ENA's Emergency Nurse Residency Program Heads to Denver
September 7, 2022 • Emergency Nurse Residency Program
Denver Health signs on to innovative program focused on ED nurse skill development, personal well-being
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (Sept. 7, 2022) – The Emergency Nurses Association’s Emergency Nurse Residency Program launched in April and is already being instilled in emergency departments around the country – including Denver Health.
Denver Health, a 2021 ENA Lantern Award recipient, is the 12th emergency department implementing the program that was designed to fill the critical thinking gap for new emergency nurses, promote higher staff retention rates and employee satisfaction scores, help save costs associated with recruiting and onboarding, and more.
“Having my emergency department serve as a pilot cohort has shown me the many benefits this program holds for any nurse who is in the emergency department,” said ENA President Jenn Schmitz, MSN, EMT-P, CEN, CPEN, CNML, FNP-C, NE-BC. “The program sets a new emergency nurse down a path of success and empowerment so they can use their skills to provide high-quality care for patients. I’m thrilled to see the program spreading across the country.”
The 16- to 18-week full time program is designed for the new graduate or experienced nurse who is new to the ED setting. It uses a blended and collaborative approach and includes didactic learning experiences along with one-on-one dedicated time with a nurse educator and a clinical preceptor through progressive immersive experiences.
“Here at Denver Health, we came to realize that we needed to build an orientation program that fit the needs of new grad RNs and RNs ‘new to emergency nursing,’” said Denver Health Clinical Nurse Educator Erin Neill, RN, ND, CEN. “The special nature of our Level I trauma center can be a daunting orientation even for a seasoned emergency nurse, and ENA’s program was specifically created and based on pilot studies in emergency departments throughout the U.S and many of the components of the program highlight the very needs that we felt would be necessary in developing a program such as this one.”
The teaching facility plans to put six registered nurses through the program beginning this month. Neill and her team will look to adapt and tailor the program to fit the hospitals’ needs over time and they are looking forward to getting the program started.
“It’s been a really great partnership between ENA and Denver Health,” said ENA Senior Manager, Education Program Development Monica Kolbuk, MSN, RN, CEN. “We’ve had multiple conversations regarding how the program would fit their specific needs and how to prepare the hospital’s first cohort.”
Kolbuk plans to visit Denver Health to check in on the program’s progress later this month when ENA hosts its annual conference – Emergency Nursing 2022 – in Denver from Sept. 30-Oct. 3.
Denver Health joins emergency departments in eight states that have implemented the Emergency Nurse Residency Program since April. To learn more about the program and see participating EDs, visit ena.org/ENRP.
About Denver Health
Denver Health is a comprehensive health and hospital system that provides high-quality care for all people, regardless of their ability to pay. We deliver medical care to one-third of Denver’s population, proudly serving as the city’s safety-net hospital and providing preventative, primary and acute care services. For more than 160 years, Denver Health has been deeply rooted in the health and well-being of the community, providing high-quality clinical care, top-notch education and training for health care workers, and furthering critical research to benefit our patients. We are guided by our mission to serve our community with excellence, compassion and stewardship as we work to ensure all people have access to the care and programs they need to be happy, healthy and successful.
Denver Health Media Contact:
Rachel Hirsch
303-520-9591
Rachel.Hirsch@dhha.org
