Every single shift I learn something new and get to use new nursing skills. It pumps me up coming to work knowing that I am either going to see something I’ve never seen or use some of these skills they taught us in nursing school.

What is one thing you enjoy about working at Logan Health?

There are so many things I enjoy about Logan Health but really it comes down to pediatrics is clutch. Like I don’t know how ya’ll do it who aren’t in peds. The peds team at Logan Health is amazing, so helpful and puts up with all of my questions/inquiries.

What advice would you give to potential applicants?

Some advice I’d give to potential applicants is to find a way to stand out in your application/interview. Show that you have the knowledge you earned through hard work in nursing school but show that you have personality too. We spend more time with our coworkers than we do anyone else in our lives, let them see who you are and who they can expect to work with on a day-to-day/night-to-night basis.

RN Residency Spotlight

loganhealthnurses

What brought you to apply for the Logan Health RN Residency?

I was motivated to apply to the Logan Health RN Residency program due to the benefits of the married preceptor model. Having an experienced nurse by my side to “show me the ropes”, answer questions, and provide direct feedback on my progress was exactly what I was looking for coming out of nursing school. In addition to the structured transition from school to practicing nurse, I chose Logan Health due to it’s location in the Flathead Valley. I wanted my work place to be located in an area where I had access to world-class outdoor recreation opportunities!

What are you looking forward to most as you move through your first two years as a new RN?

I am looking forward to settling into the routine of working in the hospital and being a part of a team. My previous occupations have been seasonal. The benefit of a seasonal lifestyle is freedom and a lack of monotony. However, it does not provide much stability or an opportunity to continually practice or build skills. I’m excited to experience the stability and continued learning that comes with a year-round position.  

What is one thing you enjoy about working at Logan Health?

One thing I enjoy about working at Logan Health is the support I’ve received during the first year of my residency. Personally, I had a challenging first six months of residency. My Residency Coordinators took the time to listen to my concerns and provide solutions to benefit me both professionally and personally. Logan Health is lucky to have such a dedicated group of Residency Coordinators.  

What advice would you give to potential applicants?

My advice to future residents is utilize your resources. You are not alone in this transition. People are here to help you and systems are in place to ensure that you are successful as a new nurse. You don’t need to do this all by yourself.  Also give yourself grace, don’t expect perfection. You’ll be learning so much every shift! Take time to celebrate small victories and enjoy the ride!  

RN Resident Spotlight

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Meet Erika Florian from our July 2021 Cohort 16!

What brought you to applying for the Logan Health RN Residency?

I knew I wanted to be in a Nurse Residency Program for my first job out of nursing school to ensure I started off my career on the right foot. After looking into different Nurse Residency programs throughout the West, Logan Health’s program seemed like they offered the most support as well as opportunities to interview on multiple different units. I also can’t help but mention how much I love the Flathead Valley and how much it has to offer for outdoor recreation.

What are you looking forward to most as you move through your first two years as a new RN?

I’m looking forward to seeing how much my knowledge and skills grow within the next two years. Just over 6 months in, I feel like I have gone from providing good care, to excellent care. I still have so much more to learn, and am excited to fine tune my critical care skills.

What is one thing you enjoy about working at Logan Health?

I love the culture of support that we have. The Nurse Residency Program teaches you to utilize the multitude of resources you have as a nurse throughout the whole organization. I never feel alone when I am in need of support, whether I’m working the floor or need help with administrative tasks.

What advice would you give to potential applicants?

If you’re questioning whether or not you want to do a Nurse Residency program or not as your first job, I can’t emphasize how much I appreciated this program. Being guaranteed to have an unencumbered preceptor with me until I was ready to be on my own felt like a luxury. It allowed me to always have a designated person to ask the million questions I had, as well as a pair of second eyes to keep me from making mistakes and give tips on saving time. I feel as though I would be many steps back from where I am now if I did not do a Residency Program, and I am grateful to have had the experience!