In 2022, New London Hospital (NLH) launched its inaugural nurse residency program.
The NLH nurse residency program (NRP) is a structured year-long program for registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) with less than one year of acute care experience. The program operates within the inpatient unit, which is designed to transition novice nurses into clinical practice. The program integrates instructional education, hands-on clinical experience, and mentorship at the bedside.
NRP participants begin the 12-week orientation period with a dedicated education day each week for the first six weeks. Skills are organized by system and integrated into a comprehensive review of the body systems. After the initial six weeks, they continue with clinical orientation, completing the 12-week orientation to ensure comfort and confidence in caring for acute medical and surgical (med/surg) patients. Residents then participate in periodic educational sessions and monthly mentorship sessions that explore ethics, therapeutic communication, teamwork, and stress management.
Why an NRP matters
A 2025 study found that hospitals with an NRP have a significantly higher three-year retention rate. Residency programs improve retention, reduce turnover costs, and promote workforce stability.
Lindsy Huot, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, NLH clinical nurse educator, underscores the impact of programs like these: “A nurse residency program is important to ensure that nurses are offered support, guidance, and mentorship. Protected learning time grows their confidence, critical thinking, and clinical judgment.”
As a critical access hospital, new graduate RNs and LPNs practice at the highest scope of their licensure. Nursing staff insert IVs, access ports, place nasogastric tubes, perform wound care, and more.
“At NLH, we acknowledge that providing our employees with education and knowledge translates to improved patient outcomes and staff satisfaction,” says Rebecca L. Socci, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, MEDSURG-BC, WCC, NLH director of clinical education.
From the first cohort to the inpatient floor
Among the first participants in NLH’s inaugural class was Greg Saplagio, RN. Three years into his nursing career on the med/surg floor, Saplagio still credits the NRP for easing the transition from “A wide-eyed graduate to a confident nurse…it’s like having a safety net made of experienced nurses and educators who are genuinely invested in your success.”
Residents are assigned a primary mentor and work with them to strengthen clinical judgement and professional development at the bedside. Saplagio credits his mentors—Socci, Lyuba Faria, RN, and Britany DeBernardo, RN—for greatly impacting his nursing career.
As Socci states, “At NLH, this program has allowed for individualized attention from our education department. The department-embedded educators are able to spend one-on-one time with the staff to optimize their workflow and build critical thinking skills.”
Nursing education as a priority
The program also extends to LPNs like McKenzie Gamble, who notes the various learning opportunities available to residents, including shadowing in hospital departments and learning and practicing hands-on skills.
As part of the 2023 Annual Benefit fundraising initiative, almost $75,000 was raised to directly support nursing education. With these funds, NLH purchased two manikins (lifelike human models) and renovated an education space that plays a vital role in practicing the hands-on skills Gamble mentions.
For example, training manikins let staff practice step-by-step skills, such as IV or catheter insertion, until they are comfortable. They train with the same materials used on the floor, building confidence as they transfer classroom skills to the clinical environment.
Saplagio and Gamble agree that NLH's nursing residency program encourages new graduates to step out of their comfort zones, ask questions, and connect with fellow residents and mentors.
For more information about the nurse residency program at NLH, visit our career page. Applications are now being accepted for our next cohort.