Willamette Valley Medical Center Welcomes First Nurses into Residency Program
June 17, 2024
McMinnville, OR (6/17/24) – Willamette Valley Medical Center, a part of Lifepoint Health, welcomed the first nurses into the newly formed nurse residency program. Grace Umfleet, Brian Hamlin, and Shelly Nichols have recently graduated with RN degrees and have joined WVMC’s healthcare team beginning their residency on June 5, 2024.
Based on an apprenticeship model, the evidence-based transition-to-practice program provides hands-on, structured support. All new graduate nurses, from any educational setting, joining Willamette Valley Medical Center are automatically enrolled in the program as nurse residents. Over the first twelve months of employment, they are guided through three structured phases – clinical competence, culture transition, and leadership development. During each phase of the residency, the resident is assigned an experienced nurse preceptor or mentor who has completed the program’s preceptorship training. The program culminates in the completion of a Capstone project, which ties together the resident’s first year of work, individually and with their team, and demonstrates the personal impact they have made in the workplace.
Both Umfleet and Hamlin completed their RN degree at George Fox and Nichols graduated from Indiana State University.
Each nurse has unique ties to WVMC which influenced their decision to begin their careers here in McMinnville. Graces’ grandmother, Fran Umfleet was a beloved ICU RN for over 40 years at WVMC and her aunt, Dawn Darling, currently works in the case management department.
Brian completed his clinical rotation in WVMC’s Emergency Department and after interacting with the team, connecting with nursing leaders, and experiencing the culture, he chose WVMC over all the offers he received. Brian said ”It’s the environment here and the support of leaders. In speaking with ICU director Shannon Carefoot, she pointed out the amazing connections in a smaller community, and I have experienced that making this my top choice to begin my career as a nurse.”
Nichols has worked at WVMC for 10 years as a LPN, while raising her family in McMinnville and going to school. “Being here for so long and connecting with this amazing team, it was an obvious choice, and with this great program I get to stay here and advance my skills.”
Anna Hilts, Manager of Workforce Development an Education said the goal of the program is to place twelve residences in the program this first year. New graduates can start as soon as they graduate with their nursing degree and hired at WVMC. “Given the growing national nursing shortage, this program provides the right training and resources helping our new nurses develop into confident, competent, and resilient caregivers. We are thrilled with our new placements and look forward to seeing their skills develop,” Hilts said.