Vandalia Health Launches State’s First Emergency Nurse Residency Program

Vandalia Health is proud to announce the launch of West Virginia’s first Emergency Nurse Residency Program, an initiative designed to bridge the gap between general nursing education and the specialized skills required for emergency nursing. Introduced at Vandalia Health Mon Medical Center by nurse leaders Christan Lacko, BSN, RN, and Jessica Quarrick, BSN, RN, CEN, the program provides structured education, hands-on experience and dedicated mentorship to ensure new emergency nurses are fully prepared for their roles.

“Emergency nursing requires a unique skill set that traditional nursing education may not fully prepare students for,” Lacko said. “Our program ensures nurses gain the confidence, knowledge and hands-on experience necessary to succeed in high-pressure emergency settings.”

The Emergency Nurse Residency Program started with a pilot cohort for new Vandalia Health emergency nurses with support from Patricia Murray, MS, BSN, RN, Director of Emergency and Trauma Services, and Christine Daniels, MBA, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Associate Chief Nursing Officer. Plans are underway to expand the pilot program at Mon Medical Center to all Vandalia Health northern region facilities.

The comprehensive, 12-week residency program combines education with hands-on clinical training. Participants spend one weekday on system-based education on specialized topics such as cardiology, neurology, labor and delivery and gastrointestinal care, along with case studies, EKG training and simulation lab experiences. Nurses also participate in Emergency Room (ER) clinical training under the guidance of a dedicated preceptor two days per week. Additional shadowing opportunities allow nurses to gain experience in departments that may not be available at their home facility.

A key component of the program is dedicated mentorship and coaching. Each nurse is paired with a mentor from outside the emergency department, ensuring a strong support system beyond their immediate work environment. These mentors come from various hospital departments such as finance and risk management.

“Since COVID-19, hospitals have increasingly relied on graduate nurses with limited emergency nursing experience,” Quarrick said. “Our Emergency Nurse Residency Program addresses this challenge by giving new nurses the necessary skills and confidence to succeed. By providing education, mentorship and real-world training, we strengthen emergency nursing capabilities and improve retention by reducing burnout and increasing job satisfaction.”

The program is free for participants and includes multiple emergency-based training opportunities through the Emergency Nurses Association (ENA), such as a documentation course, a triage course, and workplace violence and complimentary one-year membership to the ENA—a $115 value—giving nurses access to a wealth of emergency nursing resources.

The first cohort of nurses will graduate with certificates of completion on May 28. Mon Medical Center, a designated Pathway to Excellence hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, looks forward to welcoming future participants and continuing its mission of excellence in emergency nursing education.